I took the DAT last July and did ok overall except for ochem, which I completely bombed. I applied in August last year and received a couple interviews but no acceptances. I called all the schools I applied to and they said ochem was definitely what needed to be improved. I just retook the test yesterday and hopefully these scores make me competitive enough this cycle!
Old New
PA 21 23 🙂
QR 19 19
RC 21 22
Bio 21 20
GC 19 20
OC 15 20 😀
TS 18 20
AA 19 20
PA: If you don't have Crack DAT, get it! I just bought the 5 version edition and found it completely worth the price. Most realistic representation of test minus the angles, which are far more difficult than the real test.
QR: I didn't too much to prepare here. Just read through KBB, memorized some formulas and trig identities. I went through a bit of destroyer but not all of it. I honestly thought I bombed this section yesterday though. I had a minute left and guessed on 5 questions. This section is definitely all about timing. The problems aren't too difficult if you have unlimited time, but you have to be quick and try to find shortcuts.
RC: No preparation. Took 2 full length tests so that was all the practice I had. I used the search and destroy method and it seemed to work fairly well. The tone questions weren't too difficult either.
Bio: Last summer I studied an insane amount for this and only got a 21 so this time I just read through KBB and Cliffs AP Bio. Honestly there isn't a really good way to prepare for this section since there will always be some random questions. As most people say on this site... Cliffs definitely trumps Kaplan. Also I found that the courses I took in college were very useful particularly physiology, invertebrate biology, ecology, and microbiology.
GC: I read through KBB for concepts and then did destroyer for problems. I'd say the exam was about half and half. Most of the questions that are problems have the equations set up in the answers so if you can't remember a formula looking at the answers usually triggers something.
OC: Ochem has never been my forte to say the least. Last summer I avoided studying it because I thought I'd never be able to learn it and I thought I could guess my way to at least a 17. Obviously that was wrong. This time around I went to KBB and then looked at the corresponding chapters in my ochem book. I worked out a couple problems at the end of each chapter to make sure I had the concepts down. I then went through destroyer and memorized the road maps, which are a godsend. Overall I spent 5 days doing this and it definitely paid off.
As far as practice tests go I took Topscore and was scoring 18,19,and 20s in the sciences. I took achiever science sections as well and was scoring 14s and 15s.... Obviously those tests are not indicative of the real thing. My best advice would be to ignore your scores on achiever and not let them get you nervous.
Old New
PA 21 23 🙂
QR 19 19
RC 21 22
Bio 21 20
GC 19 20
OC 15 20 😀
TS 18 20
AA 19 20
PA: If you don't have Crack DAT, get it! I just bought the 5 version edition and found it completely worth the price. Most realistic representation of test minus the angles, which are far more difficult than the real test.
QR: I didn't too much to prepare here. Just read through KBB, memorized some formulas and trig identities. I went through a bit of destroyer but not all of it. I honestly thought I bombed this section yesterday though. I had a minute left and guessed on 5 questions. This section is definitely all about timing. The problems aren't too difficult if you have unlimited time, but you have to be quick and try to find shortcuts.
RC: No preparation. Took 2 full length tests so that was all the practice I had. I used the search and destroy method and it seemed to work fairly well. The tone questions weren't too difficult either.
Bio: Last summer I studied an insane amount for this and only got a 21 so this time I just read through KBB and Cliffs AP Bio. Honestly there isn't a really good way to prepare for this section since there will always be some random questions. As most people say on this site... Cliffs definitely trumps Kaplan. Also I found that the courses I took in college were very useful particularly physiology, invertebrate biology, ecology, and microbiology.
GC: I read through KBB for concepts and then did destroyer for problems. I'd say the exam was about half and half. Most of the questions that are problems have the equations set up in the answers so if you can't remember a formula looking at the answers usually triggers something.
OC: Ochem has never been my forte to say the least. Last summer I avoided studying it because I thought I'd never be able to learn it and I thought I could guess my way to at least a 17. Obviously that was wrong. This time around I went to KBB and then looked at the corresponding chapters in my ochem book. I worked out a couple problems at the end of each chapter to make sure I had the concepts down. I then went through destroyer and memorized the road maps, which are a godsend. Overall I spent 5 days doing this and it definitely paid off.
As far as practice tests go I took Topscore and was scoring 18,19,and 20s in the sciences. I took achiever science sections as well and was scoring 14s and 15s.... Obviously those tests are not indicative of the real thing. My best advice would be to ignore your scores on achiever and not let them get you nervous.
