Award-Winning OAT Survey of Natural Sciences Tutors serving Sacramento, CA

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Award-Winning OAT Survey of Natural Sciences Tutors serving Sacramento, CA

Abrahim

Certified Tutor

4+ years

Abrahim

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Abrahim's other Tutor Subjects
Middle School Math
Calculus
Algebra
Elementary School Math

Medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin means Abrahim didn't just study biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry — he mastered them under exam conditions designed to test exactly the kind of rapid content switching the OAT demands. His biology degree from UCLA (cum laude) anchors...

Education

University of California Los Angeles

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Medical College of Wisconsin

Doctor of Medicine, Premedicine

Test Scores
ACT
34
Kevin

Certified Tutor

Kevin

Bachelor of Science, Human Biology/Education Studies
Kevin's other Tutor Subjects
College Algebra
Calculus
Algebra
AP Physics 1

As a medical student at UCF with a human biology degree from UCSD, Kevin has spent years cycling between biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry at exactly the depth the OAT Survey of Natural Sciences demands. His teaching assistant experience in UCSD's biology department sharpened his abi...

Education

University of California-San Diego

Bachelor of Science, Human Biology/Education Studies

Roshni

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Roshni

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Roshni's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra
Pre-Calculus
Middle School Math

Being in VCU's BS/MD Guaranteed Admissions program means Roshni is actively immersed in the biology and chemistry content the OAT Survey of Natural Sciences covers — cell biology, metabolic pathways, acid-base chemistry, and organic functional groups are part of her current coursework, not distant m...

Education

Virginia Commonwealth University

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Test Scores
SAT
1550
ACT
35
Carsen

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Carsen

Bachelor in Arts, Chemistry
Carsen's other Tutor Subjects
Pre-Algebra
Pre-Calculus
Middle School Math
Calculus

I'm a 2016 graduate of Pepperdine University with my Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry. Currently I'm preparing to apply to optometry school; I hope to be accepted for the 2018-19 academic year. During my time in college, I was involved as a teaching assistant for General Chemistry I and II laboratory, ...

Education

Pepperdine University

Bachelor in Arts, Chemistry

Test Scores
SAT
1420
ACT
31
Sam

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Sam

Doctor of Philosophy, Biochemistry
Sam's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Cell Biology
Neuroscience

Covering biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry in a single section makes the OAT Survey of Natural Sciences uniquely demanding on breadth. Sam's molecular biology and biochemistry training means he can connect concepts across all three domains — showing, for example, how amino acid chemi...

Education

Messiah College

Bachelor of Science, Molecular Biology

Drexel University

Doctor of Philosophy, Biochemistry

Test Scores
ACT
31
Malik

Certified Tutor

2+ years

Malik

Bachelor's
Malik's other Tutor Subjects
1st-12th Grade math
1st-12th Grade French
6th-12th Grade Calculus
6th-12th Grade AP Calculus

As a second-year medical student with a strong foundation in science and a passion for education, I specialize in making tough subjects easier to understand. I excel in math, biology, physics, and other challenging topics that often intimidate students and I genuinely enjoy helping others master th...

Education

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Bachelor's

Jessica

Certified Tutor

Jessica

PHD, Medicine
Jessica's other Tutor Subjects
College Algebra
Calculus
Algebra
Honors Chemistry

I am a licensed physician from Florida who is currently changing careers. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009 and have extensive tutoring and editing experience. While a student, I became a certified writing tutor through the Critical Writing Department. Since I completed my writ...

Education

Nova Southeastern University

PHD, Medicine

University of Pennsylvania

Bachelors, History

University of Pennsylvania

undergraduate

Test Scores
SAT
1540
Kate

Certified Tutor

Kate

Masters, Environmental Engineering
Kate's other Tutor Subjects
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
College Algebra
Pre-Calculus

I'm available to tutor biology, chemistry, physics, math from Algebra up through AP Calculus, SAT test prep, and French. I've been tutoring students in science and math for 7 years. I also spent 8 months working and studying in France, and have tutored high school and adult students in French. When ...

Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Masters, Environmental Engineering

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Bachelors

Test Scores
SAT
1580
Jai

Certified Tutor

9+ years

Jai

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Jai's other Tutor Subjects
Calculus
Algebra
Electrical Engineering
ACT Writing

I'm a recent Stanford graduate (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), and have been working at a major Management Consulting firm for a few years now. I personally scored a 2360 (out of 2400) on the SAT and 35 on the ACT and was successful in gaining admission to several top universities. I'...

Education

Stanford University

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Test Scores
SAT
1590
ACT
35
Rhea

Certified Tutor

6+ years

Rhea

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General
Rhea's other Tutor Subjects
AP Statistics
AP Calculus BC
AP Calculus AB
Pre-Algebra

I am a current student at the University of Chicago. I am working towards a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, and I am on the pre-medical track. I am extremely passionate about tutoring, and I have several years of experience tutoring students in my high school's learning center in various...

Education

University of Chicago

Bachelor of Science, Biology, General

Test Scores
Perfect Score
SAT
1550
ACT
36

Frequently Asked Questions

The Survey of Natural Sciences is one of four main sections on the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) and covers biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. This section is critical because it assesses the foundational science knowledge that optometry programs expect students to have mastered, and strong performance here directly impacts your overall OAT score and admissions competitiveness.

Many students struggle with the breadth of content—balancing organic chemistry mechanisms with biochemical pathways and general chemistry concepts—all while working under strict time constraints. Additionally, the test emphasizes application and problem-solving rather than pure memorization, so students often need help connecting concepts across disciplines and developing efficient test-taking strategies for the 100-question section.

Personalized 1-on-1 instruction allows tutors to identify your specific weak areas—whether that's organic chemistry reactions, biochemical pathways, or time management—and create a targeted study plan rather than reviewing material you've already mastered. Tutors can also teach you test-specific strategies, help you practice with realistic questions, and adjust pacing based on your learning style, which is difficult to achieve in classroom or group settings.

Most students benefit from 3-6 months of focused preparation, though this varies based on your science background and target score. With personalized tutoring, many students can optimize their study time by focusing intensively on challenging topics rather than spending weeks reviewing concepts they already understand, potentially accelerating their readiness for test day.

Look for tutors with strong backgrounds in chemistry, biology, and biochemistry—ideally with optometry school experience or extensive OAT preparation background. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who understand both the subject matter deeply and the specific demands of the OAT, ensuring they can teach content accurately while also coaching you on test strategy and time management.

Your first session typically involves an assessment of your current knowledge across biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry, plus a discussion of your target score and timeline. The tutor will identify your strongest and weakest areas, discuss your learning style, and create a personalized study plan so your subsequent sessions are focused and efficient.

Sacramento's universities and community colleges often have science labs and study groups that can supplement personalized tutoring, and many pre-optometry advising offices offer general OAT guidance. However, personalized 1-on-1 instruction is the most effective way to address your specific gaps and build confidence in the complex, interconnected science concepts the OAT tests.

Score improvement depends on your starting point and effort, but students working with tutors typically see meaningful gains within 4-8 weeks of consistent, focused preparation. Many students improve by 3-5 points on the Survey section by mastering difficult concepts, learning efficient problem-solving strategies, and building test-taking confidence through practice and feedback.

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