Many of you are already thinking about the next steps in your medical school application journey. You’ve probably heard that some schools now include the PREview exam as part of their application requirements. The PREview exam is a situational judgment test that gives you an opportunity to show schools your understanding of the professional competencies that will help you grow into an exceptional physician.
As more schools elect to require or recommend the exam, it is likely you will be asked to take the exam. Here’s what you need to know about the PREview exam to get a head start on the application season.
Learn about what the PREview exam tests
As a student pursuing a career in medicine, how do you envision yourself caring for and treating patients? In addition to having advanced scientific knowledge and technical skills, we imagine it includes compassion, a willingness to collaborate with colleagues, and a deep sense of ethical responsibility. These are among the standards of personal accountability and relational skills that are assessed by the PREview exam and that schools are seeking in their applicants. Learn about these skill domains to get an understanding of what will be tested on the exam.
Find out if a Medical School You are Applying to Wants You to Submit PREview Scores
Last year, more than half of all American Medical College Application Service® (AMCAS®) applicants registered for the PREview exam. You can find out if you will need to take the test by looking at the list of schools requiring or recommending the exam on our website. A preliminary list will be posted early February and will be updated as schools finalize their admissions requirements. In addition, the 2026 Medical School Admissions Requirements guide will be published by early April.
Review Information about Registration and the Testing Year
Registration for the PREview exam will open on or before March 1. Be sure to sign up for Examinee Updates and watch the recording of the PREview Testing Year Update webinar to learn everything you need to know about registration, test day, and new policies. Exams are held April-October and the testing calendar is available now. If you need more scheduling advice, take a look at our past articles on how to select a test date and the value of taking the exam if it’s recommended but not required.
Get Familiar with the Format of the Exam
After you decide when you want to test, you’ll want to take some time to familiarize yourself with the exam format. The PREview exam is administered remotely using your own computer. You’ll have 75 minutes to complete the test, which presents a series of hypothetical scenarios that you may encounter in medical school. Each question presents a situation (a conflict or dilemma) and asks you to rate the effectiveness of possible responses.
Learn about Preparation Resources
The AAMC has free resources on the website to help you prepare for the PREview exam. You can get familiar with the content and the types of scenarios you will see on the exam by taking a free PREview Practice Exam and reviewing the test preparation guide. Be sure to also register for the Preparing for the PREview Exam webinar on March 10.
Visit the PREview website and reach out to us at askpreview@aamc.org with questions.