DAT Done 7/15/2011 (Breakdown, Non-trad, Sub 3.0)

predentlove said:

Nice job!!! You deserve those grades!!

I have a question:

Can you physically eliminate answer choices on the screen?

Thanks 🙂))))

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Tyrangiel said:

No you can't.

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Sisero68 said:

dentalWorks,
yah, now that i have my DAT scores applying to 23 schools was a bit overkill...

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FROGGBUSTER said:

What can I say but... Awesome, awesome, awesome scores.

Are these Alan's bio notes that everyone keeps talking about?

http://predds.net/biology-dat-notes/

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Sisero68 said:

First thank you SDN, with a special thanks to dentalWorks and Bing12.

As a sub 3.0 non-traditional student, I have spent the last 1.5 years doing a informal post bac taking all of my prerequisites, upper level sciences, and increasing my GPA. Starting this August I will begin a one year MA in biology program during my application year, hopefully resulting in matriculation for 2012.

This is a lengthy post, though I hope some of you find it helpful.

Study material used: (1-5* rating)
-Kaplan Blue Book 2009**
-Cliff AP Bio 3rd addition *****
-Alan's Notes ***
-Chad's Videos *****
-DAT Destroyer 2010 *****
-Math Destroyer 2010 *****
-Crack DAT PAT 5 test version *****
-TopScore Pro ****
-2007 DAT **
-2009 DAT online ***
-Examkracker 101 Passages MCAT Verbal Reasoning ***
-DATQVault ** (just one free test)
-Wikipedia for supplemental information *

Practice tests scores:
-Crack DAT PAT: 24,24,25,22,29
(took 1 test every month (5), then took 1 a week the past 5 weeks)

-2007/2009 DAT: (5 weeks/2 weeks before test)
Bio: 16, 20
GC: 18, 21
OC: 18, 17
PAT: 27, 29
RC: 19, 20
QR: 17, 18

-TopScore Pro: Test 1(2.5 weeks before test), Test 2(10 days before test), Test 3(3 days before test)
Bio: 21, 18, 17
GC: 18, 19, 19
OC: 17, 18, 19
PAT: 25, 25, 26
RC: 18, 20, 19
QR: 16, 17, 20
TS: 19, 19, 19
AA: 18, 18, 19

Official DAT: (2011.07.15) 8:30am
Bio: 30 (100.0%)
GC: 25 (97.1%)
OC: 22 (88.7%)
PAT: 27 (99.7%)
RC: 24 (94.4%)
QR: 23 (97.0%)
TS: 25 (99.3%)
AA: 25 (99.8%)

GPA:
Undergrad: 2001-2005 (126 credits)
2.80 oGPA, 1.00 sGPA (only calculus freshman year), NO BCP
Postgrad: 2010-2012 (56 credits) informal post bac
3.67 oGPA, 3.68 sGPA, 3.65 BCP
Overall:
3.07 oGPA, 3.48 sGPA, 3.65 BCP

Breakdown:
Bio: I can not explain my jump, though I am grateful for it. Cliff's AP Bio was read once before starting Destroyer. I really like Destroyer for Bio it engrained concepts into you. I reviewed every question right or wrong and looked up anything I did not understand from just the explanations. Started about 55% with destroyer ended at about 90% second time through. Alan's notes are great for a quick Bio review 2 weeks before the test. Anything I did not know from just seeing the first word I reviewed Cliff's AP Bio and took notes on it. Things we all know will always be on the DAT. Prokaryote and Eukaryote reproduction, energy production in plants and animals, specifics on human reproduction, phylogenetics (studied my but off for this, memorizing almost all kingdoms and species, only had 2 maybe 3 questions on it), water regulation, respiratory systems, excretion, circulatory system for aves, mammals, insects. Almost forgot immune response and knowing where things like hormones and cells are produced.

GC: This is like math, practice every type of question until you know the set up as soon as you finished reading. I had my little cheat sheet for final review prior to taking the DAT with 15 chemistry equations on it (from chads videos and notes), first thing I did was recall these on my sheet of laminated board I was given. (Please note I was told I must start my time before I could write anything on my board, and was stood over until my time started) I would say a little less then ½ the problems required some form of calculations. Chad's videos and Destroyer deserve full credit for my scores. Chad teaches you everything you need to know and Destroyer engrained what I was taught in functional practice. Again I reviewed every question right or wrong, with GC taking the longest to review if I got the question wrong or guessed, after I read the solution I tried the problem again to make sure I understood it. (Destroyer started about 50% ended at 90% second time through)

OC: Chad's videos for concepts and strategy, Destroyer for road maps and practice. I kept telling myself this was my best section in the sciences though my scores never agreed. I pulled a 60% on my last Destroyer test 2 days before my exam being my second time through Destroyer... This scared the crap out of me. There where not as many short reactions as I would have liked but enough to make them very important. Take great notes and mini quizzes when watching Chad's videos and I just reviewed from them. Ranking acids/bases has always confused me but chads CARDIO ranking of bases is golden. If you know chads concepts and can do Destroyers road maps you will be in good shape. Like all my science sections if I did not know something during review I wrote it down on my condensed study notes that I always kept with me.

PAT: I studied and practiced in the field of architecture for over 8 years. The PAT was my best subject from day one. Very upset with TopScore here, first many of there questions I feel came from the 2007 DAT, along with being repeated between all 3 tests and having mistakes. Crack DAT PAT is the best resource I used. Though a bit of warning, I finished my PAT practice sections with about 12 minutes left every time. On the real PAT section I had to mark 6 questions with 5 minutes left. Though I did manage to finish with 1 minute left. I agree with others that keyhole is harder on the real PAT then CDP (I spent 20 minutes on this first section). 3 times I narrowed my choices between a correct side view and a correct top view that looks like a rectangle. Both held proper ratios so I went with the side view every time.

RC: I am a fairly slow reader and read every word. I tried search and destroy and could not find key words to save my life. My strategy was simple, after reading the first question I spent 5 minutes reading as fast as a I could but every word (trying to visualize images of what they where talking about and taking key word and number notes on each paragraph) at 5 minutes I switched to just speed reading to place information in paragraphs noting paragraph # if something unique was pointed out. I would turn to skimming to make sure I finished reading before 10 minutes. At any point if I found the answer to the question I would answer it and read the next question. 2nd passage I never saw the answer to the first question eliminated 2 choices guessed and moved on. Examkracker 101 is not like the DAT in length and there is a lot more inference questions but it was good practice (please note I did NOT try other RC sources). Best advice what ever way you practice, do not change up your strategy on exam day. All practice test I took had good RC comparable to the real thing.

QR: I was afraid of this section because of time reasons and trig. Math Destroyer (I did 6 tests) is worth its weight in gold. I read Kaplan Blue Book for initial review followed by practice every other day including full DAT practice tests. Even with destroyers explanations I had to look up a lot of equations online. Make sure to review problems you got right by guessing I reviewed all problems I guessed on and got wrong. Start practicing your timing at least 10 days before your test. I recommend knowing a few pythagorean triples of triangles this not only saved me from having to do some trig calculations (3) but turned 2 minute questions into 15 seconds. Oh and chads math videos make things nice and simple.
(3,4,5) (5,12,13) (7,24,25) (8,15,17)

Best Advice I received:

• Do not be afraid to reschedule your test if you are not ready. I pushed it back twice and this is also when I did my best studying. The intensity of studying for a test a month away is much different then always studying for a test 10 days away for a month.
• Practice tests are just that, they give you a sense of areas you need to work on but that does not mean it is the score you are going to get. I feel the test is 80% prep 20% luck.
• Once you have completed a section DO NOT think about it. Use all your mental resources for the current section.
• At the 5 min warning that pops up near the end of every section MARK any unanswered questions. (I always marked B) though I should mention I did complete every question.
• Sometimes it is just as good to eliminate choices as it is to know the right choice. (especially PAT)

• In QR if you hesitate on knowing what to do, pick a choice, mark, and move on. The key is to see every problem.
• When taking practice test sit for the whole test, take your break and keep going. I was exhausted mentally by the time I hit QR, its best to get use to this.
• When studying at some point you will go from scared/nervous to being sick of studying 24/7. Thats good your almost there, now study for 1 more week.

Good luck and I hope this helps some of you. You should not be scared but it is ok to be nervous.

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