If you are a prospective dental or optometry student, chances are you’ve heard about the Dental Admission Test (DAT) and Optometry Admission Test (OAT). These standardized exams play a crucial role in your application process and can significantly impact your chances of getting into your desired program. In this blog post, we’ll look at the key differences between the DAT and OAT exams to help you prepare with confidence.
Before we dive in, you can also check out our DAT Percentiles Guide, which explains how your scaled score compares to other test-takers.
Ready to Start Preparing?
The DAT Destroyer and OAT Destroyer by Dr. Jim Romano have helped thousands of students master the sciences and gain confidence before test day.
Explore our full study collection here: Orgoman.com
👉 Learn more in our What Is the DAT Exam? guide, which breaks down the DAT structure, timing, and scoring updates in detail.
You can also review our detailed DAT Score Conversion Chart to see how the new 3-digit scale translates from older DAT scores.
DAT vs OAT Comparison
Survey of Natural Sciences:
DAT covers Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry.
OAT covers Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics.
Perceptual Ability (PAT):
Included on the DAT ✅ | Not on the OAT ❌
Reading Comprehension:
Both exams include this section; difficulty level is similar.
Quantitative Reasoning:
Present on both exams and similar in format.
Total Testing Time:
DAT – 4 hours 15 minutes
OAT – 5 hours (slightly longer)
Content and Format
The DAT consists of four sections: Survey of Natural Sciences, Perceptual Ability Test, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning.
The OAT includes four sections as well: Survey of Natural Sciences, Physics, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning.
While both exams cover similar content areas such as biology, chemistry, and math, the OAT includes a separate Physics section not found on the DAT.
Timing
The DAT allows for a total testing time of 4 hours and 15 minutes to complete all sections.
The OAT provides candidates with 5 hours to complete all sections.
That extra time on the OAT can be helpful for students who may need more time to work through complex physics problems or reading passages.
Scoring
Both exams use a scaled scoring system ranging from 200 to 400 points per section, with a standard score of 300 considered average.
Each section is scored independently, meaning that your performance on one section does not affect your score on others.
Both the DAT and OAT provide percentile ranks to help you compare your performance with other test-takers.
Purpose
While both exams are used for admissions to dental and optometry schools, they serve slightly different purposes beyond testing academic knowledge.
The DAT evaluates critical thinking through its Perceptual Ability Test, which measures spatial reasoning skills essential for dentistry.
The OAT places greater emphasis on Physics, which is crucial for understanding optics in optometry.
Preparation Tips
When preparing for either exam, familiarize yourself with the content areas covered by each test and practice using official materials provided by the ADA (for the DAT) or ASCO (for the OAT).
Take practice tests under timed conditions to simulate real testing environments and identify areas that need additional review. Official practice materials are available directly through the American Dental Association: ADA DAT Practice Tests and OAT Practice Resources.
Ready to Start Preparing?
The DAT Destroyer and OAT Destroyer by Dr. Jim Romano have helped thousands of students master the sciences and gain confidence before test day.
Explore our full study collection here: Orgoman.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the DAT harder than the OAT?
Not really — they’re just different. The DAT includes the PAT section that tests spatial reasoning, while the OAT adds a Physics section instead. Both require strong science fundamentals and consistent practice. With the right preparation, either exam is completely manageable.
What is a good DAT vs OAT score?
Under the 200–600 scale, around 400 is average, 450–480 is strong, and 500+ is excellent for both exams.
Interested in what comes next after you conquer the DAT or OAT? Read our guide on Should I Specialize After Dental School? | DAT Destroyer to explore career paths and specialties in dentistry.