The OAT Insider: Insider Information and Expert Advice on How to Prepare for the Exam

Optometry is among the fastest-growing fields, but to study optometry in Canada or the USA, one must take the OAT exam to get into reputable optometry schools. Since it is a significant exam, it can be intimidating when preparing for such competitive exams. But, it does not have to be with some valuable tips and strategies; you can ace the exam.

But what is the oat, and how to prepare for it? OAT, or Optometry admission test, is a standardized test every candidate must take to get into optometry. So, to help you prepare below is the essential information and some of the best ways to prepare for your exam.

Prerequisite For OAT

Their oat syllabus consists of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, reading comprehension, physics, and quantitative reasoning. The exam includes:

• 40 questions from biology
• 30 questions from general chemistry
• 50 questions from reading comprehension
• 40 questions from physics
• 40 questions from QR, Quantitative reasoning

Revising the basic concepts, especially in physics, algebra, calculus, and geometry, is vital.

Subject-wise Tips

As you have seen, there are five sections, and each section is equally important to check out how to study for each subject.

General Chemistry: When studying general chemistry, focus on the periodic table; however, try not to mug all of them simultaneously. Understand the table and then do regular practice. You can paste the periodic table chart and refer to it whenever you are studying. Also, when studying general chemistry, you must improve your basic concepts of chemical kinetics and electrochemistry.

Organic Chemistry: It is a conceptual subject that involves memorization as you have to learn the names of scientists and their reactions. Also, there are some essential concepts, such as isomerism, mesomeric effect, resonance, etc. So, your basics on these topics must be cleared. To learn reactions, it is best to have a separate notebook where you can write down all the reactions and revise them whenever possible.

Biology: Biology tests you on your living organism knowledge. To understand this subject better, flashcards will help you a lot. Also, you can opt for animations and visualized diagrams to understand the concept better.

Reading Comprehension: Reading comprehension requires practice, and to score well in this section, you can check out the answers written by the toppers. Also, before you answer any question in this section, read the questions carefully. It will give you a clear idea of what the question is asking. When you have read the questions, create an outline for the answers and write it down.

Physics: It is time-consuming and requires time to understand the subject. To make the process easy, you should make short notes. Refrain from trying to mug or memorize and trying to understand the concept. This will help you understand the topic better and will help you to increase your knowledge too. In physics, there are several branches, such as atomic physics, electromagnetism, etc. However, most fundamental concepts are clear in mechanical physics.

Quantitative Reasoning: QR tests your analytical and logical skills. When preparing for this section, try to do it in a fun way. You can play QR interactive games that not only help you think analytically and logically, and they will help you destress too. Another great way is to practice via quantitative reasoning books.

Additional Tips

Check out the following tips:

Time To Spend

Spending enough time is essential when you are preparing for OAT, and it is recommended that one must spend around 150 to 250 hours of styling before giving the exam. However, it depends on your study schedule, your grasp of the subject, etc., and how you want to divide your time. It is best to start your preparation three months before the exams. One of the ways that you can follow is to study three per day for five days a week; however, this is only a suggestion and one strategy.

You can divide your time any way you want and study more than three hours daily. But remember to take breaks. When you are studying for a longer duration, take at least a five to ten-minute break in between the sessions.

Have A Study Plan

To have productive results, it is essential to have a study plan, and the best time to make your study plan is before you begin your preparation. Take as much time as you need to make your study plan. Use tools such as planners, calendar applications, interactive calendars, etc. So, to be efficient, write down your class schedule, meetings, work, etc.

Remember to add time for exercise, social life, and extracurricular activities. It is so because the brain needs some time to relax too.

Set Your Goals

The oat syllabus can be overwhelming, as there is so much to study. However, do not try to study everything as a whole; instead, break down the material and set a goal. You can set a goal every day and try to complete it. For example, you can set a goal to recite all the digestive enzymes, so work on that and fulfill your objectives. This way you will also get a sense of accomplishment and it will boost your confidence.

These are short-term goals, and once you have established their work on them. Also, remember that when you are reading and practicing, you must always take notes. These notes are helpful when you do revisions. Also, make charts and diagrams; this way, you can memorize them quickly.

Practicing online papers is a great way to recognize your area of weakness and strengths. Also, you will understand the exam format better and will be able to manage your time.

Conclusion

Optometry is a rewarding career; one must clear the OAT to achieve that. OAT tests how ready you are to take on the field of optometry. A planned approach to your preparations is vital, and use adequate resources such as online practice tests. Follow the tips mentioned above and be ready to pass with flying colors.