What is the OAT® Test?

The Optometry Admissions Test® (OAT®) is a standardized test schools of optometry require their students to take as part of their admissions procedures. Students in the United States and Canada should expect to take the OAT® test if they want to go to optometry school. There is a fee for taking the test, and students usually need to schedule six weeks in advance to make sure they will be able to take it when and where they want to. Testing is available year round.

There are four sections on the OAT&reg test, covering physics, quantitative reasoning skills, natural sciences, and reading comprehension. The goal of the test is to determine a student's suitability for the academic rigors of optometry school. In addition to testing basic knowledge to make sure students have some familiarity with topics in anatomy and biology, the test also determines if people can think critically, evaluate and respond to written information, and perform simple calculations and logic challenges.

This test is part of a larger application to school. Students who perform poorly on the OAT® test can retake it to see if it is possible to get a better score. They may also consider bolstering their application with strong grades, letters of recommendation, and other supporting materials to demonstrate their suitability as students.

People have 280 minutes to complete the OAT® test, including time to take breaks and an optional survey for test takers. As with other testing of this nature, people cannot look at reference materials during the test and must not communicate with other test takers. Usually the test facility asks students to leave their belongings in a locker, and will provide scratch paper and writing utensils upon request for people who need them.

There is no guessing penalty on the OAT® test. People should fill in all the test bubbles, even if they are not sure about the answer to a question. Scores on the test range from 200 to 400. In addition to receiving a raw scale on the basis of the number of correct students, people also get a percentile score. This compares their performance with that of other people and may be especially meaningful to optometry schools, as they want to know how applicants stack up in comparison with each other.

People with disabilities are entitled to accommodations on the OAT® test. They should file requests as soon as possible and provide documentation to help the testing center prepare for them. If students are not sure whether they need accommodations, they can meet with a disability services counselor to discuss the available options and see if any will help them complete the test more effectively.