Survey of the Natural Sciences

Preparatory Courses:
BIOL 171/L, BIOL 172/L, CHEM 161/L, CHEM 162/L, CHEM 272/L, CHEM 273/L, MATH 140+

Reading Comprehension

Preparatory Courses:
English, English literature, and courses in Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences that require reading and analysis.

Physics

Preparatory Courses:
MATH 140+, PHYS 170/L, PHYS 272/L

Quantitative Reasoning

Preparatory Courses:
MATH 140+, MATH 215 or 241

• Your most important preparation for the OAT is your undergraduate courses, many of which sharpen your writing and verbal reasoning skills.
• Remember that your Reading Comprehension score is not only the most accurate predictor of how well you will do in optometry school, but also the most difficult score to improve
• How to Prepare for an Entrance Exam

• The Official Program Guide to the OAT® 
• Official OAT Sample Test
• OAT Frequently Asked Questions
• Sample Test by OAT Program

*Note PAC does not endorse any particular test preparation resource and this is not an exhaustive list. 

• Gold Standard
• Kaplan
• Princeton Review (Use promo code RAINBOW15 for 15% off!)

✓ Learn as much as you can about the exam

• All multiple choice questions are worth the same amount—one raw point
• No penalty for guessing

✓ Study material covered in the exam. Ways can include:

• Reviewing courses you took
• Studying textbooks and materials
• Taking preparatory courses and/or tutoring offered by private companies (e.g., Kaplan and Princeton Review for the MCAT)

✓ Start preparing for the exams well in advance

• A year is none too soon - but pace yourself!
• Find a balance between preparing thoroughly, but not burning yourself out

✓ Take practice exams under realistic, timed conditions

✓ Review the results of your practice exam to identify areas in which you need improvement

• Spend more time reviewing material in these areas
• Identify tactical errors you may have made
• Begin to develop strategies for answering each type of question

✓ Do your best the first time

• Must wait 90 days between testing attempt
• Must submit a new application plus fee for each retest 

✓ Take time just before the exam to relax

• Get a good night's sleep
• Eat a good nutritious breakfast

✓ Scope out the exam location prior to your test day

• ASUH Graduate Test Prep Award
• Kaplan's Tuition Assistance Program