Need honest advice about whether to take or postpone MCAT retake
Background:
- First MCAT: 489
- Strong GPA 3.95 neuroscience major with clinical experience
- Applying MD this cycle ideally, really hoping to avoid another gap year
- Been studying for months while working part-time as an MA
- AAMC FLs mostly around 498–502 range
- Just took FL6 while VERY sick (fever, sore throat, body aches, power outage interruption) and got 497
My issue is I genuinely cannot tell anymore whether:
- I am actually not ready, or
- anxiety/exhaustion/testing conditions are making me perform below my ability.
I’ve completed most AAMC material including section banks, CARS diagnostic and questions packs and FLs. I test 5/30 currently. If I postpone, next option is 6/26, but I also have major family events in June that may affect productivity, and i know I won't be able to study effectively until after 6/12. So I don't know if it will be worth it to push that late.
I know a second low score could hurt, but I also don’t want to keep delaying forever out of fear.
For people who had low first scores or borderline FLs:
- what helped you decide whether to test or postpone?
- did your real score end up higher/lower than FL average?
- how did you know anxiety/burnout was affecting performance?
- what helped you get the highest score jump in 2 weeks?
My main issues is timing for CARS I find my self short on time for the last 2 passages. B/B more passage strategies than content. P/S and C/P usually my highest sections.
Highest I got on each sections:
127 C/P
125 CARS
126 B/B
127 P/S
Please be honest but constructive. I’m trying to make the smartest long-term decision.