AAMC PREview is a situational judgment test (SJT) used by medical schools to evaluate how applicants respond to professional and interpersonal situations commonly encountered in medical training. Instead of testing scientific knowledge, PREview focuses on judgment, communication, professionalism, and decision-making in scenario-based contexts.
This guide covers how the AAMC PREview exam works, how scoring is structured, what to expect on test day, and which medical schools require or recommend PREview. If you’re preparing for the exam, you can also review our guide on how to prepare for AAMC PREview.
Disclaimer: AAMC PREview is a registered trademark of the AAMC. BeMo and AAMC do not endorse or affiliate with one another.
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What is the AAMC PREview?
The AAMC PREview presents applicants with scenario-based questions designed to assess how they respond to situations relevant to medical training. For each scenario, applicants review possible responses and rate how effective or ineffective those responses would be in a professional setting.
Medical schools use PREview to evaluate professionalism, decision-making, and other non-academic competencies that may not be reflected through academic metrics alone. The exam is typically considered alongside other application materials during admissions review.
Skill Areas Evaluated on the AAMC PREview
According to the AAMC, PREview focuses on skill areas related to personal accountability and relational skills, including:
Personal Accountability
- Reliability and dependability
- Resilience and adaptability
- Ethical responsibility
Relational Skills
- Communication
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Professionalism
Some of the professional qualities reflected in PREview scenarios also align with the
AAMC core competencies for entering medical students, particularly those related to communication, professionalism, teamwork, and ethical responsibility.
The infographic below summarizes the broader AAMC core competencies:
Applicants do not need prior healthcare experience or clinical knowledge to perform well on the exam. Doing well on PREview requires evaluating situations calmly, professionally, and with consideration for everyone involved.
The video below explains how PREview scenarios are structured and evaluated:
What to Expect on the AAMC PREview Exam
The AAMC PREview exam is completed online and includes 30 scenario sets based on situations like those encountered in medical training and clinical environments. Each scenario contains several possible responses that applicants evaluate using the PREview four-point response scale.
During the PREview Testing Session
The PREview exam itself is timed at 75 minutes, although the full testing session typically lasts between 95 and 115 minutes once check-in and post-exam procedures are included. Scores are reported using a scaled scoring system rather than a percentage of correct answers.
Applicants who want a more detailed explanation of PREview scoring can review our guide on how AAMC PREview is scored.
Sample AAMC PREview Sample Scenario and Rating Breakdown
PREview questions are designed to simulate situations that may involve conflict, communication challenges, or difficult professional decisions.
Sample Scenario
You and a classmate stay late after class one day to ask a teaching assistant some questions about an assignment they graded. While the three of you are talking, the teaching assistant teases your classmate about their ethnic background, saying your classmate is the smart kid with the overbearing and pushy parents. You see from your classmate's face that they are offended, and they walk out of the room.
Instead of selecting one “correct” answer, applicants evaluate each response independently using the PREview effectiveness scale.
Please rate the effectiveness of each response to this situation.
Very Ineffective / Ineffective / Effective / Very Effective
1. Ask the teaching assistant to stop making these comments.
2. Report the interaction to a school administrator.
3. Laugh at the teaching assistant’s joke to be polite.
4. Ask the teaching assistant a question related to the course material to take the attention off of their comment.
5. Explain to the teaching assistant that it is not okay to make comments about your classmate's ethnicity.
In many scenarios, applicants are expected to assess varying degrees of effectiveness while maintaining professionalism in difficult or emotionally charged situations. For more examples of scenarios and response formats, explore our full guide on AAMC PREview questions and answers.
Medical Schools That Use the AAMC PREview
The AAMC PREview exam is required or recommended by some medical schools as part of the admission process. PREview participation changes periodically between application cycles, and has expanded in recent years, particularly among U.S. medical schools.
Before applying, always confirm the latest PREview policies directly through the official AAMC participating schools page and with each medical school’s admissions website. Testing windows and score release dates can also affect application planning, so applicants should review current AAMC PREview test dates before selecting an exam date.
Medical Schools That Require the AAMC PREview
- George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
- Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine
- Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic 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 Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine
- 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
- University of Minnesota Medical School
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
Medical Schools That Recommend the AAMC PREview
- Alice L Walton School of Medicine
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
- Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science
- Des Moines University Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program
- Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
- Howard University College of Medicine
- Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans
- Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
- Morehouse School of Medicine
- Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
- Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
- SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University College of Medicine
- Thomas R. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine at Belmont University
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine
- University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Should You Take the AAMC PREview If It Is Only Recommended?
It depends on your school list. If PREview is only recommended, applicants should confirm each school’s current situational judgment test policy directly on the school’s admissions website, as requirements and accepted assessments may vary by program and application cycle. If several schools on your list require or recommend PREview, taking the exam may keep your application options open throughout the admissions cycle.
FAQs
1. Why was AAMC PREview developed?
Medical schools use PREview to evaluate professional judgment and interpersonal skills that may not be fully reflected through grades, coursework, or standardized test scores, or even sections like AMCAS Work and Activities. The exam focuses on how applicants respond to situations involving communication, professionalism, ethics, and decision-making.
2. Is the AAMC PREview exam the same as CASPer?
No. Both PREview and CASPer are situational judgment tests used in medical school admissions, but their formats differ. PREview asks examinees to rate the effectiveness of possible responses, while CASPer uses typed or video-based answers. Applicants preparing for both assessments should understand how to prepare for CASPer and PREview differently.
3. How is the AAMC PREview exam scored?
Scores are reported using a scaled scoring system rather than a percentage-based model. Final scores reflect how closely an applicant’s ratings align with responses determined by medical educators.
4. Can you fail the AAMC PREview exam?
The AAMC PREview does not use a traditional pass-or-fail system. Medical schools, however, may interpret scores differently as part of their admissions review process, so stronger performance may still help your medical school application stand out.
5. Is the AAMC PREview exam multiple choice?
Not exactly. Each scenario includes several possible responses, and examinees rate each response independently using the PREview effectiveness scale rather than selecting a single correct answer.
6. Can you see your AAMC PREview score?
Yes. If you choose to score your exam rather than void it, your PREview score report will become available once scores are released by the AAMC.
7. Do all medical schools require the AAMC PREview exam?
No. Only some medical schools require or recommend PREview as part of the admissions process, and requirements may change between application cycles. Applicants should always confirm current medical school requirements directly with the schools on their application list.
8. Can you retake the AAMC PREview exam?
Applicants may take the AAMC PREview exam twice within a testing year and four times total in their lifetime. If an exam is voided, it still counts as an attempt.
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Your friends at BeMo
BeMo Academic Consulting
Source: The AAMC PREview Essentials.
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