- Joined
- Jun 26, 2012
- Messages
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- Reaction score
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I have been a lurker here for the past few months..... and am very much guilty for taking from but not giving back to SDN. So here is my Breakdown! with all the gory details. (lots and lots of detail!)
PA 23
QR 23
RC 23
Bio 24
GC 23
OC 27
TS 24
AA 24
Resources:
-DAT Destroyer
-Chads quizzes (I didn't buy the videos; but thats up to you, everyone here says they're great!)
-Cliffs Bio 3rd Ed.
-2009 DAT practice test (order the paper copy now!)
-2007 DAT practice test (available for free online)
-Barrons and Kaplan DAT books (optional)
-MCAT Examkrackers (optional, available for free on Scribd)
3 Week Timeline
Week 1:
A. Learn about and practice PAT: Figure out which are your strengths and weaknesses. (I found TFE pretty ridiculous in the beginning but realized later that it was one my easier areas.) Towards the end, you should practice under timed conditions (mine: 15min keyhole, 8min TFE, 7min angle, 5min holepunch, 5min cubecount, 15min pattern, remaining 5min: look over marked problems). Afterwards, I only practiced at least once a week or whenever I felt overloaded by destroyer. (Resources: Online, Barrons DAT book, Kaplan DAT blue book, Practice Tests)
B. Review biology by reading Cliffs Biology in its entirety (minus lab section) and take notes. I also read through MCAT biology examkrackers (I actually felt that it complimented Cliffs well, especially for human systems). Also, look online for information on microscopes (SEM, TEM, phase contrast).
C. Take Chads math quizzes and DAT destroyer math section to practice QR (focus on rates (d=rt), trig, unit conversion, systems of equations, geometry). Make a list of conversions and identities (1 kg = 454 oz., sin2x=2sinxcosx, etc.). Like PAT, practice at least once a week.
Week 2:
A. Complete Destroyer: biology, roadmaps, orgo, and genchem. (~4 days). Read each answer choice and the solutions carefully. You will feel like you are running headfirst into the battlefield, unarmed and naked. But, repetition is key and this would only be your first time going through it.
B. Review Gen and Orgo Chemistry: I read MCAT examkrackers and Kaplan for gen chem. Didn't read anything for orgo really. Only referenced things when I needed a refresher (like going from fischer projections to newman).
C. Take Chad's quizzes for gen chem, orgo, and biology: Get 100s! And no X's. Do them twice if you have to. It's more than possible to finish them in 1-2 days.
D: Take some practice tests and figure out a Reading Comp style (search & destroy or traditional read & answer)
Week 3:
A. Go through destroyer again. But, this time, take notes on small details especially for biology like drugs, genetic disorders, taxonomy, and epidermis.
B. Go through Chad's quizzes again. Zip through them now. Catch all the tricks.
C. Take 2009 test and other practice tests.
D. Reread Cliffs: especially obscure topics like plant bio, development, and taxonomy)
Test Impressions:
Overall: straightforward and simple multiple choice test made difficult because of the time limit
Biology: mostly straightforward; some obscure facts and inference questions (...which is why a second time through destroyer and Cliffs is essential. The 4-5 things I wrote down on my second time around were those exact obscure facts and inference q's)
General Chemistry: simpler than destroyer, much simpler than Chad; rounding for calculations is essential (meaning they give you numbers that work for rounding); few odd questions
Orgo: simpler than destroyer, similar to Chad but without as many tricks
PAT: pacing is important; a few crazy keyholes, straightforward pattern folding (I took too much time with keyholes and was rushing through the end but the simplicity of the pattern folding saved me!)
RC: a few inference, tone/mood, suggestion questions; luckily I had interesting passages
QR: simple but the time constraint makes it difficult; few oddballs (btw the 2009 test's QR is way more difficult than the real thing)
The following message is to ENCOURAGE you: At the end of the test, I actually felt I could have done better (minus PAT). Not because I am ridiculously smart or mean to brag. But, because I went into the test feeling fully prepared. I only had 2-3 science questions that I was stumped on. And not even because I was unfamiliar with the topic but because I skimmed over that information thinking it would be excessive. I also took too much time double checking my answers so I didn't have time to go over the few marked that I had. So, please remember, this is a timed test. Do things carefully and thoroughly from the start because checking each problem afterwards is way too time consuming. (I tutor SAT math so the QR score is really a shame for me).
Thanks! Good luck! I heart dental!
PA 23
QR 23
RC 23
Bio 24
GC 23
OC 27
TS 24
AA 24
Resources:
-DAT Destroyer
-Chads quizzes (I didn't buy the videos; but thats up to you, everyone here says they're great!)
-Cliffs Bio 3rd Ed.
-2009 DAT practice test (order the paper copy now!)
-2007 DAT practice test (available for free online)
-Barrons and Kaplan DAT books (optional)
-MCAT Examkrackers (optional, available for free on Scribd)
3 Week Timeline
Week 1:
A. Learn about and practice PAT: Figure out which are your strengths and weaknesses. (I found TFE pretty ridiculous in the beginning but realized later that it was one my easier areas.) Towards the end, you should practice under timed conditions (mine: 15min keyhole, 8min TFE, 7min angle, 5min holepunch, 5min cubecount, 15min pattern, remaining 5min: look over marked problems). Afterwards, I only practiced at least once a week or whenever I felt overloaded by destroyer. (Resources: Online, Barrons DAT book, Kaplan DAT blue book, Practice Tests)
B. Review biology by reading Cliffs Biology in its entirety (minus lab section) and take notes. I also read through MCAT biology examkrackers (I actually felt that it complimented Cliffs well, especially for human systems). Also, look online for information on microscopes (SEM, TEM, phase contrast).
C. Take Chads math quizzes and DAT destroyer math section to practice QR (focus on rates (d=rt), trig, unit conversion, systems of equations, geometry). Make a list of conversions and identities (1 kg = 454 oz., sin2x=2sinxcosx, etc.). Like PAT, practice at least once a week.
Week 2:
A. Complete Destroyer: biology, roadmaps, orgo, and genchem. (~4 days). Read each answer choice and the solutions carefully. You will feel like you are running headfirst into the battlefield, unarmed and naked. But, repetition is key and this would only be your first time going through it.
B. Review Gen and Orgo Chemistry: I read MCAT examkrackers and Kaplan for gen chem. Didn't read anything for orgo really. Only referenced things when I needed a refresher (like going from fischer projections to newman).
C. Take Chad's quizzes for gen chem, orgo, and biology: Get 100s! And no X's. Do them twice if you have to. It's more than possible to finish them in 1-2 days.
D: Take some practice tests and figure out a Reading Comp style (search & destroy or traditional read & answer)
Week 3:
A. Go through destroyer again. But, this time, take notes on small details especially for biology like drugs, genetic disorders, taxonomy, and epidermis.
B. Go through Chad's quizzes again. Zip through them now. Catch all the tricks.
C. Take 2009 test and other practice tests.
D. Reread Cliffs: especially obscure topics like plant bio, development, and taxonomy)
Test Impressions:
Overall: straightforward and simple multiple choice test made difficult because of the time limit
Biology: mostly straightforward; some obscure facts and inference questions (...which is why a second time through destroyer and Cliffs is essential. The 4-5 things I wrote down on my second time around were those exact obscure facts and inference q's)
General Chemistry: simpler than destroyer, much simpler than Chad; rounding for calculations is essential (meaning they give you numbers that work for rounding); few odd questions
Orgo: simpler than destroyer, similar to Chad but without as many tricks
PAT: pacing is important; a few crazy keyholes, straightforward pattern folding (I took too much time with keyholes and was rushing through the end but the simplicity of the pattern folding saved me!)
RC: a few inference, tone/mood, suggestion questions; luckily I had interesting passages
QR: simple but the time constraint makes it difficult; few oddballs (btw the 2009 test's QR is way more difficult than the real thing)
The following message is to ENCOURAGE you: At the end of the test, I actually felt I could have done better (minus PAT). Not because I am ridiculously smart or mean to brag. But, because I went into the test feeling fully prepared. I only had 2-3 science questions that I was stumped on. And not even because I was unfamiliar with the topic but because I skimmed over that information thinking it would be excessive. I also took too much time double checking my answers so I didn't have time to go over the few marked that I had. So, please remember, this is a timed test. Do things carefully and thoroughly from the start because checking each problem afterwards is way too time consuming. (I tutor SAT math so the QR score is really a shame for me).
Thanks! Good luck! I heart dental!
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