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- May 27, 2008
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So I am finally free with what has felt like a never-ending summer of studying. I'm applying in the 2010 cycle, so my work to get into dental school is done for a while. I wish everyone applying this cycle the best of luck. I'll be taking a much needed break from SDN, but I'll try to keep up to date on this thread to answer questions if anyone has any. You are also welcome to PM me, but I won't be divulging anything regarding specific questions on the test, so don't even bother if thats what your after. Its not fair at all for people to be given information about the test that others didn't have access to, and I'm really shocked that some people here on SDN have gone so far as to mention specific questions that were asked.
Enough talk, here it goes:
PA: 19 (75.2)
QR: 19 (81.9)
RC: 20 (66.2)
Bio: 20 (85.5)
Gchem: 25 (97.2)
Ochem: 27 (98.2)
TS: 23 (97.7)
AA: 22 (95.4)
I used the Kaplan blue book, Schaum's bio outline, Destroyer, CDP (Crack dat PAT), and kaplan's subject and practice tests
PA: Similar to CDP, but there were a few differences. Hole-punching and cube counting are easier. Angles were a little harder. TFE wasn't necessarily harder but it was different. Line counting definitely won't help and I found myself having to generate a mental image of the entire picture more often than usual. On CDP I was usually able to narrow in on one specific part of the structure to get the correct answer. Pattern folding was also different: not as much shading, more being able to tell what the shape of the 3D structure is. I'll take my 19, but I could have done better. Towards the end of CDP I was getting 21s and 23s. My drop is probably a combination of questions being a little harder and me being a little nervous.
QR: Speaking of nerves, I froze on the first 3 questions and had to skip them all. After a brief picture in my mind of me getting a 4 on the QR section, I gained my composure and got some momentum going. Kaplan subject tests were great to use for practice. They were slightly harder than the real thing, but they help you improve on your timing. This section is all about strategy regarding timing. I knew how to do every problem, but didn't have time to be confident with all my answers. First time through I skipped questions that I didn't instantly know how to solve, and then went at them the 2nd time through
RC: Not that bad. I don't really know how a 20 is the 66th percentile, but w/e. Those true/false type questions were annoying. People who took the test will know what I'm talking about. For people who have yet to take the test, its just a 2-part statement where they ask whether both parts are true, both false, first true, etc. It was pretty annoying.
Bio: Schaum's was great for this, as was Destroyer. Just studying from kaplan BB may get you an ok score, but some questions were very detailed, and often it was hard to decide between two of the answer choices.
Gchem: Destroyer. Thats all I really have to say. I got to the point where I knew how to do every single gchem problem in the destroyer. Not just memorizing, but understanding, and every question on the real exam is something you'll have used at one point in destroyer's problems.
Ochem: Destroyer was a bit of overkill. Lots of specifics in destroyer that didn't get mentioned. Kaplan BB was good, but you definitely want to use your textbook to enforce everything. The DAT tests your basics, but you need to really KNOW your basics and not be "iffy" on anything. Kaplan BB just gets you to memorize things, and thats not good enough. Go with textbook.
Thats it. Good luck to all. I hope you all get into the school of your choice.
Enough talk, here it goes:
PA: 19 (75.2)
QR: 19 (81.9)
RC: 20 (66.2)
Bio: 20 (85.5)
Gchem: 25 (97.2)
Ochem: 27 (98.2)
TS: 23 (97.7)
AA: 22 (95.4)
I used the Kaplan blue book, Schaum's bio outline, Destroyer, CDP (Crack dat PAT), and kaplan's subject and practice tests
PA: Similar to CDP, but there were a few differences. Hole-punching and cube counting are easier. Angles were a little harder. TFE wasn't necessarily harder but it was different. Line counting definitely won't help and I found myself having to generate a mental image of the entire picture more often than usual. On CDP I was usually able to narrow in on one specific part of the structure to get the correct answer. Pattern folding was also different: not as much shading, more being able to tell what the shape of the 3D structure is. I'll take my 19, but I could have done better. Towards the end of CDP I was getting 21s and 23s. My drop is probably a combination of questions being a little harder and me being a little nervous.
QR: Speaking of nerves, I froze on the first 3 questions and had to skip them all. After a brief picture in my mind of me getting a 4 on the QR section, I gained my composure and got some momentum going. Kaplan subject tests were great to use for practice. They were slightly harder than the real thing, but they help you improve on your timing. This section is all about strategy regarding timing. I knew how to do every problem, but didn't have time to be confident with all my answers. First time through I skipped questions that I didn't instantly know how to solve, and then went at them the 2nd time through
RC: Not that bad. I don't really know how a 20 is the 66th percentile, but w/e. Those true/false type questions were annoying. People who took the test will know what I'm talking about. For people who have yet to take the test, its just a 2-part statement where they ask whether both parts are true, both false, first true, etc. It was pretty annoying.
Bio: Schaum's was great for this, as was Destroyer. Just studying from kaplan BB may get you an ok score, but some questions were very detailed, and often it was hard to decide between two of the answer choices.
Gchem: Destroyer. Thats all I really have to say. I got to the point where I knew how to do every single gchem problem in the destroyer. Not just memorizing, but understanding, and every question on the real exam is something you'll have used at one point in destroyer's problems.
Ochem: Destroyer was a bit of overkill. Lots of specifics in destroyer that didn't get mentioned. Kaplan BB was good, but you definitely want to use your textbook to enforce everything. The DAT tests your basics, but you need to really KNOW your basics and not be "iffy" on anything. Kaplan BB just gets you to memorize things, and thats not good enough. Go with textbook.
Thats it. Good luck to all. I hope you all get into the school of your choice.
