If you’ve found this post, you are likely a student with hopes to work in the medical field. Medicine is one of the most difficult careers to begin, but one of the most sought after in the US each year. Most programs require several tests and prerequisite courses to even be accepted. So, the PA-CAT is basically the entrance exam for Physician Assistants. This exam was created very recently and is comparative to the MCAT, the medical school entrance exam. Previously, PA schools required the GRE, but many acceptance committees believe that it is not truly representative of the knowledge candidates need to know. So, the PA-CAT was created. Yay us. I’ve taken this exam so I wanted to give some insight because there is minimal information online right now. Keep reading to learn more about this test!
What schools require the PA-CAT?
As of August 2021, there are only 11 schools in the entire country that require this exam. However, several more consider it to be “recommended” for applicants to take the test. As the test gains popularity, I am sure more schools will require it. The schools that currently require it are:
- AdventHealth University Sciences
- Central Michigan University
- College of Saint Scholastica
- Hardin-Simmons University
- Harding University
- Medical University of South Carolina
- Miami-Dade College
- Pfeiffer University
- Stephens College
- Theil College
- Wake Forest University-Boone
What subjects are on the PA-CAT?
The PA-CAT covers 9 subjects that are widely taught in undergraduate programs for pre-health students. These are:
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Biology
- Biochemistry
- General and Organic Chemistry
- Microbiology
- Behavioral Sciences
- Genetics
- Statistics
This is a difficult test!! Trust me, I was shocked when I discovered how in depth the questions were. From my experience, the test was heavy on chemistry, anatomy, and physiology. There was also a surprising amount of genetics on the exam. So, if I were to take the exam again, I would make sure to know these subjects like the back of my hand.
How to prepare?
With this magnitude of test, it can truly be overwhelming to start studying. However, my best advice is to create a plan and stick to it. Knowing as much as possible about the test will help you be less anxious when studying and practicing for the exam. The exam is 240 questions and you get 4.5 hours to complete it. Due to COVID-19, the exam is taken online with your personal computer. The best way I can suggest to study is to use MCAT books, along with your Anatomy and Physiology notes from your college coursework. I am considering creating some study notes to help students with this portion. Also, find a study plan for the MCAT online and follow that. Replace physics days with A&P, to ensure that you still get that quality info. I suggest planning the exam a few months out and studying a little bit each day. This will ensure that you don’t get overwhelmed and can process all the info before the test!
What is a good score?
The PA-CAT is an exam that compares you to the rest of the people taking the test on the same day. To me, that’s not the best news considering pre-health students are constantly comparing themselves to each other as it is. But, this is what we have to deal with so lets make the best of it! The scores are broken down into sub-scores for the big subjects like A&P, biology, and and chemistry. There is also a total score and this ranges from 200-800. Apparently, this scoring system is similar to the PANCE, the board exam for PA’s. On my first attempt, without much studying, I scored a 530. While this isn’t the best I feel I can do, it gives me a great benchmark on how to improve for the next one. So, I did score over 50%, but the recommended range is 80% or higher according to the PA-CAT site, which I will link here. If you’d like to learn more about the process of becoming a physician assistant, check out my post about the application process!
