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.

Overview

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 

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.