DAT Destroyer............

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NavyDDS1990

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Ok. So I just opened the first page of Destroyer for OC section.

I've studied not alot, but went through my notes two times to check up on the level of difficulty for the destroyer.

These problems are really scaring me off.

Is this level of difficulty any close to an actual test?

OC section in destroyer seems to be freaking hard as s***
 
I have yet to take the test (next Thursday) so I really can't offer any comparisons, but from my experience with the destroyer, and as well as everyone else's, don't be discouraged if you only get half right the first time through. I have read that the destroyer is overkill and really only to be used as a learning tool to nail the concepts. The first time I went through it I averaged about 50%. Now after writing down my wrong answers, going over them, reviewing notes and doing random sets of 30 problems I can pretty much do a string of 30 gen chem and orgo and miss maybe 3 each (no I didn't memorize the correct answers). The key though is to not get discouraged! If you do then just stop, take a short break and come back.

Why do you think it's called DAT Destroyer? Because it destroys you first time through.
 
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I used the destroyer and I didn't think it was too crazy but maybe because I was taking Ochem at the same time so everything was very fresh for me. The thing about the destroyer is that it will really test your knowledge and if you can master it, the DAT chem sections should be some of the more easier sections. Don't get too discouraged either if you arent getting the questions the first time through. My first time through the destroyer was slow but I went through all the problems and all of the explanations and the more I worked on it the easier it became. Also take time to practice those mental maps in the answer sections because memorizing those helped me.
 
Ok. So I just opened the first page of Destroyer for OC section.

I've studied not alot, but went through my notes two times to check up on the level of difficulty for the destroyer.

These problems are really scaring me off.

Is this level of difficulty any close to an actual test?

OC section in destroyer seems to be freaking hard as s***


I just took the DAT today and I can honestly say, the actual DAT is nowhere near as difficult as the destroyer. But I highly recommend that you be able to do the problems in destroyer so that come time for the DAT, you will find it to be a piece of cake.
 
thank you everyone.

And also, is it worth memorizing the road map on the back of destroyer?

Aren't those just reagents and products of reactions? what is so special about this road map?
 
I didn't go through the road maps. I printed Chad's summary of all reactions and reviewed them again and again. The reaction question in real DAT were fewer than I was expecting to. Chad's summary was enough for those according to my test.
 
Awesome work with the destroyer guys!
Here's how you use the book
1) keep a finger at answer choices in back of book
2) after you do a problem immediately go to the answer choices and see what you did wrong
3) use roadmaps
4) read explanations for everything.

I've been using this book for about 2 weeks and I've been told how to use this book from other dental students. So far I find this method the best.
 
It is a bit hard. However, anything can happen during the test. You can have a problem of any difficulty. The more you are prepared, the better.
 
Awesome work with the destroyer guys!
Here's how you use the book
1) keep a finger at answer choices in back of book
2) after you do a problem immediately go to the answer choices and see what you did wrong
3) use roadmaps
4) read explanations for everything.

I've been using this book for about 2 weeks and I've been told how to use this book from other dental students. So far I find this method the best.

I think this is a really good idea, so you instantly see your mistakes and learn not to make them. I wish I had done it this way, but I can't complain now. =P
 
thank you everyone.

And also, is it worth memorizing the road map on the back of destroyer?

Aren't those just reagents and products of reactions? what is so special about this road map?

if you know the reactions already then there is no need to memorize the roadmaps
 
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for the Destroyer, make sure you spend more time on the solutions. that's where the juice is
 
Use the destroyer to learn. I wouldn't use it as practice sections..:nailbiting:

Exactly. You should have a solid foundation in ochem though before you attempt Destroyer. The first time I went through it, I got about half the problems correct, but more important was the wealth of info available in the solutions which really benefited me. I kept two notebooks, one with my answers and one with solutions. Even when I answered a question correctly, I would make sure to review the solution and write down anything that was useful. Destroyer may have been overkill, but it made the real DAT seem easy by comparison.
 
Destroyer is king. The explanations in the answer choices help you learn a lot. Don't get discouraged the destroyer will help you destroy the DAT and knock that suckka out of the water
 
The road maps were pretty useless, I used chads and did most of destroyer after tose final score was 23 which is at the point where I would start focusing on the other sections.

Without memorizing road maps, I could just imagine remembering those things in the middle of the stress in the test seems a little reckless, but who knows to each their own.
 
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