OAT Study Materials: Best OAT Study Guide Resources (2026)

OAT Study Materials: What Works and How to Use It

The OAT (Optometry Admission Test) is administered by the ADA (American Dental Association, which also administers the DAT) and tests six sections: Survey of Natural Sciences (Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry), Physics, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning. Unlike the MCAT, which has extensive official preparation materials from the AAMC, OAT-specific resources are more limited -- a smaller pool of test-takers means fewer dedicated commercial prep products. This makes the choice of study materials more consequential; using the right resources efficiently matters more than relying on a high volume of average-quality materials. The best OAT study approach combines a comprehensive review guide with a quality practice question bank and section-specific resources for the sections requiring the most individual preparation (typically physics and organic chemistry).

OAT Bootcamp is widely considered the gold standard for OAT-specific practice questions, with a question bank designed specifically for the OAT's content and format. Bootcamp includes full-length OAT practice exams, section-specific question sets, and score reporting that identifies performance patterns by content area. For candidates choosing a single premium resource, OAT Bootcamp delivers the most OAT-specific value. Kaplan OAT is the other major commercial review book, covering all sections with content review plus practice questions; it is more widely available in print and at libraries. OAT Cracker is a community-developed resource that many pre-optometry students rate highly for its concise, high-yield content summaries. Reviewing OAT general chemistry questions and answers covers the stoichiometry, equilibrium, acid-base, electrochemistry, and thermodynamics content that makes up the largest single subject in the Survey of Natural Sciences section. Practicing with OAT biology practice tests covers the genetics, cell biology, physiology, and evolution content that OAT biology tests in greater depth and obscurity than most comparable health professional admissions exams.

For physics, OAT candidates face the distinctive challenge that optometry's focus on vision science means the OAT emphasizes optics and waves more heavily than physics courses or MCAT physics preparation typically does. Geometric optics (lens and mirror equations, refraction and reflection, image formation), wave properties (wavelength, frequency, amplitude, interference, diffraction), and optics calculations are essential content. Candidates who took physics years ago or who never covered optics in depth need dedicated optics review before the OAT -- this is the single most common area of OAT physics surprise. Khan Academy's optics content is freely available and covers the conceptual foundations thoroughly. Supplementing Khan Academy with OAT-specific optics practice questions builds the problem-solving speed the timed exam requires. Reviewing OAT physics optics and waves questions and answers targets the most heavily tested physics content area on the OAT exam. Working through OAT physics principles questions and answers covers kinematics, mechanics, electricity, and the full breadth of physics content the OAT tests beyond optics.

Section-by-Section Study Resource Guide

Biology preparation for the OAT requires depth and breadth that surprises many candidates. OAT biology questions test specific details about organelle functions, enzyme cofactors, hormonal regulation, and developmental biology stages at a level of specificity beyond what general MCAT biology preparation covers. The most effective biology preparation combines a high-yield review of major body systems and cellular processes with targeted practice questions that reveal which specific details are actually tested. Anki flashcard decks created by pre-optometry students (available on AnkiWeb) cover OAT biology high-yield facts efficiently and allow spaced repetition review alongside content study. Reviewing OAT cell and molecular biology questions and answers covers DNA replication, transcription, translation, gene regulation, and cellular processes that generate multiple OAT biology questions. Practicing with OAT general biology questions and answers covers the full breadth of OAT biology content including ecology, evolution, and diversity of life that rounds out the biology survey section.

Choosing the Right OAT Study Materials for Your Situation

The best OAT study materials are the ones that match your specific weaknesses and learning style. A candidate with a strong biology background who struggles with physics needs different materials than a physics-strong pre-optometry student who hasn't done organic chemistry in three years. Self-assessment before purchasing study materials helps focus spending on what will actually improve performance. Start by reviewing the OAT content outline (available from ADA) and honestly rating your current confidence in each content area. The areas you rate lowest should receive the most study time and the most targeted supplemental resources. Reviewing OAT organic chemistry questions and answers covers the reaction types and mechanism knowledge that OAT organic chemistry tests and that most candidates find requires the most active review relative to other sections. Working through OAT quantitative reasoning and math questions and answers covers the algebra, geometry, and applied math content in the quantitative reasoning section, which is often underestimated as a preparation area by science-strong candidates.

Study groups with other OAT candidates can provide accountability, question explanation support, and access to shared resources. Student Doctor Network's optometry forums, Reddit's r/PreOptometry community, and optometry school Discord servers connect pre-optometry students who are preparing for the OAT, share resource recommendations based on recent test experiences, and support each other through the preparation process. These community resources are particularly valuable for OAT candidates because the pool of commercial prep materials is smaller than for the MCAT, and peer insights about what specific sections looked like on a recent test date are genuinely informative. The preparation investment for the OAT -- whether it costs $50 in a library Kaplan book or $500 in a full Bootcamp subscription -- is small relative to the optometry school application it enables. Choosing materials that match your needs, using them consistently and actively, and testing yourself regularly throughout the preparation period gives you the best chance of reaching the 320+ OAT score that competitive optometry programs expect.

For candidates who are early in their pre-optometry journey and choosing courses, understanding that OAT biology tests cell and molecular biology in significant depth is important for course selection. Courses in cell biology, genetics, and molecular biology beyond a single introductory biology sequence prepare candidates better for the OAT than breadth-focused biology electives. Similarly, taking physics with a lab (or a physics course that covers optics extensively) is more valuable OAT preparation than a physics course that focuses on mechanics only. Reviewing OAT cell and molecular biology questions and answers covers the cellular and molecular content that appears throughout OAT biology and that rewards specific factual knowledge about cell processes. Practicing with OAT general biology questions and answers covers the ecology, evolution, and diversity content alongside the cellular content that completes OAT biology preparation. Candidates who invest seriously in OAT preparation -- with the right materials, a realistic timeline, and consistent daily practice -- give themselves the best chance of achieving the competitive scores that open doors to the optometry programs that match their career goals.