Admission Tests

Most professional school programs require applicants to take a standardized entrance exam as part of the admissions process.  (One major exception to this are pharmacy programs, particularly programs in California, many of which do not require applicants to have taken the PCAT.  Please note, however, that many pharmacy programs outside of California do require applicants to take the PCAT!)  It is important that students be aware of a few general guidelines regarding the preparation for the entrance exams, their content, the structure of the exams, and how to interpret their scores when trying to determine competitiveness as an applicant. 

Preparation

The content of the admissions tests varies, which means the preparation for each test also varies.  Some tests, such as The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), Dental Admissions Test (DAT), Optometry Admissions Test (OAT), and Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT), are designed to assess students' knowledge of various topics related to the natural sciences, math, behaviorial sciences, and thinking and reasoning skills, while other tests, such as the GRE General Test, assess students' verbal, quantitative reasoning, and writing skills.

Prerequisite coursework typically provides the foundational knowledge that students need in order to be able to adequately prepare for the MCAT, DAT, OAT, and PCAT tests; however, these courses will not necessarily emphasize test taking skills that are important in achieving comptetitive scores on these tests.  The good news, though, is that these skills can be learned and improved upon with practice. 

Note: The time it takes students to complete the necessary prerequisite/preparatory coursework that will provide them with the foundational knowledge necessary to begin studying for their admission tests can vary greatly depending on scheduling, successful completion of course work, and other factors.  (For many students, this typically happens by the end of their third year at UCSB.)  It is for this reason that we advise students to wait to begin studying for their admission tests until they have completed, at minimum, the full-year sequences in Intro. Bilogy, Gen. Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics, and at least one course in Biochemistry, Intro. Psych. , Intro. Soc. (Pre-Med), Calculus, and Statistics.  Additionally, due to the nature of student's own course schedules and extracurricular involvement during the regular academic year (September - mid-June), many UCSB pre-health students opt to begin studying for their admission test after the completion of the spring quarter.  After studying and preparing for approximately 8-10 weeks, students are often prepared to take their admission test in early September, or just prior to the start of their senior/final year at UCSB.

In addition to prerequisite coursework, many students utilize test preparation resources to help improve their chances of performing well on admissions tests.  UCSB does not promote any test preparation company over another, but we have provided a list below of various companies with links to their websites that students often use to help them prepare.

As you explore test prep resources, keep a few things in mind to help choose the options that will work best for you. 

1.  Learning Styles:  Determine (or review) your preferred learning styles prior to beginning to research test prep companies.  Are you a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner?  Do you incorporate multiple learning styles into your regular study routine?  Have you taken and do you enjoy online courses, or do you prefer a traditional classroom setting?  With these in mind, you're ready to begin looking into companies and other test prep resources. 

2.  Cost:  The cost of materials and other resources varies widely, so try to find something that works within your budget.  Many test prep companies and even application services offer fee reduction programs for those who qualify, so be sure to look into this as a potential option to help offset some of the costs you'll incur during this process.

3.  Time:  Be sure to allow yourself sufficient time to study prior to taking your admissions test.  A general rule of thumb is to allow 6 - 8 weeks of dedicated studying, while also keeping in mind the time it might take for official scores to be released.  Additionally, the studying time necessary for each applicant will vary greatly as each brings his or her own knowledge and skills to the process. Poor planning could lead to low scores, missed deadlines, and not receiving any acceptance offers.  Registration dates and test dates for exams can be found using the links below.

Content and Structure

Understanding details related to test content and structure is vital.  Below are links to the various admissions test websites.  On their websites, you will find detailed information on each test's content, structure, resources for preparing for the tests, and other important information.

MCAT        Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)  https://students-residents.aamc.org/prepare-mcat-exam/prepare-mcat-exam Also used by schools of podiatry and physician assistant  AAMC Fee Assistance Program (If you are eligible, you receive test prep resources in addition to a reduction in the cost of the exam.)

DAT           Dental Admissions Test (DAT) https://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/dental-admission-test  DAT Fee Waivers (Reduction in exam cost only, no preparatory materials.)

OAT          Optometry Admissions Test (OAT)  https://www.ada.org/en/oat  OAT Partial Fee Waiver (on page 20) (Reduction in exam cost only, not for preparatory materials.)

PCAT        Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT)  pcatweb.info.  No fee waiver program.

GRE         Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)https://www.ets.org/gre/  GRE Fee Reduction Program (Reduction in exam cost only, not for preparatory materials.)

Note:  The CLAS offers GRE preparation workshops.  Visit their website to learn more!

Click here for a list of test preparation companies.

Interpreting Scores

Interpreting your scores and determining whether or not they might be considered comptetive can be confusing, but with adequate research and planning, you can get a pretty good idea of how you might compare to other test takers and professional school applicants. 

We have compiled and listed below the national averages for the MCAT, DAT, OAT, and PCAT, as well as differentiated the national averages for the GRE based on specific programs (PT, PA, Vet). In addition to this information, it is very important that you research the program-specific averages and, if available, the score ranges for the schools to which you hope to apply.

National Averages and Program-specific Averages for Accepted Students

*Admissions Test National Average Scores **Minimum Score for Consideration
MCAT 510 (MD Programs), 503 (DO Programs) 500+
DAT 20 About 17+
OAT 345 (AA and TS) 300+
PCAT Varies Widely Varies Widely
GRE (PA)(16-17 Cycle) 306 300
GRE (PT)(17-18 Cycle) 305 300
GRE (Vet)(Class of '19)  309 300

*Select the test to view web source of statistics.

**Not all programs have a minimum score for consideration.

***GRE scores shown are the combined scores from both the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitiative Reasoning sections of the test.  Some institutions may also have minimum score requirements for the Analytical Writing section.

Click here to view a resource containing an overview of each admission test, including content, cost, testing limits, and additional information. 

(Note: The cost for each examination may have changed.)