Hey guys,
I studied for approximately 2.5 months and i used a range of sources.
PAT: If you dont already have this, i would recommend spending the money on Crack Dat PAT(10 tests). This software prepares you very very well. When i started practicing with these tests, i was averaging about 15-16. I worked on it consistently almost every day for about 45 min. and i was a lot was able to pick up my scores to 25-26. On the real DAT, the keyholes were quite similar to cdp. Hole punching was much easier, angles were a little easier, cube counting were very doable based on practice from cdp, and pattern folding i thought was on par. I was hoping for a higher score on the my dat for this section especially b/c i've working on it for a while. Overall, cdp can get u that high score
BS: I used kbb, mcat hyperlearning for biological sciences(VERY HELPFUL), and i read some chapters from kaplan AP BIO. Also, I had just taken a physiology course last qtr. that saved me a lot of time studying. I think kbb is a good review to outline and get your framework, but the mcat hyperlearning TB was a good gap filler. Destroyer bio was much more detailed real DAT. I also took the subject tests that kaplan offers through their course.
GC: I read kbb for this subject, but i learned most of the concepts through questions from Destroyer and topscore questions. Dont know what else to say except that you should NOT fret. I know i could have done a lot better on the real test if i just practiced more. PRACTICE QUESTIONS!!! From my experience, reading textbooks did not help me much for this section.
OC: DESTROYER is amazing in its depth. I know the questions are hard, but dont worry about how much u get wrong. Just learn from these questions as much as u can and u will be fine. I used Chad's videos for help on understanding acidic/basic compounds. He does a good job of explaining it. Did not use much of his videos except for those topics. The real DAT is quite basic so understand the big picture concepts and u should be set.
RC: didn't prepare at all for this section except read a couple of science journal articles everyday.
QR: Math destroyer was good practice. i would recommend using this.
Overall i think the real dat was not such a big obstacle. Dont build it up to be insurmountable. Its definitely possible to do well.
Practice tests,
BIO/PAT/GC/OC/QR/RC
Kaplant test 1: 23/22/17/16/19/18
test 2: 25/23/19/17/20/19
topscore: 25/(DIDN'T BOTHER)/23/24/20/17
23/(didn't bother)/23/19/21/18
I really think u should practice the g-chem questions on topscore. They are very good!!
Hope this helps
