I've only been a spectator here in SDN forums until now and I would like to express my gratitude to all of the people here who have contributed, please continue to help one another reach each others goals. You all, sirs and madams, every single one, are gentlemen or gentlewomen and scholars.
Scores:
PAT 30
QR 20
RC 25
Bio 20
GC 18
OC 23
TS 20
AA 21
Materials Utilized:
CDP/Crack DAT Math, Topscore, Datqvault (Bio/GC/OC), KBB, Cliffs AP Bio, Chad's videos (GC/OC) , Khan Acadamy (QR)
Mistakes I made and what I would do different:
#1 Panicked when I ran into a series of Bio problems that I didn't know off the top of my head. I lost my concentration, started skipping around problems while continuously glancing at the clock and getting annoyed at the person next to me typing on the keyboard. I should have buckled down and worked the problems, methodically discarding answers that were impossible or unlikely based on what I did know. I didn't. You can tell I hit my low point or the height of my panic in GC then finally pulled myself together during OC. If this happens to you. STOP! Put the pen down, hands off the mouse. Close your eyes, take a few breaths, then work the next problem and make sure you get it right even if you have to take longer than usual on the problem. Its better if you get it right, regain some confidence and focus and have to completely guess one or two problems in the end than to half guess every question because of lack of focus.
#2 Too much emphasis on concepts in GC. I was complacent and left it out of my practice during my final study week, I noticed people said that GC mostly set up equations for you, but it seems the majority of mine were complete calculations comparable to the Topscore GC sections. Though I will say that me freaking out did not help, so you probably will do better. In any case, don't take anything for granted, prepare for the worst case in every case. Force yourself to do what you know you should be doing and don't take the lazy way out the way I did, I paid for it and it hurts. If I had practiced I probably would have been able to pull myself together during GC instead of OC.
#3 Relied only on Cliffs and KBB for Bio. Neither of these go over Anatomy/Physiology and Ecology at all or enough. I know several of the questions I marked and got wrong were on these topics.
#4 Did not follow my regular routines/habits when approaching the exam. If you don't usually take caffeine, etc, when taking practice exams don't do it when you take the real thing. I decided I was a clever chap and would drink some coffee just before the exam because sleep did not come easily to me the night before the exam. Turns out I was being too clever for my own good, all it did was make me jittery and was a major contributor to my panic during the science section. Do practice like the real thing and take the real thing like its practice.
#5 I should have invested in more practice problems. Much of my complacency was from having gone through the practice exams multiple times and having an idea of what the answer was. If I could I probably would consider getting destroyer for the extra problems.
#6 Almost gave up. At the height of my panic I basically had resigned myself to having to retake the exam and giving up this cycle. Once you say to yourself, "I'm done. That's it then. Better luck next time." You really are done, you will be completely demoralized, and you will likely not put effort into the rest of the exam. Don't let this be you, keep on fighting. I was lucky, so extremely lucky and recovered after getting a string of questions I knew. It was only by chance that I got those questions.
#7 Did not ask if I could prepare grids for hole-punching. I was not allowed to write anything during the 15min tutorial. In fact the proctor came over and gave me a stern lecture then replaced my laminates. Took a few years off my life, thought I was going to get disqualified before I even began. Thank you so very much Prometric staff. Ask if you're allowed to prep for the PAT, get to live a few years longer.
Now a question for those more knowledgeable than I. I'm late completing my applications, everything was sent out mid July except the DAT which I was supposed to take early July, but was forced to delay significantly due to unavoidable circumstances. (Family came first, and still comes first.) The fact that I kinda botched my sciences doesn't help. From what I've heard AA and TS are most important when it comes down to it, but do you think my PAT/ RC scores are enough to help mitigate being late to the game and not getting spectacular AA/TS when it comes to getting interviews?
Finally, to everyone who is still fighting the good fight, I'm wishing you the best of luck. I got a lucky break, I hope you do too.
Scores:
PAT 30
QR 20
RC 25
Bio 20
GC 18
OC 23
TS 20
AA 21
Materials Utilized:
CDP/Crack DAT Math, Topscore, Datqvault (Bio/GC/OC), KBB, Cliffs AP Bio, Chad's videos (GC/OC) , Khan Acadamy (QR)
Mistakes I made and what I would do different:
#1 Panicked when I ran into a series of Bio problems that I didn't know off the top of my head. I lost my concentration, started skipping around problems while continuously glancing at the clock and getting annoyed at the person next to me typing on the keyboard. I should have buckled down and worked the problems, methodically discarding answers that were impossible or unlikely based on what I did know. I didn't. You can tell I hit my low point or the height of my panic in GC then finally pulled myself together during OC. If this happens to you. STOP! Put the pen down, hands off the mouse. Close your eyes, take a few breaths, then work the next problem and make sure you get it right even if you have to take longer than usual on the problem. Its better if you get it right, regain some confidence and focus and have to completely guess one or two problems in the end than to half guess every question because of lack of focus.
#2 Too much emphasis on concepts in GC. I was complacent and left it out of my practice during my final study week, I noticed people said that GC mostly set up equations for you, but it seems the majority of mine were complete calculations comparable to the Topscore GC sections. Though I will say that me freaking out did not help, so you probably will do better. In any case, don't take anything for granted, prepare for the worst case in every case. Force yourself to do what you know you should be doing and don't take the lazy way out the way I did, I paid for it and it hurts. If I had practiced I probably would have been able to pull myself together during GC instead of OC.
#3 Relied only on Cliffs and KBB for Bio. Neither of these go over Anatomy/Physiology and Ecology at all or enough. I know several of the questions I marked and got wrong were on these topics.
#4 Did not follow my regular routines/habits when approaching the exam. If you don't usually take caffeine, etc, when taking practice exams don't do it when you take the real thing. I decided I was a clever chap and would drink some coffee just before the exam because sleep did not come easily to me the night before the exam. Turns out I was being too clever for my own good, all it did was make me jittery and was a major contributor to my panic during the science section. Do practice like the real thing and take the real thing like its practice.
#5 I should have invested in more practice problems. Much of my complacency was from having gone through the practice exams multiple times and having an idea of what the answer was. If I could I probably would consider getting destroyer for the extra problems.
#6 Almost gave up. At the height of my panic I basically had resigned myself to having to retake the exam and giving up this cycle. Once you say to yourself, "I'm done. That's it then. Better luck next time." You really are done, you will be completely demoralized, and you will likely not put effort into the rest of the exam. Don't let this be you, keep on fighting. I was lucky, so extremely lucky and recovered after getting a string of questions I knew. It was only by chance that I got those questions.
#7 Did not ask if I could prepare grids for hole-punching. I was not allowed to write anything during the 15min tutorial. In fact the proctor came over and gave me a stern lecture then replaced my laminates. Took a few years off my life, thought I was going to get disqualified before I even began. Thank you so very much Prometric staff. Ask if you're allowed to prep for the PAT, get to live a few years longer.
Now a question for those more knowledgeable than I. I'm late completing my applications, everything was sent out mid July except the DAT which I was supposed to take early July, but was forced to delay significantly due to unavoidable circumstances. (Family came first, and still comes first.) The fact that I kinda botched my sciences doesn't help. From what I've heard AA and TS are most important when it comes down to it, but do you think my PAT/ RC scores are enough to help mitigate being late to the game and not getting spectacular AA/TS when it comes to getting interviews?
Finally, to everyone who is still fighting the good fight, I'm wishing you the best of luck. I got a lucky break, I hope you do too.
