Done with DAT 1-7-06

[kidsteethyay]

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Hello! I just finished taking the DAT about 5 hours ago, and I just thought that I would share the few things that I remember about it.

The biology part was very straightforward, the questions didn't seem that difficult. Compared to Kaplan and Topscore, I definately scored about 2 points higher on the real thing. The problems in the chemistry sections were much easier than Topscore, just be sure you know all the equations (like vapor pressure, gas laws, thermodynamics, etc.)

The PAT had some funky objects for aperture passing. It was a little harder than Topscore's PAT imo.

Reading comp was easy, my passages were about cell signaling (which was awesome because I just learned about that in cell bio), Mg and the heart, and herbal drugs.

The math section had some easy problems and then there were some hard ones. I almost ran out of time on this section so make sure if there's a question that you're not sure of or its one that will take a long time, mark it and go back at the end. There are plenty of easy problems out there to help raise your score.

If you guys have any questions, I'll try and help! 🙂

 

[sheldonthebird]

Where'd you take it?

 

[maisuree]

Hello! I just finished taking the DAT about 5 hours ago, and I just thought that I would share the few things that I remember about it.

The biology part was very straightforward, the questions didn't seem that difficult. Compared to Kaplan and Topscore, I definately scored about 2 points higher on the real thing. The problems in the chemistry sections were much easier than Topscore, just be sure you know all the equations (like vapor pressure, gas laws, thermodynamics, etc.)

The PAT had some funky objects for aperture passing. It was a little harder than Topscore's PAT imo.

Reading comp was easy, my passages were about cell signaling (which was awesome because I just learned about that in cell bio), Mg and the heart, and herbal drugs.

The math section had some easy problems and then there were some hard ones. I almost ran out of time on this section so make sure if there's a question that you're not sure of or its one that will take a long time, mark it and go back at the end. There are plenty of easy problems out there to help raise your score.

If you guys have any questions, I'll try and help! 🙂

How did u do?
How long did u prepare for it?

 

[kidsteethyay]

I got a 19 academic average. It's not a 24 like some people get on here, but it's enough to get me into dental school and I'm pretty excited about it.

To prepare, I've taken about a year of science classes in college and I've been studying hardcore for the past 3 weeks. I mainly took the DAT outline provided by the ADA and looked through my old textbooks. I know some people on here say not to do that, but I wanted to make sure I was as prepared as I could be. Alot of the material I haven't covered in a college class yet, so going through the textbooks helped. I bought Shaum's bio outline and it is awesome. I also used Kaplan blue book (great for the chemisry sections) and Barrons (great for learning how the PAT works and a review of the math).

I took the test in Illinois.

 

[BabberSher]

Im trying to study the gen. chem portion of the DAT right now and i hate it!
So much crap. It's my weakest subject. Any tips? I'll take anything right now

 

[KHANSAHAAB]

I got a 19 academic average. It's not a 24 like some people get on here, but it's enough to get me into dental school and I'm pretty excited about it.

To prepare, I've taken about a year of science classes in college and I've been studying hardcore for the past 3 weeks. I mainly took the DAT outline provided by the ADA and looked through my old textbooks. I know some people on here say not to do that, but I wanted to make sure I was as prepared as I could be. Alot of the material I haven't covered in a college class yet, so going through the textbooks helped. I bought Shaum's bio outline and it is awesome. I also used Kaplan blue book (great for the chemisry sections) and Barrons (great for learning how the PAT works and a review of the math).

I took the test in Illinois.

\

How did u do on the other sections (i.e. PAT and TS)

 

[teefRcool]

Hello! I just finished taking the DAT about 5 hours ago, and I just thought that I would share the few things that I remember about it.

The biology part was very straightforward, the questions didn't seem that difficult. Compared to Kaplan and Topscore, I definately scored about 2 points higher on the real thing. The problems in the chemistry sections were much easier than Topscore, just be sure you know all the equations (like vapor pressure, gas laws, thermodynamics, etc.)

The PAT had some funky objects for aperture passing. It was a little harder than Topscore's PAT imo.

Reading comp was easy, my passages were about cell signaling (which was awesome because I just learned about that in cell bio), Mg and the heart, and herbal drugs.

The math section had some easy problems and then there were some hard ones. I almost ran out of time on this section so make sure if there's a question that you're not sure of or its one that will take a long time, mark it and go back at the end. There are plenty of easy problems out there to help raise your score.

If you guys have any questions, I'll try and help! 🙂

Woudl u say the bio wording or questions are easier in general compared to kaplans. Did you have a lot of trig on the math section or anything that you saw of a lot that you think is worthy of studying extra. thanks

 

[Future DDS]

Im trying studying the gen. chem portion of the DAT right now and i hate it!
So much crap. It's my weakest subject. Any tips? I'll take anything right now

I'll share what I did.. Read the Kaplan blue book. Do as many DAT problems as you can. If you answer wrong, learn from your mistakes. You're right gen chem is a lot of stuff, but what the DAT covers isn't that much.

Hope this helps. Best of luck!

 

[kidsteethyay]

Im trying to study the gen. chem portion of the DAT right now and i hate it!
So much crap. It's my weakest subject. Any tips? I'll take anything right now

The gen chem section I was the most worried about too. I went through all my old notes and looked up the things listed here http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/scope.asp in my textbook. I practiced setting up old problems also. When you're taking the test if you happen to forget an equation, be sure to look closely at the information given in the problem. I can never remember how to solve thermodynamics problems but by looking at the info given, I could set up the equation simply by looking at how units cancel.

Before you start the test you have an optional 15 minute tutorial on how to take the test. I used that time to write down some of the equations that I have the hardest time remembering on my scrap paper. Stuff like density = MP/RT and +delta H = endothermic rxn, etc. Use the practice tests in Kaplan and Topscore to see where your weak areas are. The real thing is easier than they are. If you can work those problems, you can work DAT problems. Good luck!

Woudl u say the bio wording or questions are easier in general compared to kaplans. Did you have a lot of trig on the math section or anything that you saw of a lot that you think is worthy of studying extra. thanks

I think that the real bio section was much easier than Kaplan. Kaplan tends to get a little wordy when it comes to their questions and the real thing kept it simple and easy. One of the questions asked which part of respiration yields the most ATP, so they were easier. But again, if you can do well in Kaplan you should do really well on the real thing. On Kaplan I was scoring 16 or 17 on the bio section and ended up getting a 20 on the real thing.

As far as math goes there were a few trig problems, just know SOHCAHTOA and csc, sec, cot, etc. Real easy problems involving those. I would be sure and know the formulas for the areas of different shapes. There was a problem that asked for the area of a cylinder and I had a brain fart and couldn't remember it. That's where its helpful to jot down some formulas before you begin the test.

Hope that helps!

 

[BabberSher]

lol... brain fart, that's classic 😀

 

[kidsteethyay]

lol, ya like that? It's one of my fav sayings

So you're from IL, where are you planning on applying to?

 

[BabberSher]

UIC, SIU, Marquette, CaseW, Arizona, Columbia, NYU, Nova

 

[BabberSher]

"Kidsteethyay" How much classification did u see on the bio exam {i plan on reviewing everything for BIO, but i'll only skim through the Classification part}

 

[tinman831]

but i'll only skim through the Classification part}

you might regret doing that. there's usually two or three questions on classification.

 

[kidsteethyay]

"Kidsteethyay" How much classification did u see on the bio exam {i plan on reviewing everything for BIO, but i'll only skim through the Classification part}

On the particular form of the test that I had, there were no classification questions. On the other hand, I know of a couple of my friends that got a couple on their DAT. I think I'd spend a little more time on it than just skimming. I spent most of my time reviewing the different classes of animals. I felt like the other classes were kinda common sense. When do you take your test?

 

[BabberSher]

Yeah, i know... ur right, im just being lazy. 🙄
I'll study Classifications too. [I'm taking it feb. 1st]

 

[kidsteethyay]

Classifications and evolution were the hardest things for me to study. I had to force myself to do it because I really don't have an interest in that sort of thing. And ecology too. Maybe if I'd had a class in school that covered that material I'd like it better.

Come to think of it, no I wouldn't

 

[BabberSher]

lol 😀
Yeah, i don't really care for those subjects either