Are Math Destroyer exams a good indication of your score?

[virtualmaster999]

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Hey everyone!

So I started using Math Destroyer two days ago. On my first exam, I got 20/40 (16) and today I got 24/40 (18). The time was just scaring me the most! I actually did exams 1 and 3, because as I got started on exam 2, I saw a bunch of questions that I didnt know how to do after like 1 minute, panicked, and decided to try another exam. LOL.

I mean, for QR, I'd be fine with 18-19, especially since it is not weighted heavily. Is the Math Destroyer good for predicting my scores? I know some people say it's good practice, and others say it is TOUGH (which is good I think); plus bootcamp I heard the QR is really hard.

What's a good indication?

Thanks!

 

[DAT Destroyer]

Hey everyone!

So I started using Math Destroyer two days ago. On my first exam, I got 20/40 (16) and today I got 24/40 (18). The time was just scaring me the most! I actually did exams 1 and 3, because as I got started on exam 2, I saw a bunch of questions that I didnt know how to do after like 1 minute, panicked, and decided to try another exam. LOL.

I mean, for QR, I'd be fine with 18-19, especially since it is not weighted heavily. Is the Math Destroyer good for predicting my scores? I know some people say it's good practice, and others say it is TOUGH (which is good I think); plus bootcamp I heard the QR is really hard.

What's a good indication?

Thanks!

Hi "V"

If you can do all the work in the Math Destroyer you should be able to hit at least an 18 on the DAT. Don't worry as much about the timing as understanding how to do the problems the most efficiently. As I have stated many many times on this forum there are many versions of the DAT, so as long as you prepare for whatever may come your way you have the best shot at success on your DAT..

Take care...Nancy

 

[jaf004]

No, IMHO math is the worst part of the test. I started math destroyer getting about 9 right within the time limit. I hated it. So what I did was just go through each math destroyer test and work through the problems one by one so that I knew each type of problem. In the end, I still only got a 16 on math (improvement from 14 on my first DAT). But hey I made it to dental school!

It seems to me that they don't even care about math. I think its more so to help out someone who might be a math major and struggle on chemistry or something. I wouldn't fret over the math TOO much, but at the same time I would keep going until you feel confident you can get a 17. Getting scores below 17, like me, is risky but for some reason I got the general consensus from the schools that nobody cares about the math; especially if you aced up on the sciences (20 is good, 21 great, 22 heavyweight, and 23+ untouchable)

Definitely spend more time on sciences, 20s in GC ,OC and BIO will carry you much further. Also, outside the test and your grades make sure you have a really well rounded academic history. Some schools will take a well rounded student more for merit. For instance, during my interview at Tufts there were 12 students and 9 of them had a masters (I didn't) and I think that sometimes they look for people with a lot on their resume instead of someone with an extra degree. Just got that vibe sometimes.

But coming back to your main question, NO I believe there is no good measure for the math score. What you study now will help but it will be very different on the DAT (more simple probably). Its not like Qvualt's Bio tests (which i found to be spot on), or DAT bootcamp

 

[DAT Destroyer]

No, IMHO math is the worst part of the test. I started math destroyer getting about 9 right within the time limit. I hated it. So what I did was just go through each math destroyer test and work through the problems one by one so that I knew each type of problem. In the end, I still only got a 16 on math (improvement from 14 on my first DAT). But hey I made it to dental school!

It seems to me that they don't even care about math. I think its more so to help out someone who might be a math major and struggle on chemistry or something. I wouldn't fret over the math TOO much, but at the same time I would keep going until you feel confident you can get a 17. Getting scores below 17, like me, is risky but for some reason I got the general consensus from the schools that nobody cares about the math; especially if you aced up on the sciences (20 is good, 21 great, 22 heavyweight, and 23+ untouchable)

Definitely spend more time on sciences, 20s in GC ,OC and BIO will carry you much further. Also, outside the test and your grades make sure you have a really well rounded academic history. Some schools will take a well rounded student more for merit. For instance, during my interview at Tufts there were 12 students and 9 of them had a masters (I didn't) and I think that sometimes they look for people with a lot on their resume instead of someone with an extra degree. Just got that vibe sometimes.

But coming back to your main question, NO I believe there is no good measure for the math score. What you study now will help but it will be very different on the DAT (more simple probably). Its not like Qvualt's Bio tests (which i found to be spot on), or DAT bootcamp

Great advice jaf004,

I definitely agree that dental schools don't look at the QR section as closely as Science and Reading, but it's a dangerous game not prepare throughly and risk a score below a 17, as you know from your personal experience and what students have commented to me through the years, with it being the last section of the test you are tired and have to keep going. I advise students to mentally prepare for the QR section and stay strong..knowing the finish line is near.

It's difficult to determine if the QR will be considered simple or challenging, a lot depends on the students skill level and on the version of the test you get. Students perceive some versions to be much harder than others. So again all you can do is prepare for the worst and hope for the best..

Nancy

 

[jaf004]

Nancy is right, and I must say that the DAT destroyer will definitely prepare you for the real test because it goes deeper than you will need to go and this will make the sciences on the real test seem simple.

For some reason, I think this is the wrong way to go about teaching math. Again, this is my opinion, but the math found on DAT bootcamp and in math destroyer is more difficult than the math on the real test, and I found this to be a problem. I am horrible at math, and because of this I didn't catch myself taking a problem one step too far or in the wrong direction all together until it was too late and I had wasted my time. Time is definitely the factor on this part of the test. If you can get through the weird problems, then you're fine just keep exposing yourself to a variety. However, if you are like me and your worst subject is math then I believe that you will find there is no DAT study material out there that is a close enough match to the QR on the real deal. Its unlike the sciences where there are topics and you only need to remember. Its hard to explain, but in the end the more practice the better.

 

[PlasmaMembrane]

It seems to me that they don't even care about math. I think its more so to help out someone who might be a math major and struggle on chemistry or something.

Some schools value QR more or less than others, but no standardized test would be designed to include a section just to help out people that are weak in another one. Being good at QR will not make up for a tanked chem or bio score and vice versa.

For some reason, I think this is the wrong way to go about teaching math. Again, this is my opinion, but the math found on DAT bootcamp and in math destroyer is more difficult than the math on the real test, and I found this to be a problem. I am horrible at math, and because of this I didn't catch myself taking a problem one step too far or in the wrong direction all together until it was too late and I had wasted my time. Time is definitely the factor on this part of the test. If you can get through the weird problems, then you're fine just keep exposing yourself to a variety. However, if you are like me and your worst subject is math then I believe that you will find there is no DAT study material out there that is a close enough match to the QR on the real deal. Its unlike the sciences where there are topics and you only need to remember. Its hard to explain, but in the end the more practice the better.

I disagree entirely, QR is the one section of the test that can be prepared for most easily. There are only so many ways you can be tested on the application of equations.

 

[510586]

Some schools value QR more or less than others, but no standardized test would be designed to include a section just to help out people that are weak in another one. Being good at QR will not make up for a tanked chem or bio score and vice versa.



I disagree entirely, QR is the one section of the test that can be prepared for most easily. There are only so many ways you can be tested on the application of equations.

Sorry for bumping old thread, buy would you recommend starting math destroyer or doing something easier to begin with like cdp

 

[matardug]

Sorry for bumping old thread, buy would you recommend starting math destroyer or doing something easier to begin with like cdp

Just go start to finish with Math destroyer and you should be set for the QR of the test. It was my only QR resource and I scored a 21

 

[510586]

Just go start to finish with Math destroyer and you should be set for the QR of the test. It was my only QR resource and I scored a 21

How many times did you do it?

 

[matardug]

I did it just once and that was enough for me.....I thoroughly went through all of the answer key though, very very important

 

[phillyeagles1]

I did it just once and that was enough for me.....I thoroughly went through all of the answer key though, very very important

Did you time yourself?

 

[PocketRocket]

The convention is, don't time yourself at first and learn the material. Go through destroyer once that way. Now go through it again but timed.

 

[virtualmaster999]

Agreed with the above. It's really important to know how to APPROACH problems in the QR. You can be a math wiz but without having the correct setup, you can only go so far. Definitely go through it untimed first, then timed. This is what helped me on my QR section. Once you have a good foundation in destroyer, the exam will seem more straightforward to you in QR.

 

[matardug]

@virtualmaster999 and @PocketRocket have the right idea @phillyeagles1......if you have the time, go through it twice, the first time soak in the knowledge, the second time, try timing yourself 🙂 good luck!!

 

[phillyeagles1]

Thanks everyone for the advice