Standardized Tests

Standardized tests play an important role in the admissions process for many health professional schools. These exams are designed to evaluate your readiness for the academic and analytical demands of graduate-level education.

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Below is a breakdown by profession to help you understand which test(s) may be required for your path:

Required By: MD (Allopathic), DO (Osteopathic), Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA) and Podiatry
Administered By: AAMC

The four sections on the MCAT are:

  • Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
  • Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
  • Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
  • Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)

When to Take It: After completing core prerequisites, ideally between January – April of the year you are applying

Resources:

Required By: All U.S. dental schools
Administered By: ADA (American Dental Association)

The four sections on the DAT are:

  • Survey of the Natural Sciences
  • Perceptual Ability
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Quantitative Reasoning

When to Take It: After completing most science prerequisites, typically spring or summer before applying

Resources:

Important note: only required by a few programs for Physician Assistant (PA) and Physical Therapy (PT) – always check each program’s website

Content: Verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing

Resources:
ETS GRE Official Site

Required By: All U.S. optometry schools

Content: Natural sciences, physics, quantitative reasoning, and reading comprehension

When to Take It: After completing prerequisites, usually spring of the year you are applying

Resource:

  • Always verify exam requirements on each program’s official admissions page.
  • Plan your exam timeline backward from your application year.
  • Allow time for study, practice exams, and possible retakes.
  • Fee assistance is available for many of these tests. Check each official site.