Students & Residents

The AAMC PREview® Professional Readiness Exam Test Day

Part of being confident and prepared to take your AAMC PREview® professional readiness exam is knowing what to expect and what is expected of you while you are testing.

Test Day

The AAMC PREview test is an exam administered through a secure online testing environment. It includes one test section with text-based scenarios that present hypothetical dilemmas 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. 

It is recommended that you log in to your exam session 15 minutes prior to your exam time in order to test your equipment again and to make sure you are ready.

At the time of your appointment, from your Exams page, click Launch Assessment. You will then proceed through the check-in process. If at any time you need assistance, you can reach the proctor by using the Chat Now feature.

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 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. 

Total Session Time

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. Please refer to Part 5: Taking the Professional Readiness Exam in the AAMC PREview Essentials for more information about system requirements and the online testing experience.

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.

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 check out.

If you do not provide an accepted ID that exactly matches your registered first and last names to the online proctor, you will not be allowed to test. If you are not allowed to test, you will be considered a no-show and will not receive a refund. 

Identification (ID) Requirements

  1. The ID was issued by a government agency.
  2. The ID is original — not a photocopy or digital copy of the original. Additionally, it cannot be a digital version of an ID.
  3. The ID expiration date is printed on the ID — not extended by a sticker or similar mechanism.
  4. The ID expiration date is after your test date.
    1. If your ID will expire before your scheduled test day, you are responsible for obtaining a renewed ID prior to your exam. 
  5. The ID contains a photo that can be used to positively identify you.
  6. The ID is tangible and whole, with no evidence of tampering (clipped corners, holes, etc.).
  7. The ID is in English. 

The most common forms of accepted ID are state driver’s license and passport.

Reasons an ID may not be accepted include:

Reason Not Valid Examples
Not issued by a government agency Credit card, school ID
Cannot be validated Paper ID or ID application receipt, virtual or digital ID, temporary ID, ID with extension signature or renewal paperwork, employee ID or library card (even if issued by a government agency), voter registration card
Does not have a photo Birth certificate, Social Security number card

You will take the exam on a desktop or laptop of your choice and are responsible for ensuring it meets the following technical requirements. You must install the Guardian Browser to take the exam. If you intend to take the exam using any equipment or network other than your own, you must ensure that you are able to share your screen through their secure browser and access other security features. Universities and employers often have firewalls or software that may suppress access to the required security features, which will prevent you from taking the exam. You may not take your exam on a phone or tablet.

Type Minimum Recommended
Web camera 640 x 480 resolution 1280 x 720 resolution
PC users Windows 10 Windows 10 (10 S mode is not supported) 
Mac users OS X 10.5 or higher* OS X 10.13 High Sierra
Internet download speed .768 Mbps 1.5 Mbps
Internet upload speed .384 Mbps 1 Mbps
RAM 1024 MB 2 GB
Ports 1935, 843, 80, 443, 61613, UDP/TCP 1935, 843, 80, 443, 61613, UDP/TCP

*MacOS X Catalina users: Catalina has added security features that require additional permissions for certain applications, such as LogMeIn Rescue, the software we use to connect you to a proctor. If you are using MacOS Catalina, this permission process will take a few additional minutes to complete. 

For technical questions and issues concerning the Meazure Learning Exam Platform, support is provided leading up to and following your exam appointment.  

Real-time chat: https://auto.proctoru.com/chat  

Additional Technical Requirements

  • Ensure that you have the ability to download and install programs/applications on the computer on which you intend to take your examination. The Guardian browser must be installed to take the exam; it is recommended that you do so prior to exam day. The browser will shut down applications that are not allowed to run during the delivery of the PREview exam. 
  • Download the Guardian Browser:  
    • Windows Download
    • Mac (Intel) Download
    • Mac (M1) Download
  • A functioning microphone. (Some web cameras have a built-in microphone).
  • Test your equipment.

Environmental Requirements 

How to Plan

What to Avoid
  • Identify a private, well-lit room.  
  • If it is a room in a shared space, make sure you reserve it in advance for two hours or more, to cover the entire exam session plus any extra time to resolve technical issues that might delay the start or completion of your exam.  
  • Lots of windows and doors – these are hard to secure from other people who should not have access to the exam.  
  • Testing in your car – this is not permitted.  
  • Testing in a bathroom – this is not permitted for privacy reasons.  
  • Outdoors – you may not test outside, even in your own backyard.  
  • Locations that may be accessed by family, friends, or anyone else. They may not only be disruptive to your concentration, but they may cause a security concern and your exam to be terminated.  
  • Ensure the space will be quiet and distraction free.  
  • Construction zones.  
  • Shared/common areas of your home.  
  • Your work office, if you are unable to prevent interruptions or noise.  
  • Make sure to have a desk or table and a chair available. These are the only acceptable surfaces upon which your computer and you may sit to minimize movement that may hinder the proctor’s ability to properly monitor your exam.  
  • Sitting on the floor.  
  • Sitting on a soft surface, e.g., a couch/sofa, a bed, on top of pillows, bean bag chairs, poufs, etc.  
  • Sitting your laptop on the floor.  
  • Balancing your laptop on your lap.  
  • Sitting your laptop on a soft surface.  
  • Clear your workspace.  
  • Cover anything you cannot remove with a sheet or blanket.  
  • Clutter, including lots of books, notes, notebooks, or other materials that might prevent the proctor from confirming your workspace is free of prohibited materials during their scan of the room.  
  • Accessing anything during your exam that you could not clear from your workspace.  
  • Close all third-party programs.  
  • Remove or cover any extra monitors and computer equipment.  
  • Cover TV screens, mounted monitors, etc. These can be used as computer monitors and are therefore prohibited.  
  • Accessing in any manner other software, web browsers, applications, another monitor or any additional electronic equipment, virtual machines, etc., is strictly prohibited.  
  • Make sure you have a working camera and microphone. Webcams and microphones that are integrated into your computer are preferred. External equipment is acceptable if connected by a cable (e.g., USB or aux), and does not include prohibited equipment, such as headphones.  
  • Microphones that include headphones/earphones of any kind.  
  • Bluetooth enabled, external equipment, which may require software that will be shut down for your exam.  
  • Have a portable mirror available to show the proctor your monitor. This can include a cell phone with a front-facing camera or an external USB camera. This ensures there are no notes or writing attached to the monitor. You will be required to visibly store your phone after check-in so that you cannot access it during your exam.  
  • Accessing your cell phone or any other unauthorized equipment after you have completed the check-in process – this is strictly prohibited. Be sure to turn off notifications, alarms, or anything that may be a distraction.   


Additional Requirements During Check-In & While Taking the Exam

How to Plan What to Avoid
  • Make sure your ID meets our requirements.  
  • Have it ready to scan for check-in.  
  • Expired ID.  
  • ID with name not matching your registration.  
  • These are the two most common — but not the only — ID issues that prevent examinees from checking in.  
  • Remove watches, headphones/earphones, sunglasses.  
  • Remove non-religious head coverings.  
  • Hats, hoodies, any type of head covering that is not for religious purposes.  
  • Remain seated at your computer for the duration of your exam unless preapproved for a specific accommodation.  
  • Standing.  
  • Excessive movement.  
  • Moving out of camera view – the proctor must see your entire face throughout your session.  
  • Taking a break and leaving the room, even to go to the bathroom. Your exam will be terminated, and you will not receive a refund. 
  • Remain silent during the exam unless preapproved for a specific accommodation.  
  • Reading questions aloud.  
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