Standardized Exams

Students often ask “When should I begin studying for the exam?” The answer to that question depends on the exam. Some exams are content-based and require specific coursework, while others, such as the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), do not have specific courses linked to it. Some test scores are also only valid for a period of time. Here are four things to consider about standardized exams:

  • If they require specific content (biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, etc), students are encouraged to have a strong foundation in this content. That means a B or higher average in the majority of those coursework.
  • The tests are long, so it is as much about endurance as it is content mastery. Students often practice sitting and reading for long periods of time.
  • Multiple choice exams are different and require different strategies. By studying test-taking strategies for the test, students may improve their ability to score higher.
  • How long is the test score valid - when will it expire.

Check out HPA’s Guide to Standardized Tests for more information on what courses are recommended for the common health professional entrance exams. 

If the exam required specific content, Health Professions Advising strongly recommends completing the exam prerequisite coursework prior to studying and taking the exam. Additionally, before studying, consider taking a full diagnostic test to determine what your baseline is. This may also assist you in deciding whether you should self-prep, prep with a tutor for once or two sessions, or prep with a test prep course.

Test Preparation

Students can study for the standardized exams through test prep companies, self studying, or in partnership with other students. Choosing how to study is a personal decision. The test prep courses can be very costly but consider the following.

When buying a course, you: 

  • Receive question banks for regularly, daily practice
  • Receive several sample tests to practice 
  • Learn test taking strategies
  • Have an “expert” teacher to give direction and feedback regarding studying 
  • Are in a structured study environment 

A tutor can be costly, but they can also be more cost-effective than a prep course if you do not have weaknesses across the whole of a test. When hiring a tutor, you: 

  • Receive targeted assistance with your specific needs
  • Receive customized scheduling based on your schedule
  • Have an “expert” tutor that can diagnose your specific issues
  • Are in a semi-structured study environment 

Additionally, HPA has a Test Prep Specialist and free Test Prep & Resources to support UC Davis students and alumni.

Fee Assistance

Some health professions associations offer fee assistance for applicants. This often entails applying and submitting additional documentation, but by qualifying, students could receive discounted test rates, lower application fees, and even waived supplemented fees. Sometimes, the actual testing service may have additional information on fee assistance too. 

For a more comprehensive view on fee assistance, visit HPA’s Application Portal Overview (+Fee Assistance).

Average Test Scores

When speaking with the admissions office about test score requirements, it is recommended to ask, “What is your range?” rather than about the average. Averages are not minimums, and most schools seek to post averages that make the school look more favorable.

Types of Standardized Exams

  • Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) 

  • The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is required for Allopathic Medical (MD), Osteopathic (DO), and Podiatric Medical (DPM) schools. It is a standardized, multiple-choice examination designed to assess your problem solving, critical thinking, and knowledge of natural behavioral, and social science concepts and principles prerequisites to the study of medicine.

    There are four sections on the MCAT: (1) Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, (2) Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, (3) Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior, and (4) Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skill. To learn more, take a look at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)’s article on What’s on the MCAT and AAMC’s What's on the MCAT Exam? Content Outline.

    When should you begin studying for the MCAT? By taking the following courses, students are already beginning to study for the MCAT:
    - General Biology
    - General Chemistry
    - Organic Chemistry
    - Biochemistry
    - General Physics
    - Psychology
    - Sociology

    Students may begin formal test prep when these courses are completed. Students are recommended to start early enough so that they have enough time to take the test twice, if necessary, before the application cycle. Studying for the MCAT takes most students 300 to 500 hours of study time.

    Almost all the U.S. medical schools require the MCAT exam score as part of the application. Most schools may not accept MCAT exam scores that are more than two or three years old. The MCAT can be taken up to three times in a single testing year, four times in a two-year period, and seven times in a lifetime. If you have taken the MCAT once and did not earn a satisfactory score, we encourage you to come meet with a HPA Staff Advisor to discuss strategies for improvement. If students have taken the MCAT once and did not earn a satisfactory score, they are recommended to contact Health Professions Advising to discuss a strategy for improvement.

    Students can first register for the January-June dates usually in mid- to late-October and July-September dates usually in mid- to late-February. After these initial registration dates, it can be challenging to find a test location and test date nearby. Students will likely need to check several times before they find a testing situation they prefer. To learn more about the MCAT registration process, head over to the Association of American Medical Colleges Calendars, Scheduling Deadlines, and Score Release Dates. Students should be aware that the MCAT is generally not offered in October, November, or December.

    If a student has a learning or physical disability or a sustained an injury that affects their ability to have equal access on the MCAT, they have the right to apply for accommodations. Accommodation requests must be accompanied by a diagnosis from a licensed physician or psychiatrist. Students must apply for accommodations before they register for the MCAT since the process of registration will be different if they receive accommodations. Students are recommended to give themselves three months for the accommodation process. For more information, navigate to the Association of American Medical Colleges: Scheduling an MCAT Exam with Accommodations.

    It typically takes 30 to 35 days for examinees to receive their MCAT score. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) will post score release dates corresponding to the date when the exam was taken.

    The American Association of Medical Colleges has two free practice tests available: the Sample Test which does not give you an estimated score and the Free Practice Test (also known as Test 1) which does give you an estimated score. Many test prep companies also provide free full-length practice tests. Be careful to note that some of the test prep companies also have half length practice tests which are not as useful when estimating test readiness. Visit AAMC’s website on Free Planning and Study Resources.

    Visit HPA’s MCAT Prep Organizer Google Sheet to get started. Students are also welcome to meet with HPA’s Test Prep Specialist to further discuss your plan.

  • Dental Admission Test (DAT)

  • The Dental Admissions Test (DAT) is required for all U.S. dental schools. It is a standardized multiple choice examination designed to assess a student's problem solving, critical thinking, perceptual acuity, quantitative reasoning, and knowledge of natural science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of dentistry.

    The DAT has four sections: (1) Survey of Natural Sciences, (2) Perceptual Ability, (3) Reading Comprehension, and (4) Quantitative Reasoning.

    When should you begin studying for the DAT? Students are recommended to begin studying for the DAT once they’ve taken the following courses:
    - General Biology
    - General Chemistry
    - Organic Chemistry
    - Statistics

    Students may begin formal test prep when these courses are completed. Students are recommended to start early enough so that they have enough time to take the test twice, if necessary, before the application cycle. Studying for the DAT takes most students 300 hours of study time.

    Almost all the U.S. dental schools require the DAT exam score as part of the application. Most schools may not accept DAT exam scores that are more than three years old. Students must wait up to 60 days to take the DAT again and it can be taken up to four times in a year period. If students are taking the DAT past the third attempt, they must apply for permission to retake it. Students cannot take the DAT more than one time per one year period after their fourth attempt. If students have taken the DAT once and did not earn a satisfactory score, they are recommended to contact Health Professions Advising to discuss strategies for improvement.

    Students can register for the DAT any time of the year and it is usually easy to get a testing center and test date near them. Register at least 2 months before you intend to take the exam. Learn more about the DAT registration process through the ADA: Apply to Take the Dental Admission Test webpage.

    If a student has a learning or physical disability or a sustained an injury that affects their ability to have equal access on the DAT, they have the right to apply for accommodations. Accommodation requests must be accompanied by a diagnosis from a licensed physician or psychiatrist. Students must apply for accommodations before they register for the DAT since the process of registration will be different if they receive accommodations. Students are recommended to give themselves three months for the accommodation process. For more information, students can navigate to the ADA: Apply to Take the Dental Admission Test webpage to find the DAT Candidate Guide for more information.

    Students no longer receive an unofficial score at the end of the exam. An official score report will become available after roughly 30 days. All attempts are shown on official score reports submitted to schools.

    Many test prep companies also provide free full-length practice tests. The ADA also has a DAT Tutorial, an online sample test, in which students can access via the ADA’s webpage on Dental Admission Test (DAT). Be careful to note that some of the test prep companies also have half length practice tests which are not as useful when estimating test readiness. Students are also welcome to meet with HPA’s Test Prep Specialist to further discuss your plan.

  • Optometry Admission Test (OAT)

  • The Optometry Admissions Test (OAT) is a standardized, multiple-choice examination designed to assess your problem solving, critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and knowledge of natural and physical science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of optometry. The OAT is comprised of four sections: Survey of Natural Sciences, Reading Comprehension, Physics, and Quantitative Reasoning.

    When should you begin studying for the OAT? Students are recommended to begin studying for the DAT once they’ve taken the following courses:
    - General Biology 
    - General Chemistry
    - Organic Chemistry
    - General Physics 
    - Statistics

    Students may begin formal test prep when these courses are completed. Students are recommended to start early enough so that they have enough time to take the test twice, if necessary, before the application cycle. Studying for the OAT takes most students 300 hours of study time.

    Almost all the U.S. optometry schools require the OAT exam score as part of the application. Most schools may not accept OAT exam scores that are more than three years old.

    Students must wait up to 60 days to take the OAT again and it can be taken up to four times in a year period. If students are taking the OAT past the third attempt, they must apply for permission to retake it. Students cannot take the OAT more than one time per one year period after their fourth attempt. If students have taken the OAT once and did not earn a satisfactory score, they are recommended to contact Health Professions Advising to discuss strategies for improvement.

    Students can register for the OAT any time of year and it is usually easy to get a testing center and test date near them. Register at least 2 months before you intend to take the exam. Learn more about the OAT registration process through the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO): Apply for the OAT webpage.

    If a student has a learning or physical disability or a sustained an injury that affects their ability to have equal access on the OAT, they have the right to apply for accommodations. Accommodation requests must be accompanied by a diagnosis from a licensed physician or psychiatrist. Students must apply for accommodations before they register for the OAT since the process of registration will be different if they receive accommodations. Students are recommended to give themselves three months for the accommodation process. For more information, students can navigate to the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO): Apply for the OAT webpage to find the OAT Candidate Guide for more information.

    Students will receive an unofficial score at the end of the exam and an official score report will become available after roughly 30 days. All attempts are shown on official score reports submitted to schools.

    Many test prep companies also provide free full-length practice tests. The ASCO also has a OAT Tutorial, an online sample test, in which students can access via the ASCO’s webpage on Optometry Admission Test (OAT). Be careful to note that some of the test prep companies also have half length practice tests which are not as useful when estimating test readiness. Students are also welcome to meet with HPA’s Test Prep Specialist to further discuss your plan.

  • Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)

  • Some of the health professions that might require the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are:
    - Physician Assistant
    - Entry-Level MSN (nursing) programs
    - Genetic Counseling
    - Occupational Therapy
    - Public Health 
    - And More
    Please note not all programs within the health profession will require the GRE. Students are highly recommended to check with the programs they are applying to see if the GRE is required.

    The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is a standardized, multiple-choice, adaptive examination designed to assess your problem solving, critical thinking, and quantitative reasonings skills prerequisite to the study of a variety of graduate level degrees/training programs. The GRE has three sections: Verbal Reasoning (2 adaptive modules), Analytical Writing (1 essay), and Quantitative Reasoning (2 adaptive modules).

    Students can begin formal test prep at any time, but consider that many schools will not accept a GRE test after 3 years. Students are recommended to start early enough so that they have enough time to take the test twice, if necessary, before the application cycle. Studying for the GRE takes most students 50 to 100 hours of study time.

    The GRE is not as widely required as it once was. Students are highly encouraged to check with the schools on their school list to determine whether the test is required, accepted, or neither. Many schools do not accept the GRE exam scores that are more than three years old. Students must wait 21 days to retake the GRE. The GRE can be taken up to 5 times in a 12-month period. Students will have the option to send all test score attempts or the most recent test score to the institutions. If students have taken the GRE once and did not earn a satisfactory score, they are recommended to contact Health Professions Advising to discuss strategies for improvement.

    Students can register for the GRE any time of the year and it is usually easy to get a testing center and test date near where they want it. Students are recommended to register at least 2 months before they intend to take the exam. To learn more about how to register for the GRE, students should navigate to the ETS website on GRE General Test Registration.

    If a student has a learning or physical disability or a sustained an injury that affects their ability to have equal access on the GRE, they have the right to apply for accommodations. Accommodation requests must be accompanied by a diagnosis from a licensed physician or psychiatrist. Students must apply for accommodations before they register for the GRE since the process of registration will be different if they receive accommodations. Students are recommended to give themselves three months for the accommodation process. For more information, students can navigate to the ETS webpage on Accommodations for Test Takes with Disabilities or Health-Related Needs.

    ETS provides two free full-length, adaptive tests via PowerPrep. Students can access these free tests by navigating to ETS: PowerPrep  In addition, many test prep companies provide free full length, adaptive practice tests. Be careful to note that some of the test prep companies also have half length practice tests which are not as useful when estimating test readiness. Students are also welcome to meet with HPA’s Test Prep Specialist to further discuss your plan.

  • Physician Assistant College Admissions Test (PA-CAT)

  • The Physician Assistant College Admissions Test (PA-CAT) is a multiple choice exam designed to measure an applicant’s knowledge and application of key prerequisite science subjects required for physician assistant school. The subjects covered in the PA-CAT are: anatomy, physiology, general biology, biochemistry, general chemistry, organic chemistry, microbiology, behavioral sciences, genetics, and statistics.

    Students are recommended to begin studying for the PA-CAT once they’ve taken the following courses: 
    - General Biology
    - General Chemistry
    - Organic Chemistry
    - Anatomy
    - Physiology
    - Microbiology
    - Genetics

    Students may begin formal test prep when these courses are completed. Students are recommended to start early enough so that they have enough time to take the test twice, if necessary, before the application cycle. Studying for the PA-CAT takes most students 300 hours of study time.

    Very few schools require the PA-CAT at this point and most of them are not using the score as part of admission decisions. Samuel Merritt and Stanford are the only schools that use the PA-CAT in California at the current time. The official list can be found here: PA-CAT Participating Programs. Students must wait up to 6 weeks to take the PA-CAT and it can be taken up to three times in a year period.

    Students can register for the PA-CAT any time of year and it is usually easy to get a testing center and test date near them. Register at least 2 months before you intend to take the exam. Learn more about the PA-CAT registration process through the PA-CAT Candidate Info Portal.

    If a student has a learning or physical disability or a sustained an injury that affects their ability to have equal access on the PA-CAT, they have the right to apply for accommodations. Accommodation requests must be accompanied by a diagnosis from a licensed physician or psychiatrist. Students must apply for accommodations before they register for the PA-CAT since the process of registration will be different if they receive accommodations. Students are recommended to give themselves three months for the accommodation process.For more information, students can navigate to the PA-CAT Candidate Support webpage for more information.

    An official score report will become available after roughly 30 days. All attempts are shown on official score reports submitted to schools.

    There are currently no free full-length practice tests for the PA-CAT, but students can view study tools and resources via PA-CAT: Preparing for the PA-CAT. Students are welcome to meet with HPA’s Test Prep Specialist to further discuss your plan.

  • Situational Judgement Tests

  • Students may also be asked to complete situational judgement exams such as Kira, CASPer, Duet, and AAMC PREview. These aren't traditional tests as they are specifically designed to assess students’ non-academic skills like communication and ethics through hypothetical scenarios. Schools use these situational judgment tests to see how you think, and may use it to build a diverse class for their school. Depending on the schools that you apply to, the deadline to take the appropriate test may vary.

    These tests are formalities for health professional schools. Please note, there is no real way to prepare for these exams as they are based on a student’s own personal values and beliefs. Online sources for preparing for these tests often do not support students in getting a better “score”.

    KIRA is very similar to multiple mini interviews with an asynchronous and live interview section. The asynchronous section is a one way interview where students will submit a timed video and/or written response to questions. The live interview section is a two way interview where students will rotate through interviewers automatically.

    CASPer is a computer-based assessment for sampling personal characteristics. Students will be asked what they would do in tough situations and why they took the course of action they did. Responses can be in the form of writing or video.

    Duet measures value alignment or fit of a student, comparing what applicants value to what the program has to offer. The exam is based on three categories, each containing seven characteristics. Students will see pairs of characteristics and indicate which is more important to them. This creates a ranked list of a student’s preferences so there are no right or wrong answers!

    The PREView exam presents a series of hypothetical scenarios that students may encounter in medical school and asks students to evaluate the effectiveness of a series of behavioral responses to each scenario. Students rate the effectiveness on a four point scale of several behaviors that describe a response to the dilemma, having 30 scenarios to go through.