Optometry Admission Test (OAT)
The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is a standardized examination designed to measure general academic ability and comprehension of scientific information. The OAT is sponsored by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) for applicants seeking admission to an optometry program. All schools and colleges of optometry in the United States and the University of Waterloo, Canada require the OAT.
Test Components |
Natural Sciences Reading Comprehension Physics Quantitative Reasoning |
Test Format |
Computer-based |
Test Location |
Prometric Test Centers across the U.S. |
Test Duration |
5 hours |
Test Availability |
Year-round |
When to Take the Test |
Work with your PPAC advisor to time your OAT exam |
Required Test Scores |
Average test score for accepted students is 331 (somewhere around 300 is acceptable) nationwide and OSU Optometry average is 339 |
Fees |
$515 (2024) - covers the cost of sending scores to optometry school added at the time of application. $50 additional fee applies for each additional score report after application submitted |
Financial Assistance |
A limited number of partial fee waivers (50%) are available for students in severe financial hardship |
Prep Timeline |
Start preparing 4-6 months in advance of your test date |
Registering for the OAT Exam
Work with PPAC to find the ideal time to take the OAT, then register for the exam.
Preparing for the OAT Exam
Start by reading the OAT Candidate Guide, available on the official OAT website. Educate yourself by investigating all options thoroughly prior to committing. Resources such as Kaplan and the OAT Bootcamp are good places to start, however, PPAC does not endorse any specific test preparation company.
What to Expect on Test Day
Section |
# of Questions |
Duration (Minutes) |
Score |
Topics Covered |
Optional Tutorial |
|
15 |
|
|
Survey of Natural Sciences |
100 |
90 |
200-400 |
Biology (40), General Chemistry (30), Organic Chemistry (30) |
Reading Comprehension |
50 |
60 |
200-400 |
Three reading passages, require the ability to read, comprehend, and thoroughly analyze basic scientific information |
Scheduled break (optional) |
|
30 |
|
|
Physics Test |
40 |
50 |
200-400 |
Physics |
Quantitative Reasoning |
40 |
45 |
200-400 |
Algebra, Numeric calculations, Probability & Statistics, Geometry, Trigonometry, & Applied Mathematics (word) problems |
Optional Post Test Survey |
|
15 |
|
|
Getting Your Test Scores
Unofficial test score report and explanation received immediately upon completion of OAT. No other score report will be sent to the examinee. Official scores will be released to schools approximately three weeks after the test date. Schools of optometry require official score reports for decision-making.