Any tips on angles and general advice?

[Axiomatician]

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Hey all..

I am almost 6.5 weeks away from my DAT. My test date is set for July 29!

Currently going through Destroyer and DBC individual practice tests.

I am not making great scores, and I feel like I have SO much to learn.

While I feel that I will be able to keep grinding out my studying and practicing, there is one exception.

I genuinely fear Angle Ranking. I have been doing the PAT Trainer game almost every day, mostly multiple times a day, since 4-5 weeks ago, when I started studying. I feel that I am very strong on most of the PAT section, and the only two things that I do consistently poorly on were TFE(avg. of about 5/15) and Angles(avg. about 5/15). I feel like if I practice TFE enough, I can get over the time barrier that it takes me. I have not gotten much better at angles since I started studying, though. I have consistently gotten between 20%-60% between Bootcamp's angle generator and the PAT Trainer game. I think the longest correct streak of angles on Bootcamp for me have been at most 3, (MAYBE) 4. At this point, over the course of a month, I have probably done ~300 angle problems. Any tips on getting better? Would you recommend that I start doing a daily minimum of 15-30 angle problems from here on out?

Here is where I am currently at in my studying:

I am planning to be done with Destroyer 1x through, and Math Destroyer 1x through, as well as all of DBC separate Biology/GC/OC/RC tests by June 24, basically next Friday.

I am currently only through 150 Biology Destroyer problems, and 80 of GC/OC/QR.

For biology I have been doing Destroyer/DBC tests, and reviewing with answers given, taking notes of every problem I got wrong or problems I got right only by complete or even educated guesses. Anything I don't know, I make note of. I also have Feralis' notes printed out, and have used them a few times. I am still reviewing from about 90-150 of the ones I missed in there. I will continue to try and get about 30-50 problems a day, depending on how many I miss out of them. I find what has worked best is doing a bulk number of problems(~50-80), and then start reviewing them and finish within a couple of days.

For the chemistries, I am mostly very strong on Destroyer/DBC tests. I make careless mistakes, or need refreshing on something. I take notes on whatever I get wrong and work out the problem again. Because I just finished my two semesters of OC, the bulk of what I miss is a reagent I never learned or just getting familiar with things again. Thankfully the understanding is there, and 99% of what I see, I have learned and still have back in the cobweb area of my brain(unlike Biology lol!)

For QR, I have noticed that the main things I get wrong are just algebraic simplifications (both equations, and inequalities), as well as probability problems. I am done with the first 80 QR of Destroyer, and am taking my first Math Destroyer test tonight, and will continue taking one Math Destroyer test per day, adding a second if I get at least 30/40 correct upon the first test taken that day. That is because there are 17 Math Destroyer tests, and I am only 12 Days away from the 24th.

Basically, on the 24th, I will have 5 weeks until my test. Is my plan good thus far? What suggestions do you have? I want to do my absolute best on the DAT, and I have just under 7 weeks left . I would like to hear any and all feedback! This forum has been so great to me in my first 5 weeks of study!

I think I should be taking the Official DAT 2007 and 2009 tests, correct? I will look into ordering those upon feedback.

Thanks for taking the time to read, and, again, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MrBoneless]

As far as angle ranking goes, look up the bicycle method. I went from 50% on CDP to 80% just doing that.

It basically involves tilting your head so one line is straight and then pretending you're riding a bike down the incline. It allows you to shift your perspective and differentiate much more easily. The scarier incline is the bigger angle. Be warned though, it does take longer so be aware of the time you are spending.

 

[rasmussen5357]

For angle ranking try this out For acute angles where the hill or laptop won't suffice, I attempt to imagine the angles as a grappling hook of sorts. Envision yourself holding the longer leg of the two angles you're trying to distinguish, looking at them upright. Then try to imagine which one would better grip onto a ledge. The smaller angle will be the one that "grips" more tightly on the ledge. Make sure you start off comparing answer choices and always go with your gut instinct. On TFE make sure you understand the concepts of the dashed vs solid lines. Also, become a PERFECTIONIST with cube counting, you can score easy easy points on this section.

As far as everything else goes you're right on track. Math has always been a struggle of mine and I wished I would have practiced more. Make sure you save at least one bootcamp test for a full length simulation to familiarize yourself with what you'll experience on test day. Finishing a 45 minute long QR section after 4 hours of testing is a lot different than doing it alone. Regarding Biology, when you're watching TV or relaxing just casually read through Feralis notes. It will help you familiarize yourself with the concepts.

You will definitely be prepared for the test in 7 more weeks. I only studied for a total of 5 and did just fine. Make sure you are exposing yourself to a couple of subjects and don't get cocky (I did this with GC and it ended up hurting me)

UPDATE: This thread will help you dominate the PAT section http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/my-wicked-sick-pat-tutorial.528643/

 

[Axiomatician]

Thanks for the replies! Any other advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Nucleophile-DDS]

Hey guys, I'm new here.. I'm just wondering what is the minimum degrees they can ask us to differentiate?, is it like 3 degrees difference ?

 

[JLT223]

I think I should be taking the Official DAT 2007 and 2009 tests, correct?

Take the 2007 a week before your exam and the 2009 3 days before so you have time to review. The 2009 is the best indicator of the score you will achieve.

For angles, your best best is to sit back from the screen, do a "rapid glance" between the two angles in question, and go with your gut feeling. Don't squint. Go Google the rapid glance technique if you're unsure what I'm talking about. Angles are a crap-shoot. @Nucleophile-DDS Yes, they can ask you to differentiate angles differing as little as 3 degrees.

 

[Dancerkoh]

Hey guys, I'm new here.. I'm just wondering what is the minimum degrees they can ask us to differentiate?, is it like 3 degrees difference ?

The may even go as far as asking you to differentiate between 2 degrees, but I most commonly see 3 and 4.