I am so freaking glad that's over.
PAT: 19
QR: 21
RC: 24
Bio: 19
GC: 21
OC: 21
TS: 21
AA: 21
I don't have the amazing scores some here do, but I'm pretty happy with the bulk of mine and definitely WON'T be retaking.
Section by section:
PAT: This is the one section I'm really not happy with. I have CDP and the first test I took I got a 20. I took tests 1-7 with scores 20, 21, 22, 23, 23, 24, 22. That 19 was like a slap in the face. But whatever. It's still a decent score and I'm sure as hell not going to retake because of it, I just expected it to be my strongest section and it wasn't even close.
______
QR: I didn't study much for this and it kind of showed. I did the ADA 2007 practice exam and made a few flash cards and that was really it. I think I could've done better if I'd studied more but I think a 21 is fine. The questions were mostly really easy, with a few medium and then maybe 6 or 7 that I found difficult. If you're good at math you should be okay here, it's really no different from the SAT or ACT.
Prep materials: 2007 ADA Exam, Chad's review sheets (they were free when I downloaded them, though, and I don't think they are anymore)
______
RC: I was scared to death for this section because I didn't study at all. No practice tests, no nothing. But I'm naturally good at this kind of thing (I got 800s on both Writing and CR on the SAT without studying, so there's that) (yes I am the person who still brags about their high school accomplishments, thanks) and I'm glad I didn't waste my time. My readings were actually all interesting. Two were easy to make it through and one was really technical but taking notes on each paragraph helped. I finished with 10 minutes left and spent it prepping for QR.
I wouldn't recommend SND. I went into the exam knowing it was an option but was glad I didn't use it. I think carefully reading the passage, taking notes if it's a highly technical passage, and then answering the questions is the way to go.
Prep materials: None.
______
Bio: I was on here last week and someone mentioned having a bio section that they found "shocking" or something. They mentioned a radiography question that made their jaw drop. I suspected I had the "shocking" test and when I hit the radiography question I knew. This was SO hard. 10x more random than anything I could've expected. I honestly think I could've studied for another week for bio alone and still done about the same, because the questions I missed were focused on details that were so beyond the scope of what I studied that it was ridiculous. I wish I could tell you some of the questions because you would not even believe some of what was asked. There was also one about genetics that I'm 90% sure (as a genetics major) didn't have a right answer listed. Anyway, I was thrilled with the 19 considering how hard a lot of the questions were. During the break I was freaking out thinking I'd gotten like, a 16 and would have to retake.
Prep materials: Cliff's, some Schaum's, some Campbell's for physiology (wasn't worth the time spent reading, honestly), about 200 questions from Destroyer, 2007 ADA exam
______
O Chem and Gen Chem: Lumping these together because I thought they were comparable and used the same study methods for both. Chad is what you need. Seriously. I thought he had to be overhyped based on the glowing reviews here but he's worth every penny. I watched all the videos once, taking notes, and then made about 300 flash cards (220 o chem, 80 gen chem) reviewing reactions and important concepts. I did some Destroyer as well. I don't remember these sections of the test all that well (they flew by really fast) but they seemed more conceptual than the practice tests I'd seen. Make sure you know your periodic trends.
It might mean more if you know that I had to drop o chem II last semester because I was getting a D with one test left. I am not a chemistry person at all. It just doesn't click with me. Chad is amazing. The things I didn't understand AT ALL from class were immediately clear when he explained them.
Prep materials: Chad, most of Destroyer (1/2 gen chem, 3/4 o chem), 2007 ADA exam
______
Overall: I thought it was interesting that my AA of 21 was in the 97th percentile according to my print-out. I know I've read on here than a 21 AA is closer to 92-93, so I wonder if it was just my test or if the ADA is changing how they score somewhat. Regardless, I'm happy with my scores. I have a 3.90 overall and a 3.75 science GPA (as a rising junior; I'm applying next cycle), decent ECs, and now a pretty strong DAT. I know I don't have the amazing scores people tend to post here, but, well, whatever, some of them are fake anyway. Kidding. Sort of. I realize that the people who come post their scores on the internet are generally the ones who have something to brag about, so I take my SDN with a heaping tablespoon of salt.
Good luck to anyone studying! You can do it! 🙂
PAT: 19
QR: 21
RC: 24
Bio: 19
GC: 21
OC: 21
TS: 21
AA: 21
I don't have the amazing scores some here do, but I'm pretty happy with the bulk of mine and definitely WON'T be retaking.
Section by section:
PAT: This is the one section I'm really not happy with. I have CDP and the first test I took I got a 20. I took tests 1-7 with scores 20, 21, 22, 23, 23, 24, 22. That 19 was like a slap in the face. But whatever. It's still a decent score and I'm sure as hell not going to retake because of it, I just expected it to be my strongest section and it wasn't even close.
______
QR: I didn't study much for this and it kind of showed. I did the ADA 2007 practice exam and made a few flash cards and that was really it. I think I could've done better if I'd studied more but I think a 21 is fine. The questions were mostly really easy, with a few medium and then maybe 6 or 7 that I found difficult. If you're good at math you should be okay here, it's really no different from the SAT or ACT.
Prep materials: 2007 ADA Exam, Chad's review sheets (they were free when I downloaded them, though, and I don't think they are anymore)
______
RC: I was scared to death for this section because I didn't study at all. No practice tests, no nothing. But I'm naturally good at this kind of thing (I got 800s on both Writing and CR on the SAT without studying, so there's that) (yes I am the person who still brags about their high school accomplishments, thanks) and I'm glad I didn't waste my time. My readings were actually all interesting. Two were easy to make it through and one was really technical but taking notes on each paragraph helped. I finished with 10 minutes left and spent it prepping for QR.
I wouldn't recommend SND. I went into the exam knowing it was an option but was glad I didn't use it. I think carefully reading the passage, taking notes if it's a highly technical passage, and then answering the questions is the way to go.
Prep materials: None.
______
Bio: I was on here last week and someone mentioned having a bio section that they found "shocking" or something. They mentioned a radiography question that made their jaw drop. I suspected I had the "shocking" test and when I hit the radiography question I knew. This was SO hard. 10x more random than anything I could've expected. I honestly think I could've studied for another week for bio alone and still done about the same, because the questions I missed were focused on details that were so beyond the scope of what I studied that it was ridiculous. I wish I could tell you some of the questions because you would not even believe some of what was asked. There was also one about genetics that I'm 90% sure (as a genetics major) didn't have a right answer listed. Anyway, I was thrilled with the 19 considering how hard a lot of the questions were. During the break I was freaking out thinking I'd gotten like, a 16 and would have to retake.
Prep materials: Cliff's, some Schaum's, some Campbell's for physiology (wasn't worth the time spent reading, honestly), about 200 questions from Destroyer, 2007 ADA exam
______
O Chem and Gen Chem: Lumping these together because I thought they were comparable and used the same study methods for both. Chad is what you need. Seriously. I thought he had to be overhyped based on the glowing reviews here but he's worth every penny. I watched all the videos once, taking notes, and then made about 300 flash cards (220 o chem, 80 gen chem) reviewing reactions and important concepts. I did some Destroyer as well. I don't remember these sections of the test all that well (they flew by really fast) but they seemed more conceptual than the practice tests I'd seen. Make sure you know your periodic trends.
It might mean more if you know that I had to drop o chem II last semester because I was getting a D with one test left. I am not a chemistry person at all. It just doesn't click with me. Chad is amazing. The things I didn't understand AT ALL from class were immediately clear when he explained them.
Prep materials: Chad, most of Destroyer (1/2 gen chem, 3/4 o chem), 2007 ADA exam
______
Overall: I thought it was interesting that my AA of 21 was in the 97th percentile according to my print-out. I know I've read on here than a 21 AA is closer to 92-93, so I wonder if it was just my test or if the ADA is changing how they score somewhat. Regardless, I'm happy with my scores. I have a 3.90 overall and a 3.75 science GPA (as a rising junior; I'm applying next cycle), decent ECs, and now a pretty strong DAT. I know I don't have the amazing scores people tend to post here, but, well, whatever, some of them are fake anyway. Kidding. Sort of. I realize that the people who come post their scores on the internet are generally the ones who have something to brag about, so I take my SDN with a heaping tablespoon of salt.
Good luck to anyone studying! You can do it! 🙂
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