OAT
Accessing Practice OATs
This is a discussion taken from SCCO’s Facebook Group for Pre-optometry Students. Students talk about how to access practice OAT tests.

Purple Thursdays at SCCO where the entire campus community wears school colors (purple and gold–just like the Lakers).
Question: I was wondering where is the best place to take OAT practice tests?
Answer #1: I would go to the local university library and head straight to the top floor or the “silent study floor.” I would use one of their computers, put some earplugs in and have at it. I feel that it is important to get out of the comfort zone of your house to get another perspective as you will have in the testing center.
Question Clarification: Sorry, I meant “where” as in any websites that offer practice tests. I know Kaplan gives out practice tests but you have to be signed up for their class to have access to these tests.
Answer #2: Kaplan does offer free practice exams periodically throughout the year. If you go to your university’s pre-health center and ask about Kaplan testing days or go to Kaplan’s website, you can find out where and when they offer a free exam. They often take place on a university campus during the weekend. These days are often for all different types of Kaplan exams (LSAT, GRE, DAT, MCAT, and so), but you would be in a room with other pre-optometry students. This is the best way I could do a practice exam for free, but there could be other resources out there.
Answer #3: So I think this might be the same practice test that Dr. Jane Ann Munroe gives out but I found it really helpful: https://www.ada.org/oat/oat_sample_test.pdf
I also found this study guide which goes through how to go about answering each type of question for each section. I think it’s especially helpful if you’re one of us who struggles with standardized testing: http://www.studyguidezone.com/pdfs/oatteststudyguide.pdf
Take advantage of free practice tests at universities that Kaplan gives. It’s one of the only ways to get a really accurate feeling of what the test will be like. If you can’t make it to one of those though, try finding free tests online. Some sites might only offer practice tests for some sections of the OAT but you can compile an entire test by going to different sites! Hope this helps!
Answer #4: Another thing I just remember during my practice sessions: do not listen to music. Where the clothes you would wear to the official exam. Take official breaks between the designated sections. And, if you really want to condition your body, eat the same snack during your break! Like playing a sport, doing dance, or acting in a play, practicing repeatedly in the same way as your final performance helps to reinforce good behavior.
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Published by Jane Ann Munroe, OD, Assistant Dean of Admissions, SCCO
I wanted to be an optometrist when I was only 10 years old. Why? I had some kind of geeky fascination with eyeglass frames, and was obsessed with getting a pair of my own. In my situation, having perfect eyesight was a distinct disadvantage, so I had to hatch a plan.
After repeated intense squinting while looking at the blackboard, I approached my teacher and lied with conviction, complaining that I couldn’t see. This report got me first to the school nurse and then finally on to an optometrist for an eye exam, where I tried my best Mr. Magoo impression to no avail.
I would have to wait two more long years until the gods finally smiled on me when, by some miracle, I acquired enough astigmatism to warrant my first bona fide pair of prescription eyeglasses!
Along with my love of people and wanting to take care of them, subsequent visits to the optometrist and shadowing, I sealed the deal—optometry was now officially what I wanted to do with my life.
I made first contact with the Southern California College of Optometry when I was in 8th grade. My older sister had a newly minted driver’s license and so I coerced her into driving me all the way from our home in La Mirada to Los Angeles, SCCO’s then-home. After a master planning effort to plot out our route on a paper map folded in 8 places, we arrived at SCCO where my sister quickly surmised that I didn’t have an appointment with an admissions advisor. She called me a loser, drove me all the way back home and the next day, phoned to help make the requisite appointment.
I entered high school in the late 1960’s (ouch, that hurt) when young females wanted to be anything but what I’d chosen as my newly dedicated pursuit—a science geek. I wore thick horn-rimmed black eyeglass frames (told you I was serious) and hung around chemistry lab after class. This was at a time when women just did not pursue careers in science and being the tomboy that I was, that was fine with me. This trend continued right through into undergrad, attending many classes where I was the only female--bespectacled or not--in the class. At a recent high school reunion, many of my classmates still remember me as the science geek with the blinders on—many envious of my joy and passion for my future profession.
I graduated from SCCO in 1977. Looking back with 40 years of experience as an optometrist, I am awed to know that I chose this wonderful profession way-back-when and with only my juvenile perspective to inform me. In 1977 when I graduated from optometry school, the profession began a series of major changes to its practice scope: securing the rights to use diagnostic drugs (dilating drops), securing the rights to prescribe therapeutic drugs (huge change!), being recognized as physicians by the federal government and treating glaucoma. In some US states, optometry has made even bigger strides into minor surgery, use of lasers, hospital privileges...etc. If I had the opportunity to go back and make another choice and knowing what I do today about health care and my own hardwiring, I’d make the same choice for optometry--nobody loves this profession more than I do. http://www.ketchum.edu/index.php/about/administration-directory
I grew up with optometry and now it’s your turn to inherit its future. That’s what this blog is about—getting you into optometry school and I am just the person to help you achieve this goal. We’re going to talk about the admissions process, how to prepare to take the OAT, how to be a competitive applicant, how to prepare to interview, to name a few. We’re going to talk about SCCO, student life and what it’s like to be an optometric intern. I am very persuasive, motivating and I am completely sold on optometry as the best profession in health care. I speak from experience!
Get ready to dialogue. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and please, chime in on discussions. I want to know what kind of help you need. You got this!
View all posts by Jane Ann Munroe, OD, Assistant Dean of Admissions, SCCO
Gold Standard also offers free OAT Practice test – http://www.oatbooks.com/free-oat-practice-test.html