As you’re going through your medical school application checklist, you’ve likely stumbled across the AAMC PREview Exam. This tool assesses your professional readiness and how you handle real-world scenarios.
The PREview Exam made its pilot debut during the 2020-2021 application cycle at two selected medical schools. Since then, it hasn’t been mandatory for all applicants.
However, starting with the 2023-2024 academic year, AAMC now shares your PREview scores with all the schools you apply to via AMCAS. Translation: the PREview Exam could soon become a significant and possibly required factor in your medical school admissions journey. So, keep reading so you’ll be prepared!
This post is all about preview exam.
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Everything You Need To Know About AAMC PREview Exam
What is the AAMC PREview Exam?
The AAMC PREview Exam is a standardized exam that evaluates your readiness for medical school by assessing your professional behavior. AAMC developed this exam with input from medical school faculty, admissions committees, students, and other personnel.
What’s unique about the AAMC PREview Exam is that it goes beyond evaluating academic achievements and allows medical schools to select students more holistically by providing a more complete perspective of each candidate.
Each of the exam questions will cover one or more of the following nine behaviors.
- Commitment to Learning and Growth
- Resilience and Adaptability
- Cultural Humility
- Interpersonal Skills
- Reliability and Dependability
- Ethical Responsibility to Self and Others
- Empathy and Compassion
- Cultural Awareness
- Teamwork and Collaboration
This exam allows prospective medical schools to look beyond your stats, such as your GPA and MCAT score, and enables them to get a sense of how well you can apply these important skills in a medical school setting.
Is the AAMC PREview Exam Required?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of what to expect and how to prep, you’re probably wanting to pump the brakes and ask, “Hold up, Maggie. Is this test something I really need to take?”
Of course, adding one more thing to your already bursting-at-the-seams to-do list seems maddening, especially if it’s not a requirement. And it’s a valid question, especially considering the answer is, “It depends.”
Here’s the deal:
- Yes, if the medical school(s) you’re eyeing up requires you to take the PREview Exam, then 100%, you absolutely need to do it.
- Maybe. If just one of the medical schools on your radar demands the PREview, then things get a bit more complicated. In this case, I suggest taking the PREview only if you’re acing those practice exams and you definitely have your heart set on attending that school. Remember, all the medical schools on your list now will receive your score, so while it’s unclear how much a high score might boost your chances, a low score could potentially set you back.
- No, if none of the schools you’re considering mention the PREview at all, you can feel confident about skipping it.
Ultimately, it all boils down to what the medical schools on your list are asking for, so do your research and decide accordingly!
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What is the Structure of the PREview Exam?
Similar to the Casper, The PREview Exam is an online test taken in a secure environment with a proctor watching over you. It’s designed to simulate scenarios you might face in medical school, but fortunately, you don’t need actual experience in medical school to do well on it.
Each scenario presents you with a dilemma, and after that, you’ll see a list of behaviors that could be possible responses to the situation. Your job is to rate how effective each behavior is on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 being very ineffective and 4 being very effective.
To further clarify, you’ll choose a ranking for each response based on this 4-point scale:
- 1 ranks the response highly ineffective, meaning that the response could actually make the situation worse. It’s definitely a response to avoid!
- 2 also categorizes it as ineffective, indicating that the response won’t improve the situation and might even cause further issues.
- 3 indicates an effective response, but while it may provide some help, it might not lead to a significant improvement in the situation.
- 4 labels the response very effective and one that can significantly enhance the situation. It’s the goal to aim for.
How Long is the PREview Exam?
According to AAMC, each exam will last between 95 to 115 minutes in total.
To ensure a smooth experience, it’s best to log in to your exam session 15 minutes before your scheduled time. This will give you a chance to check your equipment again and make sure you’re all set. If you run into issues, a Chat Now feature is provided to reach the proctor for assistance.
Once it’s time for your exam, simply click on “Launch Assessment” from your Exams page. You’ll then go through the check-in process, which typically takes about 5-15 minutes.
The exam itself will take 75 minutes (1 hour, 15 minutes) to complete. After finishing the exam, you’ll have an additional 5-10 minutes to choose whether to void the score, answer optional survey questions, and select the schools to send your scores to.
If you’re still unsure about the process, AAMC provides a Test Day Experience Video to help you prepare. Also, you can download the AAMC PREview Essentials, which has every detail about the exam, including registration requirements and accommodations.
How Is the PREview Exam Scored?
To receive your PREview Exam score, your responses during the exam are compared to those of a panel of medical educators. If your ratings align closely with theirs, you’ll get full credit. Even if there’s a slight difference, you can still earn partial credit.
PREview Exam Score Rankings
Once your exam is scored, you’ll receive a total score between 1 (lowest) and 9 (highest), along with a percentile rank to compare your performance with other test-takers. The percentile ranking table shows how well you did compared to other test-takers over a two-year period. In May each year, this table gets updated with data from the latest two testing years.
Your percentile rank indicates the percentage of test-takers who scored the same as you or lower. When your score is first released, it’s based on the current percentile table. However, it may change when the table is updated. So, basically, your score stays the same, but your percentile rank can shift depending on the updated data.
AAMC PREview Exam Score Release
Expect to receive your scores approximately one month after testing. AAMC states the official score release date on their testing calendar. Remember, you can take the PREview exam up to two times within a testing year. Even if you void your test, it will still count as one of your annual attempts.
How Will the Medical Schools I’m Applying to Receive My Score?
When you take the PREview exam, you get to choose which medical schools receive your score. Your score report will automatically be included in your AMCAS application without you having to do anything extra.
Similar to the MCAT, if you’re planning to retake the PREview or have taken it more than once, it’s best to treat each attempt seriously and not consider any official exam a practice run. When you start or send in your AMCAS application, all PREview exam scores from 2020 onwards will be added to it.
If you take the PREview exam after you submit your AMCAS application, your score will be uploaded when it’s released on the scheduled date.
How Long Is My PREview Exam Score Valid?
For the 2024-25 application cycle, the AAMC has stated that your PREview score report will be kept indefinitely and will be automatically added to your AMCAS application if you reapply to medical school in the future.
When to Take the PREview Exam
In 2024, the exam has been offered in seven windows, each lasting two days, for a total of fourteen dates. AAMC provided multiple test times throughout each day, starting as early as 8 a.m. EST.
Ideally, I recommend scheduling your exam no later than June of your application year, and it’s even better if you can do it by May. Having your PREview scores ready by the time you send or receive secondary applications can help keep your application process on track and avoid any delays in reviews.
Here are the 2024 AAMC PREview Exam dates:
- March 13 & 14
- April 17 & 18
- June 5 & 6
- June 20 & 21
- July 24 & 25
- August 14 & 15
- September 12 & 13
If you’re applying next year, mark your calendar! The registration for all 2024 test dates opened on January 31st.
Also, you’re allowed to take the PREview Exam twice per administration year. However, there is a limit to how many times you can take it in your lifetime. As of the 2024 administration, the lifetime limit for the PREview Exam is a maximum of four times.
How to Register for the PREview Exam
The registration fee for the AAMC PREview is a flat $100, which includes the option to send your test results to as many schools as you wish.
When you register for the exam, you must confirm that you are taking it solely to apply to medical school, and you’ll need to follow these steps.
- Make sure you have an AAMC account. If not, it’s quick and easy to create one.
- Head to the PREview webpage and click on the “Log In To Your AAMC PREview Portal” button. Enter your AAMC credentials and double-check that your name matches the one on your ID.
- Navigate to the “Products” tab on the PREview portal, select “AAMC Professional Readiness Exam (PREview) 2024,” and move on to the scheduling webpage. Choose “Online Proctoring,” pick your time zone, test date, and appointment time, and adjust accordingly. Remember, your exam time is in military time.
- Enter your address and payment details to finalize your purchase and secure your spot.
- After scheduling your exam, look out for a confirmation email. You’ll also get access to an exam tutorial to familiarize yourself with the exam software.
How to Prepare for the PREview Exam
You may not be sure of the best way to prepare for this type of exam because, unlike the MCAT, which primarily focuses on content knowledge, the PREview Exam assesses pre-professional qualities.
Fortunately, the AAMC doesn’t leave you hanging out to dry. They have a helpful selection of resources that will help you feel ready for this type of test. Also, there are a few things you do on your own to make sure you’re as ready to go as possible.
Start taking advantage of these resources and the following tips at least a few days in advance of your exam date. Coming in well prepared can help you boost your confidence and, ultimately, improve your exam performance.
Go to the AAMC Website
There, you’ll find a detailed guide covering everything you need to know about the exam and what to expect. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the policies and procedures outlined in the guide.
Additionally, the tutorials provided can help you get a feel for the test portal. Understanding how to navigate the exam platform will save you time and stress during the actual test.
PREview Exam Practice Questions
These sample questions can help you get a feel for how the exam will be structured. Download The AAMC PREview Sample to familiarize yourself with the same wording and concepts you’ll encounter on the AAMC PREview exam.
Take PREview Practice Exams
The official practice exams provided by AAMC come with scoring keys and rationales for each of the scenarios. After completing the practice exams, compare your answers with the scoring key and review the rationales to gain insight into the correct reasoning.
Practice tests are great for helping you get used to the format and timing of the exam, help you understand how to approach similar scenarios on the actual exam, and highlight areas where you may need more practice.
Bonus: Discuss Scenarios with Your Peers
Engage in discussions about the sample scenarios with your peers, particularly with other medical or premed students. Sharing perspectives and insights can help you gain different viewpoints and identify important considerations that you may have overlooked. Collaborating with others can enhance your understanding and preparation for the exam.
The Bottom Line on the AAMC PREview Exam
While the AAMC PREview Exam is not always required by all medical schools, that may change in the future as more and more medical schools add it to their requirements each year.
Taking the PREview Exam can give you a competitive edge by demonstrating your preparedness for medical education. (As long as you score well on the exam!)
Rather than looking at this exam as one more item on your already lengthy to-do list for applying to medical school, consider looking at it as one more opportunity to highlight your professional competencies and show admissions committees that you have what it takes to excel in medical school and beyond.
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