DAT Impressions

[The Godfather]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Okay I promised some particulars, and for what its worth, here were my impressions/experiences. Bear in mind that I agree with a previous post that implied that the DAT is a bit of "the luck of the draw." There are so few questions about so much material, if the stars are in alignment, you could have a great day. In other words, study everything so you are sure you have at least a good day! (great help, huh!). I studied for about 2 and a half months, and studied all the time (waiting for takeout at restaurants, during slow times at work, during lunch, during times when all my friends were doing fun stuff). Heck, even if you're watching TV, you could practice PA stuff. The point is, put the time in, and it will pay off for you. That's what you'll have to do in dental school, right? After studying for a month, I knew I didn't want to have to take it again, so if you aren't ready, postpone it (its really a great luxury to have-I postponed mine twice).

Scores: AA 21 PA 17.

PA 17. I agree with previous posts. The keyholes are a little more difficult, angles a little more difficult. My paper folding was about the same. Just practice so you get used how to visualize everything. I didn't study this section as much and it showed. Also, take a minute and clear your head after the science sections. My mind was fried after taking them (why don't they put the PA after the break, with the QR?).

Bio 20. The questions were generally much harder than anything I had taken on TS or Kaplan BB or AcetheDat. Study everything to cover yourself. I had some taxonomy, H-W speciation, punnet squares, symbiosis, glycolysis, early biological beginnings. I studied more for this section than anything, and don't think I would have done as well had I not studied everything in some depth. Kaplan Blue Book will not cut it! Just use it as a guideline.

Gen Chem 21. Easier than anything I saw on any TS, Kaplan. If you know Kaplan Blue Book, you should do fine. Don't forget all the "little stuff" (pt chracteristics, elemental characteristics). Those "easy" points count as much as equations, etc. I had probably 1/2 equations, 1/2 straight definition/theory. As far as equations, I had solubility, acid-base, dilutions, ideal gas (typical plus density). Know how to identify what's reduced or oxidized, and know those oxidation numbers!

Organic 20. Know all the basics. Kaplan Blue Book should serve you well. I thought this was the easiest section. Nothing tricky. I only had one nomenclature, and it was easy. Know SN1, SN2, Eliminations, all the basic reactions, stereo stuff. I had one on amino acid charge.

RC 24. I skimmed the first lines of all of the paragraphs and then started answering questions. I got lucky because one of the passages was something I had studied in Microbiology class, and I read a lot, so I didn't have much trouble here. I had bacterial resistance, disease, and enzyme passages. Take that break and relax so you can concentrate during this section.

QR 19. Why do they cut it so close on this section? All the other sections, I had time left over. I'm good at math, but I always run out of time here. If you don't know how to solve/set up a problem, pick an answer, mark it, skip it, move on. Don't get bogged down. Know the sin/cos chart. I had three questions that dealt with this, and if you already have the chart written on scratch paper, you can fly through these. I only had one probability, two perm/combinations. Also, smart estimating will save you crucial time on this section. In general, easier than any of the pre-tests I took, but do as many as you can so you can identify each problem quickly.

Kaplan BB test (week prior): PA 20, BIO 17, GC 15, OC 16, RC 20, QR 16
TS (day before): PA 18, BIO 18, GC 16, OC 16, RC 21, QR 18

Good Luck to All

👍

 

[J10sstar]

Congrats on your outstanding scores! Don't worry about the PAT, it seems to me that the majority of d schools aren't concerned with this score. But anyways, I was wondering how you studied for the Bio section if the Kaplan Blue book wasn't enough?? I've just been using the Kaplan book and the flash cards plus TS/Kaplan tests. Did you break out your Bio textbook??

Thanks and congrats again!

 

[luder98]

I totally agree with you on the QR. I'm disappointed with my 20 too. I ran out of time. Plus, when I "finished" the last question, it would not let me use the "Go To Question" button. It only let me review the "Marked". So watch out. I also had many many long word problems. I felt like I took RC twice that day.

 

[DrTacoElf]

Ditto QR was hard -- I got a 19 on it. However, I did not run out of time. Guess I missed more than I thought on it -- I was expecting 20+ for this section honestly.

 

[shindrome]

i second drtaco. i ended up with 19 and was expecting 20+. study trig! study trig! study trig! study trig! study trig! study trig! study trig!

 

[jdcinza13]

I second the study trig part. I never took trig, or physics before I took the test and I got a 14 QR...I'd do better now, especially with a little bit of physics under my belt.

 

[DMD_DREAMING]

Okay I promised some particulars, and for what its worth, here were my impressions/experiences. Bear in mind that I agree with a previous post that implied that the DAT is a bit of "the luck of the draw." There are so few questions about so much material, if the stars are in alignment, you could have a great day. In other words, study everything so you are sure you have at least a good day! (great help, huh!). I studied for about 2 and a half months, and studied all the time (waiting for takeout at restaurants, during slow times at work, during lunch, during times when all my friends were doing fun stuff). Heck, even if you're watching TV, you could practice PA stuff. The point is, put the time in, and it will pay off for you. That's what you'll have to do in dental school, right? After studying for a month, I knew I didn't want to have to take it again, so if you aren't ready, postpone it (its really a great luxury to have-I postponed mine twice).

Scores: AA 21 PA 17.

PA 17. I agree with previous posts. The keyholes are a little more difficult, angles a little more difficult. My paper folding was about the same. Just practice so you get used how to visualize everything. I didn't study this section as much and it showed. Also, take a minute and clear your head after the science sections. My mind was fried after taking them (why don't they put the PA after the break, with the QR?).

Bio 20. The questions were generally much harder than anything I had taken on TS or Kaplan BB or AcetheDat. Study everything to cover yourself. I had some taxonomy, H-W speciation, punnet squares, symbiosis, glycolysis, early biological beginnings. I studied more for this section than anything, and don't think I would have done as well had I not studied everything in some depth. Kaplan Blue Book will not cut it! Just use it as a guideline.

Gen Chem 21. Easier than anything I saw on any TS, Kaplan. If you know Kaplan Blue Book, you should do fine. Don't forget all the "little stuff" (pt chracteristics, elemental characteristics). Those "easy" points count as much as equations, etc. I had probably 1/2 equations, 1/2 straight definition/theory. As far as equations, I had solubility, acid-base, dilutions, ideal gas (typical plus density). Know how to identify what's reduced or oxidized, and know those oxidation numbers!

Organic 20. Know all the basics. Kaplan Blue Book should serve you well. I thought this was the easiest section. Nothing tricky. I only had one nomenclature, and it was easy. Know SN1, SN2, Eliminations, all the basic reactions, stereo stuff. I had one on amino acid charge.

RC 24. I skimmed the first lines of all of the paragraphs and then started answering questions. I got lucky because one of the passages was something I had studied in Microbiology class, and I read a lot, so I didn't have much trouble here. I had bacterial resistance, disease, and enzyme passages. Take that break and relax so you can concentrate during this section.

QR 19. Why do they cut it so close on this section? All the other sections, I had time left over. I'm good at math, but I always run out of time here. If you don't know how to solve/set up a problem, pick an answer, mark it, skip it, move on. Don't get bogged down. Know the sin/cos chart. I had three questions that dealt with this, and if you already have the chart written on scratch paper, you can fly through these. I only had one probability, two perm/combinations. Also, smart estimating will save you crucial time on this section. In general, easier than any of the pre-tests I took, but do as many as you can so you can identify each problem quickly.

Kaplan BB test (week prior): PA 20, BIO 17, GC 15, OC 16, RC 20, QR 16
TS (day before): PA 18, BIO 18, GC 16, OC 16, RC 21, QR 18

Good Luck to All

👍

Godfather:
Could you elaborate on the difficulty of the cubes, top/front/end, and hole punching? Thanks,

 

[The Godfather]

Godfather:
Could you elaborate on the difficulty of the cubes, top/front/end, and hole punching? Thanks,

Sure. The cubes were about the same, really. I mean how hard can it be. The best advice was something I read in one of the books about making a complete and consistently ordered count of all the cubes. I started with the top row, and would count the sides of the most foward facing cube on the left, then any behind it, and then I'd work my way across in a similar manner . I'd mark all the cubes of that top level, and then draw a line, and go to the next level and continue in the same manner, and so on. I know it may seem time consuming, but you don't run the risk of missing any cubes this way. And once you have them all counted, it takes only seconds to get your answers. You actually save time by not counting cubes again and again. You might already know this method, but maybe it will help someone else. The top/front/end was similar to Ace The DAT, which is also good for QR, mostly because they explain how to arrive at the answers. I think the top/front/end were harder than topscore. The hole punching was actually pretty easy compared to anything in Topscore or Ace the DAT. I had several with only a total of two or three holes. I had a couple angled folds combined with vertical or horizontal, that were more difficult. In fact, it seemed that they were either really easy, or really hard. On an additional note, I found the pattern folding easier or at the same level as Topscore. I finished the PA with about 12 minutes to spare, and used the time to go over my toughest section: top/front/end. In fact, I skipped past it after I did a couple because I didn't want to miss any of the easier sections, and came back to it. You are only scored on how many you get right, not how many you get right of your toughest section. Be warned about any advice I give, though. I feel silly giving so much advice about the section in which I scored the lowest, but at least someone may benefit from my misfortune.
👍

 

[DMD_DREAMING]

Sure. The cubes were about the same, really. I mean how hard can it be. The best advice was something I read in one of the books about making a complete and consistently ordered count of all the cubes. I started with the top row, and would count the sides of the most foward facing cube on the left, then any behind it, and then I'd work my way across in a similar manner . I'd mark all the cubes of that top level, and then draw a line, and go to the next level and continue in the same manner, and so on. I know it may seem time consuming, but you don't run the risk of missing any cubes this way. And once you have them all counted, it takes only seconds to get your answers. You actually save time by not counting cubes again and again. You might already know this method, but maybe it will help someone else. The top/front/end was similar to Ace The DAT, which is also good for QR, mostly because they explain how to arrive at the answers. I think the top/front/end were harder than topscore. The hole punching was actually pretty easy compared to anything in Topscore or Ace the DAT. I had several with only a total of two or three holes. I had a couple angled folds combined with vertical or horizontal, that were more difficult. In fact, it seemed that they were either really easy, or really hard. On an additional note, I found the pattern folding easier or at the same level as Topscore. I finished the PA with about 12 minutes to spare, and used the time to go over my toughest section: top/front/end. In fact, I skipped past it after I did a couple because I didn't want to miss any of the easier sections, and came back to it. You are only scored on how many you get right, not how many you get right of your toughest section. Be warned about any advice I give, though. I feel silly giving so much advice about the section in which I scored the lowest, but at least someone may benefit from my misfortune.
👍

Thanks for the additional info. Did you use the event counting method for the top/front/end? I used to only get maybe like 6 right before using it. Now, I get around 13 right. Also, cubes and hole punching are my strongest. The angles are also strong for me usually; however, everyone's comments on the forums make me nervous on the real thing. I am averaging 19-21 on practice tests right now so hopefully I can get a 17. Again, thanks and your scores are good enough to get in somewhere definitely. So, sit back and relax.

 

[The Godfather]

Thanks for the additional info. Did you use the event counting method for the top/front/end? I used to only get maybe like 6 right before using it. Now, I get around 13 right. Also, cubes and hole punching are my strongest. The angles are also strong for me usually; however, everyone's comments on the forums make me nervous on the real thing. I am averaging 19-21 on practice tests right now so hopefully I can get a 17. Again, thanks and your scores are good enough to get in somewhere definitely. So, sit back and relax.

Thanks for the kind words. I'm definently more relaxed, but I've still got those interviews. I see doing good on the DAT's as just the next step. Boy, I will be ready for this stuff to be over. As far as the top/front/end, it sounds like you have a good method. I didin't really have much of one so I can't really advise you (like I said, I practiced the least for the PA, and it showed). Generally, I just compared the dashed lines from the two different views. These were usually the easiest thing to identify. I really wouldn't worry too much about the angles. If you are getting good scores on the practice, you probably will do fine on this section. I consistently would get 15 out of 15 on Topscore and AceTheDAT. I used the method of "parking" the most, where you try to imagine one angle fitting inside another angle. It worked really well for me. It would be nice if they would tell you how you did on each individual section, but I guess the schools don't need any more variables than they already have. The only advice I can give you is to practice as much as possible. The more of these exercises you do, the easier it will be. BTW I was averaging about the same on Topscore and ACEthe DAT as you were. Also, try to close your eyes and take a deep breath after the Science section. I think if I would have take a minute to do that, I would have scored higher. It's easy to get freaked out during such an important test, so do anything you can to stay chill! 👍

 

[DMD_DREAMING]

Thanks for the kind words. I'm definently more relaxed, but I've still got those interviews. I see doing good on the DAT's as just the next step. Boy, I will be ready for this stuff to be over. As far as the top/front/end, it sounds like you have a good method. I didin't really have much of one so I can't really advise you (like I said, I practiced the least for the PA, and it showed). Generally, I just compared the dashed lines from the two different views. These were usually the easiest thing to identify. I really wouldn't worry too much about the angles. If you are getting good scores on the practice, you probably will do fine on this section. I consistently would get 15 out of 15 on Topscore and AceTheDAT. I used the method of "parking" the most, where you try to imagine one angle fitting inside another angle. It worked really well for me. It would be nice if they would tell you how you did on each individual section, but I guess the schools don't need any more variables than they already have. The only advice I can give you is to practice as much as possible. The more of these exercises you do, the easier it will be. BTW I was averaging about the same on Topscore and ACEthe DAT as you were. Also, try to close your eyes and take a deep breath after the Science section. I think if I would have take a minute to do that, I would have scored higher. It's easy to get freaked out during such an important test, so do anything you can to stay chill! 👍

Thanks for the advice and good luck with the interviews. I have always found when interviewing that confidence and friendliness help as well as having a few canned answers ready for the interviewer. You have to sell yourself during that time. It is hard to walk the line between arrogance and confidence to show that you have the potential to handle the times ahead.

 

[jessUMD]

Thanks for the additional info. Did you use the event counting method for the top/front/end? I used to only get maybe like 6 right before using it. Now, I get around 13 right. Also, cubes and hole punching are my strongest. The angles are also strong for me usually; however, everyone's comments on the forums make me nervous on the real thing. I am averaging 19-21 on practice tests right now so hopefully I can get a 17. Again, thanks and your scores are good enough to get in somewhere definitely. So, sit back and relax.

What exactly is the event couting method for the top/front/end section? i have found that section to be the hardest so any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Sprgrover]

Congratulations on those scores - not bad, not bad at all! 👍