That you can expect on Test Day?
I'm beginning to study and am kind of new to the test and recommended materials. I've read the forum though and have kind of gained an idea of the most popular stuff used, so which test should I take for my first practice test to accurately gauge where I stand?

Thank you!
Sarah

I mean out of Kaplan, TopScore, Achiever, anything else I've missed? Is there a sample test directly from the testing center?

It's really dependent on the section. If you haven't studied yet, do yourself a favor and don't bother with a practice test, unless you need that motivation. You will probably do poor on all of them, unless the material is somehow still fresh to you. Achiever is pretty brutal, but the ochem is reasonable. topscore is allright apparantly, but the math seemed easy. kaplan book seemed easy. destroyer is killer. there is a test on the ADA site, you should take that one.

For me, Topscore was very representative of the real test for everything except QR and RC. I scored about 1-2 points higher on the real DAT than Topscore for most sections. The PAT felt exactly the same as the real DAT imo. I was getting 23s on the PAT on topscore and got the same on the real deal. So, I would definitely recommend picking that up if you haven't already. Plus, it doesn't hurt to have as many practice tests as possible right?

I think no practice test is truely like the DAT now a days.

I think topscore was the closest thing... i took achiever two weeks before the test and freaked out cause i did so bad.
20/21/19

I think no practice test is truely like the DAT now a days.


:thumbup:

For me, Topscore was very representative of the real test for everything except QR and RC. I scored about 1-2 points higher on the real DAT than Topscore for most sections. The PAT felt exactly the same as the real DAT imo. I was getting 23s on the PAT on topscore and got the same on the real deal. So, I would definitely recommend picking that up if you haven't already. Plus, it doesn't hurt to have as many practice tests as possible right?


Did you do better in RC and QR on the real DAT or do you mean Topscore was too easy? I hope it's not too easy! I'm relying on it so much.

No, Topscore is a ton easier for QR and RC. I was consistently getting 26s on Topscore for those sections. I got 19 on the real deal.

No, Topscore is a ton easier for QR and RC. I was consistently getting 26s on Topscore for those sections. I got 19 on the real deal.

Thanks for the heads up. Stupid topscore, making me all hopeful...:mad:...
:laugh:

I think no practice test is truely like the DAT now a days.

Agreed.

Is it just me, or is the DAT getting harder every time? Because I re-took it and got worse the second time and thought it was a lot harder.

I took my DAT a month ago. Did Top Score, Achiver, Kaplan. None of them really resembled the real DAT. Just know everything :luck:

I took my DAT a month ago. Did Top Score, Achiver, Kaplan. None of them really resembled the real DAT. Just know everything :luck:

Oh gee, that's so helpful. :laugh:

Kaplan (final practice test)
OR 18
GC 19
QR 24
RC 22
Bio 16
PAT 23

Real DAT
OR 20
GC 21
QR 17
RC 18
Bio 18
PAT 23

Go figure, I aced all Kaplan's RC and QR only to do crap on the real test...I wish I picked up other material in addition to Kaplan