Difficulty of the DAT

[Kiluminati]

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For all of you that have taken the DAT already, which section(s) did you consider to be the most difficult? Which was the most difficult to prepare for? If you could do anything different in your DAT preparation, what would it be and why? Gracias. 🙂

 

[Dr.Bear]

In my opinion, the PAT. I would definitely take more practice PAT's on the computer...

 

[DMD_hopeful]

For all of you that have taken the DAT already, which section(s) did you consider to be the most difficult? Which was the most difficult to prepare for? If you could do anything different in your DAT preparation, what would it be and why? Gracias. 🙂

Wow, the '06 people are starting early..

I agree with Dr. Bear and say that the PAT was the most difficult section. Thankfully it is also the least important section as well. Of course, this depends on the schools you are going to apply to. Some value the PAT and put a greater weight on your score -- for instance, UOP.

Now just because the PAT is the most difficult doesn't mean the rest aren't difficult. Study hard for the whole exam and practice extra hard for the PAT.

Best of luck to you.

 

[3rdMolarRoller]

The DAT is only as hard as you make it.

If you made above a 3.0 in your science classes, then a good month of studying you should be ok.

The DAT is not a very hard test (although it can be if not prepared). I was out of my bio degree two years and only studied a week before taking it. Sure I didn't kill it, but an 18 in my book is ok and 20 on PAT. If I put in my own 2 cents, I'm sure a 20+ would have been possible.

SO to answer your question, the hardest section is the one you spent least time on. Take a practice test and find your weak spots. For instance, I did not touch PAT because I thought it was easy and still got a 20. I got a 19 in O-chem, but a 17 in G-chem. I thought the G-chem was kinda rough on me, only because thats where I spent the least time.

 

[blumnday99]

The PAT

 

[Rezdawg]

PAT is the hardest, yet, its also the section that carries the least weight.

I would go with bio because of the amount of information.

 

[doc_dent]

I had a hard time with General chemistry. I was getting 15-18 on all the practice tests. 2 weeks before taking the test a friend suggested that I develope and memorize a sheet of Gen Chem formulas. I went through my 12 practive tests and wrote down every formula that was used. During the tuturiol given before the test I wrote down those formulas to use when the Gen Chem section arrived. I got a 29! 😱

 

[mtabibian]

I studied only one week and got 22/19/17 (AA/TS/PAT).

I found Org Chem the hardest. You have to memorize all these agents, .....
:-(

If I wanted to take it again, I would study org. chem. a lot more.

 

[highfly413]

Definitely the PAT. Paractice, Practice, Practice....

 

[Sprgrover]

I would have to agree that the PAT is the 'hardest' (I prefer to label it as the 'strangest') part of the DAT.

 

[MSZ]

I thought that the math was the most annoying. I didn't think I had done poorly and it was my lowest score...17. Science wise, everything was much easier than Kaplan. I studied orgo and g-chem in one week, bio in one week, and breezed through the reading and math the third week (which kind of showed). PAT I had studied for about two weeks over the summer. I still say my score was luck or maybe I was just ultra calm. Break down: rdg: 18, mth: 17, orgo: 29, g-chem:25, and bio: 23 (and i didn't feel prepared for the bio...i don't think you ever will), but that's part of the test too.

 

[dane4695]

PAT hands down, especially if your monitor sucks booty. Othrwise, no worries my friend. Everything else can be memorized.

 

[mobius]

math for me i was out of it for 10 years... 16 ugh, i ran out of time and they only gave me one sheet of scratch paper.....