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Part of being confident and prepared to take the AAMC PREview® professional readiness exam is knowing what to expect and what is expected of you while you are testing.
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Test Day
Test Format
The AAMC PREview test is an exam administered through a secure online testing environment. There are 186 questions on the test. It includes one test section with text-based scenarios that present hypothetical dilemmas linked to the nine core competencies and are similar to what you may encounter in medical school. However, in order to perform well on the exam, the scenarios do not expect you to have had direct experience in medical school. Following each scenario, there are several behaviors that describe a response to the dilemma presented in the scenario. You will be asked to rate the effectiveness of each behavior using a 4-point scale: 1 = very ineffective, 2 = ineffective, 3 = effective, and 4 = very effective.
Practice exams are available to help you become familiar with AAMC PREview scenarios and questions. Some of the scenarios included in the AAMC PREview exam are “field-test,” or experimental, questions that are being evaluated for future use and do not count toward your total score. Field-test scenarios and questions will not be identified on the test.
Test Time
Total Exam Time
The maximum exam time is 75 minutes (1 hour, 15 minutes), unless you have been approved for extended time accommodation. Due to the relatively short duration of the exam, it does not include a break, except as an approved accommodation.
|
Section |
Timing |
|---|---|
|
Check-in |
5-15 minutes |
|
Examinee Agreement |
5 minutes |
|
Exam Time |
75 minutes (1 hour, 15 minutes) |
|
Void or Score Question and School Selection |
5-10 minutes |
|
Check out |
5-10 minutes |
|
Total Exam Time |
75 minutes (1 hour, 15 minutes) |
|
Total Session Time |
95-115 minutes |
|
Post-Test Survey (optional) |
5-10 minutes |
Total session time may vary due to the required technology check for remote-proctored, online exams. You may shorten the time needed by ensuring before your exam check in that your workspace is clear of prohibited materials, your technology meets all the required specifications, and your applications and programs are all closed.
Appointment Time
It is recommended that you log in to your exam session 15 minutes prior to your exam time to test your equipment again and to make sure you are ready.
Before Your Appointment Time
|
Step |
Action |
|---|---|
|
Step 1 |
Install the Guardian Secure Browser if you have not done so already. |
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Step 2 |
Log in and test your equipment one last time. Optional: View the tutorial one last time before beginning your exam. |
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Step 3 |
Have your government issued ID ready to show the proctor. Remember, it must be a physical copy. Digital IDs and renewal paperwork is not accepted. |
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Step 4 |
Check your appointment confirmation for instructions on how to log in to your appointment. |
At Your Appointment Time
|
Step |
Action |
|---|---|
|
Step 5 |
Log in to the PREview Portal. Select “Write Exam” to begin the check-in process. The online proctor will be there to guide you as needed through system requirements, identification authentication, exam rules, and the process of securing your testing environment. You must log in to your session on time. Late arrival may result in your exam being marked as a “no-show.” If you have trouble connecting to your session, or if you wait for more than 5 minutes for a proctor, please click the “Support” section in the upper left-hand corner of the screen to be connected to support via chat. |
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Step 6 |
Upon successful completion of Step 5, the proctor will grant you access to the exam. |
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Step 7 |
Agree to the AAMC Examinee Agreement and Meazure Learning Terms and Conditions. |
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Step 8 |
Complete the exam. You will have 75 minutes. |
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Step 9 |
Determine whether you want your exam SCORED or you want to VOID your exam. For more information, please see the next section. If you choose to have your exam scored, you will not be able to cancel your score at a later date. |
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Step 10 |
Select the non-AMCAS schools you would like to release your scores to (if applicable). If you are applying to a non-AMCAS application service or medical school, you will have an opportunity to select from available options before ending your exam session. If you are applying to an AMCAS-participating school, you do not need to select the school on test day — your score will be automatically uploaded to your AMCAS application when it is available. |
Score or Void Your Exam
When you complete your exam, you will be given the opportunity to void or score your exam and select any participating schools that do not use the AMCAS system to receive your score report. You will have a maximum of 10 minutes to complete this task. Please note that if you do decide to void your exam, it will count as an attempt. You will see the below message regarding the time permitted at the end of your exam:
The maximum time to make your selections on this page is 10 minutes. If you do not make a selection, your exam will be scored, and your score will be reported. However, to avoid a significant delay in reporting your score, please do not close your browser or leave your exam before making a selection. You will not be able to void your exam or withhold your score report at a later date.
Test Day Experience
The PREview® Test Day Experience Video is designed to help you become familiar with the activities that will take place when logging into and taking the PREview exam. It can be helpful for an examinee who is not familiar with our vendor, ProctorU, and it may be especially helpful for students who have not previously taken a remote-proctored, online exam. Here we will highlight the check-in process and the key functions and features of the exam platform, as well as submission and checkout. More information regarding workspace, technology, and identification requirements can be found on our Test Day Requirements webpage.
For more information, please read the AAMC PREview Essentials.
Test Day Proctor Assistance
Proctor Assistance
The remote proctor is available to assist you should you experience any problems with or have a question about the exam software. The proctor may not assist with any questions about exam content. The exam clock is not paused when you initiate a question.
Proctor Interruptions and Exam Terminations
If at any time during your exam the remote proctor has reason to believe you are using prohibited items or engaging in prohibited behaviors as described in the AAMC PREview Essentials, your proctor may interrupt your exam to request clarification of your activity, request you cease the prohibited activity, or terminate your exam. The exam clock is not paused during any interruption initiated by the proctor for a security concern.