OAT Practice Test

What the OAT is and how it works

According to Optometry Testing Program (OAT), Department of Testing Services of the American Dental Association, for the Association, “The Survey of the Natural Sciences test section consists of 100 items from Biology, General Chemistry, and”^[1]

The OAT is an admission test for candidates applying to optometry education programs. It is delivered by computer at Prometric test centers year-round. After your application is processed, your testing eligibility lasts 6 months. Year-round delivery does not mean your eligibility remains open indefinitely; schedule within your eligibility period.

The Survey of the Natural Sciences contains 100 multiple-choice items: Biology has 40, General Chemistry has 30, and Organic Chemistry has 30. Reading Comprehension has 50 items, Physics has 40, and Quantitative Reasoning has 40.

Scores range from 200–400 in 10-point increments. There is no official passing score. Each optometry education program decides what score it considers acceptable, so check the requirements of your intended programs. You receive an unofficial report at the test center; official scores reach your selected programs in 3–4 weeks.

There is no formal eligibility requirement. Successful participants typically have at least 1 year of college education, including biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. Retakes require a 60-day wait, with a maximum of 4 attempts in 12 months. Consult the official OAT Candidate Guide from the Optometry Testing Program for eligibility and retake rules, and its Score and Audit Information page for score reporting.

OAT Exam at a Glance

What changed for OAT in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Score release changed to Unofficial report at test center; official scores to programs in 3–4 weeks (previously Unofficial report at test center; official scores in 3–4 weeks).^[3]
• Oct 25, 2026: Retake policy changed to Wait 60 days; max 4 attempts in 12 months (previously Wait 60 days; max 4 attempts in 12 months; new application and fee each time).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Validity changed to 6-month testing eligibility after application is processed (previously 6-month eligibility window after application is processed).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Other (update 2026-07-01) changed to The OAT examination fee changes effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027; the 2026 Candidate Guide does not state the new amount. (previously According to the official 2026 Candidate Guide, the OAT examination fee changes for July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. The guide does not give the new amount.).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Delivery changed to Computer-based at Prometric test centers, year-round (previously Computer-based at Prometric test centers (US, territories, select Canada; not Quebec)).^[2]
• Jul 1, 2026: The OAT examination fee changes effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027; the 2026 Candidate Guide does not state the new amount.^[1]

Worked examples: how to reason through OAT questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: A passage uses the phrase 'the data suggest' rather than 'the data prove.' This language choice reflects:

1. Appropriate scientific caution acknowledging that findings support but do not definitively establish conclusions
2. A methodological weakness in the study design
3. The authors' uncertainty about their own measurements
4. A requirement imposed by the journal's editorial policy

Answer: A. Appropriate scientific caution acknowledging that findings support but do not definitively establish conclusions

Explanation:

A is correct. The phrase 'the data suggest' presents the conclusion as supported by evidence while leaving room for uncertainty or alternative explanations. That is appropriate scientific caution. B is wrong because cautious wording alone does not show a weakness in the study design; that judgment would require information about the methods. C is wrong because uncertainty about a conclusion does not necessarily mean the authors doubt their measurements. D is wrong because the phrase gives no evidence of a journal requirement. Rule to remember: distinguish what the wording communicates from assumptions about why the authors used it. Choose the interpretation supported by the passage.

Example 2

Question: A retail item originally priced at $80 is put on sale for $68. What is the percent decrease in the price of the item?

1. 12%
2. 15%
3. 17.6%
4. 85%

Answer: B. 15%

Explanation:

B, 15%, is correct. Find the reduction by subtracting $68 from $80, then divide that reduction by the original price and express the result as a percentage. A, 12%, confuses the dollar amount removed with the percentage decrease. C, 17.6%, results from using the sale price as the comparison base instead of the original price. D, 85%, describes the share of the original price still being paid, rather than the share removed. Rule to remember: percent decrease compares the amount lost with the starting value. Before calculating, label the original value, the new value, and which change the question asks you to find.

Example 3

Question: Two waves with equal amplitude A are superimposed. If they are exactly out of phase (180°), the resultant amplitude is:

1. 2A
2. A√2
3. 0
4. A/2

Answer: C. 0

Explanation:

C, 0, is correct. Superposition means adding the waves' displacements. With equal amplitudes and an exact phase difference of 180°, a positive displacement from a wave is matched by an equal negative displacement from the other. Their sum is zero. A, 2A, would describe reinforcement when the waves are in phase. B, A√2, does not describe cancellation at the stated phase difference. D, A/2, would leave a residual amplitude, which conflicts with equal, opposite displacements. Rule to remember: consider phase as well as amplitude. Equal amplitudes cancel when exactly out of phase; adding their magnitudes without considering direction gives the wrong result.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official OAT Candidate Guide. Use its examination information to organize your review, and check application and scheduling rules before choosing a test date. Treat the practice-set titles here as study labels rather than an official content outline.

Work through General Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry. For each missed or guessed answer, record the concept you needed and explain why your chosen answer failed. Return to your course material when an explanation exposes a gap.

Use focused sets such as Genetics and Evolution and Physics: Optics and Waves to revisit weak topics. In Quantitative Reasoning, write the setup before calculating. In Scientific Reading Comprehension, identify the passage evidence behind your answer.

Revisit missed questions after reviewing the underlying material. Explain the reasoning without relying on remembered answer letters. Before test day, check the official instructions and your eligibility period. These site-written practice questions are not real exam questions, and practice results do not establish an official OAT score.

Sources & last verified

1. Optometry Testing Program (OAT), Department of Testing Services of the American Dental Association, for the Association — number of questions, passing score, exam fee, retake policy (official source). “Physics (40 items)” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 21, 2026.
2. Optometry Testing Program (OAT), Department of Testing Services of the American Dental Association, for the Association — delivery, testing window (official source). “offered year-round at Prometric Test Centers throughout the U.S.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 21, 2026.
3. Optometry Testing Program (OAT), Department of Testing Services of the American Dental Association, for the Association — score release (official source). “Within three to four weeks of your test date, the Department of Testing Services will share your official OAT scores with the optometry education programs…” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 21, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.