A growing number of medical schools are using the exam in their admissions processes. Some are using PREview scores early in the screening process, considering scores in relationship to other parts of the application to better understand applicants’ professional readiness, or viewing scores as a plus factor.
As you review admissions requirements of the medical schools, you may find that you need to take the PREview exam. Below are three things to help you figure out when the best time is for you to take the exam.
1. Find out if the schools you are interested in applying to are requiring or recommending the PREview exam.
You can do this by reviewing the preliminary list of schools on our website on Feb. 4. Currently, you can view the schools that used the exam last admissions cycle. You’ll see some are requiring, recommending, or exploring using scores. So why might it be important to take the test if a school is only recommending it? Schools have a choice of what criteria they determine is important to use in their admissions process. Recommending PREview scores is another signal that professionalism is integral to your medical education. Show them what you can do by taking the exam and complementing or boosting the professional experiences you share in your application. Remember, check our website by Feb. 4 to see the list of schools using the PREview exam in the 2026 medical school application cycle.
2. Develop a timeline for applying to medical school.
Write down every deadline you need to meet for the application process. This includes AMCAS® or other application service deadlines, when you are taking your MCAT® exam, and school-specific deadlines. You can review school deadlines and their admissions requirements in the MSAR® online database, including information about the requirements for the PREview exam or another situational judgment test. Check out the medical schools’ websites and don’t hesitate to call them if you have questions.
3. Determine how much time you need to prepare.
Data shows that students spend between 1-5 hours preparing for the PREview exam. You’ll want to spend some time understanding how the exam tests the professional competencies and make sure your space is set up properly for remote, online testing. An exam session takes about 90 minutes to complete, including the 75 minutes of exam time. Read the article about PREview exam preparation in last month’s issue of the Premed Navigator.
4. Pick a date that works with your application timeline.
There is no right or wrong time to take the exam. Some students prefer to take it before their MCAT exam and some like to take the PREview exam after. It all depends on your preferences and schedule. Remember that PREview scores, like MCAT scores, take about 30 days to process. You are also allowed to retest in the same year. Testing runs from April-September and the last month to register for an exam is August. View the testing calendar.
Most importantly, take the exam when you feel prepared. Remember that PREview scores can still be submitted after you submit your AMCAS application.
Get started today by learning how you can present the fullest picture of who you are and what you bring as a future medical student by checking out our website: aamc.org/preview.
Please join us on Thursday, March 20 for a webinar that provides an overview of the PREview exam. The AAMC PREview team will be available to answer all of your questions.