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- May 17, 2005
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Well I can say this much, it went better the second time around. My first attempt was ok, but since I have a low gpa (~3.1 overall and ~ 3.05 science) I knew I needed to do better. I studied for about 2 1/2 months, some days six hours and others two hours (I was taking three summer school classes, so some days were better than others). Anyways, this site helped me a lot, especially deciding on which study aids to use and the aids to avoid. So here is the breakdown for my test this past Saturday:
1st attempt: AA 18, TS 19, Bio 19, GC 20, OC 19, RC 17, QR 16, PAT 17.
2nd attempt: AA 19, TS 20 🙂 Bio 20 🙂 GC 20 🙂 OC 19, RC 19, QR 16😱 PAT 20 🙂
I've come to face the fact that I just suck at math.
Here is what I thought of every section and this may sound a bit cliche, but bear with me.
Biology: When I took the test last year I felt as if my test had gone to hell after this section because it was so random. These were my exact thoughts this year except it turned out a lot better. The best thing for this section is schuam's and high yield biology. My dat had a lot of phylum stuff on it, and it was basically a matter of weeding out answer choices rather than blatantly knowing the answer. My suggestion is to work out as many problems as you can and seek multiple sources, as every author will have a different slant. Highly reccomend: High Yield Biology
G-Chem: This section was fairly easy and I actually thought I did better this time around than last time but I guess not. Anyways, my Kaplan scores sucked on this, for one reason only, kaplan test's your ability to do complicated G-chem (mainly math) in a short period of time, where as the DAT test your basic knowledge of chemistry. It is much easier on the real thing. Average Kaplan score was roughly a 16 (19 once, total fluke). Much more qualitative than quantitative, at least on the two separate tests I've taken. Highly Reccomend: Kaplan, EK1001
O-Chem: Again, easier than kaplan and topscore, yada yada yada, but it always takes me by surprise. I thought I nailed it last year and this year and ended up with the same score. I suck at resonance structures, and NMR, and lucky me, I had three questions pertaining to this stuff. For the most part, know your reactions and Kaplan is sufficient in this area. E1, E2, SN1, SN2, and you're good to go. Highly Reccomend: EK 1001, Kaplan
RC: Buy DatAchiever. I had the stupid stock market passage and I swear it is nearly to DATAchiever's. I also had neurotransmitters and parasympathetic vs. symphathetic nervous system. I used a road map last year and hated it, so this year I just practiced relaxing, sitting back and scanning the passage first and then I just look for answers. As you can tell it worked for me but not everyone. I suggest you find a way and stick with it. Highly Reccomend: DATAchiever!!!!!
QR: Not going to comment on this section because I just suck at it, and it is the main reason why i didn't get a 20 AA, but oh well, I hope the ADCOMS will see this and figure it out. I've come to terms with the fact that I'm horrible at math, I thought I was doing really well too, but ended up with the same score. Highly Reccomend: Anyone or anything but me...
PAT: Buy DATAchiever!!! This was the best investment of my life. This program is so much harder than the real exam that I basically breezed through this section. Even the angles did not seem near as difficult as they did last year (See last year's score). I averaged 19 on DatAchiever and 23 on Kaplan. Get fast and confident with certain sections such as cube counting, top-front-end and hole punching and it will allow you time on other sections that you have trouble with. Highly Reccomend: DATAchiever!!!!!!!
Now that I've written a book I will stop now. Anyways, good luck to everyone, and I hope this improved DAT score will give me an interview or two with my subpar Gpa's..
1st attempt: AA 18, TS 19, Bio 19, GC 20, OC 19, RC 17, QR 16, PAT 17.
2nd attempt: AA 19, TS 20 🙂 Bio 20 🙂 GC 20 🙂 OC 19, RC 19, QR 16😱 PAT 20 🙂
I've come to face the fact that I just suck at math.
Here is what I thought of every section and this may sound a bit cliche, but bear with me.
Biology: When I took the test last year I felt as if my test had gone to hell after this section because it was so random. These were my exact thoughts this year except it turned out a lot better. The best thing for this section is schuam's and high yield biology. My dat had a lot of phylum stuff on it, and it was basically a matter of weeding out answer choices rather than blatantly knowing the answer. My suggestion is to work out as many problems as you can and seek multiple sources, as every author will have a different slant. Highly reccomend: High Yield Biology
G-Chem: This section was fairly easy and I actually thought I did better this time around than last time but I guess not. Anyways, my Kaplan scores sucked on this, for one reason only, kaplan test's your ability to do complicated G-chem (mainly math) in a short period of time, where as the DAT test your basic knowledge of chemistry. It is much easier on the real thing. Average Kaplan score was roughly a 16 (19 once, total fluke). Much more qualitative than quantitative, at least on the two separate tests I've taken. Highly Reccomend: Kaplan, EK1001
O-Chem: Again, easier than kaplan and topscore, yada yada yada, but it always takes me by surprise. I thought I nailed it last year and this year and ended up with the same score. I suck at resonance structures, and NMR, and lucky me, I had three questions pertaining to this stuff. For the most part, know your reactions and Kaplan is sufficient in this area. E1, E2, SN1, SN2, and you're good to go. Highly Reccomend: EK 1001, Kaplan
RC: Buy DatAchiever. I had the stupid stock market passage and I swear it is nearly to DATAchiever's. I also had neurotransmitters and parasympathetic vs. symphathetic nervous system. I used a road map last year and hated it, so this year I just practiced relaxing, sitting back and scanning the passage first and then I just look for answers. As you can tell it worked for me but not everyone. I suggest you find a way and stick with it. Highly Reccomend: DATAchiever!!!!!
QR: Not going to comment on this section because I just suck at it, and it is the main reason why i didn't get a 20 AA, but oh well, I hope the ADCOMS will see this and figure it out. I've come to terms with the fact that I'm horrible at math, I thought I was doing really well too, but ended up with the same score. Highly Reccomend: Anyone or anything but me...
PAT: Buy DATAchiever!!! This was the best investment of my life. This program is so much harder than the real exam that I basically breezed through this section. Even the angles did not seem near as difficult as they did last year (See last year's score). I averaged 19 on DatAchiever and 23 on Kaplan. Get fast and confident with certain sections such as cube counting, top-front-end and hole punching and it will allow you time on other sections that you have trouble with. Highly Reccomend: DATAchiever!!!!!!!
Now that I've written a book I will stop now. Anyways, good luck to everyone, and I hope this improved DAT score will give me an interview or two with my subpar Gpa's..
