Dat done 10/10

[xaznxcountx]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Just want to thank SDN first for all the help and advice given. I love this place!

Alright here are my scores and not too happy about them:

Bio: 19
GCHEM: 18
OCHEM: 19

TS: 19

PAT: 15 😡

RC: 18
QR: 16

AA: 18


Sciences:

Bio: First 3 questions were really random and I think from there on out it really slowed my performance down. I took so long on Bio I spent about 25 min on GCHEM and under 20 min on OCHEM. I seriously just sat there and thought for minutes about a question I couldn't really figure out...

So I never really took a full length tests and I gotta say I regret it because I never worked on my timing for CHEM calculations. I had to guess on at least 5 for GCHEM and 3 or 4 for OCHEM (not even trying to solve, just picking an answer).

GCHEM: Very straightforward, I kept getting calculations wrong so that slowed my timing down. I think if I had more time to solve the questions I would have been able to get at least a 20.

OCHEM: Most straightforward, I mean for me to get a 19 by flat out guessing on 3 or 4 shows it wasn't too bad. And the thing is the ones I guessed on I knew how to do but I felt like I needed to go back and try to figure out some Bio questions... I'm so mad that I didn't manage my time well...

After the sciences I had the mindset knowing I had to retake. I felt like leaving the center honestly. But I told myself to man up and finish up the test.

PAT: I personally felt it was easier than CDP but my scores say otherwise...

I was averaging about 18's on CDP so was at least hoping for a similar score, I must have chosen the wrong answer traps...

RC: Easy passages but I didn't really practice this section... Again I just wanted to get up and leave during the break. I'm pretty sure that type of mentality affected my performance.

QR: Happy with this score since I only used destroyer... Again timing...


I want to go ahead and say that timing is very important for the DAT... Man o man its a fast test and honestly I was shocked to how fast it was... I really thought as long as I could finish a section on time, I'd be straight. So personally I know that I can do a lot better if I get my timing down. I'm applying 2009 so I'll probably retake end of July or beginning of August after I send in my app. I took it early to get a feel for it and see how the test is. Although I'm not happy with my scores I'm glad I went through this experience.

Do you guys think my mentality of "I'm going to have to retake" greatly affected my performance for the rest of the test?"

And also for the retakers: does the 2nd time around come easier? Advice and feedback would be much appreciated! 🙂

 

[needa20]

im guessing you are applying in 2009 and trying to get in for 2010?

except for your pat score, 18aa and 19ts is not bad. i got 18/19/18 and have 2 interviews so far

 

[r8 dds]

I agree with you on how fast the test was. It didn't feel like 4.5 hours, rather, it felt more like 2.5! 🙄

The mentality "of knowing you had to retake" after the science section is something you shouldn't have had. Instead, you should've thought, "it might be better than you think" (which is true because you scored 18 and above on your science sections), then attacked the PAT, cleared your mind during the break, refocus, and then trucked forward with the RC and QR sections. So yes, I believe having that mindset was a mistake.

First time taking DAT? If it is, assuming you will retake it, I believe you can score higher next time around, now that you know what to work on. You learn from your mistakes! Good luck! 👍

 

[xaznxcountx]

Yeah it was my first time taking it... I had some really chill RC passages too. Something about oncogenes... Man I hope when I retake I don't get frapped or pianoed... But thanks for all the feedback really makes me feel better. I studied hard for this test, but studied wrong. So now I know what to focus on and hope to do much better. But yeah the Science I thought was the fastest. For PAT I CDP helped with timing, I actually had 2 min left over. And of course math, but I'm going to practice more. So yeah applying for the 2010 cycle. Thanks for feedback everyone.

 

[xaznxcountx]

O yeah and for when I retake, you think it would be a good idea to start with OCHEM and work backwords? I think someone on SDN did that and said it was helpful.

 

[ruomengd2000]

Keep your head up. You'll get'em next time.

 

[Dmitry Malayev]

O yeah and for when I retake, you think it would be a good idea to start with OCHEM and work backwords? I think someone on SDN did that and said it was helpful.

I don't think that's a good idea. You shouldn't have too much problem with timing on the Sciences. I had about 10min left once i finished the 100 science questions.

Bio and OChem go through fast, GChem is where most of my time was spent.

 

[r8 dds]

O yeah and for when I retake, you think it would be a good idea to start with OCHEM and work backwords? I think someone on SDN did that and said it was helpful.

One of my friends actually completed Bio section first, jumped and zoom through OCHEM, and saved GCHEM for last. Definitely worked out for him. 👍

I believe that's up to you, depending on what you feel more comfortable with. For me, I thought GCHEM took up more time than OCHEM. Regardless, I completed the sciences in order. 😎

 

[needa20]

personally, i would just do it in order. i would not waste anytime trying to skip around and accidently skip a question or two.

also it worked well for me because i knew ochem would be my best section, so i did not need much time to get through it. luckily, God helped me because i only had 18 mins left when i got to it

 

[khmaiDDS]

One of my friends actually completed Bio section first, jumped and zoom through OCHEM, and saved GCHEM for last. Definitely worked out for him. 👍

I believe that's up to you, depending on what you feel more comfortable with. For me, I thought GCHEM took up more time than OCHEM. Regardless, I completed the sciences in order. 😎

Yeah, I think your right on how comfortable you feel or what is the best way you should approach the test. I'm thinking about doing this too, skipping G-chem and doing it last. It seems, from all the practice tests, this is the section I spend the most time on. For one reason, I'm not too comfortable with it.

 

[DiscoBalls]

About saving Gchem for last....

I too took longer to do Gchem on practice tests (topscore and achiever). HOwever on the actual DAT, it is true what people say, that Gchem is largely conceptual. TS and achiever gchem require way more time consuming calculations than the actual DAT (at least the one I had)

 

[xaznxcountx]

Yeah thats true, for my version of GCHEM on the test, I would say it was about 60% concepts, and 40% calculations of some sort, whether they be quick or short. I'm retaking in July so I'm going to work really hard on getting my timing down.

Its funny, yesterday I was really upset, then today I woke up and felt really motivated to handle business again. The questions from the DAT aren't impossible IMO, its just you have to be able to answer them quickly and effectively in a timely manner, something I didn't do well. I cannot stress this to future test takers, if you think you did bad in one section, don't let it get to you. Keep plowing through the test, because honestly I was kinda almost like **** it, and I'm pretty sure it affected the rest of the exam for me. You live and you learn...

 

[khmaiDDS]

About saving Gchem for last....

I too took longer to do Gchem on practice tests (topscore and achiever). HOwever on the actual DAT, it is true what people say, that Gchem is largely conceptual. TS and achiever gchem require way more time consuming calculations than the actual DAT (at least the one I had)

Hey thanks man, I feel a little relieve that I'm not the only one struggling with those calculations.

 

[impeterle]

richie, wattup dude. i told you man.. full length practice tests! lol. it's all good though man, you've got plenty of time for a retake.