Is 516 a Good MCAT Score?
516
92nd
percentile
A 516 is a high score relative to test takers.
A 516 meets or exceeds the published MCAT class-profile score at 130 of 150 schools with comparable data: 87 US MD programs, 39 US DO programs, and 4 Canadian programs. These figures describe classes or accepted applicants, not admission requirements or your chance of acceptance.
Approximate distribution, smoothed from rounded AAMC percentile ranks. Percentiles use the published AAMC table.
Choose a score
How a 516 splits across the four sections
A 516 is at the 92nd percentile on the current AAMC table. A percentile is the share of test takers who scored the same or lower, so it compares you with other test takers, not with the students a school admits.
An even 514 is two 128s and two 129s, and an even 517 is three 129s and a 130, so balanced sections here run from 128 to 130. That covers the 76th percentile (Psych/Soc 128) to the 98th (CARS 130), and every section at 128 or higher meets every section minimum in our school data. At this range a single low section is the main thing to check: a 516 with CARS at 123 means the other three average 131. As a next step, read your score profile for one section that sits well below the others.
All MCAT results from the 2023, 2024 and 2025 testing years (N = 305,494). In effect May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027. AAMC, Summary of MCAT Total and Section ScoresUse plus and minus to move a point from one section to another. The total stays at 516.
Balanced
0 points between your lowest and highest section
An even 516 splits about 129 / 129 / 129 / 129 across Chem/Phys, CARS, Bio/Biochem, and Psych/Soc. On the current AAMC table, those sections range from the 85th to the 95th percentile.
All four of your sections are 129.
Does an uneven score hurt you?- More on Chem/Phys 129
A 129 puts you at the 91st percentile in Chem/Phys, so 9 percent of test takers scored higher, and one more point would move you to the 96th. It is 4.1 points above the mean and clears every section minimum in our school data. Scores this high usually mean the four skills AAMC tests here, content knowledge, scientific reasoning, research design, and data reasoning, are all working together.
- More on CARS 129
CARS 129 is at the 95th percentile, so 5 percent of test takers scored higher. It clears every section minimum in our school data, with a point to spare over the highest, the CARS 128 for non-Alberta applicants at Alberta and Calgary. At this score all three CARS skills are working together: comprehension, reasoning within the text, and reasoning beyond it.
- More on Bio/Biochem 129
Bio/Biochem 129 is at the 90th percentile, so 10 percent of test takers scored higher. It is 3.9 points above the 125.1 mean and meets every section minimum in our school data. At this score you usually hold the full range of content, from biomolecules to organ systems, and use it quickly inside passages. The next point, 130, would move you to the 96th percentile.
- More on Psych/Soc 129
Psych/Soc 129 is at the 85th percentile, so 15 percent of test takers scored higher, and it sits 3.1 points above the section mean. It meets every section minimum in our school data. Because Psych/Soc has the highest mean, it takes a 129 here to rank about where a 128 does in Chem/Phys (85th) or Bio/Biochem (84th). It reflects strong command of all five AAMC foundational concepts in this section.
In this split, CARS is 129, at the 95th percentile; CARS needs no outside science knowledge, and WizePrep posts a free practice passage each week. Try this week's free CARS passage
Your CARS score of 129 is at or above 9 of the 9 published Canadian CARS minimums in our data. Several apply only to some applicants, such as the 128 Alberta and Calgary ask of non-Alberta applicants.
Compare your section scores with your school list
Add your residency and background in the free Fit Check to see the rest of your profile.
Free, and no account needed to start.
Compare a 516 with medical school MCAT profiles
Compare 516 with each school’s published MCAT profile. Your score meets or exceeds that figure at 130 schools, is up to three points below it at 10, and is further below it at 10. Schools without a published figure are excluded from these counts.
- Published class score at or below yours
- School score is higher than yours
- My list
At or above the published score
87University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
- Mean GPA
- 3.78
- Mean MCAT
- 516
- Class size
- Not published
University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
- Median GPA
- 3.87
- Median MCAT
- 516
- Published Class size
- 125
University of Florida College of Medicine
- GPA
- Not published
- Mean MCAT
- 516
- Class size
- Not published
No published comparable 4.0-scale GPA available. Check the school’s grading and applicant rules.
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
- Mean GPA
- 3.85
- Mean MCAT
- 516
- Published Class size
- 202
University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
- Mean GPA
- 3.86
- Mean MCAT
- 516
- Published Class size
- 142
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College
- Mean GPA
- 3.77
- Mean MCAT
- 516
- Class size
- Not published
International applicants are considered from the same pool as US citizens, Permanent Residents and DACA applicants.
Up to 3 points below the published class score
10Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
- Median GPA
- 3.84
- Median MCAT
- 517
- Class size
- Not published
University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
- Mean GPA
- 3.80
- Mean MCAT
- 517
- Class size
- Not published
The school has no preference for New York State residents and considers geographical diversity important.
University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School
- Mean GPA
- 3.93
- Mean MCAT
- 517
- Published Class size
- 50
In-state share 98%.
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- Mean GPA
- 3.93
- Mean MCAT
- 517
- Class size
- Not published
Stanford University School of Medicine
- Median GPA
- 3.94
- Median MCAT
- 518
- Published Class size
- 90
Weill Cornell Medical College
- Median GPA
- 3.90
- Median MCAT
- 518
- Published Class size
- 106
More than 3 points below the published class score
10Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
- Median GPA
- 3.95
- Median MCAT
- 520
- Published Class size
- 141
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- Mean GPA
- 3.94
- Mean MCAT
- 520
- Published Class size
- 120
Washington University School of Medicine
- Mean GPA
- 3.92
- Mean MCAT
- 520
- Published Class size
- 93
University of Virginia School of Medicine
- Published GPA
- 3.91
- Mean MCAT
- 520
- Published Class size
- 155
Harvard Medical School
- Mean GPA
- 3.90
- Mean MCAT
- 520.42
- Class size
- Not published
University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine
- Median GPA
- 3.98
- Median MCAT
- 521
- Published Class size
- 140
What to do with a 516
Should you retake a 516?
Compare your total and section scores with your target schools before deciding. A retake may help if it addresses a specific requirement or a consistent gap from practice results. Consider preparation time, score validity, and the possibility of a lower result; a higher total alone does not guarantee admission.
Pair your 516 with your GPA
Your GPA adds another academic comparison. Enter it in the calculator to compare both measures, filter programs, and build your school list.
Open the calculator with 516Pick the schools you are considering
Search for schools here, or add them from a school comparison. Your list stays on this device and follows you between these pages.
My list
No schools on your list yet. Search above, or use the plus beside any school on this page.
Free, and no account needed to start. Your academic comparison is not an admission decision.
Nearby scores
Checking a different result? Every score from 472 to 528 has its own page.