- Joined
- Mar 6, 2010
- Messages
- 15
- Reaction score
- 0
I scored in the 20s, with much indebtedness to SDN for helping me. I think it is fair I contribute back 🙂
I studied for 2-3 months. Never did a full practice test, only doing one-hour sessions.
Bio:
1) Read all of Kaplan BB and memorize every detail.
2) I had no time for Cliffs, but I read the classification notes someone posted here on SDN. Cliffs' classification is kind of too much,but I studied it anyway and was happy.
I made an ANIMAL phylogenetic tree based on Kaplan's descriptions, and it makes much more sense when mapped out.
3) Go over Alan's notes and try to understand them. I found some of the notes confusing or incorrect (like the equation for stroke volume).
I used Alan's notes as a guideline to study for plants. I used Wikipedia and Google Image to help me understand the structures. For photosynthesis, I studied C3, C4, and CAM photosynthesis from Cliffs (a short chapter).
4) Topscore (some of the questions are really random, like classification which isn't even found in Cliffs, so I didn't bother memorizing those)
5) On the day before the DAT, I went over all the Bio questions in DAT Destroyer, flipping between question and answer. Very last minute, I know. THANK GOODNESS I decided to do that.
On the DAT, a few of the questions I rely on my blurry memory from undergrad.
Ochem:
1) Read all of Kaplan BB. Make a diagram for each type of functional group: alkenes, carboxylic acids, alcohols, etc. and memorize them.
Additional reagents not covered by Kaplan (I think):
- Grignard reacting with CO2, carboxylic acid derivatives, aldehydes and ketones, and alkynes
- R-Li reactions
2) Go over DAT Destroyer, flipping back and forth between question and solution. Mark the ones that give you even the slightest doubt.
For any question in which the solution still leaves me confused, I search them on SDN. 100% of the time someone had already brought up the question and got answered.
Go over a second time, flipping back and forth between question and solution.
Since I ran out of studying time, I only went over the marked questions in my third time and checked if they make complete sense to me.
3) Topscore (understand all questions)
Gchem:
1) Read all of Kaplan BB, but it wouldn't be sufficient.
2) DAT Destoyer is a must. It utterly destroyed my confidence (although I've already read Kaplan) because I missed more than half of the questions. Like in OChem, go over the questions at least two times. If you run out of time, just go over the marked questions in your third time, as I did.
3) Topscore (understand all questions)
PAT:
I only did 1 topscore test and 6 CDP. I only gave myself 10 mins each for Keyhole questions and Top Front End questions (even though Iwould run out of time for that section). I then speed through angle ranking, hole punching, and cube counting (they should be fast). I then found plenty oftime for Pattern Folding (but keep the 10 min limit in mind), and then I returned to Top Front End and any other incomplete/marked questions.
RC:
I've always been a reader. Only did one topscore test.
QR:
I was surprised that this section felt the most rushed because I always thought I was good at math. I ran out of time and ended up guessing. And I forgot there was a calculator *facepalm*
Know your units! Here is a compilation I stole from someone on SDN:
3 feet = 1 yard
1 inch = 2.54 cm
5280 ft in 1 mile.
1760 yards = 1 mile
1lb = 16 ounces
1kg = 2.2 lbs
1 ton = 2000 lbs
1 meter = 40 inches. its 39.xx but 40 works.
1 cup = 8 fluid ounces = 1/2 pint = 1/4 quart = 1/16 gallon
F = 9/5C + 32
I studied for 2-3 months. Never did a full practice test, only doing one-hour sessions.
Bio:
1) Read all of Kaplan BB and memorize every detail.
2) I had no time for Cliffs, but I read the classification notes someone posted here on SDN. Cliffs' classification is kind of too much,but I studied it anyway and was happy.
I made an ANIMAL phylogenetic tree based on Kaplan's descriptions, and it makes much more sense when mapped out.
3) Go over Alan's notes and try to understand them. I found some of the notes confusing or incorrect (like the equation for stroke volume).
I used Alan's notes as a guideline to study for plants. I used Wikipedia and Google Image to help me understand the structures. For photosynthesis, I studied C3, C4, and CAM photosynthesis from Cliffs (a short chapter).
4) Topscore (some of the questions are really random, like classification which isn't even found in Cliffs, so I didn't bother memorizing those)
5) On the day before the DAT, I went over all the Bio questions in DAT Destroyer, flipping between question and answer. Very last minute, I know. THANK GOODNESS I decided to do that.
On the DAT, a few of the questions I rely on my blurry memory from undergrad.
Ochem:
1) Read all of Kaplan BB. Make a diagram for each type of functional group: alkenes, carboxylic acids, alcohols, etc. and memorize them.
Additional reagents not covered by Kaplan (I think):
- Grignard reacting with CO2, carboxylic acid derivatives, aldehydes and ketones, and alkynes
- R-Li reactions
2) Go over DAT Destroyer, flipping back and forth between question and solution. Mark the ones that give you even the slightest doubt.
For any question in which the solution still leaves me confused, I search them on SDN. 100% of the time someone had already brought up the question and got answered.
Go over a second time, flipping back and forth between question and solution.
Since I ran out of studying time, I only went over the marked questions in my third time and checked if they make complete sense to me.
3) Topscore (understand all questions)
Gchem:
1) Read all of Kaplan BB, but it wouldn't be sufficient.
2) DAT Destoyer is a must. It utterly destroyed my confidence (although I've already read Kaplan) because I missed more than half of the questions. Like in OChem, go over the questions at least two times. If you run out of time, just go over the marked questions in your third time, as I did.
3) Topscore (understand all questions)
PAT:
I only did 1 topscore test and 6 CDP. I only gave myself 10 mins each for Keyhole questions and Top Front End questions (even though Iwould run out of time for that section). I then speed through angle ranking, hole punching, and cube counting (they should be fast). I then found plenty oftime for Pattern Folding (but keep the 10 min limit in mind), and then I returned to Top Front End and any other incomplete/marked questions.
RC:
I've always been a reader. Only did one topscore test.
QR:
I was surprised that this section felt the most rushed because I always thought I was good at math. I ran out of time and ended up guessing. And I forgot there was a calculator *facepalm*
Know your units! Here is a compilation I stole from someone on SDN:
3 feet = 1 yard
1 inch = 2.54 cm
5280 ft in 1 mile.
1760 yards = 1 mile
1lb = 16 ounces
1kg = 2.2 lbs
1 ton = 2000 lbs
1 meter = 40 inches. its 39.xx but 40 works.
1 cup = 8 fluid ounces = 1/2 pint = 1/4 quart = 1/16 gallon
F = 9/5C + 32
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