predentalstudent88
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Here is my 2026 DAT breakdown as a first time DAT taker after only studying for a month
Scores:
AA - 470 (23 old scale)
QR - 440
RC - 460
Bio - 500
GC - 500
OC - 470
TS - 490
PAT - 460
My background: first generation applicant, 4.0 GPA, Clemson Honors, Bio major, 1.5 year early graduate, so taken after sophomore year (applying this cycle)
The only material used to study was DAT Booster and I used almost every material available except some game challenges and no crash courses. I chose Booster because it was the cheaper option, I was able to get a discounted rate as well to have a 30 day plan and I enjoyed the visuals.
Study timeline: I did not want to study during my spring semester because I do heavy course loads so I began my 30 day Booster membership a couple days before my last final exam. I wanted to still be able to apply early to schools and I believed in myself that 30 days could be possible since I would consider myself to be a slight exam crammer in college. I booked my DAT a couple months before my test date (May 23rd) and if it came back in 3-4 weeks that would place me in mid to late June for submitting my applications. If I had gotten a 19 I would have submitted my scores but any less than that I tried not to think about so I would not get discouraged but there was a possibility of delaying my application to the next cycle. I allowed the couple of days and the day of my last final exam to be start-up days (I believe there were 3 in total) and in those I started PAT practice, finished PAT videos, finished QR videos and started Bio. The day after my final I began my "25-hard". It was 25 straight days of at least 12 hour studying. I used the Booster schedule to schedule my days for the first half of the 25 days but once review started in the second half I went by what I considered to be my weak points. I would not recommend 12 hour study days but I am living proof that it is possible but I will also be honest about how difficult it is. First to focus. 12 hours is hard to remain focused and during the few breaks I would give myself (5 min walk, making coffee, 10 min phone break) it would be hard to go back to more studying. It felt never ending and I lost track of time because my life was studying. Also other life aspects. I try to go to the gym multiple times a week and the 12 hour days would not allow for that so my body would hurt from lack of movement. Additionally, I did not have time to cook so I ate less and ate out more, I lost some weight and felt worse because I was not getting as proper of nutrition.
In my Booster schedule I was able to complete all of the videos about half way through my full 25 days and I think they are the most important aspect to complete. I was able to do most of the practice and then finish up almost all by the time I was done. I think the only practice that I found not as important was the reading question banks because I thought they were too easy but all other sections were definitely needed. For my review days I fully went through the cheat sheets for bio, gen chem and orgo to start then later read through all of the full notes for bio and gen chem. I thought bio was too extensive so maybe not necessary but gen chem definitely helped because that was one of my weak points in practice tests. I took some practice tests during the first half but most in the second. I did not care for the mini tests because I thought they were too short to be representative but the full length were definitely pretty accurate. My last full length test that I completed 2 days before my exam gave me a 23 AA which was what I received on the real thing.
The exam: Mine was at 8am and like 40 ish minutes away so I set like 10 alarms and woke up to get there an hour early. I also got CFA breakfast on the way but I was too nervous to really eat it so I would not advise trying to eat breakfast if you normally do not. I thought the environment was not distracting at all but be prepared for it to feel different than when studying of course so I would try to take practice tests in different areas. I felt like I had done okay in all of the sections when I was doing the exam and I actually felt better about reading so I was surprised the score I received was not my highest. I took my break and I definitely thought it helped. My score came back a week and 2 days after my test which I was not prepared for at all so keep in mind that early feedback can happen. Overall it was a good thing that it came back early because it allows me to apply to schools earlier than I planned.
My advice would be: practice PAT and bio everyday, do not skip practicing reading and math. Don't skip over what you don't like or what is hard, and absolutely take full length practice exams.
Scores:
AA - 470 (23 old scale)
QR - 440
RC - 460
Bio - 500
GC - 500
OC - 470
TS - 490
PAT - 460
My background: first generation applicant, 4.0 GPA, Clemson Honors, Bio major, 1.5 year early graduate, so taken after sophomore year (applying this cycle)
The only material used to study was DAT Booster and I used almost every material available except some game challenges and no crash courses. I chose Booster because it was the cheaper option, I was able to get a discounted rate as well to have a 30 day plan and I enjoyed the visuals.
Study timeline: I did not want to study during my spring semester because I do heavy course loads so I began my 30 day Booster membership a couple days before my last final exam. I wanted to still be able to apply early to schools and I believed in myself that 30 days could be possible since I would consider myself to be a slight exam crammer in college. I booked my DAT a couple months before my test date (May 23rd) and if it came back in 3-4 weeks that would place me in mid to late June for submitting my applications. If I had gotten a 19 I would have submitted my scores but any less than that I tried not to think about so I would not get discouraged but there was a possibility of delaying my application to the next cycle. I allowed the couple of days and the day of my last final exam to be start-up days (I believe there were 3 in total) and in those I started PAT practice, finished PAT videos, finished QR videos and started Bio. The day after my final I began my "25-hard". It was 25 straight days of at least 12 hour studying. I used the Booster schedule to schedule my days for the first half of the 25 days but once review started in the second half I went by what I considered to be my weak points. I would not recommend 12 hour study days but I am living proof that it is possible but I will also be honest about how difficult it is. First to focus. 12 hours is hard to remain focused and during the few breaks I would give myself (5 min walk, making coffee, 10 min phone break) it would be hard to go back to more studying. It felt never ending and I lost track of time because my life was studying. Also other life aspects. I try to go to the gym multiple times a week and the 12 hour days would not allow for that so my body would hurt from lack of movement. Additionally, I did not have time to cook so I ate less and ate out more, I lost some weight and felt worse because I was not getting as proper of nutrition.
In my Booster schedule I was able to complete all of the videos about half way through my full 25 days and I think they are the most important aspect to complete. I was able to do most of the practice and then finish up almost all by the time I was done. I think the only practice that I found not as important was the reading question banks because I thought they were too easy but all other sections were definitely needed. For my review days I fully went through the cheat sheets for bio, gen chem and orgo to start then later read through all of the full notes for bio and gen chem. I thought bio was too extensive so maybe not necessary but gen chem definitely helped because that was one of my weak points in practice tests. I took some practice tests during the first half but most in the second. I did not care for the mini tests because I thought they were too short to be representative but the full length were definitely pretty accurate. My last full length test that I completed 2 days before my exam gave me a 23 AA which was what I received on the real thing.
The exam: Mine was at 8am and like 40 ish minutes away so I set like 10 alarms and woke up to get there an hour early. I also got CFA breakfast on the way but I was too nervous to really eat it so I would not advise trying to eat breakfast if you normally do not. I thought the environment was not distracting at all but be prepared for it to feel different than when studying of course so I would try to take practice tests in different areas. I felt like I had done okay in all of the sections when I was doing the exam and I actually felt better about reading so I was surprised the score I received was not my highest. I took my break and I definitely thought it helped. My score came back a week and 2 days after my test which I was not prepared for at all so keep in mind that early feedback can happen. Overall it was a good thing that it came back early because it allows me to apply to schools earlier than I planned.
My advice would be: practice PAT and bio everyday, do not skip practicing reading and math. Don't skip over what you don't like or what is hard, and absolutely take full length practice exams.
