DAT vs. MCAT

[Dr. Ortho]

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what is the difference between the DAT and the MCAT? Is one harder than the other?

 

[agaex]

what is the difference between the DAT and the MCAT? Is one harder than the other?

The DAT is very managle compared to the MCAT, testing only over core sciences, basic math, reading comprehension, and perpetual ability (like what the final shape of an unfolded object). Inspite what you might read, the MCAT is longer, harder, and WAY more intense. Side note is that if you prepped for the MCAT, don't worry about the DAT, you will have very comfortable scores 😀

 

[USAF_Dentman]

The DAT is very managle compared to the MCAT, testing only over core sciences, basic math, reading comprehension, and perpetual ability (like what the final shape of an unfolded object). Inspite what you might read, the MCAT is longer, harder, and WAY more intense. Side note is that if you prepped for the MCAT, don't worry about the DAT, you will have very comfortable scores 😀

It depends, i took a practice MCAT test, and i found it not that difficult to get a decent score without good science knowledge, with good scores in the verbal and reading parts, you can get a good score with a low part on the science....

 

[EMORYswim]

what is the difference between the DAT and the MCAT? Is one harder than the other?

I took both the DAT and MCAT, and the MCAT is much harder. 8 Hours of testing, and a 10 hour day is so much harder than the DAT. By the end of the MCAT you are just plain worn out and want to leave. ALso, the DAT does not test physics, nor does it have a writing sample. That being said, the PAT part of the DAT may be difficult for some people who have not prepped for it.

 

[Rezdawg]

Ive taken both, its not even close...MCAT is much more difficult.

*EDIT*

I may as well explain myself.

As far as the sciences are concerned, the DAT tests you on facts. It gives you a question and you basically either know it or dont. In other words, you can memorize the material and spit it back out. On the MCAT, you are given a passage discussing something that you most likely have never heard of. Then, you are asked questions regarding the passage and you are forced to apply what you know to the given passage. This is the major difference...On the DAT, you dont have to know concepts, whereas on the MCAT, if you dont have the concepts down, you dont stand a chance.

Also, the verbal section of the MCAT is much more difficult than the DAT. On the DAT, you search for the answer in the passage and on the MCAT, you'd be lucky to be able to find the answer in the passage. On the MCAT, the highest score I was able to pull for the verbal section was a 7 (45th percentile). On the DAT, I was able to get a 24.

Its just a different beast.

 

[hockeydentist]

Ive taken both, its not even close...MCAT is much more difficult.

*EDIT*

I may as well explain myself.

As far as the sciences are concerned, the DAT tests you on facts. It gives you a question and you basically either know it or dont. In other words, you can memorize the material and spit it back out. On the MCAT, you are given a passage discussing something that you most likely have never heard of. Then, you are asked questions regarding the passage and you are forced to apply what you know to the given passage. This is the major difference...On the DAT, you dont have to know concepts, whereas on the MCAT, if you dont have the concepts down, you dont stand a chance.

Also, the verbal section of the MCAT is much more difficult than the DAT. On the DAT, you search for the answer in the passage and on the MCAT, you'd be lucky to be able to find the answer in the passage. On the MCAT, the highest score I was able to pull for the verbal section was a 7 (45th percentile). On the DAT, I was able to get a 24.

Its just a different beast.

I used some of the MCAT to study from, and it was a lot harder. Just be glad that you don't have to sit in exam for 8 hours, that alone has got to suck.

4 hours and I was ready to get the hell out of the sylvan learning center. 8 hours I think I would have gone mad.

HD

 

[DrTacoElf]

I've taken both and the MCAT is harder for sure. However, the PAT on the DAT isn't a cakewalk either. Also the DAT has math on it. In terms of RC the DAT is more straightforward (less inference).

 

[psiyung]

Ive taken both, its not even close...MCAT is much more difficult.

*EDIT*

I may as well explain myself.

As far as the sciences are concerned, the DAT tests you on facts. It gives you a question and you basically either know it or dont. In other words, you can memorize the material and spit it back out. On the MCAT, you are given a passage discussing something that you most likely have never heard of. Then, you are asked questions regarding the passage and you are forced to apply what you know to the given passage. This is the major difference...On the DAT, you dont have to know concepts, whereas on the MCAT, if you dont have the concepts down, you dont stand a chance.

Also, the verbal section of the MCAT is much more difficult than the DAT. On the DAT, you search for the answer in the passage and on the MCAT, you'd be lucky to be able to find the answer in the passage. On the MCAT, the highest score I was able to pull for the verbal section was a 7 (45th percentile). On the DAT, I was able to get a 24.

Its just a different beast.

I have also taken both. The MCAT is based on a set of principles rather than rules. It is a test unto itself in that the individual must know how to approach the different types of questions it asks. I got a 23 on the DAT after 3-4 weeks of studying and a 33 on the MCAT after 3-4 months of studying. I would have to say that on a scale of 1-10, the MCAT ranks an 8 on my difficulty scale, while the DAT ranks a 4

 

[45540]

Well, the MCAT is much more difficult than the DAT in most ways. Besides being more intense (8 hours long) the questions seemed more challenging on the science portion. The DAT is a much more straight forward exam. The questions they ask are primary questions where you simply have to know the answer. The MCAT likes to throw secondary questions at you where you have to reason through to get the answer.

but i walked into the DAT not preparing for anything but the MCAT and the PAT portion was a little tricky. I just had no idea what was coming next. It wasn't hard by any means, but it'd have been nice to know i was gonna have to tell which boxes were colored on only 3 sides and what not.

 

[datu]

I have also taken both. The MCAT is based on a set of principles rather than rules. It is a test unto itself in that the individual must know how to approach the different types of questions it asks. I got a 23 on the DAT after 3-4 weeks of studying and a 33 on the MCAT after 3-4 months of studying. I would have to say that on a scale of 1-10, the MCAT ranks an 8 on my difficulty scale, while the DAT ranks a 4

I found the DAT to be little more than a condensed MCAT. Some of the questions were the same, in fact. That the MCAT takes a whole damn day accounts for a big part of why the test is difficult.

For comparison, my scores on both:

MCAT (2000):
PS: 10
BS: 9
VR: 13+

DAT (2002):
AA: 20 (20 science, 16 maths (yowza!), 25 reading)
PA: 22