Dat Done! 8/2/07

[mikeable]

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hey all,

i am pretty new to this forum but i really enjoyed reading the threads on people's DAT experiences. I just took my test today and here is my breakdown:

PAT: 18
QR: 20
RC: 22
BIO: 20
GChem: 19
OChem: 23
AA: 21
TS:21

As for my studying, I started June 23rd and studied about 6 hours a day until test time August 2nd. I only read the Kaplan blue book but did it many times..hahaha. I was also enrolled in the Kaplan class, which wasn't very good except for the online resources that they supply you with. I also did the whole TopScore thing, which I thought was pretty helpful. I tried reading the Schaum Bio outline but I thought it was pretty worthless. I bought Barron's...that wasn't very good either. Don't even bother buying the Cliff DAT prep book..its way too easy and the PAT on it is so screwed.

As for the actual DAT here is what I thought about each section:

BIO: They really didn't ask very many straightforward questions..and the types of questions were indeed more on the conceptual type and nothing that was similiar to what was being tested on TopScore or Kaplan practice tests.

GChem: Pretty easy, I am a little ashamed of only getting a 19 here.
OChem: Easy.
QR/RC: I only studied this by doing practice tests. Just work fast. QR has a lot of word problems but they aren't too bad.
PAT: angles are hard. i was never very good at the TFE or keyholes.lol.

most of all, just stay confident throughout and be happy when its over!!

😀

 

[Blackjack21]

damn u did really well! Im also taking kaplan and had a question about the online subject tests....out of the subject tests for the sciences, were there any that were particularly helpful? I have my test next wed. so im trying to see whats the most important to focus on these last few days. also, did you have a lot of conceptual gen. chem questions like many other people? thanks and good luck with the rest of the application process.

 

[sacjumpman]

hey all,

BIO: They really didn't ask very many straightforward questions..and the types of questions were indeed more on the conceptual type and nothing that was similiar to what was being tested on TopScore or Kaplan practice tests.

😀

Great scores. I would be ecstatic about those, honestly.

What would you do to study bio differently?

Were the topics on TopScore and Kaplan tests nothing the same as the real exam, or was it just the style of question?

Not that you did bad, by any means, just curious.

 

[D.D.S.]

Superb!

 

[jaz129]

yeah I kinda agree with the whole schaums thing, it really confuses me. I started using it but I find myself refering to other books(mainly old textbooks and Kaplan) .
Congrats..those are very nce scores

 

[alltheway]

great job

 

[mikeable]

Thanks for all the props!

As for the questions about the Kaplan subject tests and the bio style of questions:

If I were to have studied again for bio, I really am not sure what I would have done differently. The questions were mainly conceptual although there were some straightforward fact type of questions. I also had a weird question that showed me a picture of something and I was supposed to locate where I would find it. ahah. To do well on bio, I would definitely focus on absorbing the details and concepts of everything so that you would know what effects what if so and so happens.

also, i would definitely recommend topscore since kaplan angle ranking was way easier then the real thing. the angles on the actual dat were pretty much impossible unless you are really gifted. i was never a fan of the PAT lol, but i'm thinking a lot of practice here would help anyone.

let me know if there is anything else i can help with!

goodluck all!

😀

-mike

 

[levyusupov]

solid scores. just the way the wan to c it in dental school !!!

good job, congrats !!!!

 

[Tweetie pie]

Good job!