Bio section breakdown: how many questions per each of these topics:

[Kane]

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I'm still "collecting data" on this one.

Since I'm not taking the DAT til next year, I am not as intimate with the Bio section as you good folks. And I'm still trying to organize what courses I will be taking over the next two semesters.

So, there are 30 or 45 Bio questions, right? What's the breakdown (# of questions per) for each of the following topics.

I'm trying to best determine what the test places emphasis on.

Thanks in advance.

(Last post on this, I promise.)

Here's are the topics that I'm sure you are familiar with:

Cell and Molecular Biology: cell metabolism (including photosynthesis) enzymology; cellular processes: thermodynamics; organelle structure and function; mitosis/meiosis; cell structure; experimental cell biology

Diversity of Life: Biological Organization and Relationship of Major Taxa (monera, plantae, animalia, protista, fungi, etc.) using the five kingdom system

Vertebrate Anatomy and Physiology: Structure and Function of Systems—integumentary, skeletal, muscular, circulatory, immunological, digestive, respiratory, urinary, nervous/senses, endocrine, and reproductive

Developmental Biology: fertilization, descriptive embryology, developmental mechanisms; experimental embryology

Genetics: molecular genetics, human genetics, classical genetics, chromosomal genetics, genetic technology

Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior: natural selection, population genetics/speciation, cladistics, population and community ecology, ecosystems, animal behavior (including social behavior)

 

[Kane]

bump.

how about this...would you say an average of 5 questions on each??

 

[whiskeysour]

bump.

how about this...would you say an average of 5 questions on each??

you're looking into this too much...the questions i'm guessing are chosen at random. just STUDY and don't worry about the probability of certain types of questions coming up.

WS

 

[Kane]

you're looking into this too much...the questions i'm guessing are chosen at random. just STUDY and don't worry about the probability of certain types of questions coming up.

WS

there are no tendancies? you can seriously get 10 questions on, say, genetics or ecology?

i'm just looking for the general breakdown.

 

[issa]

it is randomly generated, so one test might have 70% physiology. other tests might have 70% genetics. it is better if you study everything.

 

[Kane]

it is randomly generated, so one test might have 70% physiology. other tests might have 70% genetics. it is better if you study everything.

it's amazing that scores for the Bio section aren't more unpredicatble and erratic. for instance, most people aren't ecology specialists -- unless their last name ends in "Gore -- so on that test day most would do quite poorly on that section.

 

[whiskeysour]

it's amazing that scores for the Bio section aren't more unpredicatble and erratic. for instance, most people aren't ecology specialists -- unless their last name ends in "Gore -- so on that test day most would do quite poorly on that section.

you don't have to be an ecology specialist to do well on the DAT. the questions on the DAT are fairly general/straight forward, unlike questions in upper level biology classes.

bottom line is you gotta suck it up, LOG OFF SDN, and STUDY!!

WS 🙂

 

[Kane]

Good to know.

Preparing for my hardcore DAT studying next summer is the reason for my writing.

I have an opportunity to take a few Bio classes this coming year, so I'm trying to be smart about my plans and use the SDN community to help!

Different perspectives on the course schedule I am designing are appreciated.

Here's how it's looking at the moment:

FALL:
Bio 101
G.Chem I
O.Chem I
Anat/Phys I

SPRING:
Cell Bio
G.Chem II
O.Chem II
Algebra

SUMMER:
DAT studying

Note: I was in school 10+ years ago when I took most of these classes, but it's been a LONG time, so I need to re-take them. The upside: it will also serve as a good prep for the DAT.

With this schedule I'll be on my own with: Genetics (whatever isn't covered in Cell Bio); Ecology; Evolution; and more, of course.

I could potentially swap out Anat/Phys for Cell Bio and free myself up for a course in the Spring. (But I'm thinking two Bio classes with the rest of that load might be pushing it). Biting off more than I can chew is, of course, also a concern.

Many thanks,

Kane

 

[jim85213]

Please tell me you were kidding about Gore being an "ecology specialist."

it's amazing that scores for the Bio section aren't more unpredicatble and erratic. for instance, most people aren't ecology specialists -- unless their last name ends in "Gore -- so on that test day most would do quite poorly on that section.

 

[Kane]

hehe. i see the U.S. Army avitar over there. so, right, what does Al Gore know? lol

 

[jim85213]

Just givin ya a hard time.

hehe. i see the U.S. Army avitar over there. so, right, what does Al Gore know? lol

 

[Immuno-guy]

Kane,

I too took those classes (or similar) nearly 10 years ago. It took me a long time to get up to scratch with the DAT (months of studying a 10-15h a week), but I'm getting 18's on the Acheiver (harder than Topscore or Kaplan or the DAT itself), and I'm not that good a student. Frankly.

What I'm saying is you probably don't need to spend a whole year of full time study of classes you've already taken to do well at this.

Study. Cover all the material a couple of times and take a test. Repeat. Then book a date and do it. Good luck. You can do well at this.

ps. trawl the SDN listings for Kaplan exams, they are very useful.
Also, the Barrons DAT book is riddled with mistakes, use with caution.

 

[Kane]

have you spoken with the school's you are applying to about NOT repeating the prereqs? what did they say?

what i've heard: if your grades are more than 5 years old -- especially 10+ years old -- one needs to repeat them.

kane

 

[Immuno-guy]

I'm only interested in UIC (2 blocks from my current university) and the lady there was wonderful about trying to make it all work. She even used the phrase 'fudge it' a few times.

I'm perhaps in an odd position, I'm finishing my Ph.D. in immunology and did my BS. in the UK and therefore they are not recognized at all - as it was not in the US(!).

She looked at my graduate courses and said they would see what they would count for. It went like this:

"I see you had no Biology or chemistry for your Ph.D. We can fudge it and call your biochemistry chemistry, and some others will do as biology. No english courses? We can fudge it and call you thesis an english course. No phyiscs? Just go to a community college"

They are flexible. Having said that, they have not yet seen my modest grades. We'll see.

My concern for you is that you are proposing re-doing an awful lot, which will take you over a year full time and cost you a lot. I don't think you need to do all that. It may seem overwhelming at first, but you can do this... faster than you think.

Good luck.

 

[Kane]

unfortunately, i do need to do all that.

most dental school's don't have UIC's attitude.

also, you're getting your PhD in Immunology, so that's attractive. me, I'm doing a career change from after being 10-15 years out of the academic setting.

 

[Kane]

NEW THOUGHT:

FALL:

Bio 101
G.Chem I
O.Chem I
Cell Bio

SPRING:

Algebra
G.Chem II
O.Chem II
Genetics OR Ecology/Evolution

SUMMER:

DAT studying (learning Physio on my own...along with either Genetics or Ecology/Evolution)

 

[pre-dentalguy]

NEW THOUGHT:

FALL:

Bio 101
G.Chem I
O.Chem I
Cell Bio

SPRING:

Algebra
G.Chem II
O.Chem II
Genetics OR Ecology/Evolution

SUMMER:

DAT studying (learning Physio on my own...along with either Genetics or Ecology/Evolution)

Kane, my man, you got a lot going on this fall and spring. Good luck with that!!! You'll make it... And I'll see you at UMD.

 

[Kane]

Thanks, man.