AAMC PREview Professional Readiness Exam

All About the AAMC PREview® Professional Readiness Exam

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The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) PREview® professional readiness exam is a newer part of medical school admissions designed to assess professional competencies medical students need to succeed during medical school and later in their careers. It is a type of situational judgment test (SJT) that requires examinees to respond to hypothetical scenarios similar to what they might encounter in medical school. The PREview exam is currently required or recommended by only some medical schools, but more schools will likely add this exam as an admissions requirement in the coming years. In this guide, we’ll discuss what you need to know about the AAMC PREview exam so you understand what to expect and how to prepare for this exam.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

What is the AAMC PREview exam?

The AAMC PREview professional readiness exam, or PREview, is a situational judgment test that was designed to assist medical school admissions officers in assessing “your readiness to learn about issues related to professionalism in medical school.” In other words, it will give admissions committees insight into how prepared you are to take on the challenges that medical school poses beyond the academics, which are measured by your GPA and MCAT score. In addition, since the exam is standardized, it will remove subjective biases that may occur and allow each applicant to be equally evaluated on these professional competencies.

AAMC’s Situational Judgment Test (SJT) Name Change

While the exam was being developed, it went by “AAMC’s Situational Judgment Test,” but it was announced in early 2022 that its name will be “AAMC PREview” moving forward. While the name has changed, what the exam is evaluating has not.

Is the AAMC PREview the same as CASPer?

The PREview exam is similar to but separate from the CASPer, which is a different situational judgment test that has been administered for a number of years but was not developed by the AAMC. Some medical schools will continue to use CASPer, so check the admissions requirements of the schools you are applying to and determine which SJT you need to take.

What’s tested on the AAMC PREview exam?

The PREview exam will test examinees on what the AAMC has determined as core professional competencies for entering medical students. The nine competencies include:

  1. Commitment to Learning and Growth
  2. Cultural Awareness
  3. Cultural Humility
  4. Empathy and Compassion
  5. Ethical Responsibility to Self and Others
  6. Interpersonal Skills
  7. Reliability and Dependability
  8. Resilience and Adaptability
  9. Teamwork and Collaboration

How is the AAMC PREview exam structured?

The PREview exam is administered live online with a proctor through a secure testing platform (see more details below). Examinees will be presented with a series of hypothetical scenarios that students may encounter in medical school. They will have to evaluate the effectiveness of a series of behavioral responses to each scenario. In other words, examinees will be required to judge how well they think each response to a scenario would play out.

For each scenario, examinees will be asked to assume the role of a medical student. They will then be asked to rate a series of responses on a four-point scale from Very Ineffective (1) to Very Effective (4).

Very Ineffective (1)Ineffective (2)Effective (3)Very Effective (4)
The response will cause additional problems or make the situation worse.The response will not improve the situation or may cause a problem.The response could help but will not significantly improve the situation.The response will significantly improve the situation.

AAMC PREview Testing Experience

To take the PREview exam, you will need to download the ProctorU browser extension using your AAMC login credentials. During the exam, a real-life proctor will help check you in and monitor your exam. To avoid distraction, you will not be able to see the proctor while you are taking the exam. However, you may contact the proctor at any time if you need assistance with the system. Here is the exam experience step-by-step:

  1. Install the ProctorU extension
  2. Test your equipment
  3. Review the exam tutorial (optional)
  4. Log into your appointment and select “Write Exam” to begin your exam.
  5. With the proctor, review system requirements, identification authentication, exam rules, and prepare your testing environment.
  6. The proctor grants you access to the exam.
  7. Agree to the AAMC Examinee Agreement and Yardstick Assessment Strategies terms and conditions.
  8. Complete the exam in the 75 minutes given.
  9. Submit your exam and select the schools you wish to receive your score report.
  10. Complete a post-exam survey and check out.

How is the AAMC PREview exam scored?

Your overall AAMC PREview score will be on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 9 (highest). The higher your score, the more closely you align with medical educators’ ratings. Your PREview score will be based on how well your effectiveness ratings align with the ratings provided by the medical educators the AAMC collaborated with. You will be given full credit when your response matches the medical educators’ rating. You will be given partial credit when your rating is close to the medical educators’ rating.

The table below showcases the AAMC PREview Percentile Ranks for 2024.

Total AAMC PREview ScorePercentile Rank
9100%
897%
790%
672%
552%
434%
321%
211%
15%

What is a good AAMC PREview score?

A good AAMC PREview score is a score of 7 or higher, which would put you in at least the 90th percentile. Earning a good PREview score can help you stand out from other medical school applicants; however, it is not the only factor medical school admissions look at. Earning a bad PREview score, on the other hand, can hurt your application. If you don’t do well taking the PREview on your first try, you can re-test twice per administration year and attempt to earn a higher score. There is a lifetime limit of four re-tests.

Why are medical schools using the AAMC PREview exam?

In the admissions process, medical schools want to get to know as much about the applicant as they can. MCAT scores and GPAs will remain critical to the admissions process, as they inform admissions committees about the academic history and potential of an applicant. The PREview score adds an additional layer of information—it lets admissions officers more easily identify applicants who demonstrate the core professional competencies that are such an important part of medical education but are not demonstrated in grades and test scores.

The AAMC identifies specific core competencies they are looking for in applicants. Historically, admissions committees would have looked for the professional competencies in the primary and secondary applications, personal statement, and interviews. The PREview exam lets them evaluate candidates earlier on the majority of the competencies. The PREview is designed to assess professional and interpersonal competencies alongside academic metrics and is expected to better support the holistic admissions process.

[ READ NEXT: What’s a Good MCAT Score? ]

Is your AAMC PREview score sent to all medical schools?

Not all medical schools require you to submit a PREview score. The AAMC will release your score to the American Medical College Application Service® (AMCAS), but only schools that require or recommend a PREview score – which you have also designated in your AMCAS application – will have access to your score. 

What medical schools currently use the AAMC PREview exam?

Below is a list of participating medical schools for the 2024 PREview testing year (the 2025 application year). Visit the AAMC site for the most up-to-date list of schools who require or recommend submitting your AAMC PREview exam score.

Medical Schools Requiring AAMC PREview Scores

The following schools require you to submit a PREview score for your medical school application.

  • Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine 
  • Mercer University School of Medicine
  • Saint Louis University School of Medicine
  • Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah
  • Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine at Belmont University
  • University of California, Davis, School of Medicine
  • University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine
  • University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine
  • University of Massachusetts T.H. Chan School of Medicine

Medical Schools Recommending AAMC PREview Scores

The following schools will accept your medical school application with or without a PREview score.

  • Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
  • Des Moines University Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program
  • Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
  • George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Morehouse School of Medicine
  • Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
  • Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
  • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
  • University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

AAMC PREview Exam Testing Dates

The table below showcases the upcoming AAMC PREview testing dates in 2024. Please check the AAMC site for the most current testing calendar as some dates are subject to change.

AAMC PREview Test DatesRegistration OpensRegistration ClosesScores Released
June 20 & 21, 2024January 31, 2024June 5, 2024July 23, 2024
July 24 & 25, 2024January 31, 2024July 9, 2024August 22, 2024
August 14 & 15, 2024January 31, 2024July 31, 2024September 17, 2024
September 12 & 13, 2024January 31, 2024August 29, 2024October 15, 2024

How to Register for the AAMC PREview Exam

Any applicant to a participating school may take the PREview exam. Registering for an upcoming PREview exam is easy and takes just a few steps:

Step 1: Ensure you have an AAMC account or create a new one, if you don’t already have one.

Step 2: On the AAMC PREview webpage, click “Log In To Your AAMC PREview Portal” and enter your credentials to access your portal.

Step 3: Review that your account information is correct: your name, AAMC ID, and email address. The AAMC’s registration and scheduling system, Meazure, will receive the information as-is, and you will be unable to update it once it’s submitted. Now is the time to correct any errors!

Step 4: In your PREview portal, navigate to the “Products” tab and select “AAMC Professional Readiness Exam (PREview).” You will then be directed to the scheduling page where you will choose your test date and time. Be sure to select the time zone in which you will be taking the exam.

Step 5: Add your address and input payment info to register for the PREview exam. The cost to schedule your first PREview exam is $100 ($0 if you’re approved for the AAMC Fee Assistance Program).

Step 6: Check to make sure you’ve received a confirmation email for your scheduled exam. The email will also include an exam tutorial.

More information about how to register for the AAMC PREview can be found here.

How to Prepare for the AAMC PREview Exam

Practice for any exam is always going to benefit you, especially for an SJT, which most likely will be new territory for you. Here are some resources our experts recommend to help you prepare and study for the PREview exam:

AAMC PREview Practice Questions & Responses

The AAMC has outlined and provided samples of how the PREview will test you. You can practice with more sample AAMC PREview scenarios here. Once familiarizing yourself with the sample scenarios, you can take a full practice exam and look through the scoring rationale.

AAMC PREview Practice Questions: Sample Scenario #1

You have been selected to participate in a prestigious research program for a three-week period. However, you have been assigned an eight-week rotation that is over an hour away, and as a result, you will have to miss a weekly check-in for your rotation. This check-in is a required component of your rotation.

Note: The answer choices for each numbered item are always the same:

  • Very Ineffective
  • Ineffective
  • Effective
  • Very Effective

Please rate the effectiveness of each response to this situation.

  1. Skip the weekly check-in for three weeks to participate in the research opportunity.
  2. Ask your attending to find a resolution so you can participate in both the rotation and the research opportunity.
  3. Do not participate in the research opportunity so you can attend the weekly required rotation check-in.
  4. Discuss with your attending if there is a resolution that can be found so you can participate in both programs.
  5. Tell your attending in advance that you will miss three check-ins.
  6. Attend the check-ins and look into research opportunities that are closer or at another time.

In the scenario above, the student has a dilemma—sure, they may want to do everything, but clearly, that is not possible given the circumstances. Let’s take a look at how these would likely be scored. Remember, you would get full credit if you match the medical educators’ rating and partial credit if you are close.

1. Skipping the weekly check-in would mean not completing the rotation, so that’s not good.

  • Very Ineffective – full credit
  • Ineffective – partial credit
  • Effective – no credit
  • Very Effective – no credit

2. It would be rather unprofessional to expect your attending to make the decision for you, as a professional, you need to own your decisions.

  • Very Ineffective – full credit
  • Ineffective – partial credit
  • Effective – no credit
  • Very Effective – no credit

3. While giving up a prestigious research opportunity may be difficult, there will be chances that will come in the future, and it is not a requirement like the weekly check-ins.

  • Very Ineffective – no credit
  • Ineffective – no credit
  • Effective – full credit
  • Very Effective – partial credit

4. Having a discussion with your attending is an effective way to show your commitment to the rotation but also explore if there is an alternate solution that works for both parties

  • Very Ineffective – no credit
  • Ineffective – no credit
  • Effective – partial credit
  • Very Effective – full credit

5. Telling your attending you are not going to attend is one way to go about this, but you are uncertain of how they will respond. 

  • Very Ineffective – full credit
  • Ineffective – partial credit
  • Effective – no credit
  • Very Effective – no credit

6. Going to the check-ins would mean fulfilling your commitment to the rotation and your medical education.

  • Very Ineffective – no credit
  • Ineffective – no credit
  • Effective – partial credit
  • Very Effective – full credit

AAMC PREview Practice Questions: Sample Scenario #2

You are assigned to a team of four in your anatomy and physiology class for a required group project. The other three members of your team have established friendships, but they are relatively unfamiliar to you. During the course of the project, your teammates set meeting times that often conflict with your schedule but work for all of theirs. These meetings are used to complete most of the work for the project. The deadline is approaching and your contribution to the project has so far been minimal.

Note: The answer choices for each numbered item are always the same:

  • Very Ineffective
  • Ineffective
  • Effective
  • Very Effective
  1. Ask your anatomy and physiology professor for a solution to the problem.
  2. Schedule the last two group meetings yourself to ensure no conflicts.
  3. Tell your teammates that you will go to the professor if they continue excluding you.
  4. Schedule a meeting with your professor and teammates to discuss how to resolve the issue.
  5. Allow your teammates to complete the project without you.
  6. Ask your professor to be assigned to a different team for the remainder of the project.
  7. Admit to your professor that you have not contributed and deserve a lower grade on the project than your teammates.
  8. Ask a trusted faculty member other than the anatomy and physiology professor for advice.

1. Asking your professor for a solution is a way to dodge responsibility. Talking to your professor can be more effective if you go in with a greater sense of ownership, asking instead for advice that will help you reach a solution.

  • Very Ineffective – full credit
  • Ineffective – partial credit
  • Effective – no credit
  • Very Effective – no credit

2. While this may have been a more useful solution earlier in the project, with the deadline approaching and most of the project work already completed, this is likely to have a minimal impact at best.

  • Very Ineffective – partial credit
  • Ineffective – full credit
  • Effective – no credit
  • Very Effective – no credit

3. You are in effect threatening your team with this response. It is likely to alienate your team members, foster conflict, and create other problems.

  • Very Ineffective – full credit
  • Ineffective – partial credit
  • Effective – no credit
  • Very Effective – no credit

4. Bringing in your professor introduces an impartial voice that can help offset the cohesion between the other three members of your group. By initiating this discussion, you are taking responsibility and involving all affected parties, which is more likely to lead to a satisfactory solution for all.

  • Very Ineffective – no credit
  • Ineffective – no credit
  • Effective – partial credit
  • Very Effective – full credit

5. Even if your team does a good job without you and you get a good grade, it would not be a grade that you earned. Medical professionals take responsibility for their actions (and inaction).

  • Very Ineffective – full credit
  • Ineffective – partial credit
  • Effective – no credit
  • Very Effective – no credit

6. With the deadline approaching, this probably is not a feasible solution, but even worse is that you would be abandoning your responsibilities to your team. Medical professionals need to learn to work on teams, even ones with complicated social dynamics.

  • Very Ineffective – full credit
  • Ineffective – partial credit
  • Effective – no credit
  • Very Effective – no credit

7. While this is owning up to your responsibility for not contributing, it does nothing to address the issues that you’re having with your teammates. The project is not over yet, so there is still some opportunity to work with your team, such as proposing a plan that will let you complete the bulk of the remaining work on the project.

  • Very Ineffective – partial credit
  • Ineffective – full credit
  • Effective – no credit
  • Very Effective – no credit

8. It never hurts to ask for help from an established medical professional that you trust, but there is no guarantee that they will give you the advice that you need. A more effective response would directly involve your teammates, who play a significant role in this scenario.

  • Very Ineffective – no credit
  • Ineffective – no credit
  • Effective – full credit
  • Very Effective – partial credit

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AAMC PREview® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the Association of American Medical Colleges, which is not affiliated with Kaplan and was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this website or product.

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