-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LSFqSmjSlhloZ/lJT43an6gzi9h6j5D6YUFZS3fQTUJxW5/aJQIGVmvh98q3UXdh
 0k/GcbIeWuBYf1dVcx2Q+Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-009490.txt : 20040504
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-009490.hdr.sgml : 20040504
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040504104837
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-009490
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040503
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040504

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCGILLICUDY CORNELIUS III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001136998

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-32179
		FILM NUMBER:		04775804

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2300 N STREET NW
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20037

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EXACT SCIENCES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001124140
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMMERCIAL PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH [8731]
		IRS NUMBER:				204782291
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 CAMPUS DRIVE
		CITY:			MARLBOROUGH
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01752
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5086831200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 CAMPUS DRIVE
		CITY:			MARLBOROUGH
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01752

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EXACT CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000919
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001124140</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EXACT SCIENCES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EXAS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001136998</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCGILLICUDY CORNELIUS III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2300 N ST NW</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WAHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20037</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-05-03</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.83</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>*** Stephen A. Read, Attorney-In-Fact, pursuant to a Power of Attorney on file with the Commission, which Power of Attorney is incorporated herein by reference.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>***</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----