An AAMC PREview percentile rank tells you how your reported 1-9 score compares with a reference group of examinees. It is not the percentage of questions you answered correctly, and it is not a medical school admissions rank.
For applicants who want structured support alongside this article, structured AAMC PREview practice connects AAMC PREview reasoning practice, timed review, and AI feedback in one prep routine.
For the full PrepTrack PREview map, start with Ultimate Guide to the AAMC PREview Exam. Then use this page alongside How PREview Scoring Works, What Is a Good PREview Score?, and What Does a 1-9 PREview Score Mean? to interpret your score without overreading it.
Quick Answer
AAMC PREview scores are reported on a 1-9 scale. Percentile ranks explain where each score point falls compared with other test takers in the AAMC reference group.
The latest AAMC percentile summary available at our June 2026 refresh was labeled for May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026, with N = 65,012. Because that label ends before this article date, applicants should treat it as the latest AAMC summary available at refresh, not as a guarantee that no newer table has been posted. AAMC says percentile ranks are updated and publicly posted each May, so check AAMC directly before making a final score interpretation.
In that available summary, the percentiles were:
| PREview score | Percentile rank |
|---|---|
| 1 | 4th |
| 2 | 9th |
| 3 | 18th |
| 4 | 30th |
| 5 | 47th |
| 6 | 67th |
| 7 | 87th |
| 8 | 96th |
| 9 | 100th |
The practical takeaway: score points are not evenly spaced by percentile. Moving from a 5 to a 6 is not the same percentile movement as moving from an 8 to a 9.
What a PREview Percentile Means
A percentile rank tells you the percentage of scores at or below a particular score point in the reference group. If a 6 is listed at the 67th percentile, that means a score of 6 was at or above about 67 percent of scores in that reference group.
That does not mean the applicant answered 67 percent of items correctly. AAMC PREview is scored by comparing each rating with a consensus key developed with medical education subject matter experts. Full credit is awarded when the examinee rating matches the consensus rating. Half credit is awarded when the rating is one step away but stays on the same effective or ineffective side of the scale. No credit is awarded when the rating crosses from effective to ineffective, or the reverse.
For the scoring mechanics behind that process, read How PREview Scoring Works. This article focuses on what happens after those item-level judgments become a reported 1-9 score.
Why the 1-9 Score and Percentile Are Different
The 1-9 score is the number reported on your PREview score report. The percentile rank is an interpretation layer that compares that score with a broader testing group.
That distinction matters because the 1-9 scale can make differences look deceptively simple. A 5 and a 6 are only one score point apart, but in the available AAMC summary they sit at the 47th and 67th percentiles. A 7 and an 8 are also one point apart, but they sit at the 87th and 96th percentiles.
It is also important not to treat the percentile as a school-specific cutoff. AAMC participation categories tell you whether a school requires PREview, recommends it, accepts PREview for a situational judgment test requirement, or is exploring it for future use. They do not tell you that a particular percentile guarantees an interview, admission, or rejection. For school-list planning, pair this article with Schools That Require PREview and Schools That Recommend PREview.
How to Read the AAMC Percentile Table
Start with the score, then look across to the percentile. Do not start with the percentile and assume it is a target every applicant must hit.
A score of 5, for example, sat near the middle of the available summary at the 47th percentile. A 6 sat above that at the 67th percentile. A 7 was much higher at the 87th percentile, and an 8 was near the top of the table at the 96th percentile. A 9 was listed at the 100th percentile.
This is why the phrase “good PREview score” needs context. A score can sit higher in the available percentile table but still be only one part of an application. A lower score can raise questions at some schools without automatically deciding the outcome. For a broader interpretation, use What Is a Good PREview Score?, Average PREview Score for Medical School Applicants, and Can a Low PREview Score Hurt Your Application?.
Confidence Bands Matter
PREview score reports include a confidence band of plus or minus 1 point. That means applicants should be careful about overinterpreting tiny differences.
If one applicant has a 5 and another has a 6, the percentile table shows that those score points differ. But the confidence band is a reminder that standardized scores include measurement uncertainty. The cleaner way to think about your result is to combine three pieces of information: your reported score, the percentile rank, and the confidence band.
That approach is especially useful for retake decisions. A retake may make sense for some applicants, but the decision should be tied to school requirements, test timing, preparation quality, and the limits AAMC sets on attempts. Do not retake only because one adjacent score point looks tempting in a percentile table.
How Percentiles Should Affect Your Plan
Use percentiles to understand your score, not to panic-plan your application.
First, confirm whether any school on your list requires PREview, recommends it, accepts it for an SJT requirement, or is only exploring it. A required school may not consider an application complete until a PREview score has been received. A recommending school may allow applicants to submit with or without a score.
Second, line up your test window with score release timing. AAMC’s 2026 testing windows run from April through October, and scores are released approximately 30 days after each testing window. Dates are subject to change, appointments are limited, and registration deadlines matter.
Third, interpret the result with the full score report. A 1-9 score, percentile rank, and confidence band say more together than any single number alone.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Do not describe your percentile as your “percent correct.” PREview does not work like a simple classroom quiz.
Do not assume every school uses PREview the same way. School policy can vary, and static articles should not replace the AAMC participating-school page, MSAR, or individual admissions pages.
Do not use old screenshots or forum tables as your main reference. AAMC says percentile ranks are updated each May, and the posted table can change by testing year.
Do not treat PREview as a replacement for the MCAT or GPA. AAMC describes PREview as a professional readiness exam that complements academic metrics; it does not replace them.
Related AAMC PREview Resources
- PrepTrack AAMC PREview prep
- AAMC PREview practice exam
- Ultimate Guide to the AAMC PREview Exam
- What Is a Good PREview Score?
- How PREview Scoring Works
- How Medical Schools Use PREview Scores
Final Takeaway
PREview percentiles translate the 1-9 score scale into national context. They do not show percent correct, do not replace school-specific requirements, and do not predict an admissions decision by themselves. Read your percentile with your reported score, confidence band, test date, and school list so the number helps you make a clear next decision instead of creating unnecessary noise.