Preparing for Entrance Exams
in Health Sciences
Explore Center
Love South 127
explorecenter@unl.edu
402-472-3605
Entrance Exam
• Different exams
– Science based
– General critical thinking and analytical ability
– Timed, standardized, multiple-choice
• Science based exams (MCAT/OAT/DAT/PCAT)
– Designed to assess problem solving, critical thinking, and writing
skills
• Content areas can represent a combination of the subjects
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Biological Sciences
Physical Sciences (not just physics)
Reading Comprehension/Verbal Reasoning
Writing
Perceptual Ability (DAT)
Preparing for the Exam
• Complete all content related course work for exam
– Program prerequisites may not be same as EXAM
prerequisites
• Review materials will not teach the information if you do not
already have it
– Examples
• PCAT requires 2 semesters of organic chemistry
• MCAT has cell structure and physiology
• DAT has cell structure/biology, math
• Review topic guides and information materials to
assess if all material has been covered
– Examples
Preparing for the Exam
• Full-Length Practice Test
– Assess what you know
– Understand testing format
• Learning style
– Individual v. Commercial
• Practice
– Content
– Timed conditions
– Exam format (computer vs. paper/pencil)
General Exam Details
• Registration on line
• Timing
– Generally 1 year in advance of matriculation
– Set dates (PCAT, MCAT)
– Flexible scheduling (DAT, OAT)
– Consider potential exam repeat – policies differ when
you can sit for another exam
General Exam Details
• Fees
– Range by exam
– Good for single setting
– Good for specific # of score releases also called Official Score
Transcripts or Official Score Reports
• Release scores
– Centralized application (MCAT – allopathic; request release to
AACOM, CASPA, VMCAS, or other services that accept MCAT)
– Schools through centralized application (DAT, OAT, PCAT)
– Schools specifically (PCAT if not participating in PharmCAS)
– Advisers
Break Down Specific Exam Details
• Survey of attendees
• Who will be taking
– MCAT?
– PCAT?
– DAT?
– OAT?
MCAT
MCAT Exam Details
• Required for almost all U.S. medical schools
– Check school specific information
• Searchable MSAR guide available through AAMC
www.aamc.org/students/mcat
• ½ day, multiple choice exam
• 3 content areas (scored 1-15 with 45 composite
maximum)
– Verbal Reasoning, Biological Sciences, Physical
Sciences
• Writing Sample (scored J-T)
MCAT Exam Details continued
• Requires at least
– 1 year each - general biology, general chemistry,
organic chemistry, physics
– College level reading and writing across curriculum
• AAMC Website – great prep information
– On-line practice exams
– MCAT Essentials – the official MCAT exam policy
guide as PDF on website
– The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam
– http://www.aamc.org/students
MCAT Exam Details continued
• Test Dates
– 25 sessions in 2013
• Morning, afternoon, double administrations
– Computer Based Test
• Take up to 3 times per year
– Only one registration open at a time
• Fees
– $270
• Scores reported in approx. 30-35 days
MCAT 2015
• Essential information
– Completely new MCAT
– AVOID THE RUMOR MILL
– Use www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/mcat2015/
as a resource for learning more about it
• Preview Guide available
• Videos with more information
• Timeline for the new test roll out
• BIOC will be required for this MCAT
PCAT
PCAT Exam Details
• Not required for all schools
– Check school specific information
• Table 9 on PSAR guide on AACP website
http://www.aacp.org/resources/student/pharmacyforyou/admissions
/Pages/PSAR.aspx
• ½ day, multiple choice exam
• 5 content areas (48 questions each – 40 are scored and 8
are experimental)
– Verbal Ability, Biology, Quantitative Ability, Chemistry, Reading
Comprehension
– (200-600 per subset; 400 average)
• 1 writing section (scored 1.0-6.0)
– Conventions of language and problem solving skills
PCAT Exam Details continued
• Requires at least
– 1 year general biology
• Includes topics in microbiology, genetics, anatomy and physiology
– 1 year general chemistry
– 1 semester organic chemistry (2 strongly recommended)
• Includes basic BIOC processes
– 1 semester calculus
• Main Website - http://www.pcatweb.info
• Candidate Information Booklet (CIB)
• Practice Exam available at main website
– Examinees who took the Official PCAT Practice Test
scored higher on actual PCAT (per AACP)
PCAT Exam Details continued
• Test Dates
– Offered 9 times a cycle
• July (2 dates), September (5 dates), January (2 dates)
• When you take exam depends on course work and last one accepted
by schools
• Fee (includes 3 score releases)
– $199
• Unofficial score of multiple choice sections available at
time of exam
• Official M/C and Essays still scored by Pearson (within 6
weeks from day of test)
• Request official scores to individual schools (if not
PharmCAS) or schools through PharmCAS
DAT
DAT Exam Details
• Required by all U.S. dental schools
• ½ day (5 hours), multiple choice exam
• Requires at least 1 year of general biology, general
chemistry, organic chemistry
• ADA Website
http://www.ada.org/dat.aspx
• DAT Guide online has content and test
information
• DAT Sample Test Items
• Practice test available
DAT Exam Details continued
• 4 content areas (score range 1-30; 17 average)
– Natural sciences (biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry)
(100 questions - 40, 30, 30 respectively)
– Perceptual ability (two- and three-dimensional problem solving (90
questions)
– Reading comprehension (science based) (50 questions)
– Quantitative Reasoning (mathematical problems in algebra,
numerical calculations, conversions, etc.) (40 questions)
• Take as much biology and chemistry content as possible before the
exam
• Physics is required for dental school, not the DAT
DAT Exam Details continued
• Computer based exam
• Examinees who have attended three or more tests
must apply for special permission to retest
• No set testing dates
– 90 day wait period for re-examination
• Fee - $360
– Releases scores to all selected on application
• To register for exam, must first request DENTPIN
– DENTal Personal Identifier Number
– http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dentpin/index.asp
OAT
OAT Exam Details
• Required by all U.S. optometry schools
• ½ day, multiple choice exam
• Requires at least 1 year of general biology, general
chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, college
level math
• ASCO Website
http://www.opted.org/
https://www.ada.org/oat/index.html
OAT Exam Details continued
• 4 content areas (scored 200-400 per section; 300
average)
– Natural sciences (biology, general chemistry, organic
chemistry) (100 questions – 40, 30, 30 respectively)
– Reading comprehension (science based) (40 questions)
– Physics (40 questions)
– Quantitative Reasoning (40 questions
OAT Exam Details continued
• Computer based exam
• No set testing dates
• No limit on # of times taking exam
– 90 day wait period for re-examination
• Fee
– $226
Contact Us!
Exploratory and Pre-Professional Advising Center
“THE EXPLORE CENTER”
Love South 127
402-472-3605
explorecenter@unl.edu