The Optometry Admission Test 2026, more commonly known as the OAT exam, is an examination required for admission to optometry schools in the US and Canada. It is administered year-round by the American Dental Association (ADA) at Prometric Test Centers on behalf of the Association of Schools of Colleges of Optometry (ASCO). The OAT is conducted solely by machine and can be taken at almost any time of the year.
The OAT test is somewhat different from other academic tests. It is not a knowledge-based exam that focuses on memorizing information. Instead, optometry schools will use your OAT exam scores to assess whether you possess the foundational knowledge and skills needed to build a successful optometry career.
Although you need to know the content to do it well, the emphasis is on the application of your knowledge. The OAT stresses logic, critical thinking, comprehension skills, data analysis, and problem-solving skills.
The OAT test requires roughly five hours to finish, including the optional tutorial, break, and post-test survey. Try our MCAT practice test.
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The OAT consists of four sections with 230 multiple-choice test questions presented in the English language. The test shall be developed following the developed test requirements. The OAT comprises a series of four timed exams: the Survey of Natural Sciences (including Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry), Physics, Quantitative Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension. Try our DAT practice test.
Prepare for the OAT - Optometry Admission Test exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
| Sections | Allotted Time | Format |
| Optional Tutorial | 15 minutes | — |
Survey of the Natural Sciences
| 90 minutes ( 54 seconds per question) | 100 multiple-choice questions, subdivided into Biology (40 questions), General Chemistry (30 questions), and Organic Chemistry (30 questions) |
| Reading Comprehension | 60 minutes (20 minutes per passage) | 50 multiple-choice questions; three passages followed by 16– 17 questions each |
| Scheduled Break (optional) | 30 minutes | — |
| Physics | 50 minutes (75 seconds per question) | 40 multiple-choice questions |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 45 minutes (67.5 seconds per question) | 40 multiple-choice questions |
| Optional Post Test Survey | 15 minutes | — |
| Total | 5 hours and 5 minutes | 230 questions |
The OAT is measured on a scale of 200 to 400. For each portion of the exam, the number of multiple-choice questions you correctly answered per portion is your raw score. All multiple-choice questions are worth one raw point, and there is no penalty for wrong answers.
In your official score report, you and the schools you are applying for won’t receive raw scores but a scaled score. Converting your raw score into a scaled score ranges allows each exam to be optimized for group performance and complexity using matching procedures.
The OAT is measured on a scale of 200 to 400. For each portion of the exam, the number of multiple-choice questions you correctly answered per portion is your raw score. All multiple-choice questions are worth one raw point, and there is no penalty for wrong answers.
In the score scale, the average mean score is 300 points with a 10-point interval value and a standard deviation of about 40 points. It allows scores of different tests to be equally compared to each other by optometry colleges. Once you receive your score report, you will see eight scores:
The Total Science rating is the total amount of your initial, raw performance in Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics, which is then normalized and converted into a scaled score of 200 to 400. The Academic Average is the mean score for all OAT exam sections:
Furthermore, your score report will also tell you and the optometry schools your percentile ranking that corresponds with your scaled score for each section. Percentile ranks are used to express the standing of a candidate to other people who have taken the admission test. His/her percentile rank does not decide the candidate's admission to optometry schools.
| Standard Score | Percentile Ranking | OAT Score (Qualitatively) |
| 300 | 50th | Average |
| 350 | 75th | Good |
| 390 | 98th | Very High |
The OAT exam cost are in US dollars and are non-refundable and non-transferable. The following table indicates the optometry exam cost:
| Fee Type | Description | Amount |
| OAT Fee | Includes test administration and official score reporting to all listed optometry schools; non-official score report released at the test center; and score reporting to the pre-optometry consultant (if selected) | $490 |
| Score Report (optional) | Covers requests for score report for other recipients made after the time of the application. | $45 per recipient |
| Score Audit (optional) | The OAT Program will audit the applicant’s results for a fee within a period of 30 days after the testing day. | $65 |
| Eligibility Extension | The extension for eligibility is for 45 days within the designated testing window and is only available once per application. |
The fee for the rescheduling of a test appointment shall be based on the amount of the notice given. The fee for rescheduling is as follows:
| Number of days before testing appointment | Fee |
| 1 to 5 business days before testing day, and at least 24 hours before the scheduled appointment starts. | $150 |
| 6 to 30 business days before testing day. | $60 |
| 31 or more business days before the testing day. | $25 |
Note: Saturdays and Sundays are not business days.
All applications are due by 9 PM Eastern Time (ET) of the application or late application deadline date.
| OAT Test Dates | Application Deadline ($50 late fee for applications submitted after this date) | Late Application Deadline (Applications made after this date will not be accepted) |
| February 15-29 | Thursday, January 2, 2026 | Wednesday, January 15, 2026 |
| May 2-16 | Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | Wednesday, April 1, 2026 |
| August 1-15 | Wednesday, June 17, 2026 | Wednesday, July 1, 2026 |
| November 7-21 | Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | Wednesday, October 7, 2026 |
Even someone with sufficient knowledge of all science and math at the OAT is unlikely to meet the highest score without appropriate testing strategies. Learning the formats of the test questions and having a solid strategy on how to deal with each question when completing each section on time can be as critical as the knowledge of the material.
The OAT exam has only one type of question, which is multiple choice. You're not going to find any fill-in-the-blank, matching type, quick answer, or true/false test questions. Instead, each question will give you the option of choosing one out of four or five responses. This means that your concentration, when studying and answering questions, must be more on identifying relationships and patterns than on memorization.
To help you to develop a surefire approach for your upcoming OAT test, below the are a few of the most effective strategies:
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