DAT preparation

[Kami]

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Can anyone tell me if it is a good idea to study the Kaplan biology, organic chemistry and general chemistry books to take the DAT. Also how long is the DAT valid?

 

[hootanfellows]

i got a 21 on the science portion and all i did was study the kaplan book. i read each section multiple times and did a number of practice tests and practice problems. the only outside source i used was for the respiration, photosynthesis, and cell division portion of the bio part. i used my notes from bio classes to help
me understand the big picture. hope that helps

 

[amicakes]

i think the kaplan review book serves as a pretty good brief review of things...it's something good to go through for getting the general picture of things. however there are some big topics (mainly for bio) that require more in-depth studying and you should refer to your textbooks/lecture notes for those. i must say that the kaplan book does a pretty decent job with the ochem portion...just make sure to do as many practice problems as you can (that's what i did and i got a 29 on that section). They don't throw complex reactions at you for ochem...just go back and review your SN1, SN2, E1, E2, aldol condensation, boiling pt trends.

i believe the DAT is valid for one year from your test date...but you should double check with ADA to make sure.

 

[Kami]

Thank you for your responses but what about the perceptual ability, the Math and reading parts. Someone told me that doing the problems in Barrons text is helpful.

 

[Serge718]

First I would like to say that I only used the following materials to study for the DAT.

1) Kaplan book
2) Kaplan DAT test (found at the center)
3) Top Score CD

My results:

AA:22
TS: 23
PAT: 17

So as you can see the book is sufficient for the sciences. I recomend using other resources for the PAT because what Kaplan gives you is way too easy. The Kaplan book is thorough enough I would say. Using class notes and etc... may be too much info but then again it depends on what types of notes you have.

By the way the DAT score is valid for 2 years so don't take it too early just to see how you would do that way you don't waste your score.

Good Luck

 

[toothache]

take the test when you feel you can study anymore.