DAT in a month! What do you think?

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hasanein4u

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Hey guys,

I will take my DAT by the end of August

I just took my Kaplan final exam and here are the results:

BIO 18

GC 18

OC 18

PAT 19 (I used to get over 20-21 before with Kaplan and 18 with Crack PAT but I did not manage the time well this exam)

RC 18 (my english is second language and this is my score since I started studying for DAT)

QR 22
-------------------------
TS 18

AA 19


I have heard that Kaplan test are easier than the real test that's why I am worried because my goal is 19 at least

Is it way easier than the real test or a little bit difference? what do you guys recommend?

Thanks
 
Hey I'm on the same boat as you, DAT in two weeks and have been taking Kaplan practice but I don't know how they compare. No one has replied to my thread either.

I definitely think that PAT is super easy on Kaplan than the real DAT. Have you done Crack the PAT? If not, I should definitely consider getting it. Its much harder than Kaplan and a good indicator of the real exam.

English is also my second language, but maybe try working on that score. Not just because admissions are going to be judging us on that part in the first place (I'm sure they don't cut us any slack on it), but because doing well on it (and QR) improves your AA. Each and every component on the DAT counts so spend equal amounts on everything. I think that's where most people are wrong, where they don't spend too much time on reading or math. Good job on your math by the way!

Your science scores are good, but just keep on going and try to improve. I have heard science is harder on Kaplan but different people say different things. Have you done DAT destroyer or DATqVault?

Good Luck!
 
Yes I'm working on Destroyer which is SUPER HARD and just got Qvault for biology
I started with 16 in math with kaplan but destroyer improved my performance

what are your scores for RC? and what is the best way to improve it?
In kaplan they told us to read articles... I can take good notes and answer but I can do only two passages and the third one is guessing!! thats why I have 18 in all my practice and I am scared because of it.. I know the RC in the real test is harder

I am doing Crack PAT as well and I am getting 18 generally... do you think it is the same as the real test or a little bit harder?
 
Good yeah destroyer is hard but it is really good practice. As long as you understand the concept behind the questions you're getting wrong, then you should be fine. I did destroyer twice and have really solidified some knowledge and improved my scores since then.

My scores for RC have consistently been 21. I tried different techniques when I started out to see what would best work for me. But honestly I think search and destroy works best and saves you time. The strategy kaplan gives us is just too time consuming (at least for me). But with search and destroy I have time to go back to question I marked. Basically what I do is just read the first question and start reading the passage until I find the question. Then look at the next question and continue reading until you find it. But pay attention to what you're reading. That definitely helps in just knowing where to find the answers to the questions that are out of order (ie. the answer to the last question may be on the first paragraph). But practice! Reading for standarized tests is an acquired skill. I strongly believe you can become good at it.

I think CDP should be very close to the real test in overall difficulty. I have heard from multiple people on here that they think different sections are harder or easier. Honestly I think it depend on the person's strengths. What my tactic has been for this is to get really really good at the question types I'm already very strong in and do my best on the ones I'm not (angles haha). For example, I know that if I count the cubes right, I can get 100% on that. TFE is an acquired skill, it's not imposible to figure out. I never count the "events" because I know it doesn't always work and if I get good at visualizing the structures and acquire that skill, then that will help me most on the exam because I will be able to tackle any question.

Hope this helps!
 
I will try your RC strategy I hope it will improve my score and save time for me

good luck on your test... I would love to know how will you do in it
 
Kaplan practice tests are outdated and considered to be harder than the actual exam...that is the general consensus
 
Hey guys,

I will take my DAT by the end of August

I just took my Kaplan final exam and here are the results:

BIO 18

GC 18

OC 18

PAT 19 (I used to get over 20-21 before with Kaplan and 18 with Crack PAT but I did not manage the time well this exam)

RC 18 (my english is second language and this is my score since I started studying for DAT)

QR 22
-------------------------
TS 18

AA 19


I have heard that Kaplan test are easier than the real test that's why I am worried because my goal is 19 at least

Is it way easier than the real test or a little bit difference? what do you guys recommend?

Thanks


My friend..you are on a good path to making well above what you want and with a month left you have plenty of time. Here is what I did and lets just say my score was good.


So for RC..just do Topscore..what you get on there is what you get on the real DAT.

GChem: chads vids and quizzes( take notes), Kaplan subject test only..do gchem destroyer only if you want to...but not necessary. It is overkill..trust me.

Ochem: Do Destroyer 3 times through, work on Chads for the topics that you aren't really good on.

Bio: Destroyer 3 times through( or as many times as you can), takes notes on the answers, read cliffs and review what you don't know from there....honestly that is all I did.

PAT: CDP..done..what you make on a test there is what you will make on the test promise..very similar

Math: math destroyer and even the QR in the regular destroyer( if you want) but more on the MD

I know you didn't ask for this but this is what I did and my scores are very competitive( Praise God). If you are already doing this..then awesome!! If not, ok ..but I would make a friendly suggestion to consider. Also go to the ADA site and do the released 2009 DAT....it is very comparable to the real thing. However beware of the mistakes..because there are a few in every section. I would just do the Nat Sci and the math. It is gold. I finished that test with a certain amount of time to spare and I had a similar amount of time to spare on the real DAT. Took it two week ago today. Good blessings on your test! Keep us updated and let us know your progress and how you do!!!
 
My friend..you are on a good path to making well above what you want and with a month left you have plenty of time. Here is what I did and lets just say my score was good.


So for RC..just do Topscore..what you get on there is what you get on the real DAT.

GChem: chads vids and quizzes( take notes), Kaplan subject test only..do gchem destroyer only if you want to...but not necessary. It is overkill..trust me.

Ochem: Do Destroyer 3 times through, work on Chads for the topics that you aren't really good on.

Bio: Destroyer 3 times through( or as many times as you can), takes notes on the answers, read cliffs and review what you don't know from there....honestly that is all I did.

PAT: CDP..done..what you make on a test there is what you will make on the test promise..very similar

Math: math destroyer and even the QR in the regular destroyer( if you want) but more on the MD

I know you didn't ask for this but this is what I did and my scores are very competitive( Praise God). If you are already doing this..then awesome!! If not, ok ..but I would make a friendly suggestion to consider. Also go to the ADA site and do the released 2009 DAT....it is very comparable to the real thing. However beware of the mistakes..because there are a few in every section. I would just do the Nat Sci and the math. It is gold. I finished that test with a certain amount of time to spare and I had a similar amount of time to spare on the real DAT. Took it two week ago today. Good blessings on your test! Keep us updated and let us know your progress and how you do!!!

that is exactly what I am planning to do... I hate KAPLAN subject tests.. I have done them before but will not do it again I would rather use this time for destroyer
 
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Yes it is , you got it. It is really good...The Kaplan Subject test aren't good overall but for GCHEM..it is pretty good. I saw a question from there was very similar on my DAT!!
 
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