117+ Free PA-CAT Practice Questions
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Key Facts: PA-CAT Exam
The PA-CAT is a 240-item (200 scored + 40 pretest) multiple-choice physician-assistant school admission test from Exam Master covering nine prerequisite science subjects, with a 200-800 scaled Composite, three sub-scores, and percentile ranks sent directly by Exam Master to the programs a candidate designates.
Sample PA-CAT Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your PA-CAT exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 117+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A child presents with increasing back pain, an uneven gait, and a lateral curvature of the thoracic spine. Which spinal deformity best explains these findings?
2A posterior-wall gastric ulcer perforates and erodes into the organ lying directly behind the stomach, releasing amylase and lipase. Into which structure did the ulcer most likely erode?
3How many pairs of spinal nerves arise from the human spinal cord?
4Which cranial nerve provides motor innervation to most muscles of the tongue?
5Which heart valve lies between the left atrium and the left ventricle?
6The rotator cuff stabilizes the shoulder. Which of the following is NOT one of its four muscles?
7Which bones form the pectoral (shoulder) girdle?
8Which structure connects the stomach to the first portion of the small intestine?
9Through which vessel does oxygen-poor blood leave the right ventricle to reach the lungs?
10The diaphragm is the primary muscle of inspiration. Which nerve innervates it?
About the PA-CAT Exam
The PA-CAT (Physician Assistant College Admission Test) is a standardized, computer-based admission test from Exam Master Corporation used by a growing number of physician assistant programs to assess applicants' mastery of the prerequisite sciences. It contains 240 single-best-answer multiple-choice items — 200 scored plus 40 unscored pretest items — delivered within a four-hour assessment window (about four and a half hours including the tutorial). It covers nine prerequisite science subjects: Anatomy (16%), Physiology (16%), Chemistry (16%), General Biology (11%), Microbiology (11%), Genetics (11%), Biochemistry (5%), Behavioral Sciences (9%), and Statistics (5%). A scaled Composite on a 200-800 range, three sub-scores (Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, Chemistry), percentile ranks, and decile buckets are reported, allowing programs to see strengths and gaps across the prerequisite sciences. Exam Master sends official scores directly to the PA programs a candidate selects in the Candidate Score Portal, together with the candidate's full two-year score history; scores do not travel through CASPA. The test is delivered by Pearson VUE at its test centers or through Pearson online proctoring. Because it spans the full breadth of PA prerequisites, candidates are advised to review the subjects they completed least recently.
Questions
240 scored questions
Time Limit
A four-hour standardized assessment of 240 items; the full appointment window is approximately four and a half hours including a 15-minute on-screen tutorial, computer-based at a Pearson VUE test center or via Pearson online proctoring.
Passing Score
No fixed cutoff; a scaled Composite on a 200-800 range (the same range as the PANCE), three sub-scores for Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, and Chemistry, percentile ranks, and decile buckets are reported. Exam Master sends official scores directly to the programs a candidate selects in the Candidate Score Portal, and each program sets its own expectations.
Exam Fee
$257, paid to Exam Master at registration; the fee covers the exam plus the test-center or remote-proctoring service, so the cost is identical either way. Needs-based fee assistance is available. (Pearson VUE (test delivery); Exam Master Corporation (program owner))
PA-CAT Exam Content Outline
Anatomy
Gross and systemic human anatomy across the back, abdomen, head, pelvis and perineum, thorax, and upper and lower limbs.
Physiology
Function of body systems: the cell, blood and clotting, circulation, endocrine, GI, membrane, renal, respiratory, reproduction, heart, and special senses.
Chemistry (General and Organic)
Acids and bases, atomic theory, bonding/VSEPR, reactions, electrochemistry, gases, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, and organic chemistry.
General Biology
Bioenergetics, biotechnology, cell structure, reproduction, respiration, transport, chemical building blocks, biological molecules, gene expression, and signal transduction.
Microbiology
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and microbe-host interaction including pathogenicity and immunity.
Genetics
Molecular structure and replication, inheritance patterns, molecular properties of genes, genetic technologies, and medical and population genetics.
Biochemistry
Intermediary metabolism, proteins, cell and membrane, enzymes, nucleic acids, hormones, and lipids and carbohydrates.
Behavioral Sciences
Biological bases, development, sensation/perception, learning, cognition, social psychology, stress, research methods, sociology, disorders, and therapy.
Statistics
Probability and distributions, exploring data, sampling and experimentation, and statistical inference.
How to Pass the PA-CAT Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No fixed cutoff; a scaled Composite on a 200-800 range (the same range as the PANCE), three sub-scores for Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, and Chemistry, percentile ranks, and decile buckets are reported. Exam Master sends official scores directly to the programs a candidate selects in the Candidate Score Portal, and each program sets its own expectations.
- Exam length: 240 questions
- Time limit: A four-hour standardized assessment of 240 items; the full appointment window is approximately four and a half hours including a 15-minute on-screen tutorial, computer-based at a Pearson VUE test center or via Pearson online proctoring.
- Exam fee: $257, paid to Exam Master at registration; the fee covers the exam plus the test-center or remote-proctoring service, so the cost is identical either way. Needs-based fee assistance is available.
Keys to Passing
- Work through all 117 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
PA-CAT Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PA-CAT and who takes it?
The PA-CAT (Physician Assistant College Admission Test) is a standardized admission test from Exam Master taken by applicants to physician assistant programs to demonstrate mastery of the prerequisite sciences.
How many questions are on the PA-CAT and how long is it?
The PA-CAT has 240 single-best-answer multiple-choice items — 200 scored plus 40 unscored pretest (field-test) items — and is a four-hour standardized assessment, with the full appointment running about four and a half hours including a 15-minute tutorial. It is taken at a Pearson VUE test center or through Pearson online proctoring.
What subjects does the PA-CAT cover?
It covers nine prerequisite science subjects with fixed weights: Anatomy 16%, Physiology 16%, Chemistry (General and Organic) 16%, General Biology 11%, Microbiology 11%, Genetics 11%, Behavioral Sciences 9%, Biochemistry 5%, and Statistics 5%.
How are PA-CAT scores used?
A scaled Composite on a 200-800 range, sub-scores for Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, and Chemistry, and percentile ranks with decile buckets are reported. Exam Master sends official scores directly to the PA programs a candidate selects in the Candidate Score Portal, at no extra fee; CASPA carries the application but not the scores. Each program decides how to weigh the results in admissions.
Is there a passing score on the PA-CAT?
There is no fixed passing score. Programs that require or recommend the PA-CAT set their own expectations, and the subject-level breakdown helps them see an applicant's strengths and gaps.
How much does the PA-CAT cost?
The PA-CAT fee is $257, paid to Exam Master at registration; it covers both the exam and the test-center or remote-proctoring service, so the cost is the same either way. A needs-based Fee Assistance Program is available to qualified applicants.
When and how are PA-CAT scores reported?
Exam Master processes scores on the 20th of each month and posts the Student Transcript to the Candidate Score Portal by the 1st of the following month, with an email alert when it is available. Official scores are then sent directly to the PA programs the candidate selects, each receiving the candidate's full PA-CAT score history for the past two years. Scores are never reported by phone, email body, or fax.
Can I retake the PA-CAT, and how are prior attempts reported?
The PA-CAT may be retaken once every six weeks, with a maximum of three attempts in any 12-month period; candidates who exceed that limit have all scores invalidated. PA-CAT scores are valid for two years, and every program a candidate selects receives the full two-year score history alongside the current result.