Done with DAT 4/2/11

[JcRoughriders]

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PA: 25
QR: 22
RC: 20
BIO: 20
GChem: 21
Orgo: 23
TS: 21
AA: 21

Ok so this is my first ever thread.
I just finished my DAT this afternoon and was satisfied with my score. But I'm really confused about the scoring system and am not sure what's considered a competitive score. I'm a BIOE major with only a 3.4 GPA, so I'm a bit worried. Help anybody?

Overall I thought Bio was the hardest. The questions were very diverse and asked about a variety of topics with regard to fairly contemporary examples.

GChem and orgo were easier than I thought probably due to the DAT destroyer.

The reading were not as lengthy as I feared it would be, and it asked less detail questions and more general ideas compared to the Kaplan practice tests.

PAT was okay, but the angle ranking had a couple questions with indistinguishable angles. And I only realized near the end of PAT that I could use the two grid papers (aligned at right angles) they provided to estimate the angles.

Math was harder than I thought and I almost ran out of time. But I kinda thought math was going to be easy so did not really study for it. So don't underestimate QR.

So here's how I prepared for anyone who's starting to study for DAT. I took the Kaplan online course because I didn't feel like committing myself to a scheduled class. At first I planned on studying the whole winter break and taking the test in March, but the online course kinda backfired. By the time the break was over, I only just started my studying so decided to push the test date to April. Then I REALLY started studying.

I went through Kaplan's online lessons, and read through all its notes. I use a 3-subject notebook and assigned each to the 3 natural sciences. I wrote down in details important formulas, orgo mechanisms, bio systems (photosynthesis, respiration, hormones, digestive system, etc.). But I saved all the full length practice tests for later.

After going through Kaplan's lessons, subject tests, workshops and quizzes, I started doing DAT destroyer. For each section, I would do 30 questions at a time, stop and check my answers. I tried to understand the explanations and I highlighted the questions I got wrong without writing down the correct answers, so I could go back at the end to do them again without seeing the answer.

After finishing DAT destroyer (all of orgo, and only most of GChem and most of Bio because I ran out of time), i began doing all the Kaplan full length tests I had saved every day for the week prior to my test date.

Hope this wasn't too long, and hope this can help those who are getting started.

JC

 

[JcRoughriders]

Oooh also one more question. Will I receive an official score report other than the one they printed out right after the test? And will my score be automatically on AADSAS in June?

 

[savini]

Your PAT is particularly high. 👍 Would please explain any tips? Especially TFE or any other things you think helpful

 

[Kahr]

Oooh also one more question. Will I receive an official score report other than the one they printed out right after the test? And will my score be automatically on AADSAS in June?

Congrats on the fantastic scores, best of luck with your future!

Your unofficial report is what you get. If you want them to send you or any other schools you'll have to request them and pay $25 per. Yes, they will automatically go out to your application. The ADA (once your scores are checked, etc) will send scores out in batches to AADSAS, so it may be a week or so after you apply.

 

[JcRoughriders]

TFE? top front questions? yeah I think matching the sides of the different views and counting the lines that should be solid or dotted maybe the fastest way to eliminate most answers.
Also for the angle ranking, the actual test was MUCH harder than Kaplan's practice tests. Really figure out a way to measure the angles with two pieces of papers (provided to you during the test) in cases of the almost indistinguishable angles.
For hole punching, I actually try to unfold the paper and determine the holes after each unfolding. Kaplan taught a way of checking symmetry along the folded lines, but it's kinda confusing to me.

 

[JcRoughriders]

I guess my question is, will my scores be part of my AADSAS application, or I will have to send them individually, paying the 25 fees?
Thanks

 

[Kahr]

I guess my question is, will my scores be part of my AADSAS application, or I will have to send them individually, paying the 25 fees?
Thanks

They will be automatically included in your AADSAS application. They are also sent to the schools you picked when you signed up to take the DAT. You would only have to send them and pay a fee if the school specifically requests it AND you didn't indicate that you wanted that school to have scores sent to.

 

[NCPreDent]

I'm also doing the Kaplan online course, and i'm taking the DAT in a couple weeks. How do you think the Kaplan full length and subject tests compared to the actual DAT? Difficulty wise and score-wise. I know you said that the PAT section on Kaplan is a lot easier, but how did the sciences, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning stack up?

Thanks!

 

[dentalWorks]

Very competitive scores and nice GPA. Do you realize that your lowest score is a 20? lol thats amazing

Anyways, IMO, apply to 10+ schools

Good luck to ya

 

[glo1984]

very competitive scores and nice gpa. Do you realize that your lowest score is a 20? Lol thats amazing

anyways, imo, apply to 10+ schools

good luck to ya

+1

 

[JcRoughriders]

The actual test had really hard bio section with random questions, so a lot of Kaplan's focuses, such as hormones, photosynthesis, kidney, etc, were not even mentioned. But perhaps it was only for my version.
Gchem and orgo were fairly similar, but maybe because I also did DAT destroyer so I found the actual test to be easier than expected (never did i expect my highest natural science to be orgo).
The reading comprehension of the actual test had less detail questions that I needed to refer back to the passage. Most were fairly straight forward. I remembered I always had to go back to the passage for details in Kaplan's practice tests, resulting in not being able to finish.
I didn't go through the Kaplan's math lessons, just did their subject tests. But I felt like the actual test's math was more demanding.