Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is a standardized test conducted by Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO). This is a test for admission into graduate courses in schools and colleges of optometry. These courses are four year degree programs awarding Doctor of Optometry. This test is taken as one of the many selection criteria in most of the schools.
Eligibility-
This test is for admission into graduate level optometry courses. The applicant must have completed at least one year of collegiate education including courses of biology, physics, chemistry and organic chemistry.
Test Overview-
It is a battery of four tests- survey of natural sciences, reading comprehension, physics and quantitative reasoning. The content of survey of natural sciences test comprises of subject matter from biology, general chemistry and organic chemistry. The reading comprehension test examines ability to understand scientific facts and information. The questions in this test are based on three given passages. The physics test includes subject topics covered in a two semester physics course. The quantitative test measures ability of numerical reasoning and manipulating quantitative relationships.
Test Format-
The test is allotted a total time of 280 minutes which includes optional break, tutorial and post test survey of 15 minutes each. The survey of natural sciences test consists of 100 questions, of which 40 are from biology and 30 from general chemistry and organic chemistry each. The time allotted for this test is 90 minutes. There are 40 questions in each of the remaining tests. The time period allotted for reading comprehension and physics test is 50 minutes each while 45 minutes are given for completing quantitative reasoning test.
Marking Scheme-
The questions are awarded raw scores which are totaled and scaled in a range from 200 to 400. There is no negative marking. The results consist of scaled scores of recent four attempts of this test and percentile rank in them. The official score cards are sent to selected optometry schools in three weeks.
Schedule-
This test is conducted at Prometric test centers in weekends. The registrations can be done through internet or mail. The application for this test can be submitted at most 12 months before applied test date. A retest can be taken only after 90 days from previous attempt.
Exam fees-
OAT exam fee is $220. This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. There is also one time fee wavier up to 50% for economically backward candidates.