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Hi everyone,
I just completed the DAT on 10/12/2015 and wanted to share my experience since other users on here helped me by sharing their experience.
First off, my scores:
PAT 22
QR 19
RC 22
Bio 22
GC 21
OC 29
TS 23
AA 23
I took about a month and a half to study. I paused everything during this time to focus on the exam since I already submitted my app (I graduated last April as well so this did not co-occur with any classes). Also, I have taken the MCAT so that also helped in preparing for the DAT.
I made a calendar on excel and planned my schedule so that I studied one subject each day. For example, day 1 Bio, day 2 GC, day 3 OC, day 4 QR, day 5 PAT and repeat. Thus, each PAT day kinda made for a good "break" day instead of just taking an entire day off. For RC, I used Ari's advice on reading about one to two Scientific American articles online. I also used the Bootcamp RC subject tests and did only one passage a day. I will explain more below.
Also, I never took a practice full length. I only took practice subject tests.
I most note right away that DAT Bootcamp was awesome! I scored higher on the real DAT than my Bootcamp tests for every subject except QR and BIO. For OR, I was right on the mark. For Bio, I was about 1-2 points lower.
Bio:
I read through Cliff Note's AP Biology 3rd Edition about two times for an initial content review. Towards the end of my studies, I would test with the Bootcamp subject tests and then review them while referencing Cliff Notes. Ari also posted Feralis' notes as well which have more detail included and where a good reference as well. I would suggest just using Feralis' notes as they are free.
GC:
I used my Princeton Review MCAT GC book as an initial overview. For practice I used the quizzes from Coursesaver as well as the Bootcamp subject tests.
OC:
Again, I used my Princeton Review MCAT OC book utilizing the OC Coursesaver quizzes and Bootcamp tests as well.
QR:
I used the DAT Math Destroyer book 2012 edition. This was a great resource that will definitely prepare you for the real thing. The tests in this book are definitely more difficult than the real DAT. The Bootcamp tests were great for timing, but they are even more difficult than the real DAT.
PAT:
Bootcamp, Bootcamp, and Bootcamp again! There are 10 practice tests that were great to get the timing down. The content was great as well. The generator's are also great practice. The real PAT felt easier than Bootcamp's tests. Also, on Bootcamp PAT tests 6-10, I was only getting about 7 out of 15 of the angles right. On the real PAT, the angles were, to me, a lot easier.
RC:
I used Bootcamp, DAT Genius (only the first free test), and the three practice tests in the Kaplan review notes from 2009 (This was borrowed). I would read about one scientific article a day and would do one passage a day. So, I started off using the 3 tests from Kaplan which gave me 9 passages. Then I started doing Bootcamp which gave me 15 passages. About two days from my test day, I did the first free RC test from DAT Genius the score I got was the exact score I got on the real DAT. The Kaplan passages were too easy, Bootcamp had harder questions although a few passages seemed easier than others. Overall, Bootcamp was more difficult. The DAT Genius exam was spot on with questions and difficulty. If you can do well on Bootcamp and Genius, you will be set. Especially, using Bootcamp will prepare you since it is harder.
My method for RC was a combination of Mapping and Search and Destroy that I like to call "Map and Destroy." First, I would read the first question and then quickly but efficiently read and write down about 1-3 key or summary words per paragraph. If a paragraph was a somewhat general or introductory paragraph, I did not write anything down so that I would not wonder and waste time about what to write down. As I am reading and mapping, if I came across the answer to the first question, I would answer and move on to the next question and do the same thing. Now I call this Map and Destroy because sometimes I would not finish reading the entire passage. This would occur if many questions initially came up that I was able to answer from what I had previously read. Then, when looking at the time that I had allotted for each passage, I would sometimes end up just finishing the passage with search and destroy. So, my method is kind of variable. It just takes practice. On the real DAT, I read the entire first and second passages but did not finish the third. I also did this purposely to give myself some review time for marked questions. Regarding the real DAT, my questions were mostly search and destroy. Overall, just make sure to practice reading on a computer screen as well as using a method that you feel comfortable with.
Finally, if you are scoring around 20 on your practice tests, then you are ready. If you are doing a full on schedule like mine that is entirely devoted to the DAT, make sure to do other activities as well such as getting some exercise in as a stress reliever. The day before my exam, I only got 2 hrs. of sleep. Do not let this worry you. You will still do fine.
I actually initiated my study period the day after a saw AC/DC! This got me pumped up to study. Also, I celebrated the day after my exam by seeing Alice Cooper and Motley Crue. So, good luck studying and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
I just completed the DAT on 10/12/2015 and wanted to share my experience since other users on here helped me by sharing their experience.
First off, my scores:
PAT 22
QR 19
RC 22
Bio 22
GC 21
OC 29
TS 23
AA 23
I took about a month and a half to study. I paused everything during this time to focus on the exam since I already submitted my app (I graduated last April as well so this did not co-occur with any classes). Also, I have taken the MCAT so that also helped in preparing for the DAT.
I made a calendar on excel and planned my schedule so that I studied one subject each day. For example, day 1 Bio, day 2 GC, day 3 OC, day 4 QR, day 5 PAT and repeat. Thus, each PAT day kinda made for a good "break" day instead of just taking an entire day off. For RC, I used Ari's advice on reading about one to two Scientific American articles online. I also used the Bootcamp RC subject tests and did only one passage a day. I will explain more below.
Also, I never took a practice full length. I only took practice subject tests.
I most note right away that DAT Bootcamp was awesome! I scored higher on the real DAT than my Bootcamp tests for every subject except QR and BIO. For OR, I was right on the mark. For Bio, I was about 1-2 points lower.
Bio:
I read through Cliff Note's AP Biology 3rd Edition about two times for an initial content review. Towards the end of my studies, I would test with the Bootcamp subject tests and then review them while referencing Cliff Notes. Ari also posted Feralis' notes as well which have more detail included and where a good reference as well. I would suggest just using Feralis' notes as they are free.
GC:
I used my Princeton Review MCAT GC book as an initial overview. For practice I used the quizzes from Coursesaver as well as the Bootcamp subject tests.
OC:
Again, I used my Princeton Review MCAT OC book utilizing the OC Coursesaver quizzes and Bootcamp tests as well.
QR:
I used the DAT Math Destroyer book 2012 edition. This was a great resource that will definitely prepare you for the real thing. The tests in this book are definitely more difficult than the real DAT. The Bootcamp tests were great for timing, but they are even more difficult than the real DAT.
PAT:
Bootcamp, Bootcamp, and Bootcamp again! There are 10 practice tests that were great to get the timing down. The content was great as well. The generator's are also great practice. The real PAT felt easier than Bootcamp's tests. Also, on Bootcamp PAT tests 6-10, I was only getting about 7 out of 15 of the angles right. On the real PAT, the angles were, to me, a lot easier.
RC:
I used Bootcamp, DAT Genius (only the first free test), and the three practice tests in the Kaplan review notes from 2009 (This was borrowed). I would read about one scientific article a day and would do one passage a day. So, I started off using the 3 tests from Kaplan which gave me 9 passages. Then I started doing Bootcamp which gave me 15 passages. About two days from my test day, I did the first free RC test from DAT Genius the score I got was the exact score I got on the real DAT. The Kaplan passages were too easy, Bootcamp had harder questions although a few passages seemed easier than others. Overall, Bootcamp was more difficult. The DAT Genius exam was spot on with questions and difficulty. If you can do well on Bootcamp and Genius, you will be set. Especially, using Bootcamp will prepare you since it is harder.
My method for RC was a combination of Mapping and Search and Destroy that I like to call "Map and Destroy." First, I would read the first question and then quickly but efficiently read and write down about 1-3 key or summary words per paragraph. If a paragraph was a somewhat general or introductory paragraph, I did not write anything down so that I would not wonder and waste time about what to write down. As I am reading and mapping, if I came across the answer to the first question, I would answer and move on to the next question and do the same thing. Now I call this Map and Destroy because sometimes I would not finish reading the entire passage. This would occur if many questions initially came up that I was able to answer from what I had previously read. Then, when looking at the time that I had allotted for each passage, I would sometimes end up just finishing the passage with search and destroy. So, my method is kind of variable. It just takes practice. On the real DAT, I read the entire first and second passages but did not finish the third. I also did this purposely to give myself some review time for marked questions. Regarding the real DAT, my questions were mostly search and destroy. Overall, just make sure to practice reading on a computer screen as well as using a method that you feel comfortable with.
Finally, if you are scoring around 20 on your practice tests, then you are ready. If you are doing a full on schedule like mine that is entirely devoted to the DAT, make sure to do other activities as well such as getting some exercise in as a stress reliever. The day before my exam, I only got 2 hrs. of sleep. Do not let this worry you. You will still do fine.
I actually initiated my study period the day after a saw AC/DC! This got me pumped up to study. Also, I celebrated the day after my exam by seeing Alice Cooper and Motley Crue. So, good luck studying and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
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