Your MCAT didn’t go as you planned, so you wanna undo it, right?
Voiding your score seems like a good plan after a challenging exam, but it comes with risks. Not only are you losing one of your seven lifetime MCAT attempts, but you’re also delaying your medical school application.
This guide will help you weigh the pros and cons of voiding your MCAT score. It then explores smarter alternatives, like waiting for results or rescheduling. It also helps you in making the right call under pressure.
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What Does It Mean to Void Your MCAT?
Voiding your MCAT score means erasing your performance, but there are some important consequences.
First, you can void your MCAT only seven times in your lifetime, and you’ll have to pay the full $345 fee again to retake the test. It’s so important to remember that you can only void before leaving the testing center, so the decision must be made quickly after your exam.
While voiding ensures medical schools won’t see your score, you’ll never receive any feedback on your performance. This means you’ll miss feedback on your strengths and weaknesses, which could guide you if you decide to retake the test.
Furthermore, retaking the exam can push back your application timeline, which is risky if you’re targeting rolling admissions, where applying early increases your chances of acceptance.
Voiding may make sense in extreme situations—such as if you were severely ill or faced major distractions during the test. But if you’re feeling anxious or doubting yourself after the exam, remember that many students feel they did worse than they actually did.
If you’ve prepared thoroughly and performed perfectly on practice tests, voiding out of anxiety could be a costly mistake.
Read More: MCAT Retake Strategy: How to Improve Your Score the Second Time Around
How Does MCAT Voiding Work?
- Finish the Exam: After you complete the test, you’ll be asked if you want to score or void your exam. You must complete the entire test first—there is no option to void in the middle of your exam.
- Decide Quickly: You will only have a few minutes to make this decision, and once you confirm voiding, the process is irreversible. This decision should be made carefully and rationally, not out of any stress.
- Confirm Your Choice: After selecting “void,” you must confirm your decision. Once voided, your score is erased permanently, and you will never receive feedback on your performance.
- Consequences of Voiding: Even though your voided score will not appear on any reports, this test is counted as one of your seven lifetime MCAT attempts. Additionally, you’ll have to pay the full registration fee—currently $345—again if you decide to retake the exam.
It’s important to remember that many students regret voiding their scores based on the stress of the exam. If you’ve prepared well, it’s likely your performance was better than you think, and voiding could result in unnecessary delays and costs.
Can You Void the Score After Leaving the Testing Center?
No, you cannot void your MCAT score after leaving the testing center. The voiding process must be completed before you exit the test center, and you cannot reconsider your decision. If you leave without selecting to void, your exam will be scored.
Why Would You Void Your MCAT Score?
Common Reasons for Voiding
Voiding your MCAT score should be reserved for unavoidable circumstances. Common reasons include feeling unprepared, facing technical difficulties, or experiencing severe distractions like a fire alarm or loud construction at the testing center.
However, voiding counts as one of your limited MCAT attempts. Even after feeling terrible during the exam, many students find their scores were better than expected.
Should You Void If You Run Out of Time?
Running out of time is a stressful experience, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you should void your score. If you missed answering the last 10% of a section, you may still perform well on the rest of the test.
The MCAT scoring curve accounts for overall performance across sections. Therefore, missing a few questions at the end might not drastically impact your score. Before voiding, consider whether the time constraints affected just a small portion of the exam or the entire test.
What If You Felt Sick or Unprepared?
Voiding might be justified if you were extremely ill or under major physical stress during the test.
However, if you’re considering voiding because you felt unprepared, you might need to think twice and make sure you are not underestimating your readiness. If your practice tests were consistently strong, your feeling of unpreparedness is likely to be due to nerves, which is common, by the way.
Read More: The Best Way to Review an MCAT Practice Test
Decision-Making Checklist
- Did external factors (e.g., illness, distractions) significantly disrupt your concentration for more than 30 minutes?
- Did you consistently score near your target range in practice exams before test day?
- Did you finish over 90% of the exam despite feeling pressed for time?
- Can you realistically retake the MCAT within the current application cycle without delaying your timeline?
If the answer is no to most of these, it’s better to keep and assess your score.
Read More: How Long Should You Study For An MCAT Retake?
What Happens When You Void Your MCAT Score?
Process of Voiding
When you void your MCAT score, you erase your performance. At the end of the exam, you’ll have five minutes to decide whether to void or score the test. If you choose to void, your test will not be graded, and you won’t receive any feedback.
The voiding process is irreversible. Once you confirm your decision, it’s final. If you leave the test center without selecting an option, the test will automatically be scored.
Does Voiding Affect Your Test Limit?
Yes, as mentioned, voiding counts as one of your seven-lifetime attempts. Even though the score is erased, it will still be recorded as one of your MCAT takes. You’re allowed to take the MCAT up to three times in one calendar year, four times in two years, and seven times in total during your lifetime. Therefore, voiding reduces your available attempts and could limit your future opportunities if you need to retake the exam.
Impact on AMCAS and Medical Schools
The good news is that medical schools will never see a voided score. A voided exam is essentially erased from your application record—only scored exams are visible to admissions committees.
Read More: The AMCAS Application Process 2024-2025
Recommendations:
- Practical Decision-Making Tips: Before you decide to void, take a few moments to reflect. If you were able to complete most of the test and your practice scores were solid, avoid voiding just because of stress.
- Emotional Factors: Anxiety after the exam is common. Do not void simply because of a few tough questions. If you’ve prepared well, it’s likely that your performance was better than you think.
- Consider Application Timing: Voiding could also delay your application. If you need to retake the MCAT, it may push back your timeline for rolling admissions. This might result in reducing your chances of getting early interview spots at some schools.
Reasons to Void Your MCAT Score
Voiding your MCAT score is a good choice when incidents happen beyond your control. Here are some scenarios where voiding might be a good decision:
- Health Issues: If you experience sudden illness, like food poisoning or a migraine, voiding is a smart choice. Physical or mental health challenges impair one’s ability to focus and perform well. In these cases, voiding prevents unfair results.
- Major External Disruptions: Technical issues, such as power outages or personal emergencies, can disrupt concentration. If these disruptions take away your concentration for a large portion of the test, voiding is better than submitting an unreal score.
- Severe Underperformance: If you answer most of the questions by guessing or you leave multiple questions unanswered, voiding is a reasonable option. However, remember that most students feel uncertain after the MCAT and still score as they expected. Avoid voiding just because the test felt difficult; compare your performance to your practice exams before making this decision.
Decision-Making Checklist
Before deciding to void, ask yourself:
- Did external factors (e.g., illness, distractions) affect my ability to focus for a significant part of the test?
- Were my practice test scores within my target range, and did I finish most of the exam?
- Will retaking the MCAT impact my application timeline?
If most of your answers indicate major underperformance, voiding might be the right choice. Otherwise, submitting your score and waiting for the results is often better.
Read More: How to Take and Analyze an MCAT Diagnostic Test
Consequences of Voiding Your Score
Does Voiding Look Bad to Medical Schools?
Medical schools do not see voided scores; therefore, voiding your MCAT score does not negatively impact your application. Know that admissions committees won’t know you voided unless you tell them.
However, it’s important to remember that voiding counts in your limited number of MCAT attempts (three attempts per year and seven total attempts in a lifetime).
Opportunity Cost of Voiding
Voiding the MCAT has significant opportunity costs in terms of time and money. Preparing for and taking the MCAT includes months of study time and a registration fee of $330.
If you’re on a tight application timeline, voiding could delay your application and reduce your chances for early admissions at schools with rolling admissions.
In most cases, it is wiser to submit your score and review it before making future decisions. Voiding costs more than it saves, unless in case of significant external disruptions.
Alternatives to Voiding Your MCAT Score
Waiting for the Score: Pros and Cons
Sometimes, waiting for your score is better than voiding the test immediately after taking it. Pros include getting a full evaluation of your performance. Even if the test felt tough, your score might surprise you. The MCAT is scaled, meaning your score is relative to how others perform.
Voiding does not give you the chance to see where you stand and what you can do in your future attempts. Cons include the possibility of receiving a lower-than-expected score. This might delay your application if you plan on retaking the exam. However, voiding wastes an attempt and time since it takes 30-35 days to receive scores.
Rescheduling Your MCAT
Rescheduling is often a smarter choice than voiding if you’re not sure you are prepared enough for your upcoming exam. Then, you will have extra time to prepare and won’t lose one of your limited MCAT attempts. The AAMC allows you to reschedule up until the Bronze Zone (a week before the test). If you reschedule later, you will be charged with higher costs.
Conclusion
Before voiding, ask yourself these key questions:
- Did any major disruptions impact your focus throughout the exam?
- Were your practice scores consistently close to your target?
- Did you complete all or most sections of the exam?
- Can you reschedule or retake the exam and still meet your application timeline?
- Are you sure voiding is the best option?
If you’re unsure, it might be better to wait for your score and assess the results. Then, you can decide your next steps. For a more personalized strategy, get a 1:1 consultation from Jack Westin Experts to help you make an informed decision based on your unique situation.