DAT science section timing - Please help !

[sailinx]

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Hello Everyone,

I had already posted this thread on DAT forum, but I haven't received any serious response. May be most of the people who have taken DAT browse only this forum. I would really appreciate any help regarding this.

From my previous post:

I was wondering if any one has encountered any problems with the shortage of time for natural science section on DAT. I took yesterday my first KAPLAN test from the Blue book (not the CDROM yet). I think, I did ok (Bio 19 GC 18 O.Chem 20 QR 20) on it but seems like I pretty much ran out of time (I endup spending an extra 15~20 mins). Because, it was my first test, my focus was on finding out where do I stand with the material I have studied so far and what are my weaker sections. One thing I noticed was that BIO and O.Chem timings were kind of OK but I end up spending way too much time on G.Chem (I think there were too many calculations). Few things I would like to know:

1. What is usually the average time one should spend on each section ? I am assuming even though Bio has 40 questions, I don't think, I can afford 40 minutes, I am guessing between 25~30 minutes and similarly for O.Chem between 22 ~25 mins and rest for G.Chem. Is my assumption correct ?

2. Does real DAT has these many calculation problems as the test in Blue book (again NOT CDROM, the paper exam in Blue book)?

3. How hard is real DAT compared to the test in Kaplan blue book ?

4. Another issue I think that some of the options to the questions were incorrect ? Atleast I know 2 of them in O.Chem section (one resonance problem (according to Kaplan, correct answer has 5 bonds to C which is impossible). Have you encounter the same problem or my understanding is incorrect ?

I have about a month to go before DAT. Any advice to improve my scores and/or timing !

Also, another clarification, I talked to admission director to one of the schools and she informed me that usually people get 2 point less on their real DAT score compared to Kaplan, which completely contradicts all the threads I have read so far. Again please advice.

I apologize for a long post. I would really appreciate your insight.

Thanks,
Sailinx

 

[ianwright]

Hello Everyone,

I had already posted this thread on DAT forum, but I haven't received any serious response. May be most of the people who have taken DAT browse only this forum. I would really appreciate any help regarding this.

From my previous post:

I was wondering if any one has encountered any problems with the shortage of time for natural science section on DAT. I took yesterday my first KAPLAN test from the Blue book (not the CDROM yet). I think, I did ok (Bio 19 GC 18 O.Chem 20 QR 20) on it but seems like I pretty much ran out of time (I endup spending an extra 15~20 mins). Because, it was my first test, my focus was on finding out where do I stand with the material I have studied so far and what are my weaker sections. One thing I noticed was that BIO and O.Chem timings were kind of OK but I end up spending way too much time on G.Chem (I think there were too many calculations). Few things I would like to know:

1. What is usually the average time one should spend on each section ? I am assuming even though Bio has 40 questions, I don't think, I can afford 40 minutes, I am guessing between 25~30 minutes and similarly for O.Chem between 22 ~25 mins and rest for G.Chem. Is my assumption correct ?

2. Does real DAT has these many calculation problems as the test in Blue book (again NOT CDROM, the paper exam in Blue book)?

3. How hard is real DAT compared to the test in Kaplan blue book ?

4. Another issue I think that some of the options to the questions were incorrect ? Atleast I know 2 of them in O.Chem section (one resonance problem (according to Kaplan, correct answer has 5 bonds to C which is impossible). Have you encounter the same problem or my understanding is incorrect ?

I have about a month to go before DAT. Any advice to improve my scores and/or timing !

Also, another clarification, I talked to admission director to one of the schools and she informed me that usually people get 2 point less on their real DAT score compared to Kaplan, which completely contradicts all the threads I have read so far. Again please advice.

I apologize for a long post. I would really appreciate your insight.

Thanks,
Sailinx

There is no chance I'm going to waste time and read this lengthy post! Why don't you rewrite a shorter version. If it's short enough - I might give you a decent response - otherwise it's too long. Just staring at the length of your post is hard work itself.

Maybe someone else is motivated, or cares enough.

 

[ianwright]

Hello Everyone,

I had already posted this thread on DAT forum, but I haven't received any serious response. May be most of the people who have taken DAT browse only this forum. I would really appreciate any help regarding this.

From my previous post:

I was wondering if any one has encountered any problems with the shortage of time for natural science section on DAT. I took yesterday my first KAPLAN test from the Blue book (not the CDROM yet). I think, I did ok (Bio 19 GC 18 O.Chem 20 QR 20) on it but seems like I pretty much ran out of time (I endup spending an extra 15~20 mins). Because, it was my first test, my focus was on finding out where do I stand with the material I have studied so far and what are my weaker sections. One thing I noticed was that BIO and O.Chem timings were kind of OK but I end up spending way too much time on G.Chem (I think there were too many calculations). Few things I would like to know:

1. What is usually the average time one should spend on each section ? I am assuming even though Bio has 40 questions, I don't think, I can afford 40 minutes, I am guessing between 25~30 minutes and similarly for O.Chem between 22 ~25 mins and rest for G.Chem. Is my assumption correct ?

2. Does real DAT has these many calculation problems as the test in Blue book (again NOT CDROM, the paper exam in Blue book)?

3. How hard is real DAT compared to the test in Kaplan blue book ?

4. Another issue I think that some of the options to the questions were incorrect ? Atleast I know 2 of them in O.Chem section (one resonance problem (according to Kaplan, correct answer has 5 bonds to C which is impossible). Have you encounter the same problem or my understanding is incorrect ?

I have about a month to go before DAT. Any advice to improve my scores and/or timing !

Also, another clarification, I talked to admission director to one of the schools and she informed me that usually people get 2 point less on their real DAT score compared to Kaplan, which completely contradicts all the threads I have read so far. Again please advice.

I apologize for a long post. I would really appreciate your insight.

Thanks,
Sailinx

1. BIO - 40 questions, 26 minutes
ORG CHM 30 questions, 27 minutes
INORG CHM 30 questions, 30 minutes
(7 minutes extra to look over nat. sci. section)

2. No - I don't think so

3. Easier - I think

4. Your probably paranoid - just take it easy - and don't sweat a problem or two

 

[JavadiCavity]

1. After taking all of my practice tests through Kaplan, the Bio section took me 15 minutes, the G. Chem. took me 30 min. and the Ochem took me 20 minutes. I had plenty of time to go back and check my answers. You're speed will come with practice.

2. Personally, I thought the Gen Chem calculations on the DAT were less intense/complicated than Kaplan.

3. I thought Kaplan was harder than the DAT. I had a 16 AA on the Kaplan test and a 23 AA on the real DAT.

4. Some of Kaplan's answers are wrong. The DAT was never wrong for me. Just be careful and try to understand each of Kaplan's answers.

5. To improve your score and timing--practice, practice, practice. Many students, including myself, spend 4+ hours a day for 6 weeks studying Kaplan's material. It really helped me improve.

6. The trend I've seen is that people usually improve 2 to 3 points above Kaplan.

 

[sailinx]

1. BIO - 40 questions, 26 minutes
ORG CHM 30 questions, 27 minutes
INORG CHM 30 questions, 30 minutes
(7 minutes extra to look over nat. sci. section)

2. No - I don't think so

3. Easier - I think

4. Your probably paranoid - just take it easy - and don't sweat a problem or two

Thanks ianwright, I appreciate your feedback. I think you were the only one replied to my previous post on DAT forum.

Folks keep on coming the comments. I would like to hear from people who have taken DAT.

Thanks

 

[sailinx]

1. After taking all of my practice tests through Kaplan, the Bio section took me 15 minutes, the G. Chem. took me 30 min. and the Ochem took me 20 minutes. I had plenty of time to go back and check my answers. You're speed will come with practice.

2. Personally, I thought the Gen Chem calculations on the DAT were less intense/complicated than Kaplan.

3. How hard is real DAT compared to the test in Kaplan blue book ?

3. I thought Kaplan was harder than the DAT. I had a 16 AA on the Kaplan test and a 23 AA on the real DAT.

4. Some of Kaplan's answers are wrong. The DAT was never wrong for me. Just be careful and try to understand each of Kaplan's answers.

5. To improve your score and timing--practice, practice, practice. Many students, including myself, spend 4+ hours a day for 6 weeks studying Kaplan's material. It really helped me improve.

6. The trend I've seen is that people usually improve 2 to 3 points above Kaplan.

Thanks JavadiCavity. I appreciate a concise reply (for my long post). BTW, Nice picture ! I have two of my own but they are a little older.

 

[ianwright]

Thanks ianwright, I appreciate your feedback. I think you were the only one replied to my previous post on DAT forum.

Folks keep on coming the comments. I would like to hear from people who have taken DAT.

Thanks

Hey - no problem bud! I'm just trying to MAXIMIZE - that's all!
People have been friendly/great/caring/nice/welcoming/warm to me, and this is the only way I can re-pay their 'goodness' - (to help someone else)

Besides - that is what this forum is all about!

Take care, and good luck with the DAT - if you put in the TIME and EFFORT (like the previous post suggests - there is no reason you cannot 'kill it'.

P.S. - Keep the posts short and to the point - more people will respond (I mean that in the nicest way possible)

 

[mg777]

I used a rather devious method when I took the DAT back in August. I did the BIO section first then skipped through all the GC questions and did Organic. Then i went back and did GC. I had anticipated GC taking the most time, although when i took the real DAT is was easier than I had expected with much less calculations required. I used this method on all my practice tests and planned on using it when I took the real DAT. If youre curious this method got me a 18 BIO 25 GC 25 OC. Bio turned out to be more comprehensive than what I had studied using Kaplan, and then Shaums at the end. I'd recommend using your old college textbooks and reference ADEA's Scope of the Examination for BIO studying along w/ Shaums and Kaplan.

 

[juggamynugga]

don't use your old text books unless you don't understand one of the explanations to one of Kaplan's problems. Spend you time on those problems and reviewing the answers to both the ones that you got right and the ones you got wrong. Spending much time in books is a waste of time and effort because the text books go into much more detail than you will need on the test. understanding the types of questions and doing all the kaplan stuff will over prepare you assuming that you do them ALL.

Also the guy who talked about the "devious" plan is right. you should definitely have a plan going into the test. the same goes for the PAT section. Know going in what your strengths and weaknesses are so that you can do the the sections that are easiest for you first and the harder parts last. after all it does not make any sense to spend 20 minutes on the TOP FRONT END section and still miss 4 or 5 and then not make it to the pattern folding where you might normally only miss one. k thats my advice....lots of practice probs with review and have a plan. GL

oh and its true that most people go up from kaplan, I teach the course and my students generally go up 2-4 points in the sciences and RC, stay about the same in QR and drop 2-3 points in the PAT due to the bad pixels in the angle rankings. My scores did the same when I took it as well.