I
iralex801
I finished my DAT 2 days ago and I just wanted to post my breakdown to give back to SDN, which helped me immensely in choosing my study materials for the DAT. I do not post a lot, but I do read this forum on a daily basis. My scores are below:
PAT - 19
QR - 18
RC - 22
BIO - 21
GEN CHEM - 23
OCHEM - 23
Total Science - 23
AA - 21
I am very happy with my scores. I was a little annoyed that I was .1 pt away to round up to an AA of 22, but I will live lol.
PAT - I used CDP, Topscore, and ADA Exam 2007 and 2009. I did all 10 practice tests for CDP and I redid certain sections I was struggling in such as TFE and pattern folding. I scored a 16 on my first test and gradually made my way to a 20 on the last test. I scored a 19 on the real test so I'm pretty happy. I definately saw atleast 2 PAT questions that were on the ADA 2009 Sample exam repeat on my real exam. All I can say is this section frustrated me the most, especially TFE. This section is just PRACTICE. Just keep doing it until everything clicks in your head.
QR - I used Kaplan Subject Exams and DAT destroyer, not math destroyer. I went through both 1X. This section was pretty tough on the real exam. I just skipped all the hard ones and did the easy ones first. Then I went back and redid the hard ones. Time constraint really is an issue. I am pretty happy I got an 18.
RC - Just top score and the ADA 2007 and 2009 Exam. This section was probably my biggest surprise. I was not expecting a 22 at all, since I hate reading. I used Viciviper's (sp?) strategy, but modified it a little bit by writing key words down for each question as I read through them. I didn't have piano. I thought Topscore was pretty representative of the real exam for this section.
Bio - I used Cliffs Bio, DAT destroyer, Kaplan Subject tests, and the various outlines posted here on SDN. I went through cliffs bio and DAT destroyer 1X. The outlines posted here on SDN really helped me too. I made note cards of all the questions I missed on DAT destroyer. I also made note cards of the concepts I did really understand while reading through the outlines. I read cliffs AP bio 1X and typed up an outline. My outline sucked though compared to other people's. While taking the test, I was always 100% positive for a lot of answers. I felt kind of lucky that I received a 21. The questions they ask aren't random, but they are worded weird. I can't really explain it.
GEN CHEM - I used ACS, DAT destroyer, and Kaplan Subject tests. I can't really pinpoint which one of these materials was the best, but those 3 are what I used. I went through ACS 1X, DAT destroyer 2X, and Kaplan Subject tests 1X. I made note cards for questions I got wrong in each study material. This section was not bad. I'm not sure what I got wrong at all, but I'm very satisfied with my score.
OCHEM - I used ACS, DAT destroyer, and Kaplan Subject tests. As stated above, I can't really pinpoint which one of these is the must have book, but these are what I used. The method I used to study is exactly the same as Gen Chem.
Just a little note. I averaged about 19's on Topscore exams, so everyone who says get +1 or +2 on your real exam are right. I thought the ADA 2009 Sample exam was really representative of the exam. I got 23 on Gen Chem, 23 on OCHEM, 19 on Biology, 16 in QR, 21 in PAT, and 19 in RC. The sciences on the sample are really representative of the type and difficulty of the questions you will receive on the real exam. The math was really hard on the sample IMO b/c they asked questions about ellipses and circles.
I just wanted to make a little note about DAT destroyer. A lot of people on this forum raves about how important this book is. I just wanted people to know that I didn't feel like this book is great as everyone makes it out to be. I'm not saying that its bad, but everyone makes it seem like it the absolute best book that will guarantee you a high score. I'm not sure though because like I said I can't really pinpoint the study material that was the absolute best on the sciences. This is just what I think.
Lastly, I think the most important thing to do well is to make note cards of the things you get wrong while doing problems. I don't know about you, but I seem to make the same mistakes all the time. If you make note cards and review those problems that you keep making mistakes on. Eventually, you won't make those mistakes anymore. I have a set of note cards for BIO, GEN CHEM, AND OCHEM. I reviewed them daily and just kept doing it so it becomes automatic that I don't make those mistakes again.
Oh, I will post the outlines that I got from other people through the forums. These outlines really helped me. I don't know which outline belongs to who, but I would like to thank you if the outline I post below belongs to you.
Well this post was really long, but I really wanted to give back to SDN, which has helped me.
PAT - 19
QR - 18
RC - 22
BIO - 21
GEN CHEM - 23
OCHEM - 23
Total Science - 23
AA - 21
I am very happy with my scores. I was a little annoyed that I was .1 pt away to round up to an AA of 22, but I will live lol.
PAT - I used CDP, Topscore, and ADA Exam 2007 and 2009. I did all 10 practice tests for CDP and I redid certain sections I was struggling in such as TFE and pattern folding. I scored a 16 on my first test and gradually made my way to a 20 on the last test. I scored a 19 on the real test so I'm pretty happy. I definately saw atleast 2 PAT questions that were on the ADA 2009 Sample exam repeat on my real exam. All I can say is this section frustrated me the most, especially TFE. This section is just PRACTICE. Just keep doing it until everything clicks in your head.
QR - I used Kaplan Subject Exams and DAT destroyer, not math destroyer. I went through both 1X. This section was pretty tough on the real exam. I just skipped all the hard ones and did the easy ones first. Then I went back and redid the hard ones. Time constraint really is an issue. I am pretty happy I got an 18.
RC - Just top score and the ADA 2007 and 2009 Exam. This section was probably my biggest surprise. I was not expecting a 22 at all, since I hate reading. I used Viciviper's (sp?) strategy, but modified it a little bit by writing key words down for each question as I read through them. I didn't have piano. I thought Topscore was pretty representative of the real exam for this section.
Bio - I used Cliffs Bio, DAT destroyer, Kaplan Subject tests, and the various outlines posted here on SDN. I went through cliffs bio and DAT destroyer 1X. The outlines posted here on SDN really helped me too. I made note cards of all the questions I missed on DAT destroyer. I also made note cards of the concepts I did really understand while reading through the outlines. I read cliffs AP bio 1X and typed up an outline. My outline sucked though compared to other people's. While taking the test, I was always 100% positive for a lot of answers. I felt kind of lucky that I received a 21. The questions they ask aren't random, but they are worded weird. I can't really explain it.
GEN CHEM - I used ACS, DAT destroyer, and Kaplan Subject tests. I can't really pinpoint which one of these materials was the best, but those 3 are what I used. I went through ACS 1X, DAT destroyer 2X, and Kaplan Subject tests 1X. I made note cards for questions I got wrong in each study material. This section was not bad. I'm not sure what I got wrong at all, but I'm very satisfied with my score.
OCHEM - I used ACS, DAT destroyer, and Kaplan Subject tests. As stated above, I can't really pinpoint which one of these is the must have book, but these are what I used. The method I used to study is exactly the same as Gen Chem.
Just a little note. I averaged about 19's on Topscore exams, so everyone who says get +1 or +2 on your real exam are right. I thought the ADA 2009 Sample exam was really representative of the exam. I got 23 on Gen Chem, 23 on OCHEM, 19 on Biology, 16 in QR, 21 in PAT, and 19 in RC. The sciences on the sample are really representative of the type and difficulty of the questions you will receive on the real exam. The math was really hard on the sample IMO b/c they asked questions about ellipses and circles.
I just wanted to make a little note about DAT destroyer. A lot of people on this forum raves about how important this book is. I just wanted people to know that I didn't feel like this book is great as everyone makes it out to be. I'm not saying that its bad, but everyone makes it seem like it the absolute best book that will guarantee you a high score. I'm not sure though because like I said I can't really pinpoint the study material that was the absolute best on the sciences. This is just what I think.
Lastly, I think the most important thing to do well is to make note cards of the things you get wrong while doing problems. I don't know about you, but I seem to make the same mistakes all the time. If you make note cards and review those problems that you keep making mistakes on. Eventually, you won't make those mistakes anymore. I have a set of note cards for BIO, GEN CHEM, AND OCHEM. I reviewed them daily and just kept doing it so it becomes automatic that I don't make those mistakes again.
Oh, I will post the outlines that I got from other people through the forums. These outlines really helped me. I don't know which outline belongs to who, but I would like to thank you if the outline I post below belongs to you.
Well this post was really long, but I really wanted to give back to SDN, which has helped me.
