Biology in DAT(lots of q's regarding content??)

[Awara]

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After finishing Biology in Kaplan I got more confused about how to prepare for biology??

1. the chapters of systems(embryology, vascular, endocrinology, neuroscience, respiraion, muscles, digestion, excretion, so the chapters 4-12) contain very basic material and is lot less than my 2xx level bio class. Is this stuff enough??? Or do they have q's on more detail?How much in depth should I do these systems? Should I use my text book to go over detail of these systems?

2. As I read from this forum everyone who took DAT suggests that should do ecology, taxonomy and evolution in more detail. So I did all the chapters regarding this topic from "campbell" and understand it well. Is this enough for these topics or should I do some more?

3. How depth knowledge and understanding of genetics and reproduction are required for the real DAT? Or the stuffs covered in DAT are enough for these topics??

4. What are the things that are not covered in enough depth in Kaplan Biology but needed for the REAL DAT?

Becasue I just finished the Entire Kaplan Book and Biology section twice(I am worried about this section) and took Kaplan practice test and got 19 in Biology and overall 20AA. I am taking my DAT on August 18th and will be doing lot of practice. So I am looking to see How can I improve my Biology score in the month I have left. I have goal of scoring 23AA/23TS on real DAT because my GPA is only 2.95. Any advise and input is welcome.

 

[Sprgrover]

1. Read through your class notes and your biology books to gain a more indepth knowledge of muscles, etc. Kaplan's coverage in this area is very thin and the DAT requires a bit more.

2. Your studying Campbell should be sufficient. It's not that you need a lot of study materials for these areas, rather it is that Kaplan just glazes over these topics and the latest round of questions seems to hammer these points a lot.

3. For genetics and reproduction you need to be comfortable with the basics (e.g. base pairing, leading and lagging strand, coding and non coding strand, coverting a DNA sequence into its RNA counterpart, and so on). I finished a thick course on molecular and cellular biology prior to taking the DAT and I didn't see questions that I could have only answered using material from that class - though it helped of course!

4. As far as material not covered in Kaplan - the whole biology and PAT sections is the answer to this question. For biology, just get a companion study guide, such as Exam Krackers or AP Biology and use it to fill in the holes. For the PAT, read through Barrons (though don't buy it).

A 23AA/23TS is a high score, though certainly worth aiming for as it is obtainable. If you were really comfortable with the material in your classes and can praddle off facts and answers at the drop of a hat, then you stand a good chance. If not, then you really need to get other materials together and devote your days to commiting as much study time as possible. You can do it!

 

[Awara]

sprogover, thanks for your reply. I have just one more q. When you say get more in depth knowledge of muscles etc. What are the systems that really needs to be done more in depth for DAT and not covered in Kaplan enough.

 

[Sprgrover]

Kaplan sort of glazes over that material, and when I stated "muscles, etc." I meant that whole chunk in Kaplan as it seems to all run together in that chapter. I found their coverage of the kidney to be thin as well as human hormones. Also go over the nervous system as I recall having a question asking for a neurotransmitter for a parasympathetic nerve (I also remember feeling glad I hammered that section otherwise I would have been completely clueless!). I would say that if you are able to recall facts and figures as you are reading along in Kaplan, and those data are not in the text, then that is a good indicator that you have that particular subject down well. If not, then look into beefing up your knowledge. I hope this is of benefit to you.

 

[DrTacoElf]

sprogover, thanks for your reply. I have just one more q. When you say get more in depth knowledge of muscles etc. What are the systems that really needs to be done more in depth for DAT and not covered in Kaplan enough.

phyla, taxonomy, ecology.

 

[Mithridates]

Awara, you sound like you're in pretty good shape. I never did really spectacular on the kaplan tests - I don't think I ever got an AA over 20. But on test day I ended up with 23 AA and 23 TS. You getting a AA of 20 a month before the test is pretty sweet. My advice: take tests, and review, take tests, and review.

 

[Regi]

Hi!
just wanted to say that you did a great job by going over the Kaplan's Bio section!However, i spoke with some peopel who already took DAt and they sad that Bio section in Kaplan book was not really helpful. I also will take DAT soon probaly at the end of August and i ordered from Amozon the Shamu's bio book. I graduated from college this May with Bio degree and i did not learned most of the staff that in Kaplan's bio section. Hopefully other book will help. Also you sad that your GPA like what 2.9, it is ok, if you will rock the DAT with the score of 20-23 you have a huges chanses, grades are NOT the only creteria, trust me🙂 Just try your best. : Sincerely, R.

After finishing Biology in Kaplan I got more confused about how to prepare for biology??

1. the chapters of systems(embryology, vascular, endocrinology, neuroscience, respiraion, muscles, digestion, excretion, so the chapters 4-12) contain very basic material and is lot less than my 2xx level bio class. Is this stuff enough??? Or do they have q's on more detail?How much in depth should I do these systems? Should I use my text book to go over detail of these systems?

2. As I read from this forum everyone who took DAT suggests that should do ecology, taxonomy and evolution in more detail. So I did all the chapters regarding this topic from "campbell" and understand it well. Is this enough for these topics or should I do some more?

3. How depth knowledge and understanding of genetics and reproduction are required for the real DAT? Or the stuffs covered in DAT are enough for these topics??

4. What are the things that are not covered in enough depth in Kaplan Biology but needed for the REAL DAT?

Becasue I just finished the Entire Kaplan Book and Biology section twice(I am worried about this section) and took Kaplan practice test and got 19 in Biology and overall 20AA. I am taking my DAT on August 18th and will be doing lot of practice. So I am looking to see How can I improve my Biology score in the month I have left. I have goal of scoring 23AA/23TS on real DAT because my GPA is only 2.95. Any advise and input is welcome.

 

[Regi]

Hi guys!
I am really afraid of DAT i really afraid of failure! My goal is 23-25, because my GPA close to 3.00 and i have a Dental Assistant diploma, i really relly SCARED!
Any advises from previously takers?
Also, does anyone found PAT in Kaplan's book hard?

 

[mg777]

What does TS stand for?

 

[hockeydentist]

Don't be scared, the DAT is a test of how hard you worked. If you put in a lot of studying time, you should come out with a decent score. I don't know anyone on this board that did not do well and put in a lot of time. Effort=Reward.

 

[dane4695]

TS=Total Science

Comb. of Bio/Chem/Ochem score.

 

[rocknightmare]

DrTacoElf ... those topic you repeat in every thread ... does the new kaplan book cover?? the one that has a yellow strip at the bottom of it..

thanks

 

[Piznut99]

What do i need to get into Dental school if my GPA is 3.88 overall and 3.77 science?

 

[mg777]

What do i need to get into Dental school if my GPA is 3.88 overall and 3.77 science?

since your gpa is so high, dental schools dont require DAT scores and letters of reccomendation. wow, your lucky

 

[DrTacoElf]

What do i need to get into Dental school if my GPA is 3.88 overall and 3.77 science?

Thats a bad trend that your science is lower than total - adcoms truly frown upon it 🙁 .

 

[dane4695]

I don't know what you "need" per se, but I would shoot for a 20+. I'm in a similar boat, and have wondered the same thing. It almost seems like the DAT is more important that GPA, as it verifies your academic ability. For instance:

To me it feels like it'd be better to have a 3.2/ 23 AA than a 4.0 / 18 AA. That's just what it sounds like to me. A strong DAT can save you, but a weak DAT will kill you. A good GPA is just nice. I could be trippin` here, but that seems to be what i've been hearing.

 

[mg777]

A good DAT score can show youre willing to study your arse off for one test where as the weak GPA shows over the long haul you dont put as much effort in. I think anyone can get a high score on the DAT if they put a lot of time into preparation. I think it varies too from one school to the next as far as emphasis on the DAT score. Im sure a low GPA can be helped by a high DAT score, and vice versa. The DAT is just one of the factors critical to entrance into DAT school. Having a high DAT does not guarantee admittance, surely a substandard GPA or ghastly interview can shatter your dreams too.