blahhhh PAT sucks

[RUpremed]

---

Members don't see this ad.

hi guys,

so i just finished my first full crack dat PAT test and i got a 16 🙁 . my scores are so lopsided.. my highest was keyhole (13) and my lowest was pattern folding (6). I was down to like 5 minutes by the end of the cube counting section. How do the individual sections of the crack PAT compare with the actual DAT? Also, what would you guys recommend doing to balance the amount of time allotted for each section? Thanks so much..

cheers.

 

[dentalWorks]

16 as a first timer isn't bad at all...

My first ever was a 17.... and I only did 8 of the 10 CDP tests.... by time I got to test #7 and #8 I was scoring 19 and 20..... Got a 20 on the real PAT

 

[FutureDent020]

Keep practicing and you'll improve in all sections. Eventually you'll find out what comes easier and what you struggle with. Allot less time for the sections you find easy. Cube counting and angle ranking should take the least amount of time. Don't overthink keyhole, but pay attention to detail. TFE, you're either good at or not. If not, keep practicing and you will improve. I practiced the most on hole punching because it is tricky, but easy. It can eat up time if you are not prepared. At first I was spending 12+ minutes on that section, and after a lot of practice I did the real thing in 7-8 minutes. Pattern folding was the toughest for me. I was never really sure of the rules or how to approach the figures. So i'm not sure what to tell you there.

 

[FreeFallin]

I just took my first CDP test and got a 21. Not sure exactly what that means, but I've got 9 more tests to go! Wow! I figure, the more practice, the better.

 

[CANgnome]

some people innately have better spatial orientation abilities than others. Practice will bring anyone's scores up for PAT, but imo, there is some innate limitation.

 

[Hopeful20]

If it makes you feel any better, I just scored a 18 on my first CDP.
However, I DID have some practice with Kaplan material. I believe my VERY first PAT score was like a 15. I'm sure you will most definitely improve with time.

 

[dentalWorks]

And also I forgot to mention, the PAT does not go into your AA calculation. You really don't need a HUGE score, anything that is 20 and above is considered "good".... To land a 20, you can miss approx 20 of the 90 questions

they just want to see that you have some sort of spacial imagination, thats all