The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) a 5-hour exam that is composed of FOUR sections, as shown below:
1. Survey of the Natural Sciences (100 Items) which includes 40 Biology, 30 Chemistry, and 30 Organic Chemistry questions. You are given 90 minutes to complete all 100 questions.
a. Biology (40 items)
Cell and Molecular Biology: origin of life, cell metabolism (including photosynthesis/enzymology), cellular processes, thermodynamics, organelle structure and function, mitosis/meiosis, cell structure, experimental cell biology, biomolecules, and integrated relationships
Diversity of Life: Biological Organization and Relationship of Major Taxa (Six-Kingdom, Three-Domain System) – plantae, animalia, protista, fungi, eubacteria (bacteria), archaea, and integrated relationships
Structure and Function of Systems: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, circulatory, immunological, digestive, respiratory, urinary, nervous/senses, endocrine, reproductive, and integrated relationships
Developmental Biology: fertilization, descriptive embryology, developmental mechanisms, and integrated relationships
Genetics: molecular genetics, human genetics, classical genetics, chromosomal genetics, and genetic technology, and integrated relationships
Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior: natural selection, population genetics/speciation, population and community ecology, ecosystems, and animal behavior (including social behavior), and integrated relationships
b. General Chemistry (30 items)
Stoichiometry and General Concepts: percent composition, empirical formulae, balancing equations, moles and molecular formulas, molar mass, density, and calculations from balanced equations
Gases: kinetic molecular theory of gases, Dalton’s, Boyle’s, Charles’s, and ideal gas law
Liquids and Solids: intermolecular forces, phase changes, vapor pressure, structures, polarity, and properties
Solutions: polarity, properties (colligative, non-colligative), forces, and concentration calculations
Acids and Bases: pH, strength, Brønsted-Lowry reactions, and calculations
Chemical Equilibria: molecular, acid/base, precipitation, calculations, and Le Chatelier’s principle
Thermodynamics and Thermochemistry: laws of thermodynamics, Hess’s law, spontaneity, enthalpies and entropies, and heat transfer
Chemical Kinetics: rate laws, activation energy, and half-life
Oxidation-Reduction Reactions: balancing equations, determination of oxidation numbers, electrochemical calculations, and electrochemical concepts and terminology
Atomic and Molecular Structure: electron con guration, orbital types, Lewis-Dot diagrams, atomic theory, quantum theory, molecular geometry, bond types, and sub-atomic particles
Periodic Properties: representative elements, transition elements, periodic trends, and descriptive chemistry
Nuclear Reactions: balancing equations, binding energy, decay processes, particles, and terminology
Laboratory: basic techniques, equipment, error analysis, safety, and data analysis Organic Chemistry (30 items)
c. Organic Chemistry (30 items)
Mechanisms: Energetics and Structure - elimination, addition, free radical, substitution mechanisms, and other mechanisms and reactions
Chemical and Physical Properties of Molecules: Spectroscopy (1H NMR, 13C NMR, infrared, and multi-spectra), structure (polarity, intermolecular forces (solubility, melting/ boiling point, etc.), and laboratory theory and techniques (TLC, separations, etc.)
Stereochemistry (structure evaluation): Chirality, isomer relationships, and conformations
Nomenclature: IUPAC rules and functional groups in molecules
Individual Reactions of the Major Functional Groups and Combinations of Reactions to Synthesize Compounds: Alkene/alkyne, aromatic, substitution/elimination, aldehyde/ketone, carboxylic acids and derivatives, and other. For each area listed above, the following sub-areas apply: general, one-step, and multi-step
Acid Base Chemistry: Ranking acidity/basicity (structure analysis and pH/pKa data analysis), and prediction of products and equilibria
Aromatics and Bonding: Concept of aromaticity, resonance, atomic/molecular orbitals, hybridization, and bond angles/lengths
3. Reading Comprehension (50 items) - The Reading Comprehension Test contains three reading passages on various scientific topics. Prior understanding of the science topics is not a prerequisite to answering the test items. The reading passages require the ability to read, comprehend, and thoroughly analyze basic scientific information. You are given 60 minutes to read the three passages and complete all 50 questions.
4. Physics (40 Items) - The Physics section of the OAT contains questions on units and vectors, linear kinematics, statics, dynamics, rotational motion, energy and momentum, simple harmonic motion, waves, fluid statics, thermal energy and thermodynamics, electrostatics, D.C. circuits, and optics. You are given 50 minutes to complete all 40 questions. Note: No calculator is provided for this section.
5. Quantitative Reasoning (40 items) - Mathematical Problems including algebra (equations and expressions, inequalities, exponential notation, absolute value, ratios and proportions, and graphical analysis); Data Analysis, Interpretation, and Sufficiency; Quantitative Comparison; and Probability and Statistics. There are also some applied Mathematics (Word) Problems. You are given 45 minutes to complete all 40 questions. Note: a basic four-function calculator is available on the computer screen during this section.