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So after 8 weeks of studying, I can finally post my own breakdown! First of all, I would like to thank SDN, Glimmer, and Ari for showing me all the different breakdowns and resources to use. Without you guys, I would have probably spent $1000s on Kaplan test prep.
***Hey Ari, thanks for the message the week before my DAT on how to conquer the RC section. That little gesture helped a lot.
*** Feralis, even though I did not have a chance of reading your highly prized notes, I appreciate all the times you replied to my bio questions.
Also, thanks for everybody who answered my pesky little questions I cannot state enough how valuable of a resource SDN has been, so from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU ALL!!! So lets get started with this breakdown:
PAT - 23
RC - 21
QR - 23
BIO - 25
CH - 28
OC - 26
TS - 26
AA - 25
Background: Finished all the chem/ochem classes + labs. Bio I/II; Developmental Bio; Cell/Molecular Bio; and Biochemistry.
PAT: 23 (Guess the curve was friendly haha)
CDP (10 Test version): 8/10
First 5 untimed: 27/25/26/27/29 **Understand that I took approximately 2-3 hours for each test, so no s**t these scores were high haha.
Last 5 timed: 21/21/20/24/22
Bootcamp (5 Tests): 9/10
21/24/21/20/20
ATTENTION: I HEARD BOOTCAMP CAME OUT WITH 10 PRACTICE TESTS NOW. DITCH CDP and go straight to bootcamp. ITS CHEAPER AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE.
Keyholes: Rocks!!! I read the previous breakdowns where people talked about rocks, and just didn't believe it. While reading the breakdowns, my ego told me they didn't study enough, blah blah blah. Boy, was I wrong. The first couple questions were just impossible with the time constraint. When my nerves slowly calmed down, the rest of this section was normal, and easier than bootcamp.
****Very Important: Bootcamp is VERRRY ACCURATE about their proportions. The DAT is NOT so nice. Also Bootcamp keyholes are too hard and too picky about proportions with keyholes. Every Bootcamp PAT test I took, I missed about 10-12/15 every time. Yeah 10-12. I could swear that some of the answers on the real DAT did not have proper proportions. So, all I am saying don't get too comfortable with bootcamp.
TFE: Just practice. Trust me, one day it will click. It took me 6 practice tests for it too click. With enough practice problems, you will eventually get the hang of it. This is one of the sections were process of elimination is very important. On the DAT, on every question I could eliminate two answers immediately. I know other people might say otherwise, but do not try to visualize the 3D shape. If you are normal person like me, it is very hard to visualize the 3D shapes under the time constraints. Find a specific area to focus on, and just work from there. By all means, with enough practice there will be some questions were you can visualize the 3D image immediately. However, some questions especially on Bootcamp, there is no way to visualize the 3D image. In my opinion, this is where bootcamp excels at and helps you solve those hard TFE questions that may show up on the DAT.
If anyone was wondering, line counting worked only on one of my questions today.
ANGLE RANKING: Yeah...Search on SDN and find your own technique. There are plenty of them. Just find one that suits you the best. In my opinion harder than CDP and Bootcamp. CDP is harder than bootcamp, but once you do enough tests, there is a pattern on CDP that you will figure out and angle ranking becomes useless on CDP. Bootcamp angles were too easy especially their angle ranking generators.
*** The most accurate representation for angles are the 2007 and 2009 tests. If you can do those, you are set. Also, don't spend too much time on this section. Its just stupid to spend a lot of time differentiating between 2-3 degree differences. Go with your gut!
Hole Punching: Bootcamp>CDP just because bootcamp has 1/3 folds and inward folds. However, for my version of the test, the hole punching had so many complex folds, inward folds, and 1/3 hole punches that I didn't even know a paper could possibly fold this way. Unfortunately, while others say CDP and Bootcamp are harder, I thought they were much easier. Maybe just had bad luck with this section.
Cube counting: First easiest part of the test. CDP has too many cubes and illusions. If you could do those, than nothing can stop you from getting 15/15 on this sections. Bootcamp does a nice job as well. Just set up your tables as usual and do the kaplan tally method.
Pattern Folding: CDP focuses on shading too much and I personally think its outdated especially on this section of the PAT. Bootcamp is VERY VERY accurate for this part of the section. On the real DAT, I had only about 5 questions focusing on shading, the rest were shapes. READ THROUGH BOOTCAMP EXPLANATIONS VERY CAREFULLY!!! These are perhaps worth bootcamps subscription alone.
RC: 21! While others may not be impressed with a 21, I will take this in a heartbeat. During the test, I was honestly praying just for an 18. My passages were about prions, genetic diseases, and fiber optic cables. I don't know if I'm allowed to talk more about the passages, but I had a lot of "this statement is true...." just as many as Bootcamps RC tests.
My method for RC, thanks to Ari: Just read the first couple of questions, read the entire passage and then answer the questions. Search and Destroy is too risky for me, and thank goodness I did not use this or I would have been screwed on the prions passage.
Bootcamp RC: 10/10
19/17/19/21/21
QR: 23
DAT DESTROYER: 7/10 Too easy
MATH DESTROYER: 11/10 Do the first 10 tests. Test 11, 12 are ridiculously too hard and just a waste of time.
Bootcamp 5/10: Bootcamp is way too hard on this section. Just avoid this. I know Ari says he designed this to be harder than the test, but I don't think this is as useful as the other sections on bootcamp.
No p value questions if anyone was wondering and USE BOOTCAMPS MARK and MOVE ON TECHNIQUE.
Had about 12 minutes left over and just reviewed the ones I marked.
BIOLOGY: 25
Cliffnotes: 11/10 Everything you need period.
Barrons 11/10 Great graphs and visual explanations.
Kaplan 10/10 (Very underrated: There are certain stuff that is left out of cliff notes EAR/EYES/BONE and their endocrine section is golden)
Feralis (Stopped after the first few pages (Didn't have enough time): Too detailed and will only stress you out. If you could memorize all of these notes, kudos to you. I think this outline only benefits Feralis only. He/She made these notes specifically for his/herself.) If you still want to use these notes, maybe and only maybe it may behoove you to read the physiology section.
Bozeman/Crash Course/ Khan Academy Youtube videos 11/10
Wikipedia 10/10
DAT Destroyer 10/10 Great for those details; in fact couple questions came straight from the destroyer.
DATQVAULT 8/10 Too detailed in hindsight. The questions are worded a little differently than the real DAT.
27/21/19/25/22/22/22/27/22/21
DAT BOOTCAMP 10/10 Best wording that is comparable to the DAT
28/25/26/22/23
MYTH about reading CH 18 - 21 on campbells: I tried to read the first couple pages and told myself there are better ways to utilize your time. Do not read this. All you need is to read and understand this about genetic technologies:
http://datbootcamp.com/blog/must-know-genetic-technologies-for-the-dat/
I also heard of people claiming that they read the entire campbells when studying for this test: Hahaha I call bul***t.
The real DAT: I think my nerves made me mark about 10-12 of these questions. The questions were really basic and if you read cliff notes faithfully, their is no reason to get a 20+ on this section. While other people say there are random questions, I didn't think so. Again remember each test is different, and everybody has a different biology background with their own weaknesses. So my weak point in genetic technologies may be a strong point for someone else. Also, I did not take physiology or anatomy, and did perfectly fine. After reading Glimmer's breakdown, she was totally right: Cliffs is all you need. I cannot state this enough: Breadth over depth. Just some quick tips: Use Craig Savage videos about biodiversity, they really help. DATqvaults charts on biodiversity are on point. Know all the hormones and their functions. Also, if you have time: re-read the first 7 or 8 chapters on Cliffs. I think these are the high yield topics on the DAT. My bio section had at least a question from each of the chapters in cliffs: including animal behavior and ecology.
GC: 28/ OC: 26
Chads 10/10: Do I even have to explain?
Kaplan 10/10: Supplement with Chad's; just to be safe
Destroyer 10/10: Its not overkill, it prepares you very well for the test. Power through and you won't regret it.
DAT Bootcamp: 10/10
GC: 25/22/26/23/20
OC: 24/26/22/29/24
Real DAT: Basic, just do the usual stuff that has been said over and over again on every breakdown and you will be fine for this test. Bootcamp does a very good job on this section; especially on the lab techniques. No nernst equation if anyone is wondering.
For the ochem test: Know the lab technique questions such as extractions and NMR stuff as usual. Reactions were pretty much basic SN1/E2, grignard, etc. While most people say the destroyer reactions are too much, I was fortunate that my ochem teacher drilled us on memorizing all the mechanisms on destroyer. Also MAKE SURE TO READ CHEMICAL LAB TESTS FOR ALKANES/ALCOHOLS/etc. They will show up on your test.
2007 Test: Too easy compared to the DAT Got a 30 on TS portions. Seriously, how easy was it to become a dentist in 2007 hahaha.
PAT: 25
QR/RC: Didn't do
2009: I heard there were too many errors, so I just leisurely did it checking every 10 questions. I don't think I missed that many.
PAT: I think I got a 22 or 23, don't remember.
QR/RC: Didn't do.
Final Tips: Drink milk before the test, not water or you will have to pee!!! A surgeon I used to shadow told me this, and wow this actually works, try it.
Just my ritual before every test I take: 30 minutes before the test: I eat a whole snicker bar.
Its important to get pumped up for this test: Right before any test I take, I play The Man By Aloe Blacc since this song came out. I have a other songs that are part of my superstitious rituals.
Also, once you are done with the SNS portion, forget about it. The more you worry about the past will only hinder your ability from destroying the PAT section and other sections of the DAT.
If I had to do it all over again: I would focus more on PAT/QR/RC/ than bio. I also wished I bought bootcamp earlier (I did all their practice test the week before my DAT).
Lastly, I promise anyone can achieve these scores. I am in no way a super genius. Just look at my previous posts: Sometimes I ask some of the dumbest questions haha. Just make sure to utilize your study time effectively.
I'm not saying you have to make sacrifices, but I did not have a social life for the past 8 weeks while studying for this test. I did not drink with friends, play golf/basketball (except for NBA playoff games), watch any movies, or even watch my favorite TV Shows (Suits or 24). You do not need to make these drastic changes. Heck, Glimmer didn't and she got better scores than me haha.
***Hey Ari, thanks for the message the week before my DAT on how to conquer the RC section. That little gesture helped a lot.
*** Feralis, even though I did not have a chance of reading your highly prized notes, I appreciate all the times you replied to my bio questions.
Also, thanks for everybody who answered my pesky little questions I cannot state enough how valuable of a resource SDN has been, so from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU ALL!!! So lets get started with this breakdown:
PAT - 23
RC - 21
QR - 23
BIO - 25
CH - 28
OC - 26
TS - 26
AA - 25
Background: Finished all the chem/ochem classes + labs. Bio I/II; Developmental Bio; Cell/Molecular Bio; and Biochemistry.
PAT: 23 (Guess the curve was friendly haha)
CDP (10 Test version): 8/10
First 5 untimed: 27/25/26/27/29 **Understand that I took approximately 2-3 hours for each test, so no s**t these scores were high haha.
Last 5 timed: 21/21/20/24/22
Bootcamp (5 Tests): 9/10
21/24/21/20/20
ATTENTION: I HEARD BOOTCAMP CAME OUT WITH 10 PRACTICE TESTS NOW. DITCH CDP and go straight to bootcamp. ITS CHEAPER AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE.
Keyholes: Rocks!!! I read the previous breakdowns where people talked about rocks, and just didn't believe it. While reading the breakdowns, my ego told me they didn't study enough, blah blah blah. Boy, was I wrong. The first couple questions were just impossible with the time constraint. When my nerves slowly calmed down, the rest of this section was normal, and easier than bootcamp.
****Very Important: Bootcamp is VERRRY ACCURATE about their proportions. The DAT is NOT so nice. Also Bootcamp keyholes are too hard and too picky about proportions with keyholes. Every Bootcamp PAT test I took, I missed about 10-12/15 every time. Yeah 10-12. I could swear that some of the answers on the real DAT did not have proper proportions. So, all I am saying don't get too comfortable with bootcamp.
TFE: Just practice. Trust me, one day it will click. It took me 6 practice tests for it too click. With enough practice problems, you will eventually get the hang of it. This is one of the sections were process of elimination is very important. On the DAT, on every question I could eliminate two answers immediately. I know other people might say otherwise, but do not try to visualize the 3D shape. If you are normal person like me, it is very hard to visualize the 3D shapes under the time constraints. Find a specific area to focus on, and just work from there. By all means, with enough practice there will be some questions were you can visualize the 3D image immediately. However, some questions especially on Bootcamp, there is no way to visualize the 3D image. In my opinion, this is where bootcamp excels at and helps you solve those hard TFE questions that may show up on the DAT.
If anyone was wondering, line counting worked only on one of my questions today.
ANGLE RANKING: Yeah...Search on SDN and find your own technique. There are plenty of them. Just find one that suits you the best. In my opinion harder than CDP and Bootcamp. CDP is harder than bootcamp, but once you do enough tests, there is a pattern on CDP that you will figure out and angle ranking becomes useless on CDP. Bootcamp angles were too easy especially their angle ranking generators.
*** The most accurate representation for angles are the 2007 and 2009 tests. If you can do those, you are set. Also, don't spend too much time on this section. Its just stupid to spend a lot of time differentiating between 2-3 degree differences. Go with your gut!
Hole Punching: Bootcamp>CDP just because bootcamp has 1/3 folds and inward folds. However, for my version of the test, the hole punching had so many complex folds, inward folds, and 1/3 hole punches that I didn't even know a paper could possibly fold this way. Unfortunately, while others say CDP and Bootcamp are harder, I thought they were much easier. Maybe just had bad luck with this section.
Cube counting: First easiest part of the test. CDP has too many cubes and illusions. If you could do those, than nothing can stop you from getting 15/15 on this sections. Bootcamp does a nice job as well. Just set up your tables as usual and do the kaplan tally method.
Pattern Folding: CDP focuses on shading too much and I personally think its outdated especially on this section of the PAT. Bootcamp is VERY VERY accurate for this part of the section. On the real DAT, I had only about 5 questions focusing on shading, the rest were shapes. READ THROUGH BOOTCAMP EXPLANATIONS VERY CAREFULLY!!! These are perhaps worth bootcamps subscription alone.
RC: 21! While others may not be impressed with a 21, I will take this in a heartbeat. During the test, I was honestly praying just for an 18. My passages were about prions, genetic diseases, and fiber optic cables. I don't know if I'm allowed to talk more about the passages, but I had a lot of "this statement is true...." just as many as Bootcamps RC tests.
My method for RC, thanks to Ari: Just read the first couple of questions, read the entire passage and then answer the questions. Search and Destroy is too risky for me, and thank goodness I did not use this or I would have been screwed on the prions passage.
Bootcamp RC: 10/10
19/17/19/21/21
QR: 23
DAT DESTROYER: 7/10 Too easy
MATH DESTROYER: 11/10 Do the first 10 tests. Test 11, 12 are ridiculously too hard and just a waste of time.
Bootcamp 5/10: Bootcamp is way too hard on this section. Just avoid this. I know Ari says he designed this to be harder than the test, but I don't think this is as useful as the other sections on bootcamp.
No p value questions if anyone was wondering and USE BOOTCAMPS MARK and MOVE ON TECHNIQUE.
Had about 12 minutes left over and just reviewed the ones I marked.
BIOLOGY: 25
Cliffnotes: 11/10 Everything you need period.
Barrons 11/10 Great graphs and visual explanations.
Kaplan 10/10 (Very underrated: There are certain stuff that is left out of cliff notes EAR/EYES/BONE and their endocrine section is golden)
Feralis (Stopped after the first few pages (Didn't have enough time): Too detailed and will only stress you out. If you could memorize all of these notes, kudos to you. I think this outline only benefits Feralis only. He/She made these notes specifically for his/herself.) If you still want to use these notes, maybe and only maybe it may behoove you to read the physiology section.
Bozeman/Crash Course/ Khan Academy Youtube videos 11/10
Wikipedia 10/10
DAT Destroyer 10/10 Great for those details; in fact couple questions came straight from the destroyer.
DATQVAULT 8/10 Too detailed in hindsight. The questions are worded a little differently than the real DAT.
27/21/19/25/22/22/22/27/22/21
DAT BOOTCAMP 10/10 Best wording that is comparable to the DAT
28/25/26/22/23
MYTH about reading CH 18 - 21 on campbells: I tried to read the first couple pages and told myself there are better ways to utilize your time. Do not read this. All you need is to read and understand this about genetic technologies:
http://datbootcamp.com/blog/must-know-genetic-technologies-for-the-dat/
I also heard of people claiming that they read the entire campbells when studying for this test: Hahaha I call bul***t.
The real DAT: I think my nerves made me mark about 10-12 of these questions. The questions were really basic and if you read cliff notes faithfully, their is no reason to get a 20+ on this section. While other people say there are random questions, I didn't think so. Again remember each test is different, and everybody has a different biology background with their own weaknesses. So my weak point in genetic technologies may be a strong point for someone else. Also, I did not take physiology or anatomy, and did perfectly fine. After reading Glimmer's breakdown, she was totally right: Cliffs is all you need. I cannot state this enough: Breadth over depth. Just some quick tips: Use Craig Savage videos about biodiversity, they really help. DATqvaults charts on biodiversity are on point. Know all the hormones and their functions. Also, if you have time: re-read the first 7 or 8 chapters on Cliffs. I think these are the high yield topics on the DAT. My bio section had at least a question from each of the chapters in cliffs: including animal behavior and ecology.
GC: 28/ OC: 26
Chads 10/10: Do I even have to explain?
Kaplan 10/10: Supplement with Chad's; just to be safe
Destroyer 10/10: Its not overkill, it prepares you very well for the test. Power through and you won't regret it.
DAT Bootcamp: 10/10
GC: 25/22/26/23/20
OC: 24/26/22/29/24
Real DAT: Basic, just do the usual stuff that has been said over and over again on every breakdown and you will be fine for this test. Bootcamp does a very good job on this section; especially on the lab techniques. No nernst equation if anyone is wondering.
For the ochem test: Know the lab technique questions such as extractions and NMR stuff as usual. Reactions were pretty much basic SN1/E2, grignard, etc. While most people say the destroyer reactions are too much, I was fortunate that my ochem teacher drilled us on memorizing all the mechanisms on destroyer. Also MAKE SURE TO READ CHEMICAL LAB TESTS FOR ALKANES/ALCOHOLS/etc. They will show up on your test.
2007 Test: Too easy compared to the DAT Got a 30 on TS portions. Seriously, how easy was it to become a dentist in 2007 hahaha.
PAT: 25
QR/RC: Didn't do
2009: I heard there were too many errors, so I just leisurely did it checking every 10 questions. I don't think I missed that many.
PAT: I think I got a 22 or 23, don't remember.
QR/RC: Didn't do.
Final Tips: Drink milk before the test, not water or you will have to pee!!! A surgeon I used to shadow told me this, and wow this actually works, try it.
Just my ritual before every test I take: 30 minutes before the test: I eat a whole snicker bar.
Its important to get pumped up for this test: Right before any test I take, I play The Man By Aloe Blacc since this song came out. I have a other songs that are part of my superstitious rituals.
Also, once you are done with the SNS portion, forget about it. The more you worry about the past will only hinder your ability from destroying the PAT section and other sections of the DAT.
If I had to do it all over again: I would focus more on PAT/QR/RC/ than bio. I also wished I bought bootcamp earlier (I did all their practice test the week before my DAT).
Lastly, I promise anyone can achieve these scores. I am in no way a super genius. Just look at my previous posts: Sometimes I ask some of the dumbest questions haha. Just make sure to utilize your study time effectively.
I'm not saying you have to make sacrifices, but I did not have a social life for the past 8 weeks while studying for this test. I did not drink with friends, play golf/basketball (except for NBA playoff games), watch any movies, or even watch my favorite TV Shows (Suits or 24). You do not need to make these drastic changes. Heck, Glimmer didn't and she got better scores than me haha.
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