- Joined
- Dec 25, 2012
- Messages
- 65
- Reaction score
- 21
Hey guys,
I'm so glad that it's finally over. This is my second time taking the DAT and I couldn't be happier with my scores.
I was aiming for a 22+ so I think it really helps to set high expectations for yourself.
PAT: 22
QR: 18
RC: 20
BIO: 20
GC: 21
OC: 24
TS: 21
AA: 21
The first time I studied for the DAT, I went through all of Chad's videos/quizzes, used Cliff's for bio, and practiced using qVault/Crack the DAT PAT. I did buy the destroyer and went through the gen chem/orgo sections but I was having a really hard time grasping the concepts. I'd spend so much time trying to figure out problems that it took up a substantial amount of my studying time... when it was time to take my exam, I had only gotten through Destroyer once and forgot a lot of the basics. I let my nerves get the best of me and knew my scores did not represent my true potential... Application cycle came around and DAT scores were holding me back.
When I first started studying for this test the second time around, I also knew that I'd have to do things differently. The materials I used were Cliff's AP Bio (9/10), Feralis Biology Notes (9/10), Chad's videos and quizzes (11/10), DAT Bootcamp (11/10,), Qvault (Bio- 10/10, Ochem/Gchem 7/10), Math Destroyer (9/10), and DAT Destroyer (10/10). I did not rewatch Chads videos because I took very good notes when I first watched them last year. I reviewed these notes throughout the first few weeks of studying (5 weeks of studying total) and then did my best to strictly memorize everything that was presented. I went through all of Cliff's and feralis bio notes and practiced PAT every other day using Bootcamp. Next thing I knew, my exam was in t-minus 3 weeks so I kicked things into high gear...
I went through all of the bootcamp exams twice (once ~20 days before the test and another ~12 days before). The first time I did all of the practice exams, I wrote down everything I got wrong and understood the reasons why. I made a separate set of notes that contained my errors from bootcamp/qvault and thought this was REALLY helpful. I read through all of these notes at least 10 times before my test date (once every other day).
PAT: Use bootcamp. Keyhole was comparable, TFE was simple enough, angles weren't bad (whew... I looked for the smallest between the options and went from there), hole punching was a piece of cake (infamous line of symmetry method), cube counting was easier than any bc test, and pattern folding was not too bad (still easier than bc). Overall, this section is easier than bc. I was averaging 19-20 on all bc tests.
QR: I neglected this section. I don't know, I felt like I needed to spend more time studying for the sciences and just really didn't care for it. Was hoping that I'd score at least an 18+. I went through the first 5 tests of math destroyer (untimed). Very similar to the real thing... bc is not representative at all. I only did one exam and it is definitely harder than the real thing.
RC: So I was averaging a 20 on bc. I think I got a 20 because this section was actually harder than I thought it'd be. I thought it was comparable to bc. I did not use search and destroy because I did that the first time I took the test and panicked. I think reading and mapping out the passage just works out better for me. I did 3 tests using bc to find a method that I was comfortable with. One of my passages was just really strange (very happy I did not use s&d).
BIO: Went through Cliff's AP Bio and Feralis twice. Made a bunch of notecards... QVault was fantastic. Averaged a 19 on bc.
GC: Chad for the basics and then use destroyer for practice. I was about to skip out on the destroyer because I felt like it wasn't very beneficial the first time I took the exam.
***Make sure you have memorized the basics (Chad's) of the gen chem/orgo sections before starting destroyer! This really is the way to go. I knew how to use it the second time I took the exam and thought it was much more helpful this way. I used to despise this book but it really is a gem. I'm so unbelievably happy that I sucked it up and decided to go through it again. You learn so much more and save so much time by knowing what you're doing before diving into it.***
BC was great practice (averaging a 19) and qvault was pretty good. I definitely caught some errors but one of my DAT questions was really similar to a question I encountered in qvault, so it definitely helped as well.
OC: Destroyer was great. Road maps are awesome but be sure to go over the lab techniques as well! I was averaging a 21 on bc so I'm definitely happy with this score. Qvault OC sucks... waste of time in my opinion.
So that's that. I'm finally done and definitely not retaking. No more DAT forever I posted this because I know how stressful the entire process can be. The biggest mistake I made was letting my nerves get the best of me the first time I took this exam. If I could go back in time, I would do so many things differently. Stay strong and be confident! Go into that exam with the right mindset and anything is possible... Good luck! 
I'm so glad that it's finally over. This is my second time taking the DAT and I couldn't be happier with my scores.
I was aiming for a 22+ so I think it really helps to set high expectations for yourself.PAT: 22
QR: 18
RC: 20
BIO: 20
GC: 21
OC: 24
TS: 21
AA: 21
The first time I studied for the DAT, I went through all of Chad's videos/quizzes, used Cliff's for bio, and practiced using qVault/Crack the DAT PAT. I did buy the destroyer and went through the gen chem/orgo sections but I was having a really hard time grasping the concepts. I'd spend so much time trying to figure out problems that it took up a substantial amount of my studying time... when it was time to take my exam, I had only gotten through Destroyer once and forgot a lot of the basics. I let my nerves get the best of me and knew my scores did not represent my true potential... Application cycle came around and DAT scores were holding me back.
When I first started studying for this test the second time around, I also knew that I'd have to do things differently. The materials I used were Cliff's AP Bio (9/10), Feralis Biology Notes (9/10), Chad's videos and quizzes (11/10), DAT Bootcamp (11/10,), Qvault (Bio- 10/10, Ochem/Gchem 7/10), Math Destroyer (9/10), and DAT Destroyer (10/10). I did not rewatch Chads videos because I took very good notes when I first watched them last year. I reviewed these notes throughout the first few weeks of studying (5 weeks of studying total) and then did my best to strictly memorize everything that was presented. I went through all of Cliff's and feralis bio notes and practiced PAT every other day using Bootcamp. Next thing I knew, my exam was in t-minus 3 weeks so I kicked things into high gear...
I went through all of the bootcamp exams twice (once ~20 days before the test and another ~12 days before). The first time I did all of the practice exams, I wrote down everything I got wrong and understood the reasons why. I made a separate set of notes that contained my errors from bootcamp/qvault and thought this was REALLY helpful. I read through all of these notes at least 10 times before my test date (once every other day).
PAT: Use bootcamp. Keyhole was comparable, TFE was simple enough, angles weren't bad (whew... I looked for the smallest between the options and went from there), hole punching was a piece of cake (infamous line of symmetry method), cube counting was easier than any bc test, and pattern folding was not too bad (still easier than bc). Overall, this section is easier than bc. I was averaging 19-20 on all bc tests.
QR: I neglected this section. I don't know, I felt like I needed to spend more time studying for the sciences and just really didn't care for it. Was hoping that I'd score at least an 18+. I went through the first 5 tests of math destroyer (untimed). Very similar to the real thing... bc is not representative at all. I only did one exam and it is definitely harder than the real thing.
RC: So I was averaging a 20 on bc. I think I got a 20 because this section was actually harder than I thought it'd be. I thought it was comparable to bc. I did not use search and destroy because I did that the first time I took the test and panicked. I think reading and mapping out the passage just works out better for me. I did 3 tests using bc to find a method that I was comfortable with. One of my passages was just really strange (very happy I did not use s&d).
BIO: Went through Cliff's AP Bio and Feralis twice. Made a bunch of notecards... QVault was fantastic. Averaged a 19 on bc.
GC: Chad for the basics and then use destroyer for practice. I was about to skip out on the destroyer because I felt like it wasn't very beneficial the first time I took the exam.
***Make sure you have memorized the basics (Chad's) of the gen chem/orgo sections before starting destroyer! This really is the way to go. I knew how to use it the second time I took the exam and thought it was much more helpful this way. I used to despise this book but it really is a gem. I'm so unbelievably happy that I sucked it up and decided to go through it again. You learn so much more and save so much time by knowing what you're doing before diving into it.***
BC was great practice (averaging a 19) and qvault was pretty good. I definitely caught some errors but one of my DAT questions was really similar to a question I encountered in qvault, so it definitely helped as well.
OC: Destroyer was great. Road maps are awesome but be sure to go over the lab techniques as well! I was averaging a 21 on bc so I'm definitely happy with this score. Qvault OC sucks... waste of time in my opinion.
So that's that. I'm finally done and definitely not retaking. No more DAT forever
I posted this because I know how stressful the entire process can be. The biggest mistake I made was letting my nerves get the best of me the first time I took this exam. If I could go back in time, I would do so many things differently. Stay strong and be confident! Go into that exam with the right mindset and anything is possible... Good luck! Attachments
Last edited:
Was hoping that I'd score at least an 18+. I went through the first 5 tests of math destroyer (untimed). Very similar to the real thing... bc is not representative at all. I only did one exam and it is definitely harder than the real thing.
