Defeated the DAT!!! 7/20

[eapleitez]

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Just got back from my test, here's my scores:

PA 21
QR 22
RC 23
Bio 23
GC 21
OC 25
TS 23
AA 23

👍 😀 👍

Overall, the test was much easier than any of my practice exams IMO, except for the PAT, which had some odd apertures, the hole-punch folds were crazier, and the cube stacks were trickier. Also, didn't think Bio was very hard at all.

I totally surprised myself with these scores, because I was shooting for 19s and 20s. Needless to say, I'm ecstatic. It's finally over! And hopefully my circadian rythym returns to normal. I actually didn't get any sleep last night (insomnia is very bad, especially before the exam of your life).

I pretty much used the Kaplan Blue book, Shaum's on Bio and Chem, Topscore, and another packet of Ochem stuff. I focused the grunt of my studying on the past 20 or so days, for about 8 - 10 hours a day, but I had been looking at the material on and off for about 3 months.

Hallelujah, its finally over! 😱

 

[fannian]

Those are the MOST solid scores I've ever seen. Well Done!

 

[mochafreak]

Those are some awesome scores...

 

[Blackstars]

Just got back from my test, here's my scores:

PA 21
QR 22
RC 23
Bio 23
GC 21
OC 25
TS 23
AA 23

👍 😀 👍

Overall, the test was much easier than any of my practice exams IMO, except for the PAT, which had some odd apertures, the hole-punch folds were crazier, and the cube stacks were trickier. Also, didn't think Bio was very hard at all.

I totally surprised myself with these scores, because I was shooting for 19s and 20s. Needless to say, I'm ecstatic. It's finally over! And hopefully my circadian rythym returns to normal. I actually didn't get any sleep last night (insomnia is very bad, especially before the exam of your life).

I pretty much used the Kaplan Blue book, Shaum's on Bio and Chem, Topscore, and another packet of Ochem stuff. I focused the grunt of my studying on the past 20 or so days, for about 8 - 10 hours a day, but I had been looking at the material on and off for about 3 months.

Hallelujah, its finally over! 😱

Good work, now you can have your beer 🙂

 

[dat_student]

Just got back from my test, here's my scores:

PA 21
QR 22
RC 23
Bio 23
GC 21
OC 25
TS 23
AA 23

👍 😀 👍

Overall, the test was much easier than any of my practice exams IMO, except for the PAT, which had some odd apertures, the hole-punch folds were crazier, and the cube stacks were trickier. Also, didn't think Bio was very hard at all.

I totally surprised myself with these scores, because I was shooting for 19s and 20s. Needless to say, I'm ecstatic. It's finally over! And hopefully my circadian rythym returns to normal. I actually didn't get any sleep last night (insomnia is very bad, especially before the exam of your life).

I pretty much used the Kaplan Blue book, Shaum's on Bio and Chem, Topscore, and another packet of Ochem stuff. I focused the grunt of my studying on the past 20 or so days, for about 8 - 10 hours a day, but I had been looking at the material on and off for about 3 months.

Hallelujah, its finally over! 😱

good job. congrats

 

[jeanniebluebird]

COngrats on doing so well! I was wondering if you could share what your practice exam scores were and which ones did you take ( kaplan, topscore, etc). Thanks. Any info would be appreciated. This way I'll know if I should expect my scores to go up or down and by how much when taking the real thing.

 

[Divineimpetus]

Those are some uber scores. Congratulations.

 

[AUTigers]

COngrats on doing so well! I was wondering if you could share what your practice exam scores were and which ones did you take ( kaplan, topscore, etc). Thanks. Any info would be appreciated. This way I'll know if I should expect my scores to go up or down and by how much when taking the real thing.

Same here, do you mind sharing your practice test scores? Thanks a lot!

Congrats!

 

[786mine]

congrats. good job. i would not mind a copy of the practice exams if possible. thanks.

 

[IcemanDDS]

Wow great job. Now I'm scared/jealous.

 

[eapleitez]

I used Topscore and the Kaplan practice tests, and also the ADA booklet test. The ADA one was rather easy, but I think the chem and ochem from there are fairly close to what you can expect to see, actually. I think the best practice tests were Topscore, they jsut gave me harder questions in all the science and math areas. It hepled me figure out how to work out unfamiliar question types in these areas, so I made sure I knew how to work them before the real thing.

PAT in all of these practice tests were easier than the real thing. The real PAT had some really intricate hol-punch patterns. With cube stacks you had to be more careful in making sure you account for all cubes. To-p-front-end was a mix of easy to moderately difficult. Angle ranking made me want to rip my hair out, I'm sure its where i missed most of the questions. Some apertures were trickier, and you'll get shapes you hav'nt seen on your practice tests. Paper folding was pretty comparable to Topscore and Kaplan, so make sure you know how to figure out what faces lie adjacent and how any patterns they produce should look.

Good luck you guys, and thanks to all at SDN. Those scores would definetely have been lower if it had not been for this place!

 

[eapleitez]

oh yeah, on practice exams i was pulling 19s for Bio, 18-19 for chem, 23-27 for ochem, 17 for math, and 22-23s for PAT, 20s for RC

 

[Bonkers29]

I used Topscore and the Kaplan practice tests, and also the ADA booklet test. The ADA one was rather easy, but I think the chem and ochem from there are fairly close to what you can expect to see, actually. I think the best practice tests were Topscore, they jsut gave me harder questions in all the science and math areas. It hepled me figure out how to work out unfamiliar question types in these areas, so I made sure I knew how to work them before the real thing.

PAT in all of these practice tests were easier than the real thing. The real PAT had some really intricate hol-punch patterns. With cube stacks you had to be more careful in making sure you account for all cubes. To-p-front-end was a mix of easy to moderately difficult. Angle ranking made me want to rip my hair out, I'm sure its where i missed most of the questions. Some apertures were trickier, and you'll get shapes you hav'nt seen on your practice tests. Paper folding was pretty comparable to Topscore and Kaplan, so make sure you know how to figure out what faces lie adjacent and how any patterns they produce should look.

Good luck you guys, and thanks to all at SDN. Those scores would definetely have been lower if it had not been for this place!

those are like the most awesome and consistent scores I've seen, congratz!! and thanks for your detailed explanations.. if you dont mind me asking, how much did Shaum's Biology book help you prepare for the real thing in comparison with just the Kaplan book? Biology is my weakest subject on the DAT and I'm just wondering if I should supplement the Kaplan Review Book as I've heard it was lacking..

Did you use any additional prep for the PAT? I was considering DAT Achiever for it because all I have now is Kaplan. 21 is a great score for someone who found it harder than the practice exams.. I wish I had those scores, hehe. 😳

 

[eapleitez]

Shaums for Bio for me was much more helpful than the Kaplan Bio section. Kaplan bio doesn't go too in depth in some areas, like genetics and each body system. It seems fine for embryonic stuff and hormones.

As for PAT, defenitely get Topscore if you don't already have it. That will give you some good PAT practice. I've heard that DAT Achiever has good PAT practice, but I havnt seen or used it myself.

 

[Bonkers29]

Shaums for Bio for me was much more helpful than the Kaplan Bio section. Kaplan bio doesn't go too in depth in some areas, like genetics and each body system. It seems fine for embryonic stuff and hormones.

As for PAT, defenitely get Topscore if you don't already have it. That will give you some good PAT practice. I've heard that DAT Achiever has good PAT practice, but I havnt seen or used it myself.

I have 3 weeks until my exam and I am currently studying straight from the Kaplan Review notes and I have several practice tests waiting for me when I completely finish the Kaplan book. Like the Kaplan full lengths, and I did purchase Topscore so thats another 3 exams and I also have the Barron's 2 exams.. do you think I still have time for the Shaum's Biology review book? I dont want to spread myself too thin.. I dont know. 🙁 and I am also contemplating purchasing DAT Achiever so thats another 3 exams. What do you think? How much time did you spend on the Shaum's Bio book?

 

[eapleitez]

I probably went through most of the schaums bio in about a week, but I grazed over parts that I was mostly familiar with. You're not teaching yourself this stuff, you're refreshing your memory. If you think you have enough resources to do well, then by all means do what seems to be working for you. You are right, don't spread yourself too thin. But I would suggest to take one of your practice tests right now if you havn't, untimed, to show yourself where you need to spend more time. I only went through maybe 5 practice tests, that's usually enough for most people.

Good luck!