How to Ace the AAMC PREview Exam (2024)
/Everything you need to know about the AAMC PREview exam (formerly the AAMC Situational Judgment Test), including example scenarios and responses
Learn how to prepare for the aamc PREview exam (formerly the situational judgment test)
----
Part 1: Introduction
If you’re a future-focused premed planning ahead for your upcoming medical school applications, you know how important it is to stay current with new changes in the admissions process. The more knowledgeable you are, the more prepared you can be—and the better outcomes you’ll be able to achieve.
Perhaps that’s why you’ve started researching a recent addition to medical school admissions: the AAMC PREview professional readiness exam, formerly known as the AAMC Situational Judgment Test, or SJT. While the exam was only pilot-tested in the 2020–2021 application cycle, you can reasonably expect it to play a more prominent role in upcoming years.
So, what is the AAMC PREview exam? What does it measure? How can you prepare for the AAMC PREview exam? And how will it affect your medical school admissions chances?
Over the past several years, you’ve painstakingly earned high academic stats and pursued the right extracurricular activities in order to maximize your medical school admissions odds. With your eyes firmly glued to the goal of earning your white coat, you’ll do whatever you can to conquer this new exam and stand out as a competitive medical school candidate.
Continue reading to discover everything you need to know about the AAMC PREview exam, including what it measures, how it’s scored, and how to prepare successfully. Plus, we’ll share sample scenarios so you can improve your skills and prepare to ace the AAMC PREview exam.
What is the AAMC PREview exam?
AAMC PREview is an examination developed by AAMC in collaboration with medical school faculty, admissions officers, and student and diversity affairs officers. Different from the Casper test, Snapshot and Duet, and the discontinued AAMC VITA interview, all of which are taken independently, the AAMC PREview exam is proctored live.
The purpose of the AAMC PREview exam is to evaluate whether applicants possess the necessary pre-professional knowledge and qualities in order to be successful medical students and doctors. In particular, this exam addresses nine professional competencies that are closely related to the fifteen core competencies for entering medical students:
Interpersonal Skills
Cultural Awareness
Cultural Humility
Empathy and Compassion
Teamwork and Collaboration
Ethical Responsibility to Self and Others
Resilience and Adaptability
Reliability and Dependability
Commitment to Learning and Growth
AAMC PREview is intended to be used as a pre-interview screening measure. Since the exam assesses professional competence and personal qualities, the data it provides can be used as a balance to traditional academic metrics.
The AAMC PREview exam could either work for or against you during the med school admissions process, depending on your results. It might identify you as having particularly strong pre-professional competence as a frontrunner in the applicant pool. On the other hand, students with poor professionalism will be singled out as less prepared for medical school and the medical field.
During the 2020-2021 AMCAS application cycle, two schools were chosen to pilot the AAMC PREview exam, then called the Situational Judgment Test: the University of California Davis School of Medicine and the University of Minnesota Medical School’s Twin Cities campus. Only applicants who intended to apply to one of those two medical schools were able to take the exam, and their results were not shared with any medical programs outside of the pilot group.
The purpose of the pilot wasn’t to immediately revolutionize pre-existing medical school application review systems. In that first year, the AAMC was simply trying to determine how to best administer the exam and explore the ways it could add value to the admissions process. The two pilot medical schools were encouraged to use the test results as one factor in their holistic admissions review.
Prior to the 2023-2024 cycle, AAMC PREview scores were provided to the small list of schools on your list that required or recommended them. That said, starting with the 2023-2024 cycle, the AAMC will be making scores from every PREview exam you've taken available to all schools you apply to via AMCAS, even the ones that don’t explicitly recommend or require the exam. (Note: We provide a list of schools that explicitly require or recommend AAMC PREview at the end of this guide).
All signs point to AAMC PREview having increasing influence on the admissions process, and it’s possible that schools that don’t explicitly recommend or require the exam will incorporate it into their admissions decisions.
How is the AAMC PREview exam structured?
The AAMC PREview exam consists of written scenario sets that present hypothetical dilemmas related to the core competencies. The scenarios are designed to simulate real situations you may face in medical school, so they are based in health care, educational, or other real-life settings. Since these scenarios are aimed at pre-health students, you don’t need specific health care experience or knowledge to succeed on the test.
Immediately following each scenario, you’ll find a list of items describing the different actions you could take when responding to the hypothetical dilemma. You’re asked to rate the effectiveness of each behavioral response using a four-point scale.
1 = Very ineffective. “The response will cause additional problems or make the situation worse.”
2 = Ineffective. “The response will not improve the situation or may cause a problem.”
3 = Effective. “The response could help but will not significantly improve the situation.”
4 = Very effective. “The response will significantly help the situation.”
Within each scenario set, you might use specific effectiveness rankings more than once, or perhaps not at all. You should rank each action response individually, not in comparison with the other possible items. The AAMC PREview exam contains 30 scenario sets for you to consider and 186 response items for you to rate. You’re given 75 minutes to complete the exam.
AAMC notes that the total session time for each exam will range between 95–115 minutes. We’ve put a time breakdown in the table below.
| AAMC PREview Session Time Activity | AAMC PREview Session Time Approximate Length |
|---|---|
How is the AAMC PREview exam scored?
During the exam scoring process, your effectiveness ratings for each response item are compared to the ratings of a representative panel of medical educators. If your rating of a response matches theirs, you’ll receive full credit for the item. If your rating is close to the medical educators’ rating, you’ll receive partial credit.
After your exam is scored, you’ll receive a total score ranging from 1 (the lowest) to 9 (the highest). You’re also given a percentile rank to compare your score with other test-takers. As of April 2024, based on a sample of 36,843 students who have taken the exam, the mean score is 5 (SD: 1.96), and each PREview score was assigned the following percentile ranks:
Scale score of 1: 6th percentile
Scale score of 2: 12th percentile
Scale score of 3: 23rd percentile
Scale score of 4: 38th percentile
Scale score of 5: 56th percentile
Scale score of 6: 76th percentile
Scale score of 7: 92nd percentile
Scale score of 8: 98th percentile
Scale score of 9: 100th percentile
(Note: We recognize that there is no such thing as the “100th percentile.” However, the AAMC chooses to report scores in this way.)
When taking the PREview exam, you’ll select which medical schools you want to receive your score. Once your score report is available, it will be automatically included on your AMCAS application, along with any and all previous PREview scores, with no further action required on your part.
Unfortunately, there is no official statement from the AAMC about how multiple scores will be used by admissions committees. That said, like with the MCAT, we recommend treating every attempt as seriously as possible. Do not take an official exam as a practice attempt.
As of the 2024-25 application cycle, AAMC has stated that they will “retain your AAMC PREview score report indefinitely,” and that your score(s) will be automatically uploaded to AMCAS if you reapply to medical school at any point in the future.
When is the AAMC PREview exam offered?
In 2024, the AAMC PREview exam is offered in seven windows consisting of two days each, for a total of fourteen dates. Test times will be available over the course of each date, with the earliest exams offered at 8 a.m. EST.
We recommend taking the exam no later than in June of your application year, and ideally by May. That way, your PREview scores will be available around the time you receive or submit secondary applications, preventing any delays in your applications being reviewed.
The 2024 AAMC PREview test dates are as follows:
March 13 & 14
April 17 & 18
June 5 & 6
June 20 & 21
July 24 & 25
August 14 & 15
September 12 & 13
Note that registration for all 2024 test dates opened January 31st. Scores are released around one month after testing. You can take PREview a maximum of two times within a given testing year. Keep in mind that even if you void your test, this will still count as one of your annual attempts.
Registration for AAMC PREview costs a flat $100; however, included in this fee is the ability to send your test results to as many schools as you like.
Should you take AAMC PREview?
If even one of the med schools on your list requires PREview, then you should of course take the exam.
If at least one of the schools on your list recommends PREview, but none require it, the answer is more tricky. In this case, we would recommend taking PREview only if you’re performing well on practice exams (i.e., at least a 6, and ideally a 7 or higher). While it’s unclear how much a good score can help, it’s safe to assume a low score would hurt.
If none of the schools on your list requires or recommends PREview, it’s not necessary to take the exam.
----
Part 2: How to prepare for the AAMC PREview exam
Figuring out how to best prepare for a new type of examination can be challenging, especially for a test like the AAMC PREview, which measures pre-professionalism instead of content knowledge. And while you can’t fake the qualities the PREview exam assesses, such as service orientation or cultural competence, you can improve your ability to analyze the scenarios and identify the main competencies in question. Strategically preparing is a surefire way to maximize your AAMC PREview score and boost your medical school admissions odds.
Review the AAMC PREview guides and competencies
The first thing you should do is to read through the different guides that detail the specific policies and procedures for the PREview exam. Since the format and scoring methods of the AAMC PREview are unique, it’s important to familiarize yourself with how the exam works. You wouldn’t want to be penalized or have your entire exam terminated because you accidentally didn’t adhere to an important policy.
The most comprehensive review of the AAMC PREview exam is the AAMC PREview Essentials Guide. To get a detailed understanding of the registration process, technical requirements, and scoring methods, this guide is a perfect place to begin.
Another helpful resource is the Examinee Preparation Guide, which focuses on preparation advice and includes a sample scenario set with multiple response items.
In addition, take some time to review and contemplate the eight competencies assessed by the AAMC PREview exam. What do they mean to you? Why are they important qualities for medical students and practicing physicians to possess? Properly understanding these competencies and keeping them in mind when you take the PREview exam will improve your success.
Practice with sample AAMC PREview scenarios and responses
The best way to get comfortable with the AAMC PREview exam is to make yourself familiar with the types of scenarios and responses you’ll come across on the test. When reviewing sample scenarios, you want to practice specific methods of analyzing the hypothetical situation:
Identify the competencies within the scenario.
Examine the ethical or legal responsibilities in play.
Recognize the most vulnerable party or the person who may fall under your care.
Consider how the potential responses affect all the parties involved.
Remain non-judgmental and open-minded.
When preparing for the AAMC PREview, you can take the one of two official practice exams, which include a scoring key as well as scoring rationales for several scenarios. After assigning your ratings, you can compare your answers with the scoring key and review the rationale to better understand the reasoning used to arrive at the correct answer. We’ll also share a few original scenarios, responses, and rationale in this guide.
Another way to get the most out of these sample scenarios is to talk through them with other medical or premed students. Comparing perspectives with your peers may help you identify important considerations you’ve missed in the scenarios.
Take the AAMC PREview exam tutorial
Another important thing you want to do leading up to test day is to take the official AAMC PREview exam tutorial, which is made available to you after you register for your exam appointment. The tutorial demonstrates the functions and features of the PREview software. You can take the tutorial as many times as you need to in order to feel comfortable navigating the platform.
While it may seem simple, don’t underestimate the importance of the software tutorial. The last thing you want on your exam day is to be confused and stressed by the system instead of focused on giving your best responses.
How to set up for your AAMC PREview exam day
Before your PREview exam day, you’ll want to ensure you meet all the technical requirements, which include a web camera, a functioning microphone, and a compatible web browser. If your personal laptop or computer doesn’t meet the requirements, you’ll need to find a substitute.
It’s important to create the right environment for taking the AAMC PREview exam—not just so you can focus, but also because you could be penalized for not following the environmental guidelines.
Secure a private, well-lit room for your exam.
Ensure no one will enter the room during your test, including children or pets.
Clear your workspace of all cell phones, food, or beverages.
Close all third-party programs on your computer.
Take off any non-religious head coverings.
Remove additional monitors from the room (you’re only allowed a single monitor during the exam.)
In addition, you’ll need a government-issued photo ID ready so you can verify your identity with your proctor. The name on your ID must match the name you used to register for the PREview exam.
It’s important to note that you’re required to sit for the entire length of the exam. Getting up to stretch or leave the room may cause your test to be terminated by the proctor. You must also remain silent during the test. You aren’t permitted to read questions aloud or otherwise speak without raising the alarm of your proctor.
The role of the proctor is to verify your identity, explain the exam rules to you, and protect the security of your testing environment. That means they’ll continue monitoring your screen, camera, and microphone to ensure you’re following the exam guidelines. Proctors are also available to assist you if you need any help navigating the system or experience a technical disruption.
You won’t be able to see the proctor while you’re taking your exam, but they'll be watching you. If they think you’re using a prohibited item or engaging in a prohibited behavior, they will interrupt your exam to ask you to explain your activity. The exam clock will not pause if this occurs. If your proctor deems it necessary, they will terminate your exam. This is why it’s crucial to understand the PREview procedures and policies fully—so you can have a successful and uninterrupted testing experience.
----
Part 3: Example AAMC PREview scenarios and ratings
To help you prepare to ace the AAMC PREview exam, we’ve created original scenarios, responses, and ratings for you to use as practice. Analyze each of the following scenarios, rate the effectiveness of the sample responses, and then compare your answers with the scoring rationale.
AAMC PREview sample scenario #1
You are assigned a group project in your anatomy course. One group member is failing to keep up with their part of the project. The member frequently misses group deadlines, needs constant reminders to stay on task, and submits poor work that requires correcting by the other group members. Your project is due in two weeks, and all members of the group will receive the same grade based on the overall project quality.
Rate the effectiveness of each response to the situation.
Stop assigning the group member additional work and complete the project without them.
Talk to the member in private and ask how you can help them complete their part of the project more successfully.
Ask the group member to talk with the professor and form a plan to better manage their workload.
Make a request to the professor that each member be graded independently for the project.
Inform the group member their actions are putting everyone’s grade and success in the class at risk.
What to consider:
This sample scenario is addressing the pre-professional competencies of teamwork and social skills. There are multiple parties to consider: the struggling group member, the other group members who are contributing, and the professor who will be assigning the group grade.
The struggling group member can be considered the most vulnerable party. Since they’ve earned a seat in a medical program, we can assume they possess the ability and work ethic to be successful. However, something is preventing them from effectively contributing. At the same time, the other group members are somewhat vulnerable if they receive a poor grade despite their best efforts. You’ll have to balance the needs and vulnerabilities of both parties when rating the potential responses.
Scoring key and rationale:
Stop assigning the group member additional work and complete the project without them.
Effectiveness rating: Very ineffective (1)
Rationale: Choosing to ignore the group member rather than find a true solution indicates a lack of teamwork and compassion. It also puts extra work on the remaining group members, while disregarding the professor’s intention for your entire group to contribute toward the project.
Talk to the member in private and ask how you can help them complete their part of the project more successfully.
Effectiveness rating: Very effective (4)
Rationale: This action demonstrates compassion for the group member while focusing on the ultimate goal of producing a successful project. When the group member feels supported, they may reveal the challenges they’re facing, allowing you to help resolve them, thereby benefiting the entire group.
Ask the group member to talk with the professor and form a plan to better manage their workload.
Effectiveness rating: Effective (3)
Rationale: This response identifies a possible solution for the group member, but places responsibility on the member and the professor. It would be more effective if you took on a larger role in helping the member with their struggles.
Make a request to the professor that each member be graded independently for the project.
Effectiveness rating: Very ineffective (1)
Rationale: Once again, choosing to ignore your struggling group member is a teamwork and compassion failure. In addition, your request to prioritize your own personal grade for the project will leave a poor impression on your professor, who wanted you to work collaboratively with your group.
Inform the group member their actions are putting everyone’s grade and success in the class at risk.
Effectiveness rating: Ineffective (2)
Rationale: Talking to your group member about the issue without giving productive feedback or offering to help find a solution is unlikely to make any positive impact on the situation.
AAMC PREview sample scenario #2
You and several of your classmates are assigned to a local clinic for your pre-clerkship experience. During your first week, you struggle to master the clinical skill taught by the supervising physician, but your peers seem to be doing just fine. At the end of the week, you still don’t feel confident in your mastery of the first skill, but everyone else appears ready to move on to the next clinical skill.
Rate the effectiveness of each response to the situation.
Spend the weekend preparing for and practicing the next skill so you can keep up during the second week.
Submit a request to be moved to a different clinic placement that moves at a more manageable pace for you.
Ask one of your classmates if they have the time to help you review and master the first skill over the weekend.
Speak to the physician and ask them to slow down the pace of the clinic.
Ask the physician if the skill you’re struggling with will be assessed as part of your final grade.
What to consider:
This sample scenario is assessing two competencies: your capacity for improvement, as well as your resilience and adaptability. You’ll face many challenges as a medical student, and while you’re not expected to be perfect at everything, you are expected to have the grit to keep trying to improve.
While none of the involved parties are necessarily vulnerable or under your care, you do want to consider how each of the possible actions will affect your classmates and your supervising physician.
Scoring key and rationale:
Spend the weekend preparing for and practicing the next skill so you can keep up during the second week.
Effectiveness rating: Effective (3)
Rationale: This action is positive because you recognize you need extra preparation to master new skills, and you identify a solution to keep up moving forward. However, this response fails to address your need to master the first skill you still don’t feel confident about.
Submit a request to be moved to a different clinic placement that moves at a more manageable pace for you.
Effectiveness rating: Ineffective (2)
Rationale: While this response acknowledges your limitations and need for more time, giving up the clinical placement after only one week shows a lack of resilience. You should try to resolve the dilemma at hand before choosing to escape the situation altogether.
Ask one of your classmates if they have time to help you review and master the first skill over the weekend.
Effectiveness rating: Very effective (4)
Rationale: This response shows strong resilience and potential for improvement because you’re willing to seek help from others. You also do it in a polite manner which shows respect for your classmate’s time.
Speak to the physician and ask them to slow down the pace of the clinic.
Effectiveness rating: Very ineffective (1)
Rationale: This response fails to accept any personal responsibility for finding a solution and instead places your burden on the supervising physician and your classmates, who would have to slow down their learning to accommodate you.
Ask the physician if the skill you’re struggling with will be assessed as part of your final grade.
Effectiveness rating: Ineffective (2)
Rationale: This action focuses on your grade and fails to address your struggle mastering the clinical skill, which will likely be necessary for future medical experiences. Prioritizing your grade over your actual ability will not help you become a competent doctor.
AAMC PREview sample scenario #3
For the past few days, you’ve been assisting with a handful of patients, including one who has a life-threatening illness. This patient is highly demanding and rude to you and other hospital staff. The patient repeatedly calls you in to fulfill minor requests, which is limiting the time you’re able to spend with the other patients under your care.
Rate the effectiveness of each response to the situation.
Find a way to complete your other tasks more efficiently so you have more time to devote to this patient.
Send another student to respond to the patient so you can focus on your remaining patients.
Tell the patient you have other patients to visit, but you will try to come back afterward if you have time.
Ask your supervising physician for advice on how to handle the challenging patient.
Fulfill the patient’s requests, even if it means you have to skip some of your other patient visits.
What to consider:
This sample scenario is measuring your service orientation and ethical responsibility to others. There are multiple vulnerable parties here: the challenging patient demanding your attention and the other patients assigned to your care. The scenario tests how you balance your obligations to all your patients, which is an important ability for a physician to master.
It also calls on your ability to be a compassionate medical professional who understands human behavior—when someone is afraid due to a serious health condition, they may indeed act inappropriately or display high-need behavior. As a physician, you may not always experience the best side of your patients, but you’ll need to remain professional regardless.
Scoring key and rationale:
Find a way to complete your other tasks more efficiently so you have more time to devote to this patient.
Effectiveness rating: Very effective (4)
Rationale: This response shows your ability to appropriately manage your schedule to fulfill all your obligations efficiently while still meeting the needs of this time-consuming patient.
Send another student to respond to the patient so you can focus on your remaining patients.
Effectiveness rating: Ineffective (2)
Rationale: While this action ensures the patient has their requests fulfilled, you’re actually passing off your assigned work to someone else who has their own responsibilities to manage.
Tell the patient you have other patients to visit, but you will try to come back when you have the time.
Effectiveness rating: Effective (3)
Rationale: This behavior prioritizes being honest with the patient, which is a professional and effective way to communicate. However, while the patient now understands your dilemma and actions, you haven’t ensured their needs will be met in case you run out of time.
Ask your supervising physician for advice on how to handle the challenging patient.
Effectiveness rating: Very effective (4)
Rationale: This response recognizes that your role as a medical student is to learn best practices in patient care from an experienced supervising physician. By asking for advice, you will receive important guidance and demonstrate your interest in improving your patient care skills.
Fulfill the patient’s requests, even if it means you have to skip some of your other patient visits.
Effectiveness rating: Very ineffective (1)
Rationale: It’s unprofessional and unethical to ignore your responsibilities to other patients. You should find a solution that allows you to uphold your commitments to everyone under your care.
AAMC PREview sample scenario #4
You've been volunteering for several months at a local community health clinic. You've gotten to know one of the full-time staff members, a nurse, very well and consider them a helpful mentor. One day while assisting with patients, you notice this nurse treating an elderly patient with a dismissive attitude, speaking sharply to them, and neglecting to explain a follow-up procedure. The patient seems visibly confused and upset. Your shift ends shortly after.
Rate the effectiveness of each response to the situation.
Immediately after your shift, find another staff member to report the nurse's behavior.
Wait until you are in a less busy area of the clinic and politely ask the nurse if you can speak with them privately about something you observed.
Do nothing at the time, but plan to talk to the volunteer coordinator about the situation and inquire about the clinic's policies for addressing concerns about staff conduct.
Continue with your shift, but make careful written observations of the nurse's behavior for the rest of your time volunteering that day.
Ignore what you observed; it's likely a one-time situation, and getting involved could be awkward.
What to consider:
This sample scenario addresses your commitment to ethical behavior, service, and social skills. You’ve noticed unethical behavior on the part of a superior in this situation and you realize this doesn’t prioritize the patient’s well-being.
You’ll need to consider how to approach this delicate situation to achieve the optimal result for all affected parties—the nurse, yourself (to register your concern), and most importantly, the patient.
Scoring key and rationale:
Immediately after your shift, find another staff member to report the nurse's behavior.
Effectiveness rating: Effective (3)
Rationale: This response potentially demonstrates a commitment to ethical behavior, but reporting without direct communication may demonstrate low resilience, as it avoids direct handling of a challenging situation.
Wait until you are in a less busy area of the clinic and politely ask the nurse if you can speak with them privately about something you observed.
Effectiveness rating: Very Effective (4)
Rationale: This response shows strong interpersonal skills since you attempt to address the situation directly with the nurse. Directly addressing the issue also shows a potential to improve the quality of care and patient experience. As such, the well-being of the patient is prioritized and any ethical concerns are addressed.
Do nothing at the time, but plan to talk to the volunteer coordinator about the situation and inquire about the clinic's policies for addressing concerns about staff conduct.
Effectiveness rating: Ineffective (2)
Rationale: Taking this course of action may demonstrate accountability and concern, but not taking immediate action could risk further harm to patients.
Continue with your shift, but make careful written observations of the nurse's behavior for the rest of your time volunteering that day.
Effectiveness rating: Effective (3)
Rationale: This response demonstrates your dedication to your role as a volunteer and your documented observations potentially support future actions.
Ignore what you observed; it's likely a one-time situation, and getting involved could be awkward.
Effectiveness rating: Very Ineffective (1)
Rationale: The worst response would be to ignore the situation entirely. This shows you have low ethical responsibility, lack social skills and adaptability in dealing with difficult situations, and it leaves patients open to potential harm.
----
Part 4: Which medical schools require the AAMC PREview exam?
AAMC PREview results are accepted by the allopathic medical schools listed below. (You can view the source of this information here.)
Some schools require applicants to complete the PREview exam, whereas others recommend that you take the exam but do not explicitly require it. Furthermore, certain schools on this list are currently collecting PREview data for research purposes only.
As of April 2024, only the following three osteopathic programs recommend that applicants complete PREview.
This list will continue to change over time. If you are unsure of a school’s application requirements, be sure to double-check with their admissions office.
Final thoughts
At this early stage, we can’t predict the exact role the AAMC PREview exam will play in the future of medical school admissions. However, due to its careful development and initial positive response, you can assume it’s here to stay and your time preparing for it will be well spent. If you use these preparation strategies and sample scenarios to your advantage, you’ll be well on our way to acing the AAMC PREview exam.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.
----
Appendix: AAMC PREview exam dates 2024
| AAMC PREview Exam Date | AAMC PREview Score Release Date |
|---|---|