Preparing for Entrance Examsin Health Sciences

Explore CenterLove South 127

explorecenter@unl.edu402-472-3605

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

– 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 Websitehttp://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 127402-472-3605

explorecenter@unl.edu