Understanding the OAT
If you’re planning to apply to optometry school, you’ll need to take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) — a comprehensive exam that evaluates your knowledge of science, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning.
The OAT is administered by the American Dental Association (ADA) on behalf of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO).
This exam helps admissions committees assess whether you’re academically prepared for the rigors of optometry school.
OAT Exam Format
The OAT consists of four main sections:
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Survey of the Natural Sciences – Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry (100 questions)
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Reading Comprehension – Three scientific passages with 50 questions
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Physics – 40 questions
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Quantitative Reasoning – 40 questions
You’ll have a total test time of 4 hours and 50 minutes, with scheduled breaks between sections.
The content is similar to the DAT, but includes Physics instead of the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT).
How the OAT Is Scored
Each section is scored on a scale from 200 to 400, with 300 representing the national average.
Competitive optometry schools often look for scores above 320–340, but remember that GPA, letters of recommendation, and experience are also key parts of your application.
When to Take the OAT
The OAT is available year-round at Prometric testing centers across the United States and Canada.
Most students take it after completing their prerequisite science courses, usually between their sophomore and senior years of college.
👉 Register on the official ADA OAT site: https://oat.ada.org
How to Prepare for the OAT
Preparation is key — and starting early makes a major difference.
Dr. Jim Romano, creator of the OAT Destroyer and DAT Destroyer books, has been helping students excel on this exam for more than 35 years.
Study tips:
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Master your fundamentals in Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry before diving into Physics and Math.
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Take full-length practice tests to build stamina and timing.
👉 The official ADA OAT Practice Tests are available here: https://oat.ada.org/apply-to-take-the-oat -
Review every mistake carefully — understanding why an answer is wrong is more valuable than memorizing the right one.
For comprehensive practice, check out the OAT Destroyer, which includes hundreds of challenging, exam-style problems with detailed solutions written by Dr. Romano.
Final Thoughts
The OAT is a major milestone on your journey to optometry school, but with focused preparation and the right study tools, it’s absolutely manageable.
Whether you’re just starting your pre-optometry coursework or gearing up for test day, remember — a strong foundation in the sciences will serve you well not only on the OAT, but throughout your optometric education.