Dat done!

[sfrice80]

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Im finally done with my DAT! I took it Friday and let me tell you what a relief to finally be done with it! It was pretty gut-wrenching waiting those few moments to see your scores pop up! My Scores were:

PAT=21
BIO=20
CHEM=20
OCHEM=20
RC=20
QR=16!🙁
TS=20
AA=19

Overall, I was pretty happy, it was my first try and I studied for about 2 months pretty hard. My QR sucked but I knew it would, I spent hardly any time on studying that section and I knew it would be my lowest section. Its low but its not low enough for me to want to retake the test.

Couple of points of insight are the biology section of the test was very random and not really anything like multiple Kaplan and Topscore bio exams.

Gen Chem was a lot easier on the actual exam itself, that section was the only science that concerned me cuz I was struggling with it but its key to know the concepts, I didnt have a ton of calculations on the actual exam, most of the practice tests I feel were heavy in calculations.

I was actually a little disappointed in my PAT, I used CDP and scored consistent 23+ on the practice exams but then again the actual test is just a different type of circumstances, plus I felt the actual test had really challenging top/front/end and folding sections.

 

[flampard]

good job, dont worry about the QR that much, lotta of people do bad on those!

 

[dentista123]

good job! How were your practice scores on Top score?

 

[sfrice80]

My topscore practice test scores were pretty close, actually a little below all my scores. My gen chem were actually averaging around an 18 on topscore but like I said the gen chem on the actual exam was easier, just know the concepts and you can work your way through it.

My bio was around a 19 on topscore and organic was the same with 18-19. I felt like the organic section was pretty different from practice tests as well.

Reading Comp on the actual exam really sucks, mine was really long on all 3 passages and the second one was on the spinal cord and it was just heavy in spinal cord/neuro terminology, so it was hard to shift around and seek out the right answers. Topscore I was around the 20 range.

Hope this helps!

 

[sfrice80]

ANOTHER THING-IF ANYONE STILL HAS TO TAKE THE DAT AND NEEDS HELP WITH GEN CHEM, YOU MUST CHECK OUT THIS LINK! It is like 13 hours long but it is a professor that goes through the whole gen chem section and explains it very well. Its time well spent, he really helped me understand the concepts fully, without having to memorize! Highly recommended! He does it for MCAT and DAT test takers too, so he really does a great job! I would recommend just watching an hour or two a night and taking notes.

http://www.coursesaver.com/showthread.php?t=39

 

[dentista123]

My topscore practice test scores were pretty close, actually a little below all my scores. My gen chem were actually averaging around an 18 on topscore but like I said the gen chem on the actual exam was easier, just know the concepts and you can work your way through it.

My bio was around a 19 on topscore and organic was the same with 18-19. I felt like the organic section was pretty different from practice tests as well.

Reading Comp on the actual exam really sucks, mine was really long on all 3 passages and the second one was on the spinal cord and it was just heavy in spinal cord/neuro terminology, so it was hard to shift around and seek out the right answers. Topscore I was around the 20 range.

Hope this helps!

Awesome! So, Bio was random..but you still scored higher. It must be a mixture of really easy and really random. That's what I'm gathering from these breakdowns.

How were your QR scores on Topscore?

 

[Sugafoot79]

Awesome scores! How many hours a day did u study and what were ur study mats?

 

[jd399]

what do u mean by know the concepts, can u give an example of one question on the dats... also did u use destroyer

 

[sfrice80]

Dentista.....To answer your question, I wouldn't really say the bio was a mixture of easy and random, it was actually pretty challenging and I really mean that, who knows, it could have just been the test I got but it was challenging, when I was done, I actually thought my bio score was going to be lower then that cuz the types of questions asked were very different from practice exams. This was especially true for the bio section. I took about 7 practice bio tests and you get the same sense of questions asked and thats what I went in expecting and it was very different. For example, I barely had many embryology questions on practice exams and the real thing asked 3 questions. I was asked a detailed question on the lysogenic pathway, etc.

As far as my QR scores are concerned, my topscore averaged around a 17, kaplan's QR is a joke, I got around a 19 but thats not accurate at all. The actual exam asked a much more diverse group of QR questions, where the practice exams really focus on individual sections, which is good. I was extremely burnt out by QR as well. Half way through Reading Comp I just wanted to be done!

 

[sfrice80]

In response to sugafoot........I started using Crack Dat Pat in late Feb and early March. I would just do it for like an hour or two a night. I kind of studied off and on until April, cuz it was hard to study for my classes and DAT and PAT at the same time. Once school was done in mid May, I really hit it hard, studying about 9-11 hours a day and doing CDP every night. My exam was June 19 and I had to start my job June 8th, so I would wake up a little early and study and then study after work until midnight.

I used the Kaplan book, Crack Dat Pat, and Topscore. I didnt enroll in the Kaplan course cuz its expensive and I heard from several people that it just ensures that you will study! I personally didnt need to pay $1400 dollars to ensure myself that I'll study.

 

[sfrice80]

In response to jd399.......I know its difficult to read "know the concepts," I too was frustrated with peoples comments saying the same exact thing but if theres any advice I can give, that would be it!

I especially mean bio and gen chem. I cant really think of an example that can directly answer your question but I had a bunch of questions that were phrased in ways I hadnt really seen on the practice exams and if you knew the concepts, ie. electronegativity or oxidative phosphorylation pathway then you would do fine on the actual test. The real test is a thinking test, in my opinion. The practice tests ensure that you have most of the concepts down and a lot of the practice tests involve memorization, where the real test is more of a "thinking test." The only direct question I had on the real bio test was "What raises blood sugar?" I was thinking, "geez, dont throw me too many bones!" Just DONT try to memorize all the facts, know the trends and concepts and you'll do fine. I would check out that link I posted for gen chem, hes great at explaining concepts so you fully understand them and can answer a diverse group of gen chem questions.

 

[jd399]

if u spent 9 hours a day studying, and u got 20, then i am scared......

 

[sfrice80]

jd399.....I only spent 9 hours a day studying for about 3 weeks. Before that I had school and after that I had started a new job and only studied after work. I think anyone can do well on the test if they really hit it hard for a month or two.

Dont go thinking everyone has absolutely stellar scores too! Most of the people that post on here are getting ridiculous scores, which is great, but by far, not the majority! I actually feel as though my scores are very competitive and a lot of people who post on here blow me out of the water!

What does that mean? Try not to freak out! I know its easier said then done but if you're understanding almost all of the sections, then you'll be fine. If you are definitely struggling or always missing the same sorts of questions, just hit them hard until you get them down. I would go to the sections and write up notecards until I understood them.

Lastly, were all at different levels, I felt better about bio and o-chem, others might be better in gen chem and whatever. When is your exam and how much have you been studying?

 

[Shingo123]

Very solid scores. If only you had a higher QR, I would think they are excellent scores!

Good job. 🙂

 

[dentista123]

jd399.....I only spent 9 hours a day studying for about 3 weeks. Before that I had school and after that I had started a new job and only studied after work. I think anyone can do well on the test if they really hit it hard for a month or two.

Dont go thinking everyone has absolutely stellar scores too! Most of the people that post on here are getting ridiculous scores, which is great, but by far, not the majority! I actually feel as though my scores are very competitive and a lot of people who post on here blow me out of the water!

What does that mean? Try not to freak out! I know its easier said then done but if you're understanding almost all of the sections, then you'll be fine. If you are definitely struggling or always missing the same sorts of questions, just hit them hard until you get them down. I would go to the sections and write up notecards until I understood them.

Lastly, were all at different levels, I felt better about bio and o-chem, others might be better in gen chem and whatever. When is your exam and how much have you been studying?

THANK YOU!! Your advice helps me out a lot! I have a little over 1 week!

 

[dentista123]

Awesome scores! How many hours a day did u study and what were ur study mats?

SUGAFOOT?? Like from that 3-6 mafia show on MTV or maybe BET? Haha, the guy had a girlfriend named Sugafoot and she liked to eat ranch and sugar. It was the funniest thing I have ever seen. She goes, "You got some whipcream?" He said.."No." She said, "I'll just mix this ranch and suga"

 

[dentista123]

Dentista.....To answer your question, I wouldn't really say the bio was a mixture of easy and random, it was actually pretty challenging and I really mean that, who knows, it could have just been the test I got but it was challenging, when I was done, I actually thought my bio score was going to be lower then that cuz the types of questions asked were very different from practice exams. This was especially true for the bio section. I took about 7 practice bio tests and you get the same sense of questions asked and thats what I went in expecting and it was very different. For example, I barely had many embryology questions on practice exams and the real thing asked 3 questions. I was asked a detailed question on the lysogenic pathway, etc.

As far as my QR scores are concerned, my topscore averaged around a 17, kaplan's QR is a joke, I got around a 19 but thats not accurate at all. The actual exam asked a much more diverse group of QR questions, where the practice exams really focus on individual sections, which is good. I was extremely burnt out by QR as well. Half way through Reading Comp I just wanted to be done!

Well you ended up doing really well in QR for that practice score. A lot of people on here say that they were averaging 20+'s and then get 17 or less on the real thing. I think you did a very good job..now relax and enjoy your SUMMER!! Thanks again for your detailed breakdown and advice 🙂

 

[Sugafoot79]

LOL! I saw that episode. I think it was MTV, the adventures of hollyhood. haha!

 

[brightsmiles9]

Great job! Did you feel that that video really helped you compared to your other resources? and what was your method in watching them? like did you read through a book 1st, or you watched the videos for the 1st time? Thanks for the advise, and best of luck! 🙂

 

[alanan84]

Good consistents scores, great job! Thanks for the breakdown and suggestions!

 

[sfrice80]

In response to brightsmiles question......I went through the gen chem kaplan book and studied a lot and I was still not scoring very good scores in gen chem. I searched and found those videos and since I only found it with like 2 weeks left, I watched about 2 videos a night, equivalent to about 2 hours, and just took down note cards. Even if you think you know what he is talking about and you think its wasting your time, I would actually still watch it, cuz there were sections that I thought I had down but after watching him explain it, I realized I had just memorized the concepts and not fully understood them, and if you fully understand them, then you are able to answer a diverse set of questions with all different variables. If you memorize concepts, you will be easily thrown off if they change some variables in the question.

 

[johnny13oi]

I consistently scored about 23 on the QR on practice tests but on the real thing I got a 17 =(. The actual testing situation just made it so much worse and a few problems at the beginning slowed me down greatly. And I thought the PAT was much more difficult than the practice tests (only took 2 practice). I got a 22 on the PAT part though which is still pretty good. The Bio was just everywhere and nothing like the Kaplan stuff. I got a 17 but wasn't expecting much higher. Although I thought the OCHEM part was easier than KAPLAN and can't believe I got a 21 on that part.

 

[sfrice80]

Yeah the QR sucks, like I said earlier, when you take the actual thing, you are just tired out by that time and I had about 4 minutes left with 8 problems to go! So I pretty much guessed on the last 5.

 

[tsitneD]

hate QR.

I took it on the same day. I was done with few minutes to go b/c i guess all the problems that i didnt understand after reading the question second time. Why bother. I ll rather get those last easy problems.

Nice scores. good job.

 

[johnny13oi]

hate QR.

I took it on the same day. I was done with few minutes to go b/c i guess all the problems that i didnt understand after reading the question second time. Why bother. I ll rather get those last easy problems.

Nice scores. good job.

Definitely good advice for people who haven't taken it. When it comes to math, I thought I could do every one of them in time so I did everything sequentially. Really hard ones were at the beginning and slowed me greatly. This stupidity of me caused me to not finish. Although at the very end, I was able to answer 10 questions in under 2 minutes. A lot of them are really simple.