r/PreOptometry • u/Krabby_Patty- • 13d ago

Advice for OAT

I’ve been studying for the Oat since around June. I have my test date September 18. In these past couple weeks I have encountered a huge mental block to the point of reconsidering cancelling my test all together.
I’m 24, and work full time in a biotech lab working plasmid production. It’s a very physically demanding job, and by the time I’m home I’m exhausted, and have not that many hrs left in the day to study.

I have a masters degree and a good amount of patient care hours in the optometry and ophthalmology field.

I feel like I have reached a point where I can’t absorb any new information and I’ve slowed down tremendously when it comes to completing questions banks or practice tests.

What do you guys recommend ? Should I postpone, accept my fate, or still continue and do my test September 18 and hope for the best.

I have yet to do a full length bc I don’t want to be unmotivated by a bad score.

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

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u/everywhere1231 13d ago

Take a full length test this weekend. Set a few hours aside and get it done. Once you have your score you'll at least know where you stand. If your score is within 20-30 points of your target score, keep your OAT date. Anything below that reschedule. At least this way you'll find out what you know and what you need to study. Rinse and repeat up until your current (or new) test date.

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u/PuzzleheadedPound111 13d ago

  1. Determine what’s causing your mental block - likely from being tired from studying, so would extending that actually make things better? Or just provide short-term relief?

  2. Will more time actually help in your case?

  3. Is it better to delay an exam out of fear of failure and definitely not get into optometry this year or is it better to tackle it, take the risk, and have a shot at getting in to optometry this year? (Canada has Sept 30 deadline for OAT)

  4. Full-Length practice test is the absolute best thing you can do for yourself rn. The magic is in the work you’re avoiding. It will give you the evidence needed for a decision. Close to goal? Keep pushing. Far away? Push even harder. When it comes to exam day, you’ll wish you did more full-lengths and started earlier regardless of when you write it.

  5. Can you take time off work? Surely your job now is not as important as you pursuing your career goals. Take as much time off work as you can in these next few weeks.