OAT SECTIONS

The OAT helps in evaluating a student’s knowledge in reading comprehension, quantitative reasoning, biology, chemistry (both organic and general) and physics. There is usually no change in the Natural Sciences and Physics sections. Minor changes can be found in the other two sections of the test.

There are some noticeable changes in the Reading Comprehension. The purpose and content and the description of the content in the Examinee Guide remains unchanged. Changes that usually occur in this section on the OAT deals with the length of the reading passages, number of questions, and time allotted for the test. The passages are shorter and there are 40 questions on the test. The number of questions for each passage will range from 10-15 and the time limit for the test has been changed to 50 minutes.

The changes in the Quantitative Reasoning section are that the new version of the test will have 40 questions while the time limit is the same at 45 minutes. There have been some content changes such as the inclusion of Mathematical Problems: Algebra - equations and expressions, inequalities, exponential notation and logarithms, absolute value, ratios and proportions and graphical analysis; Numerical calculations - fractions and decimals, percentages, approximations, and scientific notation; Probability and Statistics; Geometry; Trigonometry, and Applied Mathematics (Word) Problems in the new version of the test.

The OAT is designed as multiple-choice test in the English. There are five answer choices from which the student has to choose the correct answer. Each form of the test is developed according to the test outline. There are four sections in the Optometry Admission Testing Program. They are Survey of the Natural Sciences, Reading Comprehension Test, Physics Test and Quantitative Reasoning Test. Each section or subsection of the OAT is scored on a 200-400 scale, with 300 suggestive of an "average" score. Scores of 320 or better are characteristic of triumphant applicants. Scores from the Physics Test and the Survey of Natural Sciences are combined for a Total Science Score. All six section/subsection scores are averaged to get an Academic Average of the student.

I. Survey of the Natural Sciences

This section consists of four subsections. They are biology from which about 40 questions are put forth, general chemistry having about 30 questions and organic chemistry having 30 questions. The entire section has to be completed within a time limit of 90 minutes.

Biology: Cell and Molecular Biology – origin of life; cell metabolism (including photosynthesis);

enzymology; cellular processes; thermodynamics; organelle structure and function; mitosis/meiosis, cell structure, and experimental cell biology; Diversity of Life: Biological Organization and Relationship of Major Taxa (monera, plantae, animalia, protista, fungi, etc.)- using the five-kingdom system; Vertebrate Anatomy and Physiology: Structure and function of Systems- integumentary, skeletal, muscular, circulatory, immunological, digestive, respiratory, urinary, nervous/senses, endocrine, and reproductive; Developmental Biology - fertilization, descriptive embryology, developmental mechanics, and experimental embryology; Genetics – molecular genetics, human genetics, classical genetics, chromosomal genetics, and genetic technology; Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior - natural selection, population genetics/speciation, cladistics, population and community ecology, ecosystems, animal behavior (including social behavior).

General Chemistry: 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, and ideal gas laws; 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, Bronsted-Lowry reactions, calculations; Chemical Equilibria - molecular, acid/base, precipitation, calculations, and Le Chatelier’s principle; Thermodynamics and Thermochemistry– laws of thermodynamics, Hess’ 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 configuration, 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 5 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: Mechanism (Energetics, Structure, and Stability of Intermediates) - SN1, SN2, elimination, addition, free radical, and substitution mechanisms; Chemical and Physical Properties of Molecules and Organic Analysis - inter- and intra-molecular forces, separation, introductory infrared spectroscopy, 1HNMR spectroscopy, 13CNMR, chemical identification, stability, solubility, and polarity; Stereochemistry - conformational analysis, optical activity, chirality, chiral centers, planes of symmetry, enantiomers, diastereomers, and meso compounds; Nomenclature - IUPAC rules and functional groups in molecules; Individual Reactions of the Major Functional Groups and Combinations of Reactions to Synthesize Compounds; Acid-Base Chemistry - resonance effects, inductive results, and prediction of products and equilibria; Aromatics and Bonding - concept of aromaticity, resonance, atomic orbitals, molecular orbitals, hybridization, bond angles, and bond lengths.

II. Reading Comprehension

The reading comprehension section helps to asses the student’s ability to read, categorize, examine, and remember new information of a scientific nature. It helps to determine how well the student is able to comprehend the scientific information from the material provided to him. The intensity of material provided in this section is usually the same as the level that a student would encounter in the first year of optometry school and hence would not require any prior knowledge of the topic other than basic undergraduate preparation in science. The Reading Comprehension Test usually has three different reading passages. There are about 15 to 17 questions put forth from each passage. The time limit for this section is usually 50 minutes.

III. Physics

There are about 40 questions in the physics section of the OAT test and they have to be answered within the time span of 50 minutes. The questions for this section deals with 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, magnetism, optics, and modern physics.

IV. Quantitative Reasoning

The Quantitative section of the OAT deals with mathematical questions that are pertaining to the level encountered at the first year of optometry school by the student. There are about 40 questions that needs to be answered within 45 minutes. The questions usually deal with

Mathematical Problems:

Algebra - equations and expressions, inequalities, exponential notation and logarithms, absolute value, ratios and proportions and graphical analysis.

Numerical calculations - fractions and decimals, percentages, approximations, and scientific notation.

Conversions- temperature, time, weight, and distance;

Probability and Statistics; Geometry; Trigonometry, and Applied Mathematics (Word) Problems