DAT Dunzo! 8/22/2010

[KillaCam]

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First post:

Studied for about 4 weeks, only about 2 hours a day during the week and 4 hours on the weekend days. I was a BIO major and have always done very well in chemistry and math although I have never taken anything beyond Trig 3 years ago.

Breakdown:

PAT: 20 (79%)

QR: 21 (96.4%)

RC: 21 (76.7%)

Biology: 22 (95.9%)

GC: 23 (95.4%)

OC: 23 (94.4%)

Total Science: 23 (97.8%)

Academic Average: 22 (97.0%)

Was the test difficult? Yes. Was it beyond capable or as random as people have said? Not my version at least.

The biggest thing I think is to learn HOW to take the Standardized Test and know exactly what they are asking about/for. The questions can be tricky but read them slowly and it is not an issue.

I did not get nervous during the test and thought that if I was destined to do well, it was out of my hands at this point. Just sit, relax, and perform off what you know.

I am applying this cycle and also have a 3.9 Science and overall GPA.

Oh yeah, I attended and am from Boise, ID too.

I will give a solid breakdown later.

 

[ordinaryasian]

ur a freakin genius!! only light studying for 4 weeks? Im scared to think what you would have gotten if u studied 6-10hrs a day for a month like i did ....

 

[KillaCam]

Yeah but your PAT score is far superior in comparison to mine!

I find it odd that the PAT was the worst part of my test yet it was the best part of my practice exams........

 

[KillaCam]

I think that the most important thing anyone needs to realize when studying for a test of this magnitude is efficiency. It is NOT about how much time you spend reading and so-called "studying" but it is about the quality of studying.

I did not spend nearly the amount of time most people who have posted here have spent, and yet my scores are not that bad. I would put my phone away, not be logged into any social networking site, and put myself in a quiet and study-sufficient environment. When it came time to study, I would really study and give it my full and undivided attention.

Breakdown:

BIO: Not random like everyone seems to claim. One or 2 questions on animal diversity and behaviors but the rest was physiology, genetics, and molecular biology.

GC: I had a couple off the wall questions but I luckily knew them thanks to physics in college. The rest was simple calculations, equation set-up, and simple concepts.

OC: Do not really remember this portion that well as I did it in 15 minutes. Some questions were very quick and simple and others required me to really think about 2 choices. However, you could pick out the right answer if you get back to the basics and forget about the exceptions.

RC: I enjoyed the passages but they were quite long. I like to fully read the passage and then answer the questions and it made it really easy to hunt down where in the passage the question topics were. On par with TopScore practice tests.

QR: I did not study hard for this but I did use Princeton Review MathSmart II as a very general review that covered key concepts and equations that certainly helped on the test. It only costs like $12 at Barnes or Borders. I have always been very good at word problems and understanding math but I honestly do not know how to set up most word problems algebraically. It just made things more difficult and confusing if I did. Guessed on the last 3 questions.

PAT: Just like CDP and even though I was scoring about 22-23 on average on CDP I cannot be too upset at a 20.

This test is very doable and the key is efficiency in studying and reviewing things that you have not mastered.

I used Princeton Review MCAT for Biology, Gen Chem, and Ochem (used a textbook as well for this one) and used Cliff's AP BIO, which I found good only for behavior and ecology stuff. The rest is just too basic and I would have been killed if this is all I studied for BIO.

 

[DoCt0rPeTe]

no offense, but I would not consider most people on this site to be "genious." It all depends on one's previous knowledge going into the exam. For instance, I barely studied any Biology, because I had taken several Bio classes before.

He/She may be very intelligent, but he put in the time that was sufficient for him to fill in the holes that his university left him, or to refresh (a 3.9 sci gpa is not too shabby lol)

Others have to study much longer as they
-didn't work as hard in undergrad
-haven't taken as many classes
-have taken classes that just leave alot of what the DAT covers out...
etc.

The op pulled great numbers in a short while, and I congratulate him/her; however, with regard to future test takers: study what is necessary for YOU.

 

[iceet]

KillaCam could you tell me what material you used to study for each separate section? It would really be helpful for me, thanks.

 

[KillaCam]

Thanks for the info Doctor Pete. I think you are exactly right in your post that previous knowledge surely plays a big role in this test. I don't think anyone was being literal when saying "genius" and I agree that everyone needs to certainly tailor their amount and quality of study time to their so-called "holes". Everyone's situation is unique and they must only realize where they are lacking and then, the hard part, actually do something about it.

Iceet:

BIO: I used Campbell Text, Cliffs AP Bio (only for behavior and ecology), and MCAT Princeton Review Biology.

GC: MCAT General Chemistry

OC: MCAT O-Chem and O-Chem class text (used to refer to some things not covered in MCAT book).

QR: MathSmart II from Princeton Review (Not MCAT). Nothing else.

RC: Nothing.

PAT: CDP and did 6 tests. This helped a lot.