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- Apr 21, 2008
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I took the DAT yesterday and achieved pretty solid scores for all sections. Here I would like to share my studying strategy.
Study resources: Kaplan blue book, Schaum's bio, DAT destroyer, Topscore, Barron's for PAT, Wikipedia, and textbooks for reference.
QR:
Yes, I believe QR has become harder, judging from the fact that most current study aids are easier than the real test. My recommendations would be:
1) Practice a lot, preferrably everday.
2) Try to find the quickest way to solve every type of questions. Most questions appearing on the test are not difficult, but you have to work through them efficiently to finish on time.
3) Rework every problem that you did wrong or took you a long time. And again, find the most efficient method to solve the problem.
RC:
Personally I don't believe there are any effective tips or techniques that can boost your RC score significantly in a short frame of time. Building a solid foundation is critical.
1) I read New York Times and Wall Street Journal everday during most of my spare time. One passage on the test was actually very similar to a news article about aspirin I read a while back in NYT.
2) In case if any articles about dentistry show up, I recommend you to look up common terms used in oral anatomy and oral biology (maxilla, mandiable, cementum, alveolar process, ameloblast, etc), just so you you have a basic idea of what's going on in the passage.
3) Think critically while reading. This can greatly improve your ability to answer conceptual questions and search for key words or sentences when you are looking back. I am a non-native speaker. You guys definitely have the potential to achieve a better score than I did.
BIO:
Think critically while studying, and ALWAYS go back to the textbook or search on wikipedia whenever you are unsure about something.
GC:
Practice a lot by using destroyer.
OC:
Don't just try to memorize the reactions, know the mechanisms thoroughly. Again, practice a lot and go back to the text whenever you feel fuzzy about something.
PA:
I didn't do particulary well on this one, so can't offer much help here. Some people use Crack DAT PAT for practice.
Other tips:
1) Always try to finish a full-length practice test instead of working on each section separately. This way you can get a sense of how the test will be like, and most importantly, learn how to control your emotions during the test.
2) I drank coffee and energy drink right before I stepped into the test room and during the 15 min break. Just a warning though, studies have shown that some people actually felt even more tired and lost focus after the caffeine hype. It worked for me though.
I hope this is helpful to anyone who will take the test soon. Any other comments are appreciated.
Study resources: Kaplan blue book, Schaum's bio, DAT destroyer, Topscore, Barron's for PAT, Wikipedia, and textbooks for reference.
QR:
Yes, I believe QR has become harder, judging from the fact that most current study aids are easier than the real test. My recommendations would be:
1) Practice a lot, preferrably everday.
2) Try to find the quickest way to solve every type of questions. Most questions appearing on the test are not difficult, but you have to work through them efficiently to finish on time.
3) Rework every problem that you did wrong or took you a long time. And again, find the most efficient method to solve the problem.
RC:
Personally I don't believe there are any effective tips or techniques that can boost your RC score significantly in a short frame of time. Building a solid foundation is critical.
1) I read New York Times and Wall Street Journal everday during most of my spare time. One passage on the test was actually very similar to a news article about aspirin I read a while back in NYT.
2) In case if any articles about dentistry show up, I recommend you to look up common terms used in oral anatomy and oral biology (maxilla, mandiable, cementum, alveolar process, ameloblast, etc), just so you you have a basic idea of what's going on in the passage.
3) Think critically while reading. This can greatly improve your ability to answer conceptual questions and search for key words or sentences when you are looking back. I am a non-native speaker. You guys definitely have the potential to achieve a better score than I did.
BIO:
Think critically while studying, and ALWAYS go back to the textbook or search on wikipedia whenever you are unsure about something.
GC:
Practice a lot by using destroyer.
OC:
Don't just try to memorize the reactions, know the mechanisms thoroughly. Again, practice a lot and go back to the text whenever you feel fuzzy about something.
PA:
I didn't do particulary well on this one, so can't offer much help here. Some people use Crack DAT PAT for practice.
Other tips:
1) Always try to finish a full-length practice test instead of working on each section separately. This way you can get a sense of how the test will be like, and most importantly, learn how to control your emotions during the test.
2) I drank coffee and energy drink right before I stepped into the test room and during the 15 min break. Just a warning though, studies have shown that some people actually felt even more tired and lost focus after the caffeine hype. It worked for me though.
I hope this is helpful to anyone who will take the test soon. Any other comments are appreciated.
