- Joined
- Mar 25, 2010
- Messages
- 47
- Reaction score
- 1
So this is my first post here,
I just finished my DAT, and have to say I am somewhat satisfied considering this is the first time I took it.
Biology -->24 (98.7)
G-Chem ->26 (98.4)
O-Chem ->24 (95.2)
PAT ------>19 🙁
QR ------->18 🙁^2
RC ------->20
Total Science -> 25 (99.6)
Academic Avg -> 22 (96.4)
I can answer questions about what I did, how I studied etc, so ask me any questions you may have. Meanwhile, here is a list of resources that I used.
Biology:
1. Kaplan (course+blue book)
So this was my foundation in all of the sciences. I have to say the class was a rather waste of time and money, but I would be a bit biased based on the fact that I took the class last summer, and really didn't follow the class too well. Overall I would give the blue book a 8/10. Anyone who wants a nice foundation on which they can build their knowledge for the sciences should look into getting the blue book.
2. Cliff's AP Bio
While the blue book was a great foundation, it is by far not a complete guide to what you can be tested on in the biology section. For those of you who want to do well on the biology section, and hate the most commonly given advice in these forums which is to read the campbell's bio book, get Cliff's AP Bio. It is a very very very good book, that gives just the right amount of detail that you may be held responsible for. Do note however, Cliff's AP bio is not a good source for the ecology section of the bio. I personally felt that Kaplan's blue book was a much better resource for evolution and ecology.
3. MCAT Audio Osmosis (EXTREMELY OPTIONAL)
So I happen to have a sister who took the MCAT, and as a result I had access to this resource, which is just basically a lot of the bio in audio files. I burned these to a disk and had them playing in my car, which in effect meant I was studying even when I was driving to school. If you can somehow get your hands on this, this is a very good resource to add to your DAT regimen
Gen Chem:
1. Kaplan Blue Book
I can swear by Kaplan's G-Chem stuff! It is a great, great source of what you should review (and know by heart), prior to stepping foot near Prometric testing centers. I cant really say more, because I was really strong in general chemistry back when I took it, so people who don't feel strong in G-chem are better off using multiple resources for this.
O Chem:
1. Kaplan Blue Book
The blue book does for o-chem what it does for bio. It is simply a great foundation, yet not enough by itself to get you over the top. I supplemented my O-chem studies with a 200lb box of notes that I saved back from when I took the course. O-chem is really a know it subject, and I recommend really learning the material rather than merely memorizing reactions as what goes where. Overall, O-chem was my easiest part of the exam, or so I thought.
Quizzes, Questions Etc...
1. Topscore
I thought This was a good set of tests. Although the material is not at the top of spectrum as far as difficulty, it is a great resource because it provides full length exams, which are vital to one's preparations. Overall, I believe the actual DAT was much harder than Topscore, in the sciences at least. Score wise however, it is a good approximation of where you stand.
2. DAT Destroyer
Alright I am a bit mixed on this one. It is a great supplement to whatever you are using to study, because it provides some 700 questions that have well explained answers. I probably went over this about 3 times, and on the 3rd time made a sheet with all the things I still had problems with. That was the good, and now for the bad: 1. A bit of a road kill in the bio section --> for my actual exam I saw alot more concept questions that were really much simpler, yet I overlooked because I was more infatuated with the "excessive details" that were in the destroyer as well as Cliff's AP. As for O-chem and G-chem I think the destroyer is a must. Especially for G-chem, I thought the destroyer was well worth the price. It is a bit of a road kill as far as the calculations, but again, everything is fair game for the DAT. For O-chem, I thought the destroyer helped me see some things a lot more clearly. The road maps are a great resource for o-chem as well. The worst part about the Destroyer? the QR section is too water'd down. do not rely on the destroyer for QR, the actual QR is MUCH HARDER! So is the Destroyer worth its hefty price tag? I would say yes. However, if you are pressed on money, I would get every other thing in this list first, and the destroyer only if you have more money to spend.
3. DAT Achiever
Again, a set of 3 tests that I took, mainly to improve my timing on the actual exam. The questions are not as hard as people are making it out to be. Infact,I thought the difficulty of the DAT was on par with these exams. The one big difference however, was the scores I was getting in the achiever compared to what I got on the actual test.
4. A series of Kaplan section tests
These were multiple sets of questions on different subjects for bio,chemistry, and QR. Overall not that great of a resrouce.
5. Crack DAT
I actually purchased the package that gave me 10 PAT tests along with 5 Complete science tests, 5 RC, and 10 QR, a package that cost me $290. DONT BUY THAT PACKAGE! The science tests on this are absurd, infatuated with details that you have never learned and don't need to learn, and simply a huge waste of money. What wasnt a waste of money? the PAT tests for CDP are priceless. they are on par with what you should be able to handle come test day. If you want to do better in PAT, BUY CDP! the more tests the merrier!
6. ADA Practice test
Dont bother with this. The sample questions are too easy. Enough said...
I can write more but I am a bit tired, so I will just wait for questions, and answer them when I can. Good luck to all.
-------
UPDATE::
Some of the material that I used to prepare are listed for sale at the link below 🙂
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=731843
-------
I just finished my DAT, and have to say I am somewhat satisfied considering this is the first time I took it.
Biology -->24 (98.7)
G-Chem ->26 (98.4)
O-Chem ->24 (95.2)
PAT ------>19 🙁
QR ------->18 🙁^2
RC ------->20
Total Science -> 25 (99.6)
Academic Avg -> 22 (96.4)
I can answer questions about what I did, how I studied etc, so ask me any questions you may have. Meanwhile, here is a list of resources that I used.
Biology:
1. Kaplan (course+blue book)
So this was my foundation in all of the sciences. I have to say the class was a rather waste of time and money, but I would be a bit biased based on the fact that I took the class last summer, and really didn't follow the class too well. Overall I would give the blue book a 8/10. Anyone who wants a nice foundation on which they can build their knowledge for the sciences should look into getting the blue book.
2. Cliff's AP Bio
While the blue book was a great foundation, it is by far not a complete guide to what you can be tested on in the biology section. For those of you who want to do well on the biology section, and hate the most commonly given advice in these forums which is to read the campbell's bio book, get Cliff's AP Bio. It is a very very very good book, that gives just the right amount of detail that you may be held responsible for. Do note however, Cliff's AP bio is not a good source for the ecology section of the bio. I personally felt that Kaplan's blue book was a much better resource for evolution and ecology.
3. MCAT Audio Osmosis (EXTREMELY OPTIONAL)
So I happen to have a sister who took the MCAT, and as a result I had access to this resource, which is just basically a lot of the bio in audio files. I burned these to a disk and had them playing in my car, which in effect meant I was studying even when I was driving to school. If you can somehow get your hands on this, this is a very good resource to add to your DAT regimen
Gen Chem:
1. Kaplan Blue Book
I can swear by Kaplan's G-Chem stuff! It is a great, great source of what you should review (and know by heart), prior to stepping foot near Prometric testing centers. I cant really say more, because I was really strong in general chemistry back when I took it, so people who don't feel strong in G-chem are better off using multiple resources for this.
O Chem:
1. Kaplan Blue Book
The blue book does for o-chem what it does for bio. It is simply a great foundation, yet not enough by itself to get you over the top. I supplemented my O-chem studies with a 200lb box of notes that I saved back from when I took the course. O-chem is really a know it subject, and I recommend really learning the material rather than merely memorizing reactions as what goes where. Overall, O-chem was my easiest part of the exam, or so I thought.
Quizzes, Questions Etc...
1. Topscore
I thought This was a good set of tests. Although the material is not at the top of spectrum as far as difficulty, it is a great resource because it provides full length exams, which are vital to one's preparations. Overall, I believe the actual DAT was much harder than Topscore, in the sciences at least. Score wise however, it is a good approximation of where you stand.
2. DAT Destroyer
Alright I am a bit mixed on this one. It is a great supplement to whatever you are using to study, because it provides some 700 questions that have well explained answers. I probably went over this about 3 times, and on the 3rd time made a sheet with all the things I still had problems with. That was the good, and now for the bad: 1. A bit of a road kill in the bio section --> for my actual exam I saw alot more concept questions that were really much simpler, yet I overlooked because I was more infatuated with the "excessive details" that were in the destroyer as well as Cliff's AP. As for O-chem and G-chem I think the destroyer is a must. Especially for G-chem, I thought the destroyer was well worth the price. It is a bit of a road kill as far as the calculations, but again, everything is fair game for the DAT. For O-chem, I thought the destroyer helped me see some things a lot more clearly. The road maps are a great resource for o-chem as well. The worst part about the Destroyer? the QR section is too water'd down. do not rely on the destroyer for QR, the actual QR is MUCH HARDER! So is the Destroyer worth its hefty price tag? I would say yes. However, if you are pressed on money, I would get every other thing in this list first, and the destroyer only if you have more money to spend.
3. DAT Achiever
Again, a set of 3 tests that I took, mainly to improve my timing on the actual exam. The questions are not as hard as people are making it out to be. Infact,I thought the difficulty of the DAT was on par with these exams. The one big difference however, was the scores I was getting in the achiever compared to what I got on the actual test.
4. A series of Kaplan section tests
These were multiple sets of questions on different subjects for bio,chemistry, and QR. Overall not that great of a resrouce.
5. Crack DAT
I actually purchased the package that gave me 10 PAT tests along with 5 Complete science tests, 5 RC, and 10 QR, a package that cost me $290. DONT BUY THAT PACKAGE! The science tests on this are absurd, infatuated with details that you have never learned and don't need to learn, and simply a huge waste of money. What wasnt a waste of money? the PAT tests for CDP are priceless. they are on par with what you should be able to handle come test day. If you want to do better in PAT, BUY CDP! the more tests the merrier!
6. ADA Practice test
Dont bother with this. The sample questions are too easy. Enough said...
I can write more but I am a bit tired, so I will just wait for questions, and answer them when I can. Good luck to all.
-------
UPDATE::
Some of the material that I used to prepare are listed for sale at the link below 🙂
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=731843
-------
Last edited:
