Bio for the DATs

[fatphish91]

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What's the best way to study for the bio section of the Dats?

 

[WSDriller]

For me, it was flash cards, flash cards, and more flash cards. Bio is one area that you can just spit out definitions of the different systems. That worked for me.

 

[dddsmack]

I have a strong (not necessarily correct) opinion on this subject, so take it for what its worth to you.

Biology can be a biootch, or it can be a blessing.

First of all, they can pretty much ask you about anything on earth, so get as many practice questions in as you can. I actually read texts from anatomy, physiology, microbiology, cell bio, zoology, genetics, botany, evolution etc.. Like I said they have a wide array of questions that can be asked a million different ways.

Second, pray that you don't get a wierd version of the DAT. I have two pals that had about ten questions on plants on their DAT. They never had any botany classes or anything like that. They came out with a 15 and 16. I had one, but a ton of evolution and taxonomy questions with systems and evolutionary histories, cladograms, etc. So mine was more animal based, with a mix of anatomy and physiology. I came out with a 21, which I figured was missing about 5-8 questions.

Third, you can be guaranteed to get a handful of questions on cellular respiration, so know it inside and out, don't just memorize!

I hope that helps, good luck, apply early next year!

 

[Gordon9721]

i'd argue that bio is the hardest section on the DAT, next to the QR. Just my opinion.

like the post above, they can ask you absolutely anything about living organisms. this sucks.

i got about 7 plant questions and some very early embryonic development stuff. not gastrulation, but early early stuff.

know it all inside and out. practice tests will help you a ton, but you need to get your hands on everything and know way more than you're suppossed to.

i had almost all of kaplan memorized front to back, except the plant stuff because i was anticipating only a couple bubblegum questions. negative in that aspect. know it all!

 

[dentaldentist]

There is a lot of subject matter to cover for the biology section of the DAT. I would start with the Kaplan blue book to give you a real good overview of the areas you will be tested on, but I would also get something like Schaum's Ouline of Biology to give you more in depth details and fill in the gaps. Know these two texts and you're set, but its a lot of material.

If you like flash cards, you can always go with the Kaplan MCAT Biology flash cards as it covers all the same material.

 

[h0ckilla]

yah, bio is a bitch. so much info and hard to predict.

a friend of mine recommended kaplan book and schaum's outline of bio. when i took the real dats, therre were alot of genetics and ecology questions.

 

[plasticsoul]

I used Kaplan test questions as a reference so like when I got something wrong I just re-read that whole section in Campbell. I ended up reading many sections a bunch of times and I think it helped me. I ended up with a 22 on Bio and that was fine with me.

 

[bs2dds]

i used kaplan's book, their flashcards, and destroyer... plus my undergrad books...

 

[reapply2007]

Kaplan, Schaums.

Barron's MCAT or DAT Biology section is pretty good plus each section has review questions.

Biology really requires a lot of memorization because it is a huge area.

 

[Indie]

What's the best way to study for the bio section of the Dats?

I made flash cards of all the destroyer questions, that was really helpful...

 

[RozhonDDS]

you take kaplan blue book, and you make flash cards with everything in bold.....basically that simple...also i took topscore and achiever and made note cards for all the question i didn't know.....look over the entire stack every night before bed and before you know it you'll have everything down......i still have a stack, which usually took about 2 hrs to go through but was well worth it.....first time i took the DAT i had a 15 in bio the second time i had a 23.....so trust me it works!!! GL