Optometry School
OAT Study Guide
Everything for optometry school admission — OAT format, physics prep, official practice tests, and application through OptomCAS.
OAT Exam Format
The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is administered by the ADA on behalf of ASCO. All U.S. optometry programs require it. The exam takes about 4.5 hours at Prometric. Each section scores 200–400; schools evaluate individual sections and total score.
| Section | Name | Questions | Time | Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNS | Survey of Natural Sciences | 100 | 90 min | Biology (40%), Gen Chem (30%), Org Chem (30%) |
| RC | Reading Comprehension | 50 | 60 min | 3 passages — science topics |
| Physics | Physics | 40 | 50 min | Mechanics, fluids, optics, electricity, waves |
| QR | Quantitative Reasoning | 40 | 45 min | Algebra, probability, geometry, word problems |
Prerequisites
| Course | When | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| General Biology I & II (with lab) | Community college | Required |
| General Chemistry I & II (with lab) | Community college | Required |
| Organic Chemistry I & II | CC or after transfer | Required — take before OAT |
| Physics I & II | CC or after transfer | Required — full physics section on OAT |
| Microbiology | CC or university | Recommended for biology section |
| Biochemistry | After transfer | Helpful but less tested than on MCAT |
CC student tip: Physics is a full standalone section on the OAT — do not take the exam until physics is fresh. Optics content directly connects to the optometry profession.
Score Targets
| Total score | Percentile | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 350+ | ~90th+ total | Competitive at top optometry programs |
| 330–349 | ~75th–89th | Solid for many OD programs |
| 310–329 | ~50th–74th | Workable with strong GPA and optometry exposure |
| 300–309 | ~25th–49th | Consider retake; verify school minimums |
| Below 300 | <25th | Retake recommended — check individual section scores too |
A weak physics section (below 300) raises red flags for optometry programs — prioritize physics review.
High-Yield Content
Biology
- Cell structure, organelles, and membrane transport
- Genetics, Mendelian inheritance, and molecular biology
- Human systems: cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular, skeletal
- Evolution, ecology, and taxonomy
- Microbiology and immunology basics
General & Organic Chemistry
- Stoichiometry, bonding, and periodic trends
- Acid-base chemistry and redox
- Functional groups, stereochemistry, and reactions
- Lab techniques and experimental design
Physics
- Kinematics, forces, and energy
- Fluids, pressure, and buoyancy
- Optics — lenses, mirrors, refraction (highly relevant to optometry)
- Electricity, circuits, and magnetism
- Waves, sound, and light
Reading & QR
- RC: summarize passage thesis before answering — similar strategy to DAT/MCAT CARS
- QR: unit conversions, proportions, and probability
- Practice timed sets — OAT is shorter than MCAT but still stamina-dependent
Study Plan (6–10 Weeks)
Standard prep (6–10 weeks · ~18 hrs/week)
| Mon–Tue | 3 hrs/day | Biology + gen chem content review |
| Wed–Thu | 3 hrs/day | Organic chem + physics problems |
| Friday | 2 hrs | Reading comp timed passages |
| Saturday | 4 hrs | Full or half-length practice test + review |
| Sunday | 2 hrs | QR drills + review error log |
Official OAT Practice Tests
| Resource | Format | Cost | Scored? | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAT Official Practice Test | Full-length · timed sections | Paid (via oat.ada.org) | Practice score | Only official practice from OAT test constructors |
| OAT Candidate Guide (PDF) | Official policies & content outline | Free | N/A | Required reading before applying — registration, scoring, retakes |
| OptomCAS | Centralized application service | Application fee | N/A | Apply to most U.S. optometry programs in one application |
| ASCO Future Students | Career info & OAT FAQ | Free | N/A | School requirements and optometry career overview |
Third-Party Prep Resources
| Resource | Format | Cost | Scored? | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAT Bootcamp | QBank + videos + practice tests | Paid subscription | Yes | Most popular dedicated OAT prep platform |
| Chad's Prep (OAT) | Video review courses | Paid | No | Clear science and physics review — good for CC students |
| Kaplan OAT Prep | Courses + practice tests | Paid / some free events | Yes | Structured course option with live instruction |
| Princeton Review OAT | Courses + practice tests | Paid / free events | Yes | Alternative structured prep |
Recommended Practice Test Order
- Read the OAT Candidate Guide and confirm prerequisites are complete
- Content review — especially physics if taken a year or more ago
- Third-party QBank daily practice (Bootcamp or similar) during review
- OAT Official Practice Test — 2–3 weeks before real exam
- Final week: timed section drills only, no new content
- Apply through OptomCAS — verify each school's last accepted OAT date
Track OAT prep in Professional School Exams.
Registration & Test Day
- Register at oat.ada.org and receive your OAT PIN
- Schedule at Prometric 60–90 days before desired test date
- Government photo ID must match your OAT application exactly
- Exam is ~4.5 hours at Prometric test centers
- Scores sent to schools you select at registration (included in exam fee)
- Retake allowed after 90 days; unlimited attempts but schools see all recent scores
- Three or more attempts require permission to test again
Optometry School Application
- All U.S. optometry programs require the OAT (some accept MCAT/DAT/GRE — OAT preferred)
- Shadow optometrists in private practice, retail, and specialty settings
- Many programs do not require a bachelor's — but most successful applicants have one
- OptomCAS opens each summer; submit early in the cycle
- Personal statement should show understanding of optometry as a profession, not just 'I like eyes'
Common Mistakes
- Taking OAT before organic chemistry and physics
- Underpreparing for physics — it is 25% of the exam
- Not shadowing optometrists — schools want retail and clinical exposure
- Assuming MCAT prep covers OAT — formats overlap but OAT has no CARS/PAT
- Missing OptomCAS deadlines — each school has different last OAT dates
Track your OAT prep
Log target date, practice scores, and study status in Admissions OS.