Hello, this is my first post, but I read a lot on this forum while I was preparing for the DAT, so I thought I would contribute if that is helpful. I'm an engineering major with a high GPA who decided to do dentistry halfway through undergrad. Here are my scores:
Bio 20
GC 21
OC 21
QR 30
RC 27
AA 24
PAT 24
My scores seem to be a little different than a lot of the ones posted here because of my high QR and RC. It seems like most of the 24+ AA posts on here have TS scores that are 25+. I suppose that this is the nature of me being an engineer that has always excelled at math and someone who loves reading for fun.
Breakdown:
I graduated May 3rd and scheduled the exam for May 29th. I was taking 20 credits my final semester so I didn't study at all prior to May, but I was taking biochem, anatomy, and OChem II, so I counted that as preparation. I studied part-time with a lot of distractions for the first two weeks after graduation, and 7-10 hours a day for the week prior to the DAT. I have always tested well, so that was in my favor.
I really don't have much money to spend on studying materials, so I did everything as cheaply as possible. I got a used Kaplan DAT guide from a friend that took the DAT last year, used Feralis Bio notes online, and only took free practice tests except for the 2009 ADA test ($39 online I think).
Bio: This was certainly the most difficult for me because I hadn't taken a bio class since AP bio in high school. I read the entire Kaplan DAT guide and took notes, also I watched some free youtube videos on things like Meiosis/Mitosis, Kidney function, ect. My first practice tests (Kaplans) I was getting 15s, but by the time I did DATbootcamps free test I was closer to a 20. Finally I took the 2007 and 2009 ADA exams and Was also around a 19-21, so I was hopeful that I could get a 19+ on the exam. This was my lowest score, but I was happy to have it be 20.
Chemistry: I have always understood chemistry well, and I didn't study too much because I was preparing for Bio so much. I read the Kaplan guide through once and made sure I understood my mistakes in all the practice tests. I studied a little more for Gchem because it had been longer since I had taken it.
QR: I've always been pretty natural at math, so I didn't really study for this. I took the math portion of the Kaplan exam and the 2009 ADA exam. I did really poorly on the ADA one, so I was surprised on test-day when the questions seemed easier. I just stayed level headed and focused on not making mistakes.
RC: I have always liked reading, but I was concerned because on the practice tests the questions never seemed well written. Often times answers were ambiguous. I was happy that on the real exam the questions were clear with regard to the passage. For each passage I read it through completely, and took notes on each paragraph. In general it would take me ~12 minutes to read the passage and ~ 8 minutes to answer the questions. I know this method wouldn't work for everyone, but if you are a good reader it is possible to do it well.
PAT: Engineering helped this out a lot, I am used to thinking about things in 3D because of my 3D CAD experiences through engineering. I took 3 or 4 of the practice tests for PAT and always did fairly well. hole punching and cube counting were always my favorite. Angle ranking and Key-holes always seemed more difficult for me.
Well, I dont know what else to say, if people have questions I am happy to answer them. There was also a lot of prayer put towards this test, Praise the Lord.
Bio 20
GC 21
OC 21
QR 30
RC 27
AA 24
PAT 24
My scores seem to be a little different than a lot of the ones posted here because of my high QR and RC. It seems like most of the 24+ AA posts on here have TS scores that are 25+. I suppose that this is the nature of me being an engineer that has always excelled at math and someone who loves reading for fun.
Breakdown:
I graduated May 3rd and scheduled the exam for May 29th. I was taking 20 credits my final semester so I didn't study at all prior to May, but I was taking biochem, anatomy, and OChem II, so I counted that as preparation. I studied part-time with a lot of distractions for the first two weeks after graduation, and 7-10 hours a day for the week prior to the DAT. I have always tested well, so that was in my favor.
I really don't have much money to spend on studying materials, so I did everything as cheaply as possible. I got a used Kaplan DAT guide from a friend that took the DAT last year, used Feralis Bio notes online, and only took free practice tests except for the 2009 ADA test ($39 online I think).
Bio: This was certainly the most difficult for me because I hadn't taken a bio class since AP bio in high school. I read the entire Kaplan DAT guide and took notes, also I watched some free youtube videos on things like Meiosis/Mitosis, Kidney function, ect. My first practice tests (Kaplans) I was getting 15s, but by the time I did DATbootcamps free test I was closer to a 20. Finally I took the 2007 and 2009 ADA exams and Was also around a 19-21, so I was hopeful that I could get a 19+ on the exam. This was my lowest score, but I was happy to have it be 20.
Chemistry: I have always understood chemistry well, and I didn't study too much because I was preparing for Bio so much. I read the Kaplan guide through once and made sure I understood my mistakes in all the practice tests. I studied a little more for Gchem because it had been longer since I had taken it.
QR: I've always been pretty natural at math, so I didn't really study for this. I took the math portion of the Kaplan exam and the 2009 ADA exam. I did really poorly on the ADA one, so I was surprised on test-day when the questions seemed easier. I just stayed level headed and focused on not making mistakes.
RC: I have always liked reading, but I was concerned because on the practice tests the questions never seemed well written. Often times answers were ambiguous. I was happy that on the real exam the questions were clear with regard to the passage. For each passage I read it through completely, and took notes on each paragraph. In general it would take me ~12 minutes to read the passage and ~ 8 minutes to answer the questions. I know this method wouldn't work for everyone, but if you are a good reader it is possible to do it well.
PAT: Engineering helped this out a lot, I am used to thinking about things in 3D because of my 3D CAD experiences through engineering. I took 3 or 4 of the practice tests for PAT and always did fairly well. hole punching and cube counting were always my favorite. Angle ranking and Key-holes always seemed more difficult for me.
Well, I dont know what else to say, if people have questions I am happy to answer them. There was also a lot of prayer put towards this test, Praise the Lord.