DAT Study Material

[member3434]

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Hi everyone,

I am planning on taking the DAT this fall/winter and am starting to gather materials to study. So far, I plan to use DAT Bootcamp, and the 2016 DAT Destroyer along with the 2016 Math Destroyer. I have also started to practice PAT questions using the DAT Bootcamp app, but do you think this should be enough study material? Does anyone have any additional suggestions? Also, will the 2016 DAT and Math Destroyer be alright for the 2019 exam? I’ve heard the math has changed, so should I try to get the latest one (it’s just really expensive on top of the DAT price jump), but I don’t mind investing a couple hundred extra dollars if it will make all the difference (if I buy the 2018/2019 one instead of the 2016 one).

 

[SpitfireX9]

I would highly recommend getting PATBooster if you're studying early, it's freakin' clutch and a way more representative than DATBootcamp's PAT. Literally the only reason I got a 30 on the PAT. And I don't know if the 2016 version of the Mathdestroyer will be representative, I used the 2018 book myself and thought it covered everything I needed to know.

 

[member3434]

I would highly recommend getting PATBooster if you're studying early, it's freakin' clutch and a way more representative than DATBootcamp's PAT. Literally the only reason I got a 30 on the PAT. And I don't know if the 2016 version of the Mathdestroyer will be representative, I used the 2018 book myself and thought it covered everything I needed to know.

Wow, a 30 on PAT is incredible! I have heard of PATBooster but thought it was more aimed at the Canadian DAT, I will definitely take a look because I’m honestly struggling with the 3 hard sections of the PAT (pattern folding/key holes/TFE) even though I’ve only just started!

 

[DAT Destroyer]

I would highly recommend getting PATBooster if you're studying early, it's freakin' clutch and a way more representative than DATBootcamp's PAT. Literally the only reason I got a 30 on the PAT. And I don't know if the 2016 version of the Mathdestroyer will be representative, I used the 2018 book myself and thought it covered everything I needed to know.

Wow, it is rare indeed to see a 30 on the PAT section! Congratulations!

 

[Chicago_predental]

Hi everyone,

I am planning on taking the DAT this fall/winter and am starting to gather materials to study. So far, I plan to use DAT Bootcamp, and the 2016 DAT Destroyer along with the 2016 Math Destroyer. I have also started to practice PAT questions using the DAT Bootcamp app, but do you think this should be enough study material? Does anyone have any additional suggestions? Also, will the 2016 DAT and Math Destroyer be alright for the 2019 exam? I’ve heard the math has changed, so should I try to get the latest one (it’s just really expensive on top of the DAT price jump), but I don’t mind investing a couple hundred extra dollars if it will make all the difference (if I buy the 2018/2019 one instead of the 2016 one).

I ordered the 2019 version of DAT Destroyer because I have heard the Bio section changed a bit in addition to the math. I emailed them and Nancy suggested the 2019 version and honestly..if you're investing so much already you might as well go for the material that will help the most! I also registered for PATBooster and its WAY better than the PAT on DAT Bootcamp. Hope this helps 🙂

 

[artist2022]

Hi everyone,

I am planning on taking the DAT this fall/winter and am starting to gather materials to study. So far, I plan to use DAT Bootcamp, and the 2016 DAT Destroyer along with the 2016 Math Destroyer. I have also started to practice PAT questions using the DAT Bootcamp app, but do you think this should be enough study material? Does anyone have any additional suggestions? Also, will the 2016 DAT and Math Destroyer be alright for the 2019 exam? I’ve heard the math has changed, so should I try to get the latest one (it’s just really expensive on top of the DAT price jump), but I don’t mind investing a couple hundred extra dollars if it will make all the difference (if I buy the 2018/2019 one instead of the 2016 one).

I thought I answered this question, but it was actually a very similar post that was posted the day before you posted this one 😛

I haven't heard any changes in regards to Bio, but since BC is already so expensive, and knowing the fact that Destroyer recycles many of their questions year to year (I had the 2011 version before I bought the 2017 version, and I could swear all the questions from my 2011 version were in the 2017 one, with maybe like 100-200 new questions), I would just stick with your 2016 version and maybe just buy the 2019 Math Destroyer if you wanted to since the QR section did change.

Word of caution because companies will almost always want you to buy the latest version of their materials (more money for them!), but sometimes you have to do a cost-benefit analysis.

Good luck!

 

[DAT Destroyer]

I thought I answered this question, but it was actually a very similar post that was posted the day before you posted this one 😛

I haven't heard any changes in regards to Bio, but since BC is already so expensive, and knowing the fact that Destroyer recycles many of their questions year to year (I had the 2011 version before I bought the 2017 version, and I could swear all the questions from my 2011 version were in the 2017 one, with maybe like 100-200 new questions), I would just stick with your 2016 version and maybe just buy the 2019 Math Destroyer if you wanted to since the QR section did change.

Word of caution because companies will almost always want you to buy the latest version of their materials (more money for them!), but sometimes you have to do a cost-benefit analysis.

Good luck!

Hi everyone,

I am planning on taking the DAT this fall/winter and am starting to gather materials to study. So far, I plan to use DAT Bootcamp, and the 2016 DAT Destroyer along with the 2016 Math Destroyer. I have also started to practice PAT questions using the DAT Bootcamp app, but do you think this should be enough study material? Does anyone have any additional suggestions? Also, will the 2016 DAT and Math Destroyer be alright for the 2019 exam? I’ve heard the math has changed, so should I try to get the latest one (it’s just really expensive on top of the DAT price jump), but I don’t mind investing a couple hundred extra dollars if it will make all the difference (if I buy the 2018/2019 one instead of the 2016 one).

The test gets harder and harder each year and so does the competition to get into dental school. A few more questions correct in a section can make a huge difference in your score. We do not start from scratch each year and write a brand new 500 page book, we add to and take out questions, modify some questions. A few years back the QR did change and we adjusted our Math Destroyer to meet the changes and also the QR in the DAt Destroyer. We update to keep students competitive, with over 25 years experience we know the territory and what it takes to get a high score. The DAT Destroyer has remained the same price $150 since 2006 and we feel a great value and it does not expire in 90 days. You might get a 30 using the 2016 books, but we only use the most current editions with our classroom students and we get high scores and very few retakes. Yes we are a business and we run for profit, but we give back a lot to the dental community in forms of scholarships, books and time, we pay to sponsor this room and help SDN because it is a non-profit organization and have been with them many many years.

Whatever you decide I wish you the best, the DAT Destroyer is a tough book, but so is the DAT

Nancy.

BTW, as for the Bio section we have added many more questions on pathology, biochemistry, botany and ecology.

 

[Faefly]

Get the latest version, Destroyer adds new questions each year and it is more than worth it especially the bio!

I had destroyer 2017, and 2018 and I think there was about +70 question difference in bio alone!
I would assume,, there is now around more than new 100 questions in each section!

 

[teeth5life]

Has anyone used the new version of Bootcamp? The 800 dollar one? It shows a bunch of new questions but I am unsure if it is really that many more than the 400 priced one!

 

[deleted980501]

Has anyone used the new version of Bootcamp? The 800 dollar one? It shows a bunch of new questions but I am unsure if it is really that many more than the 400 priced one!

$400 is already alot for study prep alone imo.
I'm using the $400 version and feel this covers plenty of information....not sure what else they offer to justify double the price.

Anyone know how DAT Bootcamp scores transfer to actual DAT scores?
I'm taking a few subject tests, i'm getting about ~26/30 raw score but it says that converts to an estimated orgo DAT score of 22... Is that glitched or accurate?

 

[member3434]

I ordered the 2019 version of DAT Destroyer because I have heard the Bio section changed a bit in addition to the math. I emailed them and Nancy suggested the 2019 version and honestly..if you're investing so much already you might as well go for the material that will help the most! I also registered for PATBooster and its WAY better than the PAT on DAT Bootcamp. Hope this helps 🙂

Interesting! Thanks for letting me know! I will definitely get PAT Booster since a lot of people are recommending it! Thank you!

 

[member3434]

I thought I answered this question, but it was actually a very similar post that was posted the day before you posted this one 😛

I haven't heard any changes in regards to Bio, but since BC is already so expensive, and knowing the fact that Destroyer recycles many of their questions year to year (I had the 2011 version before I bought the 2017 version, and I could swear all the questions from my 2011 version were in the 2017 one, with maybe like 100-200 new questions), I would just stick with your 2016 version and maybe just buy the 2019 Math Destroyer if you wanted to since the QR section did change.

Word of caution because companies will almost always want you to buy the latest version of their materials (more money for them!), but sometimes you have to do a cost-benefit analysis.

Good luck!

I’m a little late on this post, but I did end up getting the 2019 Math Destroyer and stuck to the 2016 Regular Destroyer! Honestly, I’m pretty confident on Bio and both Chem Sections, and think that Bootcamp should be enough, but I just wanted to be extra careful and get it for everything. Thank you for your help!!

 

[member3434]

Has anyone used the new version of Bootcamp? The 800 dollar one? It shows a bunch of new questions but I am unsure if it is really that many more than the 400 priced one!

From what I’ve heard, it’s really not worth twice the money. I’ve heard plenty of people who’ve gotten excellent scores using just the regular $400 version of the DAT. And, now with the glitches that are frequently occurring, I don’t know if I would want to invest the extra money. ‍♀️

 

[islanddrive]

Has anyone used the new version of Bootcamp? The 800 dollar one? It shows a bunch of new questions but I am unsure if it is really that many more than the 400 priced one!

I have a friend who bought it and she said it's a rip off. It's basically slightly more questions that are repetitive from the previous tests.

 

[Pearl E. White]

I'm taking a few subject tests, i'm getting about ~26/30 raw score but it says that converts to an estimated orgo DAT score of 22... Is that glitched or accurate?

Could be accurate. It depends what version of the DAT you get. For example, if you get an "easier" version of the exam, it will be a lot more difficult to get a higher score because they compare how you did with how everyone else did on that same version. So, missing only 1 or 2 could drop you to a 24 or 25 in a section. Note these values are hypothetical. It's just to illustrate the purpose.

 

[member3434]

Could be accurate. It depends what version of the DAT you get. For example, if you get an "easier" version of the exam, it will be a lot more difficult to get a higher score because they compare how you did with how everyone else did on that same version. So, missing only 1 or 2 could drop you to a 24 or 25 in a section. Note these values are hypothetical. It's just to illustrate the purpose.

I didn’t know that there are set “versions” of the test; I thought questions are totally randomized and it’s not likely that you will have the same exact questions as someone else. Based on what you said, I can’t help but notice that it’s kind of unfair if someone lucks out with an “easier version” even if the “curve” makes it harder to score better because an “easier version” already implies that the questions are easier and you have a much higher chance getting more right. Whereas, someone who had a harder version may be able to score better by getting more wrong, but the chances of them getting more wrong are a lot higher anyway. Are you positive that there are set “versions” rather than having completely randomized questions from a larger question bank, because otherwise I highly doubt the fairness of the exam.

 

[Pearl E. White]

I didn’t know that there are set “versions” of the test; I thought questions are totally randomized and it’s not likely that you will have the same exact questions as someone else. Based on what you said, I can’t help but notice that it’s kind of unfair if someone lucks out with an “easier version” even if the “curve” makes it harder to score better because an “easier version” already implies that the questions are easier and you have a much higher chance getting more right. Whereas, someone who had a harder version may be able to score better by getting more wrong, but the chances of them getting more wrong are a lot higher anyway. Are you positive that there are set “versions” rather than having completely randomized questions from a larger question bank, because otherwise I highly doubt the fairness of the exam.

You can find more information on scoring here. I understood it to be there are several (unknown quantity) versions of the test. They address the "fairness" of the exam in this FAQ as well.