So I took my test a few days ago and here are my scores:
Bio: 21
Gchem: 23
Ochem: 23
PAT: 22
RC: 25
QR: 22
TS: 22
AA: 23
Breakdown
So basically I studied for about 2 months right after school ended. I really think having taken physiology and comparative anatomy helped in learning those miniscule details about invertebrates etc.
Reading anything at all is really the most helpful thing I found for RC. I read New York Times and about 2 books whenever I wasn't studying or taking a break day.
Studying 40% Testing 50% Confidence/Positivity 10%
Materials: CDP, Topscore, Achiever, Kaplan class materials, Destroyer
Bio: The first 2 weeks I went through the big Kaplan book and really tried to know all the details. I feel like the Kaplan biology is the bare minimum that you should know. Then for the rest of the next 6 weeks I went through Campbells about 1 time really thoroughly and 1 time skimming for things I was unsure of/thought were high yield concepts. I also used destroyer which I thought was a bit much but nonetheless helpful with the thorough explanations. The most important thing was going back through all my tests and reading the explanations of each question and reading in Campbells or Kaplan about that to reinforce it.
GChem: I was good with this in high school and college so I think practicing problems is your best bet here. Destroyer is the best for this. I went through it twice. Gives you the hardest problems and makes the real thing seem way easier. I feel like the hardest problem I had was a Ksp problem. I went through Kaplan too but I felt that its way too easy. The book is bare minimum as well. Again go through explanations of test questions.
OChem: Going into the test I felt very uneasy about this because there is just so much to remember. Kaplan gives a good start to learning the reactions. After that definitely go through destroyer. Go through it twice. The reaction maps are awesome! I also went through my notes from my class which helped a lot. Kaplan is surprisingly fairly accurate for this section. I thought I would have to know a ton about complex reactions but i had maybe 2-3 hard questions and the rest centered around SN1/2 and E1/2 reactions. I would say 80% 1st semester 20% 2nd semester. Regardless its never bad to be ready for everything possible that could be thrown your way.
PAT: This was my worst section in the beginning. CDP is the most invaluable resource for this. I went through all 10 tests and had time to go through a few again. On the real thing for me, TFE, Pattern Folding, and Keyholes were easier than CDP, but angles were on par or harder than CDP, and Hole Punching is about the same as CDP, maybe slightly easier. Topscore isn't a great representation because the graphics kinda changed things, at least for me. Achiever is amazing because its so hard, which defeats you completely, but you learn from it which is the important part.
RC: I did not practice for this outside of practice tests. I was doing about 18-20 when I was reading the whole passage while mapping and then going through the questions. Then about a week before my test I used the strategy of writing down 1-50 on the laminated sheet during the break. Then I went through the questions either memorizing or writing down (I wrote down) the main idea about what the question was asking (1 or 2 words) and then reading the passage. This is how I started getting 22 and 23 on tests. I will try to find the post where I picked up this strategy from. Its really helpful with a little practice. The real thing was sooo easy and the passages were really interesting. I got passages about antibiotics, fractures, and herbal remedies.
QR: Again, the only time I practiced this section mainly was when I took practice tests. Achiever is surprisingly spot on if not a little easier, at least in comparison to the test I was given. I also go CDM about a week before my test. I did about 3 of them before I realized that yes they can help you with your speed as far as arithmetic and algebra are concerned, but it does not have nearly as many word problems as on the real dat. I ended this section thinking I got a 14. It was really really hard and I felt unprepared for it. I guessed B a lot and I got lucky haha. I've heard that destroyer math is good though.
Here are my practice test results:
Topscore:
B/GC/OC/PAT/RC/QR
1.17/19/17/16/18/21
2.17/19/18/17/18/22
3.21/23/21/21/26/21
Kaplan:
Diag.17/18/19/16/16/20
Midterm.17/17/19/21/16
2.21/18/19/18/22
3.22/17/17/21/20
Final.26/28/19/20/Didn't do the rest
1.19/19/28/23/20/30
Achiever:
Overall the test is much easier than Achiever and about on par if not easier than Topscore and harder than Kaplan. Let me know if you have any specific questions. I would be happy to help since reading these posts helped me out so much.
What are your thoughts? My gpa sucks 3.4 science and overall. Do i even have a chance to get in anywhere? I've applied to case, osu, tufts, temple, nyu, uk,louisville. Do you think my dat can make up for my bad gpa? Do you think I can add better schools like upenn and places because of my score? I would really appreciate any suggestions! Thanks!! 🙂
Bio: 21
Gchem: 23
Ochem: 23
PAT: 22
RC: 25
QR: 22
TS: 22
AA: 23
Breakdown
So basically I studied for about 2 months right after school ended. I really think having taken physiology and comparative anatomy helped in learning those miniscule details about invertebrates etc.
Reading anything at all is really the most helpful thing I found for RC. I read New York Times and about 2 books whenever I wasn't studying or taking a break day.
Studying 40% Testing 50% Confidence/Positivity 10%
Materials: CDP, Topscore, Achiever, Kaplan class materials, Destroyer
Bio: The first 2 weeks I went through the big Kaplan book and really tried to know all the details. I feel like the Kaplan biology is the bare minimum that you should know. Then for the rest of the next 6 weeks I went through Campbells about 1 time really thoroughly and 1 time skimming for things I was unsure of/thought were high yield concepts. I also used destroyer which I thought was a bit much but nonetheless helpful with the thorough explanations. The most important thing was going back through all my tests and reading the explanations of each question and reading in Campbells or Kaplan about that to reinforce it.
GChem: I was good with this in high school and college so I think practicing problems is your best bet here. Destroyer is the best for this. I went through it twice. Gives you the hardest problems and makes the real thing seem way easier. I feel like the hardest problem I had was a Ksp problem. I went through Kaplan too but I felt that its way too easy. The book is bare minimum as well. Again go through explanations of test questions.
OChem: Going into the test I felt very uneasy about this because there is just so much to remember. Kaplan gives a good start to learning the reactions. After that definitely go through destroyer. Go through it twice. The reaction maps are awesome! I also went through my notes from my class which helped a lot. Kaplan is surprisingly fairly accurate for this section. I thought I would have to know a ton about complex reactions but i had maybe 2-3 hard questions and the rest centered around SN1/2 and E1/2 reactions. I would say 80% 1st semester 20% 2nd semester. Regardless its never bad to be ready for everything possible that could be thrown your way.
PAT: This was my worst section in the beginning. CDP is the most invaluable resource for this. I went through all 10 tests and had time to go through a few again. On the real thing for me, TFE, Pattern Folding, and Keyholes were easier than CDP, but angles were on par or harder than CDP, and Hole Punching is about the same as CDP, maybe slightly easier. Topscore isn't a great representation because the graphics kinda changed things, at least for me. Achiever is amazing because its so hard, which defeats you completely, but you learn from it which is the important part.
RC: I did not practice for this outside of practice tests. I was doing about 18-20 when I was reading the whole passage while mapping and then going through the questions. Then about a week before my test I used the strategy of writing down 1-50 on the laminated sheet during the break. Then I went through the questions either memorizing or writing down (I wrote down) the main idea about what the question was asking (1 or 2 words) and then reading the passage. This is how I started getting 22 and 23 on tests. I will try to find the post where I picked up this strategy from. Its really helpful with a little practice. The real thing was sooo easy and the passages were really interesting. I got passages about antibiotics, fractures, and herbal remedies.
QR: Again, the only time I practiced this section mainly was when I took practice tests. Achiever is surprisingly spot on if not a little easier, at least in comparison to the test I was given. I also go CDM about a week before my test. I did about 3 of them before I realized that yes they can help you with your speed as far as arithmetic and algebra are concerned, but it does not have nearly as many word problems as on the real dat. I ended this section thinking I got a 14. It was really really hard and I felt unprepared for it. I guessed B a lot and I got lucky haha. I've heard that destroyer math is good though.
Here are my practice test results:
Topscore:
B/GC/OC/PAT/RC/QR
1.17/19/17/16/18/21
2.17/19/18/17/18/22
3.21/23/21/21/26/21
Kaplan:
Diag.17/18/19/16/16/20
Midterm.17/17/19/21/16
2.21/18/19/18/22
3.22/17/17/21/20
Final.26/28/19/20/Didn't do the rest
1.19/19/28/23/20/30
Achiever:
Overall the test is much easier than Achiever and about on par if not easier than Topscore and harder than Kaplan. Let me know if you have any specific questions. I would be happy to help since reading these posts helped me out so much.
What are your thoughts? My gpa sucks 3.4 science and overall. Do i even have a chance to get in anywhere? I've applied to case, osu, tufts, temple, nyu, uk,louisville. Do you think my dat can make up for my bad gpa? Do you think I can add better schools like upenn and places because of my score? I would really appreciate any suggestions! Thanks!! 🙂
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