What P/S actually tests
P/S covers psychology, sociology, and the biological bases of behavior. It has the largest vocabulary of any section: hundreds of named terms, theories, and thinkers, tested through research-style passages.
The classic P/S miss is choosing a term that is close but not exact. The section rewards precise definitions and the ability to match a study description to the concept it illustrates.
Reading a 124 honestly
A 124 in P/S is in the 34th percentile on the official AAMC section table, in the broad middle of the 118 to 132 scale. Section scores here are common, and what they mean depends on the company they keep: a 124 next to three stronger sections reads differently than a 124 in a balanced line.
For a Retaker, a middle section score is often the best value target on the whole score report, because moving it usually requires refining execution rather than relearning a subject from scratch.
How Retakers move this section
P/S improvement on a retake is often the most direct of the four sections: close the vocabulary gaps with spaced repetition, then drill official passages so the terms connect to how the AAMC actually tests them.
Precision matters more than coverage. Reviewing why a near-miss term was wrong teaches more than another pass through a 300-page content review.
Common questions
Is a 124 P/S score good?
A 124 in P/S is in the 34th percentile on the official AAMC section table, meaning 34% of section scores were equal to or lower. Whether it is strong enough depends on your total score, your section balance, and your target programs.
What percentile is a 124 in P/S?
On the AAMC section percentile table in effect May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027, a 124 in P/S is in the 34th percentile.
How do Retakers improve P/S?
P/S improvement on a retake is often the most direct of the four sections: close the vocabulary gaps with spaced repetition, then drill official passages so the terms connect to how the AAMC actually tests them.
See the fuller picture
Section scores only mean something in context. For scale, a 124 across all four sections would land near a 496 total. Compare nearby P/S scores: a 123 in P/S and a 125 in P/S, or see how a 124 reads in the other sections: C/P · CARS · B/B.
For a personalized read on your whole score report, start with the free Retaker Calculator, and when you are ready to build the plan, The Retaker Course schedules your P/S work for you.