Entrance Exams

Achieving a competitive score on your entrance exam demonstrates your readiness for graduate-level health professional education and is an important step in your professional journey. 

Select your entrance exam below to learn more about its content and structure. Then, explore resources and strategies to help you prepare for and successfully navigate your exam. 

If you have additional questions after reviewing this webpage, visit our Academics FAQ page for answers to common questions. If you continue to have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your pre-health advisor. 

Know Your Exam

Select the Entrance Exam that aligns with your chosen health profession to learn more about the content, metrics, and testing limits.

Watch the video below to learn more about the Dental Admissions Test (DAT), required for applicants to dental programs.

Metrics 

The average total DAT score of accepted Dental Applicants: 20.8 (2-digit score) or 420-430 (3-digit score). Read more about the DAT’s transition from the two-digit to three-digit scoring system! Understanding the New Dental Admission Test (DAT) Score Reporting Scale

DAT Resources 

Registration links: 

Preparation resources: 

Watch the video below to learn more about the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), required for applicants to allopathic and osteopathic medicals programs, as well as podiatry programs.

Metrics 

The average MCAT scores of matriculated students by program are: 

  • MD Applicants: 511.8 
  • DO Applicants: 502.97 
  • Podiatry Applicants: 493.9 

Watch the video below to learn more about average scores for Northeastern students to assist you in setting your goal score. 

Read more about MCAT scoring:  

MCAT® Resources 

Registration links: 

Preparation resources: 

Watch the video below to learn more about the Optometry Admissions Test (OAT), required for applicants to optometry programs.

 

Metrics 

The average total OAT score of accepted Optometry Applicants is 348. 

OAT Resources 

Registration link: 

Helpful resources: 

Watch the video below to learn more about the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), required for applicants to many physician assistant and veterinary programs. 

Metrics 

The average GRE scores of admitted PA applicants are: 

  • Verbal Reasoning:153.1 
  • Quantitative Reasoning: 152.7 
  • Writing: 4.1 

The average GRE scores of admitted veterinary applicants are: 

  • Verbal Reasoning: 155 
  • Quantitative Reasoning: 160 
  • Writing: 4 

GRE Resources 

Registration link: 

Preparation resources: 

Watch the video below to learn more about the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), required for applicants to many physician assistant and veterinary programs. 

 

Metrics 

The overall scoring range is between 200 to 800, with 500 as the mean. A competitive score would likely be in the 550-600 range, depending on the competitiveness of the specific PA program. 

PA-CAT Resources 

Registration link: 

Preparation Resources: 

Prepare for Your Exam

After learning about your particular exam, use the resources below to guide your preparation.

Begin preparing for your entrance exam by truly learning the material in your prerequisite courses—not simply studying for the next test. Take thorough, organized notes and save them, along with your textbooks and course materials. Consider forming study groups with peers who share similar career goals.  

Plan to take your entrance exam only after completing the relevant prerequisite coursework and allowing sufficient time for dedicated preparation. Most students require several months of focused study (approximately 4–6 months or 300 hours for the MCAT, 3–4 months or 200 hours for the DAT, 2–3 months for the GRE, and 3–4 months for the OAT). 

The video below reviews the process of developing a study plan and timeline for your preparation. 

You may also find it helpful to review the results of our Entrance Exam Preparation Survey, which summarizes study approaches, resources, and preparation strategies reported by Northeastern applicants who performed well on their entrance exams:  Entrance Exam Preparation Survey (you will need to be logged in to your Northeastern account to view the survey). 

If you do not have adequate time to prepare for your exam, or if additional coursework could strengthen your academic record, it is often advisable to delay your application to a future cycle and focus on improving your overall competitiveness. 

One of the most common mistakes applicants make is taking an entrance exam before they are fully prepared. It is generally better to postpone your exam—and, if necessary, defer your application by a year—than to earn a non-competitive score. Most health professional programs will have access to all of your exam attempts, so it is important to test only when you are confident that your score will be competitive for admission. 

In addition to preparing for the content of the exam, be sure to prepare for the logistics of test day. This includes taking care of yourself in the days leading up to the exam, planning how you will get to the test site, and ensuring you have everything you need for a smooth and successful exam day.

Review your tests exam guide thoroughly for information about the exam day procedures: 

If you are a student with a disability, navigating the accommodation request process can feel daunting. Review your exam’s accommodation requirements, approval process, and timeline, and begin the process as early as possible. If you receive approved accommodations at Northeastern, work with Disability Access Services to obtain the appropriate documentation and support for your request. 

Each program follows their own procedure for reviewing accommodation requests. Be sure to review your program’s policies carefully: 

Taking entrance exams and applying to health graduate programs can be costly. If finances are a barrier, explore fee assistance opportunities for your specific exam and determine whether you are eligible. Depending on the profession, entrance exam fee assistance may be included as part of the centralized application service’s fee assistance program, while other exams may have a separate application process. 

Most programs recommend that you apply early, as funds can run out. Click the link for your entrance exam below to learn more: 

To learn more about fee assistance for centralized application services, please visit our Financing Health Professional School webpage.