Angle Discrimination

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I read in the Kaplan book that angle discrimination is suppose to be the easier section of the PAT. However, I have been doing practice runs on Topscore and I am doing the poorest in this section. Does anyone have any hints on how to properly do these questions?
 
I read in the Kaplan book that angle discrimination is suppose to be the easier section of the PAT. However, I have been doing practice runs on Topscore and I am doing the poorest in this section. Does anyone have any hints on how to properly do these questions?

You know...I didn't use this quite as much, but I remember using this practice method for my first DAT for angle ranking.

Because its a computer exam, you can check the way the line is oriented. The lines will not be fluid and will have little breaks in them (sorta like steps). The length of each of these segments can give you an idea of the incline/angle of the line. You can practice this by fiddling around with microsoft paint.

This isn't a guaranteed method. Its just something you can try if you're having lots of trouble.

Otherwise, use the answer choices to look at which two choices to compare, use the paper given and make an 90 degree angle with the angle, and that could help visualize angle rankings.

Hope that helps.
 
The Kaplan angle ranking is nothing compared to the real thing. Kaplan makes you believe that you are an angle ranking master when their question for that particular section are just tooooooooooo easy.

One popular method was to use a piece of paper to the screen, but with the new white boards, that is out the window.

The thumb-2-the-screen method is helpful. I use it to make angles with different length legs the same length so the angle is easier to distinguish.

That's all I got, good luck!
 
for the angles, its not considered cheating if we hold up the piece of paper to the screen right?? lol. cuz i called the testing center and they said they would provide paper, not erase boards
 
what test center is that?? i thought it was a national rule that all centers will be using board as of january 07
 
What exactly is considered cheating though? Cause I read in the Barron book that;

"...you will not be permitted to make use of any measuring device (including your fingers and test-taking materials). You must rely on visual acuity to "eyeball" relative sizes."

So wouldn't holding a sheet of paper or using my fingers to elongate the arms disqualify my exam?
 
Maybe those are the rules, I don't know. But with Prometric administering a ton of different tests for different companies/organizations and all have different rules, I don't know that the test proctor would have a way to remember who's taking which test at which station and what the rules for each test are. Admittedly, its a risk but I've seen several posts on SDN of people using the fingers or paper to screen techniques and none have been questioned by the testing center.
 
That is very disheartening to know some testing sites are allowing paper and pencil. I asked for it yesterday when I took the exam and was told that the boards are the only thing I can use, mind you my markers ran out in the first two sections, and I had to shake them to 'get more' ink out. Ochem was hard to write down with charges knowing I had know idea what the fat lipped marker was writing down and would have to second guess my positive and negative charges. Math was difficult as well. Simple mistakes could have been made and I had no way to correct it. So that's not good. Also, what is going on? If I used the edge of my erase board to try to see which angle ranking to choose, I'm sure I would have been kicked out. There are cameras in every booth, and it is directly above you watching your every move. So, I was told in Kaplan that we could not do that either. Although, I must say, the dry erase boards were great for hole punching because they were grids and I could work with that. So there are plusses to everything, I'm not angry about the boards themselves, but I am angry about the inconsistency with rules. Can anyone anymore sources which state what the rules of angle ranking and use of the boards with angles are?
 
That is very disheartening to know some testing sites are allowing paper and pencil. I asked for it yesterday when I took the exam and was told that the boards are the only thing I can use, mind you my markers ran out in the first two sections, and I had to shake them to 'get more' ink out. Ochem was hard to write down with charges knowing I had know idea what the fat lipped marker was writing down and would have to second guess my positive and negative charges. Math was difficult as well. Simple mistakes could have been made and I had no way to correct it. So that's not good. Also, what is going on? If I used the edge of my erase board to try to see which angle ranking to choose, I'm sure I would have been kicked out. There are cameras in every booth, and it is directly above you watching your every move. So, I was told in Kaplan that we could not do that either. Although, I must say, the dry erase boards were great for hole punching because they were grids and I could work with that. So there are plusses to everything, I'm not angry about the boards themselves, but I am angry about the inconsistency with rules. Can anyone anymore sources which state what the rules of angle ranking and use of the boards with angles are?

I agree but I would imagine that most of the employees administering the exams don't pay attention to who is taking which test as mentioned above. So the best thing to do is prepare as if you are getting a board/laminated paper.
 
This sounds weird but it works..move your head back..close one eye... and squint with the other....seriously all jokes aside, I get each question like this..
 
so only the test administrator will look at the video tapes?? so if they are not sure of the rules, they don't consider "finger on screen" as cheating? on actual DAT, how difficult the angles are compared to the ones on crackthedat? thx
 
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