So I'm finally on the other side. 8 weeks of prep and here are the results:
BIO 21 (92.3%)
GC 22 (91.8%)
ORGO 27 (98.7%)
PAT 25 (99%)
RC 28 (99.7%)
QR 21 (96.4%)
TS 22 (95.6%)
AA 24 (99.6%)
Overall, I'm very happy with my scores: only missed my original target by 1 point in BIO. I thought the exam was a bit (not considerably) easier than what I expected, but then again I had been using the TopScore and Achiever practice exams as my final prep, both of which had components that I feel were considerably harder than the actual DAT.
So my prep has been pretty straightforward: Kaplan online, DatQvault, and Chad's videos. Other than that, i took a lot of practice tests: 5 overall (I think ?) from the Kaplan course, 3 TopScore, 3 DAT Achiever. No CrackDATPAT for me. I used the Kaplan tests more for my timing and pacesetting, and the TopScore and Achiever exams for content. My practice scores hovered in the 18-19 range across all 3 sciences and around 20 for PAT. RC and QR scores were pretty consistent and representative of how I scored today.
My overall viewpoint from today: the subject content in bio, and all 3 sciences for that matter, is SOOOOO arbitrary. There really is no way to fully prepare and absorb all the subject matter that can be tested (unless you've got a good 3 or 4 months to FULLY dedicate to studying...or you have a photographic memory). So my one suggestion as far as subject matter goes would be to stop trying to "learn" the content once you hit your 10-day point, and focus more on "review." Go over the stuff you know to get it down pat, and look at the stuff that you're a little sketchy on to get more solid. If there's anything that you don't recognize by that point, just try and remember keywords and pray that you don't get tested on it.
From a logical/psychological perspective, my one advice is to simply stick with your gameplan. A lot of people say that you should try and completely disconnect the day before...I disagree. I DO believe that you should be light on your review, but if you've been committing hours on end day after day for weeks and months, I think keeping your books closed the day before your test will hurt you more than help. Look at well-trained athletes: they never take rest days, only "light" days to keep the muscles moving. Other than that, sleep well and do whatever you need to do to calm your nerves and get in the zone. Otherwise, just know that by the day before, you've done all you can to prepare and you need to know that you've done all you can. But you need to be honest with yourself in whether or not you've committed enough to preparing. If you have, I'm sure you'll be more than happy with your scores.
BIO 21 (92.3%)
GC 22 (91.8%)
ORGO 27 (98.7%)
PAT 25 (99%)
RC 28 (99.7%)
QR 21 (96.4%)
TS 22 (95.6%)
AA 24 (99.6%)
Overall, I'm very happy with my scores: only missed my original target by 1 point in BIO. I thought the exam was a bit (not considerably) easier than what I expected, but then again I had been using the TopScore and Achiever practice exams as my final prep, both of which had components that I feel were considerably harder than the actual DAT.
So my prep has been pretty straightforward: Kaplan online, DatQvault, and Chad's videos. Other than that, i took a lot of practice tests: 5 overall (I think ?) from the Kaplan course, 3 TopScore, 3 DAT Achiever. No CrackDATPAT for me. I used the Kaplan tests more for my timing and pacesetting, and the TopScore and Achiever exams for content. My practice scores hovered in the 18-19 range across all 3 sciences and around 20 for PAT. RC and QR scores were pretty consistent and representative of how I scored today.
My overall viewpoint from today: the subject content in bio, and all 3 sciences for that matter, is SOOOOO arbitrary. There really is no way to fully prepare and absorb all the subject matter that can be tested (unless you've got a good 3 or 4 months to FULLY dedicate to studying...or you have a photographic memory). So my one suggestion as far as subject matter goes would be to stop trying to "learn" the content once you hit your 10-day point, and focus more on "review." Go over the stuff you know to get it down pat, and look at the stuff that you're a little sketchy on to get more solid. If there's anything that you don't recognize by that point, just try and remember keywords and pray that you don't get tested on it.
From a logical/psychological perspective, my one advice is to simply stick with your gameplan. A lot of people say that you should try and completely disconnect the day before...I disagree. I DO believe that you should be light on your review, but if you've been committing hours on end day after day for weeks and months, I think keeping your books closed the day before your test will hurt you more than help. Look at well-trained athletes: they never take rest days, only "light" days to keep the muscles moving. Other than that, sleep well and do whatever you need to do to calm your nerves and get in the zone. Otherwise, just know that by the day before, you've done all you can to prepare and you need to know that you've done all you can. But you need to be honest with yourself in whether or not you've committed enough to preparing. If you have, I'm sure you'll be more than happy with your scores.
that's quite some score....
