2025 DAT Breakdown (24AA, 22TS, 21PAT)

[dental_flamingo]

Hey y’all, I recently finished my DAT and wanted to give back to the score breakdown community since these posts helped me a ton! I took the test in February 2025, right before the scoring switched from 2-digit to 3-digit (March 2025), so I’ll try to include conversions, but there are also score conversion charts online.

Scores​

Academic Background​

Current junior with a 4.00 GPA

Materials Used​

• DAT Booster – Y’all, Booster was amazing in preparing me for the real test. The practice exam questions were very comparable to the real exam, and some even felt identical. I used Booster exclusively and highly recommend it! (Before purchasing, check for coupon codes online or through your university’s pre-dental society—you can usually find a 10% off code.)
• Chad’s Prep – I used this for OChem concepts that I was struggling with, and it really helped clarify tricky topics.

Study Method​

I started studying in November 2024 and took my test at the end of February 2025, so about four months of prep. This timeline worked well for me since I could use winter break for intense studying and practice tests.

During Spring 2025, I took a normal course load (16 credit hours: 2 online courses, 3 science courses total). I was able to balance studying with my coursework, though towards the end, I started prioritizing the DAT over some assignments to finish strong.

I started with content review:

• Bio – Watched all Booster bio videos (loved these!) and did the accompanying questions. I read notes only for concepts I didn’t fully understand.
• Chem – Watched about half of the videos, but focused mainly on practice questions since I retain concepts better that way. Used study notes for difficult topics.
• OChem – Watched only a few videos, prioritized practice questions instead. Used Chad’s Prep when I was really lost.
• PAT – Did at least 10 minutes of practice daily. At first, I watched strategy videos to learn how to approach each question type, then just hammered through practice questions. Repetition is key!
• Reading – Used Booster’s supplemental articles, didn’t watch any videos for this section.
• Math – Skipped Booster’s videos, just did practice questions. I did about half of them, skipping concepts I was already confident in.

Starting in December, I took practice tests, which were the most helpful resource by far. After every test, I reviewed each question I was unsure about or got wrong. REVIEW EVERY QUESTION YOU MISSED AND FIGURE OUT WHY YOU MISSED IT!

There were 15 total practice tests, and I completed all of them. Make sure to set aside time for both taking them and thoroughly reviewing mistakes—this is what helped me improve the most.

Practice Test Scores​

Exam Day Breakdown​

• Bio (19 | 410) – This was lower than my practice test scores. My test had a lot on the cell cycle, DNA replication, and physiology, which I felt were emphasized more than on practice exams (though this might have just been my specific test). I would definitely recommend knowing the steps of DNA replication and the cell cycle in detail before test day!
• Chem (27 | 550) – I actually never scored this high on a practice test, but I felt like the real exam was easier than the practice exams. My biggest advice here: Do all the practice tests and review every mistake. Some questions on my real test felt like they were exactly the same as ones I had seen before!
• OChem (23 | 480) – This was about the same as my Booster scores. My advice? Know your reactions well and practice, practice, practice.
• PAT (21 | 450) – I hated the PAT section with all my might, so I was so happy to get this score. I just wasn’t naturally good at it, and it wasn’t fun. A huge score improver for me was skipping to the sections I was better at first, then doing the harder ones last. This helped my timing a lot! I did questions 61-90 first, then 31-60, and finally 1-30. Try different strategies during practice tests to see what works best for you.
• Reading (27 | 550) – I’ve always been good at reading, so I liked this section because it was a nice break from memorization-heavy sciences. My strategy: Look at the first 3-4 questions of a passage, highlight keywords, then read the passage and answer as I went. For the last 16-17 questions, I answered them as I read.
• Math (22 | 430) – I found that the real test had a lot more of the questions where it was like “Statement 1 is this, Statement 2 is this, are they both enough to answer the question, neither, or one or the other?” Booster had some, but I felt like the real test had more. Make sure to review any missed questions in practice tests and understand why you missed them.

Final Tips​

• PRACTICE TESTS = your best resource. Take as many as possible, but most importantly, review every mistake and make sure you could get that question right if you saw it again.
• Simulate real testing conditions. I took my practice tests at 8:30 AM in a quiet room to match my actual exam time and environment.
• Commit to studying, but have balance. I had to miss some events due to prep, and it wasn’t always fun, but it’s temporary and will pay off in the end.
• Try to take the DAT as close as possible to when you finish pre-reqs (ochem especially). I think biochem could be helpful for doing well on the DAT as well; I did not take it before the exam, so it is definitely possible to do fine on the DAT without biochem, but it may make some of your studying easier.
• Remember, you’re more than just a test score! Surround yourself with a good support system, work hard, and celebrate when it’s over!

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[Chicago_predental]

Great job!! So happy you loved DAT Booster also🙂 It really is the best for preparing you for the DAT. Good luck this cycle!