Calculator available on DAT..

[dentaldoc1515]

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So I am not sure if many people know but the DAT will have a basic calculator starting 3/2/2010. I found it on the ADA website and decided to call the headquarters in Chicago to verify. A female I spoke with said that it will take effect this March 2. Is anyone scheduled to take the test on/after 3/2/2010? I am curious how the math section compares now that there is a calculator..

 

[joonkimdds]

I am guessing that it will get harder.

 

[Erhatstil]

gen chem will probably be more time consuming as well. instead of set-ups we'll have to carry all the way through with the math.

 

[dentalWorks]

lmao, why the calculators? Its not gonna make the test easier, theyr just gonna make you waste time by crunching numbers. w/e I guess people complained so much that they finally decided to do something about it

 

[dentaldoc1515]

Yeah I def prefer no calculator...and from my understanding it's only available on the math section.

 

[redchesus]

gen chem will probably be more time consuming as well. instead of set-ups we'll have to carry all the way through with the math.

there's no calculator on any other section besides QR

check the 2010 DAT Guide

 

[akeurogh]

Is it going to be graded the same? I am planning on taking my test in april... idk what to expect...

 

[DDS to be]

I just called prometric to confirm, they said that they had no information on it. I don't think there is going to be calculators allowed.

 

[dentalbuzz]

The calculator will be available on screen. It's just a basic one, not scientific. You will not be allowed to bring one with you to the testing center.

 

[AmpedUp]

gen chem will probably be more time consuming as well. instead of set-ups we'll have to carry all the way through with the math.

The test isn't going to be more difficult than it already is. I think someone got a response from the ADA concerning the potential increase of difficulty now that the on-screen calculator will be given to test-takers, and it he/she was told that it's going to be set at the same difficulty.

 

[redchesus]

The test isn't going to be more difficult than it already is. I think someone got a response from the ADA concerning the potential increase of difficulty now that the on-screen calculator will be given to test-takers, and it he/she was told that it's going to be set at the same difficulty.

I thought I remember a poster about a month ago saying he/she talked to a ADA rep and was told it WILL be harder, I guess no one really knows for sure

I'm taking mine 3/10 so I'll let ya'll know :-D

 

[AmpedUp]

I thought I remember a poster about a month ago saying he/she talked to a ADA rep and was told it WILL be harder, I guess no one really knows for sure

I'm taking mine 3/10 so I'll let ya'll know :-D

True.

But he/she got a follow-up response stating that the previous e-mail he/she received was false. I'm partly dwelling on that assumption, but then again...preparing for the worst, so we'll see.

 

[RSD2014]

gen chem will probably be more time consuming as well. instead of set-ups we'll have to carry all the way through with the math.

I thought the calculator is only available for the Math section. Not Gchem.

 

[dentalWorks]

You gotta underestand one thing, maybe the test format (of QR) woun't get harder, but earning a high score will be harder for sure.

You see, the test score is based on a curve (we all know that). Before the calculator was introduced, you were able to miss about 13-14 questions and you were still able to land a 17. Thats about 50-ith percentile. Now with the introduction of the calculator, you probably can't miss more than 9-10 to land that 17 (again 50-ith %ile).

So my point is this: even though the test format isn't changing much, but earning a high score isn't going to be as easy as before. I still remember that last year when I took the DAT, you were able to miss 11 questions (out of the 40) to land a 20, which as we all know is a very solid score on the QR. I am 100% sure this is going to change with the introduction of the calculator