The averages, in context
The mean MCAT score across all test takers is around 500 out of 528. Among matriculants, students who actually enroll in medical school, the average is roughly 511 to 512. That gives you a benchmark, but the right target is set by where you want to apply, not by the national mean.
What scores look like by tier
The most selective research schools tend to have median MCAT scores in the high 510s to low 520s. Many mid range MD programs sit somewhere in the low to mid 510s. DO programs commonly land in the mid 500s. These are medians, not walls. Students below a school's median get in every year with strong applications elsewhere, and students above it get turned away. The score buys you a look, not a seat.
Balance usually beats a spike
An even score across the four sections generally reads better than a lopsided one. A 510 built from 127, 128, 128, 127 is usually viewed more favorably than a 510 built from 132, 124, 130, 124, because a 124 invites the question of whether you can handle that kind of material at all. CARS carries particular weight at some schools, including several in Canada.
What to target on a retake
If you are retaking, aim for improvement schools can see. A three to five point total gain reads as meaningful growth. A gain of seven or more reads as strong. Students who complete The Retaker Course improve by 9.7 points on average, and 96% improve on their retake. Those are aggregate outcomes, not a promise about any single test day, and I would be lying if I told you a number was guaranteed. What is fair to say is that meaningful improvement is common when the study method actually changes.
The part worth remembering
Your MCAT score is one piece of a much larger application. It matters, and it does not define whether you will be a good doctor. Aim at improvement you can control, not at a perfect number.