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- May 26, 2006
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I know it's a little late but I still wanted to share my experience since I found it helpful reading about others while studying. So here it goes..
First my scores:
PAT 21
QR 19
RC 24 😛
Bio 20
Gen Chem 23 🙂
O Chem 20
TS 21
AA 21
So it's not straight 24's or anything like some people on here post but i'm still pretty stoked. I studied for about a month and a half. For about the first two and a half week I read the big kaplan white book from the course and supplemented with Shaum's Bio, Campbell's bio, Sherwood Human Physiology, Jones & Atkins Chemistry, Vollhardt & Schore Organic Chemistry, and the GRE math workbook. I then did the Kaplan practice tests I have from taking the course, Topscore, DAT Achiever, and the ADA test from the web.
This was actually my retake, last time I got AA/TS/PAT 19/18/19. So I actually went up 2-5 points on each subject except for Ochem where I went down 2 (From 22 to 20).😡
The test:
Bio: Pretty staight forward. I think bio really requires that you have a good understanding of general concepts not just memorization of facts. Some questions were kind of random and required you to use your knowledge on the topic to figure out the answer. I had the hemmorhage and sea urchin q's. I really suggest you go over your topscore, achiever, and ADA bio tests because there were a few q's on my actual test that I remembered having seen before. I think I could have gotten a few more pts if I had thoroughly gone over my tests.
G Chem: My most improved subject. Up five points. I didn't have a good grasp on the concepts the first time around so I read up on them in my chem textbook. Kaplan is enough if you already know the concepts down good. Topscore, Achiever, and the Kaplan subject tests are a lot harder than the real thing. Know how to manipulate equations especially gas laws and stoich. Most of the calculations were straightforward. Know pv=pv, pv/t=pv/t, dilutions, ksp, emp. formula, etc.
O Chem: Also straightforward. SN1, SNS, E1, E2, stereoisomers, EAS, O-m-p, directing groups. A lot of predict the product and synthesis problems. I didn't have any out of the ordinary reactions. Kaplan is enough. Just go over the mechanisms in your textbook. I also used the kaplan flashcards which go over most of the reactions you'll need. Just look up the diels-alder rxn b/c it's not in kaplan.
Pat: Achiever prepares you well. I think the real test was in between topscore and achiever as far as difficulty. Angles were the only tricky part.
RC: I had calcium, aging, and bact. resistance passages. I used the scan and search method and that worked for me. The only thing I didn't like was that the font size and the passage window are both small making it hard to look for the answers. I just searched for key words and if I couldn't find it I just guessed based on my own knowledge of the subject.
QR: I didn't study for this section until two days before my test so 19 is good enough for me. If you can do the ADA test I think you're good. I had about half word problems and the rest was arith., algebra, maybe 1 geometry q. on circles, and 3 trig q's. For trig., like most people have said you need to know SOH, CAH, TOA, the unit circle, and identities. The kaplan workshops are very helpful to help you go over the math concepts in general. GRE wasn't really helpful, if you need extra practice go ahead and get this book, otherwise it's a waste of time.
So there you go. If anyone has any questions, just send me a PM and I'd be glad to help you out. Just don't ask me about specific q's. My lips are sealed 😎
Good luck to everyone taking the test soon. Study hard. The DAT isn't a super hard test, so don't stress too much.😉
First my scores:
PAT 21
QR 19
RC 24 😛
Bio 20
Gen Chem 23 🙂
O Chem 20
TS 21
AA 21
So it's not straight 24's or anything like some people on here post but i'm still pretty stoked. I studied for about a month and a half. For about the first two and a half week I read the big kaplan white book from the course and supplemented with Shaum's Bio, Campbell's bio, Sherwood Human Physiology, Jones & Atkins Chemistry, Vollhardt & Schore Organic Chemistry, and the GRE math workbook. I then did the Kaplan practice tests I have from taking the course, Topscore, DAT Achiever, and the ADA test from the web.
This was actually my retake, last time I got AA/TS/PAT 19/18/19. So I actually went up 2-5 points on each subject except for Ochem where I went down 2 (From 22 to 20).😡
The test:
Bio: Pretty staight forward. I think bio really requires that you have a good understanding of general concepts not just memorization of facts. Some questions were kind of random and required you to use your knowledge on the topic to figure out the answer. I had the hemmorhage and sea urchin q's. I really suggest you go over your topscore, achiever, and ADA bio tests because there were a few q's on my actual test that I remembered having seen before. I think I could have gotten a few more pts if I had thoroughly gone over my tests.
G Chem: My most improved subject. Up five points. I didn't have a good grasp on the concepts the first time around so I read up on them in my chem textbook. Kaplan is enough if you already know the concepts down good. Topscore, Achiever, and the Kaplan subject tests are a lot harder than the real thing. Know how to manipulate equations especially gas laws and stoich. Most of the calculations were straightforward. Know pv=pv, pv/t=pv/t, dilutions, ksp, emp. formula, etc.
O Chem: Also straightforward. SN1, SNS, E1, E2, stereoisomers, EAS, O-m-p, directing groups. A lot of predict the product and synthesis problems. I didn't have any out of the ordinary reactions. Kaplan is enough. Just go over the mechanisms in your textbook. I also used the kaplan flashcards which go over most of the reactions you'll need. Just look up the diels-alder rxn b/c it's not in kaplan.
Pat: Achiever prepares you well. I think the real test was in between topscore and achiever as far as difficulty. Angles were the only tricky part.
RC: I had calcium, aging, and bact. resistance passages. I used the scan and search method and that worked for me. The only thing I didn't like was that the font size and the passage window are both small making it hard to look for the answers. I just searched for key words and if I couldn't find it I just guessed based on my own knowledge of the subject.
QR: I didn't study for this section until two days before my test so 19 is good enough for me. If you can do the ADA test I think you're good. I had about half word problems and the rest was arith., algebra, maybe 1 geometry q. on circles, and 3 trig q's. For trig., like most people have said you need to know SOH, CAH, TOA, the unit circle, and identities. The kaplan workshops are very helpful to help you go over the math concepts in general. GRE wasn't really helpful, if you need extra practice go ahead and get this book, otherwise it's a waste of time.
So there you go. If anyone has any questions, just send me a PM and I'd be glad to help you out. Just don't ask me about specific q's. My lips are sealed 😎
Good luck to everyone taking the test soon. Study hard. The DAT isn't a super hard test, so don't stress too much.😉
