The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is a standardized admissions exam used by optometry programs to evaluate applicants’ academic preparation and ability to understand scientific information. The exam contains 230 multiple-choice questions covering biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, reading comprehension, physics, and quantitative reasoning. This guide covers the current OAT format, content, scoring, fees, registration process, testing rules, retake policy, and study resources.
What Is the Optometry Admission Test?
The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is an admissions examination governed by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO). The Department of Testing Services, which is a shared service of the American Dental Association, implements the examination program.
The OAT is designed to measure general academic ability and comprehension of scientific information. Optometry programs use the results along with other admissions information such as undergraduate grades, prerequisite coursework, recommendations, experience, interviews, and application materials.
OAT scores are accepted by all optometry schools in the United States and by select Canadian programs.
The OAT does not have an official passing score. Each optometry program decides how OAT results are considered in its admissions process.
Who Is Eligible to Take the OAT?
The OAT does not require candidates to complete a bachelor’s degree before testing.
Successful candidates have typically completed at least one year of college coursework, including courses in:
Biology
General chemistry
Organic chemistry
Advanced biology and physics courses are not formal OAT prerequisites, although the test does include a substantial Physics section. Most candidates have completed two or more years of college before taking the exam.
Many students take the OAT during the second semester of their junior undergraduate year or during the summer between junior and senior year, but your ideal test date depends on your coursework and the application deadlines of the schools you are considering.
OAT Exam Format
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Survey of the Natural Sciences | 100 | 90 minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | 50 | 60 minutes |
| Physics | 40 | 50 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 40 | 45 minutes |
The four scored testing sections contain a total of 230 multiple-choice questions and 245 minutes of testing time, or 4 hours and 5 minutes.
Total Appointment Time
The complete OAT appointment can last up to 5 hours and 5 minutes when the optional tutorial, scheduled break, and post-test survey are included.
| Part of Appointment | Time |
|---|---|
| Optional Tutorial | 15 minutes |
| Survey of the Natural Sciences | 90 minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | 60 minutes |
| Optional Scheduled Break | 30 minutes |
| Physics | 50 minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 45 minutes |
| Optional Post-Test Survey | 15 minutes |
Know the difference: The actual test sections total 4 hours and 5 minutes. The often-quoted 5 hours and 5 minutes is the maximum administration time after adding the optional tutorial, scheduled break, and survey.
Survey of the Natural Sciences – 100 Questions
The Survey of the Natural Sciences combines three subjects into one 90-minute section.
Biology – 40 Questions
The current Biology specifications include five major areas:
Cell and Molecular Biology: metabolism, enzymes, membranes, signal transduction, thermodynamics, mitosis, meiosis, cell structure, biomolecules, and experimental biology
Diversity of Life: viruses, bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, plants, and animals
Structure and Function of Systems: major human and animal organ systems
Genetics: molecular, human, classical, and chromosomal genetics; genomics; gene expression; epigenetics; and genetic technology
Evolution and Ecology: natural selection, population genetics, speciation, animal behavior, and population, community, and ecosystem ecology
General Chemistry – 30 Questions
General Chemistry topics include:
Stoichiometry and general chemical concepts
Gases, liquids, solids, and solutions
Acids, bases, and chemical equilibria
Thermodynamics and thermochemistry
Chemical kinetics
Oxidation-reduction and electrochemistry
Atomic and molecular structure
Periodic properties and descriptive chemistry
Nuclear reactions
Laboratory techniques, equipment, safety, error analysis, and data analysis
A periodic table with commonly used physical constants is available on screen during the General Chemistry portion.
Organic Chemistry – 30 Questions
2026 update: The OAT Program published revised Organic Chemistry specifications for candidates testing in June 2026 and beyond. The changes primarily reorganize and clarify the tested topics rather than representing a major change in the underlying organic chemistry content.
The updated framework includes:
Mechanisms: curved-arrow notation, resonance, radical reactions, proton transfer, addition, elimination, substitution, rearrangements, combined mechanisms, and reaction-coordinate diagrams
Chemical Synthesis: one-step, two-step, and multistep reactions and reactivity across multiple functional groups
Acid-Base Chemistry: acidity and basicity trends, structural effects, product prediction, and equilibria
Chemical and Physical Properties: polarity, intermolecular forces, solubility, melting and boiling points, laboratory techniques, and spectroscopy
Structural Evaluation: nomenclature, functional groups, stereochemistry, conformations, chirality, aromaticity, hybridization, resonance, bonding, and relative stability and reactivity
Reading Comprehension – 50 Questions
The Reading Comprehension section contains 50 questions in 60 minutes.
You will read three passages on scientific topics and answer questions that measure your ability to understand, analyze, and interpret the information presented.
Prior knowledge of the scientific subjects discussed in the passages is not required.
Preparation should focus on skills such as:
Identifying main ideas and supporting information
Finding relevant details efficiently
Making inferences based on a passage
Understanding relationships among ideas
Analyzing and evaluating scientific information
Physics – 40 Questions
The Physics section contains 40 questions in 50 minutes.
Current topics include:
Units and vectors
Linear kinematics
Statics and dynamics
Rotational motion
Energy and momentum
Simple harmonic motion and waves
Fluid statics
Thermodynamics and thermal energy
Electrostatics and DC circuits
Optics
Quantitative Reasoning – 40 Questions
The Quantitative Reasoning section contains 40 questions in 45 minutes.
Topics include:
Equations and algebraic expressions
Inequalities
Exponential notation
Absolute value
Ratios and proportions
Graphical analysis
Data analysis, interpretation, and sufficiency
Quantitative comparison
Probability and statistics
Applied mathematics and word problems
Calculator policy: A digital calculator is available on screen during the Quantitative Reasoning section. Personal calculators are not permitted in the testing room.
How Much Does the OAT Cost?
Current optometry-school admissions materials for the 2026–2027 application cycle list the OAT registration fee at approximately $535.
Verify the fee before applying. The public 2026 OAT Candidate Guide still displays the previous $520 fee through June 30, 2026 and states that the amount changes beginning July 1, 2026. Because fees can change annually, confirm the exact amount shown in the OAT application system before submitting payment.
The examination fee is nonrefundable and nontransferable.
One useful feature of OAT registration is that you can select as many optometry programs as you want to receive your scores at no additional charge when you submit your application.
If you add score recipients after submitting your application, an additional score-report fee applies.
Partial Fee Waiver
The OAT Program offers a limited number of partial fee waivers each calendar year for candidates with demonstrated financial hardship. The waiver covers 50% of the examination fee.
To qualify, a candidate generally must:
Be taking the OAT for the first time
Have never previously received an OAT partial fee waiver
Demonstrate financial hardship
Meet the applicable U.S. citizenship or residency requirement
Have received financial aid from their educational institution
Waivers are limited and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The OAT Program has announced that the available 2026 fee waivers have already been awarded.
How Do I Register for the OAT?
1. Get an OAT PIN.
Your Personal Identification Number is used throughout the application, testing, and score-reporting process.
2. Review the current Candidate Guide.
You must confirm during your application that you have read and agree to the examination policies.
3. Submit the OAT application.
Use your legal name exactly as it appears on the identification you will present at the testing center.
4. Select score recipients.
Choose every optometry program that may need your score. Programs selected during the original application can receive results without an additional score-report charge.
5. Wait for eligibility confirmation.
The Department of Testing Services processes your application and sends an email confirming that you are eligible to schedule.
6. Schedule through Prometric.
Select an available testing center, date, and time within your eligibility period.
How Long Is My OAT Eligibility Period?
After your application is approved, you are normally eligible to test for six months.
You may request one 45-day eligibility extension per application if you meet the current requirements and pay the applicable extension fee.
If you already have an appointment scheduled, you must cancel that appointment before requesting the eligibility extension.
When and Where Is the OAT Offered?
The OAT is offered year-round at Prometric testing centers.
Testing is available throughout the United States, U.S. territories, and select Canadian locations. The OAT is not currently offered in Quebec.
Appointment availability varies by test center, so the OAT Program recommends scheduling well in advance. Candidates applying during busy admission periods may want to reserve an appointment 60–90 days before their preferred test date.
Can I Reschedule the OAT?
Yes, but rescheduling fees depend on how much notice you provide.
| Notice Before Appointment | Base Rescheduling Fee |
|---|---|
| 30 or more business days | $50 |
| 5–29 business days | $70 |
| 1–4 business days | $150 |
An appointment must generally be canceled or rescheduled by the business day before the test and at least 24 hours before the scheduled appointment.
If you fail to appear or arrive more than 30 minutes late and are denied admission, you can lose the entire examination fee.
What Should I Bring on Test Day?
Plan to arrive at the Prometric center at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
You must provide two original, current forms of identification.
Primary ID: government issued and containing your photograph, name, and signature
Secondary ID: must meet the current OAT identification requirements
The name on your identification must exactly match the name on your OAT application.
Expired identification is not accepted.
Items Provided at the Test Center
Prometric provides the materials needed for calculations and note taking. A digital calculator is available during Quantitative Reasoning.
Personal Items
Personal belongings must generally be stored outside the testing room. Prohibited items include:
Cell phones and other electronic devices
Personal calculators
Study materials and notes
Watches and unauthorized jewelry
Other personal items not permitted under Prometric security rules
How Is the OAT Scored?
Your OAT results are based on the number of questions you answer correctly. Raw scores are converted to standard scores ranging from 200 to 400 in 10-point increments.
OAT scores are not percentages, and the examination is not graded on a traditional classroom curve.
There is no penalty for guessing. Because wrong answers do not subtract additional points, answer every question you can rather than intentionally leaving questions blank.
You receive individual standard scores for:
Biology
General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Reading Comprehension
Physics
Quantitative Reasoning
Academic Average
The Academic Average (AA) is calculated from the mean of the six standard scores for Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Reading Comprehension, Physics, and Quantitative Reasoning.
Total Science
The Total Science (TS) score is based on performance across the 100 Survey of the Natural Sciences questions plus the 40 Physics questions.
Some OAT questions are experimental and do not contribute to your score. They are not identified while you are testing.
What Is a Good OAT Score?
There is no official OAT passing score or universal admissions cutoff.
Each optometry program decides how to interpret scores and how much weight to give them relative to undergraduate GPA, science GPA, prerequisite performance, experience, recommendations, interviews, and other application factors.
Rather than treating one number as a universal target, compare your results with the admissions information published by the schools where you intend to apply.
When Will I Get My OAT Scores?
You normally receive an unofficial score report at the Prometric testing center immediately after completing the examination.
The unofficial report contains your scale scores and is for your personal use.
Official OAT results are generally:
Posted to your OAT PIN account within approximately 3–4 weeks
Sent electronically to the programs you selected when applying
Sent to OptomCAS when you authorize score reporting to an optometry school through your application
If you take the OAT more than once, schools receiving your official results receive a history of your testing attempts.
How Often Can I Take the OAT?
The current OAT retesting policy is considerably different from older rules that required a 90-day wait.
The current rules are:
You must wait at least 60 days between OAT attempts.
You may take the OAT no more than four times during any 12-month period.
Candidates with three or more previous attempts must obtain permission before another attempt and provide evidence of a recent optometry-school application.
After your fifth OAT attempt, you may test only once during each 12-month period.
Every new attempt requires a new OAT application and payment of the examination fee.
You cannot retake only one section. Partial testing is not permitted. A retake requires another complete administration of the OAT.
How Can I Prepare for the OAT?
The OAT covers a broad range of undergraduate science and quantitative material, but success also depends heavily on pacing. You have just over one minute per question on average, and several sections move faster than that.
Build your study plan around the official test specifications and spend extra time on subjects where practice results show consistent weaknesses.
OAT Study Checklist
Review cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, physiology, evolution, ecology, and biological diversity.
Practice stoichiometry, gases, solutions, acids and bases, equilibria, thermodynamics, kinetics, electrochemistry, atomic structure, and laboratory concepts.
Use Organic Chemistry materials aligned with the updated 2026 specifications, especially mechanisms, synthesis, spectroscopy, structural analysis, and acid-base chemistry.
Practice reading long scientific passages under the 60-minute Reading Comprehension limit.
Review mechanics, fluids, thermodynamics, electricity, circuits, waves, and optics for Physics.
Practice algebra, probability, statistics, quantitative comparison, data analysis, and word problems.
Do not leave questions blank simply because you are uncertain; there is no guessing penalty.
Practice with the digital calculator style used in Quantitative Reasoning rather than relying on a personal scientific calculator.
Complete full-length timed practice so you are prepared for more than four hours of scored testing in one appointment.
OAT Study Resources
Use these resources for additional OAT review and practice.
OAT® and Optometry Admission Test are associated with the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry and the Optometry Testing Program. These organizations are not affiliated with StudyGuideZone or Mometrix Test Preparation and do not endorse these products or services.