Destroyer......TIME???

[jdoc04]

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For those of you who have studied with DAT Destroyer. How long does it take to finish it?

 

[Anemone]

For those of you who have studied with DAT Destroyer. How long does it take to finish it?

Only after you go through the basic science stuff first, it shouldnt take you more than a week or two,tops. When I took the test,it took me <1 week, but I was studying something ridiculous like 15 hrs/day.

 

[litldime]

For those of you who have studied with DAT Destroyer. How long does it take to finish it?

it's up to you....you have to personalize how you use it...i don't just answer the questions but i look at the explanations and do some further reading in books..so it'll take me longer...but i'm sure others just answer the questions and review the sol for what they missed....so everyone's style is different.
-ld

 

[jdoc04]

Only after you go through the basic science stuff first, it shouldnt take you more than a week or two,tops. When I took the test,it took me <1 week, but I was studying something ridiculous like 15 hrs/day.

Thanks for the info! I was planning on dedicating the month of July to destroyer. I am almost finished with the Kaplan book and subject exams etc.... I'm getting Achiever, Top Score & Destroyer for my final assault on the DAT!!!!!!

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

it's up to you....you have to personalize how you use it...i don't just answer the questions but i look at the explanations and do some further reading in books..so it'll take me longer...but i'm sure others just answer the questions and review the sol for what they missed....so everyone's style is different.
-ld

yup true....like for bio it took me 5 days (about 8 hrs/day) because i was going in depth about each topic. But for QR it only took me 1 day (6hrs) because i didnt have to go in depth about that topic!

So it depends how you do it! good luck! Destroyer is really helpful.

 

[Anemone]

Thanks for the info! I was planning on dedicating the month of July to destroyer. I am almost finished with the Kaplan book and subject exams etc.... I'm getting Achiever, Top Score & Destroyer for my final assault on the DAT!!!!!!

lock yourself in a room with destroyer, your science notes, and topscore and achiever for a month or so, you should be good to go.

 

[litldime]

yup true....like for bio it took me 5 days (about 8 hrs/day) because i was going in depth about each topic. But for QR it only took me 1 day (6hrs) because i didnt have to go in depth about that topic!

So it depends how you do it! good luck! Destroyer is really helpful.

when are you taking your test? you did bio...all day long?? dayum...i don't know if i can do that...trying to do bio,chem,orgo at the same time...it suxs!
-ld

 

[litldime]

lock yourself in a room with destroyer, your science notes, and topscore and achiever for a month or so, you should be good to go.

do you mind answering a question?

I'm having problems hydrolyzing the salt FeCl3.i know you have to remove spectator ions, then what.....i know this is pretty easy but I'm not getting it...
please help
thanxs,
-ld

 

[predent0305]

I just started destroyer today- should I finish it first before taking the topscore and achiever tests? I have about a month till test day- and I am not sure how to balance my time. What did you guys do?

 

[litldime]

I just started destroyer today- should I finish it first before taking the topscore and achiever tests? I have about a month till test day- and I am not sure how to balance my time. What did you guys do?

i would work on the practice tests and destroyer... i do a practice test about every 10 days to see where i'm improving, what i need to focus on etc...it helps me get used to taking a test for 4 hrs and it also helps me see reoccuring problem areas, so i can work on em...

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

when are you taking your test? you did bio...all day long?? dayum...i don't know if i can do that...trying to do bio,chem,orgo at the same time...it suxs!
-ld

I am planning on taking the test on 1st or 2nd week of Aug.

I am taking summer classes so i get about 3 days a week to completely focus on DAT. And on those 3 days I try to study 8 hrs. I feel Bio is the section that I am weak at & I need to study the most since it is so important. So i started with bio. I read kaplan blue book, schuams destroyer & then took 2 topscore tests. I got really low score on topscore & i was very disappointed that even after spending so much time i ended up getting low score🙄
Anyways i wanted to get done with Bio first & then move on to other sections.

No i dont like to study 4 different subjects in 1 day. I like to focus on 1 section finish studying for that particular section & take topscore to see how I am doing. I finished bio, PAT & QR. I am planning on starting RC today.

Let me know if you need more info. Good luck!🙂

 

[Anemone]

maybe we should make a massive question-answer thread like me and some of the other sdners did while studying for the test last summer..hmm..

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

I just started destroyer today- should I finish it first before taking the topscore and achiever tests? I have about a month till test day- and I am not sure how to balance my time. What did you guys do?

I would say finish studying first...like destroyer, kaplan, schuams etc. Then take the practice tests like topscore, achiever to see what you need to review!

That's my opinion! Try different ways to find out what suits you best.

 

[poc91nc]

When I first started doing my homework (looking into the destroyer through past threads), I noticed that most people used the Destroyer as a final touch up project to tie up any remaining loose ends.

However, when I actually purchased the material...and carefully went over it for about a day, I realized that the material is very comprehensive and could serve as a stand alone guide.

Given the amount of comprehensive problems in the Destroyer, I found that the book laid out a strong foundation for a wide variety of commonly asked questions. Common sense regarding the nature of standardized tests told me that much of the material tested on the DAT would be "timeless." In essence, the questions only change in form, but the root of such problems always remain the same. This is probably most true for the general chemistry and organic chemistry sections.

At the end of the day, it really varies on how you learn. Some people like to review everything they feel is necessary before starting to tackle problems. Other people such as myself, prefer to work backwards and do problems first. If you find yourself having a hard time focusing your review sessions, like myself, I think you will find the Destroyer to be even more beneficial b/c it will focus your reviews and allow them to be more specific.

 

[denttiger]

I agree with Anemone.. lets start a good question thread like last year for all of us taking the exam soon. It can't hurt. Anybody have any questions made up already?

 

[Toothguy80]

I studied Destroyer, it took me a month to finish it and fully understand it.

The Bio is really hard and good, I constantly have to review it.

 

[Anemone]

I agree with Anemone.. lets start a good question thread like last year for all of us taking the exam soon. It can't hurt. Anybody have any questions made up already?

someone make a thread and ill start posting questions in it.

 

[busupshot83]

When I first started doing my homework (looking into the destroyer through past threads), I noticed that most people used the Destroyer as a final touch up project to tie up any remaining loose ends.

However, when I actually purchased the material...and carefully went over it for about a day, I realized that the material is very comprehensive and could serve as a stand alone guide.

I agree 100%! The Destroyer CAN be used as a stand-alone guide, but be sure to have your science textbooks on hand, because it is tough. Furthermore, your textbooks will provide any additional background information on topics which the Destroyer assumes you to know.

As for the thread's original question, the speed at which you finish the Destroyer is correlated to what you are using the Destroyer for. If you are using the book as a final-review guide, then you can go through in it a couple of days. If you are using the book as a stand-alone guide, then count on a good month or two (depending on how long you are removed from the science courses).

 

[busupshot83]

do you mind answering a question?

I'm having problems hydrolyzing the salt FeCl3.i know you have to remove spectator ions, then what.....i know this is pretty easy but I'm not getting it...
please help
thanxs,
-ld

Here's how to hydrolyze a salt:

1) React the salt with water, and do double replacement to get your backbone equation (write HOH instead of H2O to make it easier):

FeCl3 + HOH <--> FeOH + HCl

2) remove any spectator ions (K+, Li+, NH4+, Na+, Br-, Cl-, NO3-) from the equation... this is your equilibrium dissociation equation:

Fe- + HOH <--> FeOH- + H+

3) If the question asks what the pH of the solution will be after the salt dissociates, simply look at the final equation's products' acidity/basicity:

remember the basics...
strong acid + strong base = neutral solution (pH = 7)
strong acid + weak base = acidic solution (pH < 7)
weak acid + strong base = basic solution (pH > 7)

FeOH is a weak base
H+ is a strong acid

strong acid + weak base = acidic solution (pH < 7)

someone correct me if i'm wrong... thanks.

 

[litldime]

Here's how to hydrolyze a salt:

1) React the salt with water, and do double replacement to get your backbone equation (write HOH instead of H2O to make it easier):

FeCl3 + HOH <--> FeOH + HCl

2) remove any spectator ions (K+, Li+, NH4+, Na+, Br-, Cl-, NO3-) from the equation... this is your equilibrium dissociation equation:

Fe- + HOH <--> FeOH- + H+

3) If the question asks what the pH of the solution will be after the salt dissociates, simply look at the final equation's products' acidity/basicity:

remember the basics...
strong acid + strong base = neutral solution (pH = 7)
strong acid + weak base = acidic solution (pH < 7)
weak acid + strong base = basic solution (pH > 7)

FeOH is a weak base
H+ is a strong acid

strong acid + weak base = acidic solution (pH < 7)

someone correct me if i'm wrong... thanks.

THANKS!!
-ld