MCAT to IQ at a glance

An MCAT total of 512 points to an IQ of about 120, with a likely range of 108–132. A 500 (near the median) points to about 114, and a 520 to about 125.

Treat this as a rough guide. Most of the MCAT tests what you learned in chemistry, biology, physics and psychology courses, so it says less about IQ than a test built around reasoning alone.

Notable MCAT scores and the IQ they point to
MCAT score	Percentile among test-takers	Estimated IQ	Likely range
485	11th	107	95 to 118
490	20th	109	97 to 121
495	33th	111	100 to 123
500	48th	114	102 to 125
505	64th	116	104 to 128
508	74th	118	106 to 130
510	79th	119	107 to 131
512	84th	120	108 to 132
515	91th	122	110 to 134
518	95th	124	112 to 135
520	97th	125	114 to 137
525	99th	128	116 to 139

MCAT to IQ conversion chart

Every row below comes from the same model as the calculator. The likely range covers about four in five people at that score. The last column shows what the IQ would be if the MCAT were a perfect measure of IQ, which is the number many other converters publish.

MCAT to IQ chart (Total 472 to 528; four sections at 118 to 132 each)
MCAT score	Test-taker percentile	Estimated IQ	Likely range	If a perfect measure
486	12.8	107	95 to 119	102
488	16.4	108	96 to 120	103
490	20	109	97 to 121	105
492	25.2	110	98 to 122	107
494	30.4	111	99 to 123	108
496	36	112	100 to 124	110
498	42	113	101 to 125	112
500	48	114	102 to 125	113
502	54.4	115	103 to 126	115
504	60.8	116	104 to 127	117
506	67.3	117	105 to 128	119
508	74	118	106 to 130	121
510	79	119	107 to 131	123
512	84	120	108 to 132	125
514	88.7	121	110 to 133	127
516	92.2	123	111 to 134	130
518	94.6	124	112 to 135	132
520	97	125	114 to 137	135
522	97.7	126	114 to 138	136
524	98.5	127	115 to 139	138
526	99.2	129	117 to 140	140
528	99.9	133	121 to 144	148

IQ to MCAT: what score to expect

Going the other way, this table shows the MCAT score people at each IQ typically get. Scores at the same IQ vary widely, so the range matters more than the middle figure.

Typical MCAT score by IQ
IQ	Typical MCAT score	Likely range	How rare is this IQ
90	485	475 to 499	1 in 4 at or below
100	492	480 to 505	1 in 2 at or above
110	498	484 to 511	1 in 4 at or above
115	501	487 to 513	1 in 6 at or above
120	504	491 to 515	1 in 11 at or above
125	507	494 to 518	1 in 21 at or above
130	510	497 to 520	1 in 44 at or above
135	513	500 to 524	1 in 102 at or above
140	515	503 to 526	1 in 261 at or above
145	517	506 to 527	1 in 741 at or above

One IQ, several tests: MCAT next to other scores

The same IQ shows up as very different numbers on different tests. This table shows the typical score at each IQ on MCAT and on the tests closest to it. Read across a row to compare, for example, what an SAT and an ACT would each be for the same person.

Typical score by IQ across MCAT, GRE, LSAT, GMAT, SAT
IQ	MCAT	GRE	LSAT	GMAT	SAT
100	492	298	148	525	990
110	498	306	153	565	1140
120	504	315	159	605	1280
130	510	323	164	645	1410
140	515	332	169	675	1530

These are typical scores, not guarantees. Every test has its own likely range, shown on its page.

Why the MCAT is the weakest score-to-IQ conversion

Three of the four MCAT sections test science knowledge: organic and general chemistry, physics, biochemistry, biology, psychology and sociology. You cannot do well on them by reasoning alone. You have to have studied the material, often for many months.

Only Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) is content-free, since it tests reading and reasoning about passages in the humanities and social sciences. A single-score conversion averages across the two kinds of section, so much of what it captures is preparation.

A 2018 study by McLarnon, Goffin and Rothstein used the section scores of more than 4,800 MCAT applicants to test how a general ability factor and narrower abilities behave at different ability levels, which treats the MCAT as a window onto general ability. But it did not compare the MCAT with an IQ test, and we found no such comparison anywhere. The link used here is an assumed correlation of .55, the lowest of any test on this site.

Who takes the MCAT

MCAT test-takers are pre-medical students, self-selected and heavily prepared. The average score of applicants who were accepted to medical school in recent years was about 512, which is around the 84th percentile of all test-takers. That is a group with well above average academic skills, and the model assumes their average IQ is about 114.

That assumption does more work here than in most conversions. An MCAT of 500 is around the median of test-takers, but the estimate for it is well above 100 because the people taking the test are already an above-average group.

What an MCAT-to-IQ estimate is good for

Almost nobody needs to convert an MCAT score to an IQ, and medical schools do not ask. What people want is context: is a 508 a sign of unusual ability, or of diligence? The honest answer is both, in unknown proportions. The estimate here says a 508 sits well above the average of people who take the test, and that the range for the IQ behind it is wide.

If you are choosing between retaking the MCAT and moving on, a conversion will not help. Score changes on a retake tend to come from content review more than from any change in reasoning ability, which fits the MCAT being a measure of readiness. Use the percentile and the target range of the schools you are considering, not an IQ figure.

What your MCAT score means

Percentiles compare you with recent test-takers. The estimated IQ column shows the most likely value, with the likely range in brackets.

What MCAT score bands mean
Score	Estimated IQ	What it means
472 to 489	94 to 109	Bottom fifth of test-takers. Knowledge gaps and test conditions matter more here than reasoning ability.
490 to 499	109 to 113	Below the median of about 500. Many people in this range reach medical school after a retake.
500 to 509	114 to 118	Around the median to about the 75th percentile.
510 to 515	119 to 122	Above the typical matriculant. Roughly the top fifth to the top tenth.
516 to 520	123 to 125	Top 8% down to the top 3%. Competitive for the most selective schools.
521 to 528	126 to 133	The top 3% and above. The score is very rare, though it depends on content mastery as much as reasoning.

Why a MCAT score is not an IQ

Most of it is science knowledgeThree of four sections test content you must have studied. An IQ estimate from the total mostly reflects preparation.
No IQ evidence at allWe found no study correlating the MCAT with an IQ battery. The correlation here is an assumption.
A heavily selected groupTest-takers are pre-meds. The estimate depends on how able we assume they are, and a small change in that assumption moves every number.
Percentile tables change each yearAAMC updates its percentile ranks annually, so older tables in books and forums give slightly different percentiles.

The evidence behind these numbers

Evidence grade: Weak

The percentile ranks are official, and the score is a good measure of readiness for medical school. The link to IQ has never been measured, and most of the test is content.

Published facts we used

Percentile ranks and mean 500.6, SD 11.2 for 2023 to 2025 testing years, N = 305,494 (AAMC).
MCAT section scores analysed for a general ability factor (McLarnon, Goffin and Rothstein, 2018; N over 4,800). Not a comparison with an IQ test.

Assumptions we made

Mean IQ of MCAT test-takers: 114. Pre-medical students.
IQ spread among test-takers: SD 11.
Correlation between MCAT and IQ among test-takers: .55. No published value exists.

Assumed test-taker IQ: mean 114, SD 11
Assumed correlation (r): 0.55
Likely range: The score at which about 80% of people with that estimate fall, from the residual spread after regression
Norms: AAMC MCAT percentile ranks, testing years 2023 to 2025.

MCAT to IQ: frequently asked questions

What MCAT score equals an IQ of 130?+

People with an IQ of 130 typically score around 510 on the MCAT, with about four in five between 497–520. There is no published correlation, so this is a rough guide.

Is a 515 MCAT a high IQ?+

A 515 is in the top the top 9% of test-takers. It points to an IQ of about 122, most likely within 110–134. It is a strong result, and mostly reflects preparation and academic skill.

Is the MCAT an IQ test?+

No. It tests science knowledge and reasoning to decide readiness for medical school. Three of the four sections require studied content, so it relates to IQ less closely than a reasoning test would.

What IQ do you need to get into medical school?+

There is no IQ requirement, and most schools do not use IQ tests. Successful applicants have an average MCAT near 512, which the model links to an IQ of about 120, but the range is wide.

Why is a median MCAT still above an average IQ?+

Because test-takers are pre-medical students, already an academically above-average group. A median MCAT means average among that group, not average among everyone.

References & Sources

AAMC (2026). MCAT percentile ranks, effective May 2026 to April 2027. Association of American Medical Colleges. https://students-residents.aamc.org/media/19701/download
McLarnon, M. J. W., Goffin, R. D., & Rothstein, M. G. (2018). Differentiation of cognitive abilities and the Medical College Admission Test. Personality and Individual Differences, 123, 50-55. https://gwern.net/doc/iq/2018-mclarnon.pdf
AAMC (2025). FACTS: applicants and matriculants data. Association of American Medical Colleges. https://www.aamc.org/data-reports/students-residents/data/facts-applicants-and-matriculants