FINISHED. finally. check it.
PAT 22 (93.8)
QR 21 (97.6)
RC 23 (96.1)
Bio 24 (99.6)
Gchem 29 (99.9)
Ochem 25 (98.4)
TS 26 (99.9)
AA 24 (99.9)
so im very satisfied with my scores. I feel like this test is totally manageable if you study the right way which is what i am going to tell you how to do.
First off, give yourself a good 2 months to study. When I say 2 months, I mean no going out with friends, no taking a day for break, no SOCIAL LIFE. Deactivate facebook, twitter, EVERYTHING.
Every Saturday, take a practice test in the morning. Do not do little by little, actually sit for 4 hrs and finish it. Correct it and look over why you got those questions wrong. What I did was do an in-depth review on the question I got wrong so that if another question similar to that came up, I knew it. That should probably take all of Saturday.
Princeton Review
-Not too helpful. I don't know if it's because the DAT prep course for Princeton Review was a relatively new program, but there were way too many mistakes in their review-books and the teachers weren't full-time DAT tutors so the material that they covered wasn't really relevant to what was on the test. However, the DAT workbook and practice tests that they gave out were pretty useful. If you can somehow get a hands on those practice problems instead of having to spend $1000+ on the course, that would probably be a better option. I don't know how Kaplan is but I'm sure both are about the same in terms of helpfulness.
PAT
-CDP (10/10)
The questions on CDP are way harder than on the actual DAT and I think that helps a great deal because you're so used to looking at "WTF" type questions on CDP that when you actually take the DAT...it's chill. I don't remember ever getting anything higher than a 20 on all their sample tests. ): Finish all their tests, and you're set for PAT.
QR
-High school Pre-cal textbook
-Destroyer
I don't know how I did so badly on this section considering the fact that I have been an SAT I and SAT II math tutor for like 5 years. The destroyer was whatevers, I only did like 50 of the problems. What did help, however, was the high school textbook that I use to teach my students. So what I did was take notes on each chapter that was relevant to what was on the math section and did like 5 problems on each of them. (3 chapters per day)
1. Be comfortable with Trig
2. Know basic statistics
3. Conversions
RC
-Practice tests (8/10)
I totally lucked out of this section because I did not study at all for it but one of the articles was VERY similar to something I read as a Freshmen in my Gerontology class. This gave me like 10 additional minutes to work on the other problems. Do not buy CRACK DAT READING or whatever they call it. Questions are not similar at all to the actual test and I don't know what they were thinking trying to sell that crap to people. I honestly don't know how you study for this. Just do practice tests on it.
Biology
-DAT destroyer (8/10)
-Barron's AP Biology (15/10) (NOT BARRON'S DAT)
-High school Bio textbook (6/10)
Know ecology well. Know plants well. Know phylums like no tomorrow. All topics wonderfully covered by Barrons.
First, finish Barron's AP Biology COMPLETELY with notes on every chapter. What I did was fold the paper in half hot dog length and write notes front and back on a white piece of paper. (1 chapter per day) Second, finish DAT destroyer. Do not just immediately jump for the answer (which is most likely E) and be like YAY SO EASY. Actually, LOOK at each multiple choice question and the solutions in the back and understand why. (30 questions every other day) Third, ONLY use this if you need clarification on certain subjects that you are not confident in. Please do not read the whole textbook and make notes on them. The book is way too specific to be useful when studying for the DAT. Fourth, do Barron's AP biology review AGAIN. Chapter by chapter. This book seriously deserves a medal because this helped SO much on the test it's not even funny. I couldve sworn some of the practice questions on Barron's was identical to the ones on the DAT. Fifth, go to a nearby bookstore (Borders), bring some ear plugs, get every possible AP bio book (Kaplan, Princeton, Barron's 5 steps to a 5, etc etc) book you can find and do ALL the problems. This is actually pretty time consuming so start early. I would recommend starting this beginning of second month of study every Friday. (This should take all day)
WARNING: DO NOT BUY ANY DAT REVIEW BOOK OF ANY SORT (Yes I mean don't buy Barron's DAT blah blah, Kaplan DAT blah blah, Princeton DAT blanasfasdf) they are are honestly terrible to study out of. Too specific on subjects that are not going to be on the test, ecology and taxonomy in 2 pages? wthell?
Gchem
-Princeton Review AP Chem (10/10)
-Destroyer (5/10)
Princeton Review AP chem i love you. This book just lays it out for you. Do all the questions INCLUDING the free-response for all the chapters. (1 chapter a day) Just this alone you're like set for Gchem but you can do Destroyer just to be on the safe side but I focused so much on Princeton Review AP chem that I rarely did Destroyer.
Ochem
-College notes (10/10)
-Destroyer (7/10)
I only got like 4 mechanism problems on my test which is a bummer because I studied a lot for those memorizing every possible reaction. I would like to make a shoutout to Professor Garg because his notes helped a great deal. Destroyer is good but remember, don't kill yourself understanding why every mechanism works the way it works. It just does okay? Just know beginning point --> endpoint. I apologize I'm not much of a help with this section because I don't think there are any useful books out there that target just Ochem. If I am wrong, someone please share some good books people can use.
TEST TIPS
-1 week before test.
By this time, you shouldn't be learning anything new. At this point, keep doing more problems, any problems you can get your hands on and keep reviewing your notes. Please write good notes. You should be so familiar with your notes to the point that you can recall where to find a specific bio terminology in your notes in a matter of seconds. I also have some Microsoft Docs on some subject areas I had trouble with so let me know if you guys want that.
-Day before test.
This might be a bit silly but I watched the Miami Heat game the night before my test instead of reviewing my notes. I just had to get my mind off studying that night and try to take it easy and relax my nerves. Also, this might sound ridiculous but before you sleep, imagine yourself doing really well on your test as you fall asleep. I read somewhere that this helps with the nerves and your confidence.
-Test day
Wake up 3 hours before. Review all your notes. Just glance at it. Go take the test and OWN IT.
Let me know if you guys have any other questions. PEACE.
PAT 22 (93.8)
QR 21 (97.6)
RC 23 (96.1)
Bio 24 (99.6)
Gchem 29 (99.9)
Ochem 25 (98.4)
TS 26 (99.9)
AA 24 (99.9)
so im very satisfied with my scores. I feel like this test is totally manageable if you study the right way which is what i am going to tell you how to do.
First off, give yourself a good 2 months to study. When I say 2 months, I mean no going out with friends, no taking a day for break, no SOCIAL LIFE. Deactivate facebook, twitter, EVERYTHING.
Every Saturday, take a practice test in the morning. Do not do little by little, actually sit for 4 hrs and finish it. Correct it and look over why you got those questions wrong. What I did was do an in-depth review on the question I got wrong so that if another question similar to that came up, I knew it. That should probably take all of Saturday.
Princeton Review
-Not too helpful. I don't know if it's because the DAT prep course for Princeton Review was a relatively new program, but there were way too many mistakes in their review-books and the teachers weren't full-time DAT tutors so the material that they covered wasn't really relevant to what was on the test. However, the DAT workbook and practice tests that they gave out were pretty useful. If you can somehow get a hands on those practice problems instead of having to spend $1000+ on the course, that would probably be a better option. I don't know how Kaplan is but I'm sure both are about the same in terms of helpfulness.
PAT
-CDP (10/10)
The questions on CDP are way harder than on the actual DAT and I think that helps a great deal because you're so used to looking at "WTF" type questions on CDP that when you actually take the DAT...it's chill. I don't remember ever getting anything higher than a 20 on all their sample tests. ): Finish all their tests, and you're set for PAT.
QR
-High school Pre-cal textbook
-Destroyer
I don't know how I did so badly on this section considering the fact that I have been an SAT I and SAT II math tutor for like 5 years. The destroyer was whatevers, I only did like 50 of the problems. What did help, however, was the high school textbook that I use to teach my students. So what I did was take notes on each chapter that was relevant to what was on the math section and did like 5 problems on each of them. (3 chapters per day)
1. Be comfortable with Trig
2. Know basic statistics
3. Conversions
RC
-Practice tests (8/10)
I totally lucked out of this section because I did not study at all for it but one of the articles was VERY similar to something I read as a Freshmen in my Gerontology class. This gave me like 10 additional minutes to work on the other problems. Do not buy CRACK DAT READING or whatever they call it. Questions are not similar at all to the actual test and I don't know what they were thinking trying to sell that crap to people. I honestly don't know how you study for this. Just do practice tests on it.
Biology
-DAT destroyer (8/10)
-Barron's AP Biology (15/10) (NOT BARRON'S DAT)
-High school Bio textbook (6/10)
Know ecology well. Know plants well. Know phylums like no tomorrow. All topics wonderfully covered by Barrons.
First, finish Barron's AP Biology COMPLETELY with notes on every chapter. What I did was fold the paper in half hot dog length and write notes front and back on a white piece of paper. (1 chapter per day) Second, finish DAT destroyer. Do not just immediately jump for the answer (which is most likely E) and be like YAY SO EASY. Actually, LOOK at each multiple choice question and the solutions in the back and understand why. (30 questions every other day) Third, ONLY use this if you need clarification on certain subjects that you are not confident in. Please do not read the whole textbook and make notes on them. The book is way too specific to be useful when studying for the DAT. Fourth, do Barron's AP biology review AGAIN. Chapter by chapter. This book seriously deserves a medal because this helped SO much on the test it's not even funny. I couldve sworn some of the practice questions on Barron's was identical to the ones on the DAT. Fifth, go to a nearby bookstore (Borders), bring some ear plugs, get every possible AP bio book (Kaplan, Princeton, Barron's 5 steps to a 5, etc etc) book you can find and do ALL the problems. This is actually pretty time consuming so start early. I would recommend starting this beginning of second month of study every Friday. (This should take all day)
WARNING: DO NOT BUY ANY DAT REVIEW BOOK OF ANY SORT (Yes I mean don't buy Barron's DAT blah blah, Kaplan DAT blah blah, Princeton DAT blanasfasdf) they are are honestly terrible to study out of. Too specific on subjects that are not going to be on the test, ecology and taxonomy in 2 pages? wthell?
Gchem
-Princeton Review AP Chem (10/10)
-Destroyer (5/10)
Princeton Review AP chem i love you. This book just lays it out for you. Do all the questions INCLUDING the free-response for all the chapters. (1 chapter a day) Just this alone you're like set for Gchem but you can do Destroyer just to be on the safe side but I focused so much on Princeton Review AP chem that I rarely did Destroyer.
Ochem
-College notes (10/10)
-Destroyer (7/10)
I only got like 4 mechanism problems on my test which is a bummer because I studied a lot for those memorizing every possible reaction. I would like to make a shoutout to Professor Garg because his notes helped a great deal. Destroyer is good but remember, don't kill yourself understanding why every mechanism works the way it works. It just does okay? Just know beginning point --> endpoint. I apologize I'm not much of a help with this section because I don't think there are any useful books out there that target just Ochem. If I am wrong, someone please share some good books people can use.
TEST TIPS
-1 week before test.
By this time, you shouldn't be learning anything new. At this point, keep doing more problems, any problems you can get your hands on and keep reviewing your notes. Please write good notes. You should be so familiar with your notes to the point that you can recall where to find a specific bio terminology in your notes in a matter of seconds. I also have some Microsoft Docs on some subject areas I had trouble with so let me know if you guys want that.
-Day before test.
This might be a bit silly but I watched the Miami Heat game the night before my test instead of reviewing my notes. I just had to get my mind off studying that night and try to take it easy and relax my nerves. Also, this might sound ridiculous but before you sleep, imagine yourself doing really well on your test as you fall asleep. I read somewhere that this helps with the nerves and your confidence.
-Test day
Wake up 3 hours before. Review all your notes. Just glance at it. Go take the test and OWN IT.
Let me know if you guys have any other questions. PEACE.
as this is my second time around. Please be brutally honest!
