Everyone said PAT would get better by test 5

[BobbyBeavis]

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Still a 16. I am using bootcamp. Took so much time on keyholes (still missed a bunch), skipped TFE and put a bunch of C's because I honestly don't even know how to do it, and missed some from each section while trying my best to finish on time while doing pattern folding.

I really don't know what to do... I read strategies, watched videos, etc. My test is in 2 weeks and I still feel nervous about the other sections as well.................

 

[discensdentibus]

you may just need more exposure to practice problems. I am not saying CDP is better or worse, but it does have more practice problems. Qvault has a free test as well. You gotta stretch your brain though. Match up every single TFE line you can. I am not sure if there is an increase time feature, but you need to be attempting all of the problems you are given; who cares about time? You paid for the software: use all of the problems. You are not going to learn without a little bit of struggle. I redid a PAT section from achiever because I randomly guessed on about 15. I just sat on PAT test 3 when I realized I was really slow. I went through all of the problems and took a bogey with time. Someone else may be able to speak on how to maximize BC PAT. One thing that helped me was doubling up on individual sections of test a completed a couple weeks later to see if I was learning. good luck

 

[kms100]

PAT really is all about doing a lot of problems and reviewing your mistakes. Try practicing ~15 mins a day with the generators. But yeah, I definitely understand the tfe struggle. Have you looked at the subject specific tests? They aren't timed so you can focus on understanding the questions without the time crunch. Once you figure out the solid/dashed lines the problems get easier and you'll start to see reoccurring patterns/shapes. I was having a lot of trouble with tfe in the beginning so I started to draw out problems to understand (probably unnecessary for most, but it helped me). You may have already encountered this video. It's very basic, but it explains the lines.

 

[Thetoothhurts91]

This really helped me understand TFE: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/my-wicked-sick-pat-tutorial.528643/

 

[Thetoothhurts91]

Watch this for cube counting:
And this for hole punching:

These two sections were the easiest to get points on in my opinion. I never mastered angle ranking so I can't really help there.

 

[TheEpicFruitCake]

TFE is all about recognizing which part to focus on. Make sure you understand TFE and how it works (dashed lines vs solid lines; slanted surfaces are dead giveaways; etc.) Bootcamp has VERY GOOD explanations so take the time to review everything that you missed/guessed. Bootcamp is harder than the actual DAT so don't get too worried. Most people say add +2 to your bootcamp PAT score. You can do it!

 

[flossiraptor863]

My practice PAT scores have been on the rise since I've started focusing more on the answers and less on the question. Other than Cube Counting, start by looking at your options and comparing similar ones. Once you get some practice, you'll immediately disregard some answers and then eliminate others by comparison.

 

[cularlympo]

great,Most people say add +2 to your bootcamp PAT score. You can do it!

 

[BobbyBeavis]

Thanks everyone. Gonna just give it my best shot. Don't really have the opportunity to reschedule...

Watching the hole punching video and already learned something new!

 

[BobbyBeavis]

I just watched this for TFE



And it seemed he skipped the hard problems, and still used line counting. This was a recent upload, though. Same guy that made the hole punching. It helped a little, though

 

[BobbyBeavis]

3/15 on the pattern folding generator 🙂))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) this test will be fun!!!!!!! 🙂))))))))))))))

 

[BobbyBeavis]

Decided to give it an attempt but I give up.

WHAT THE **** AM I LOOKING AT

 

[vk223]

Same here. Did a BC PAT practice test today and sucked. I only got 4/15 angles right...

 

[TheEpicFruitCake]

Decided to give it an attempt but I give up.

WHAT THE **** AM I LOOKING AT

View attachment 184297

is it B?

 

[BobbyBeavis]

is it B?

Nope, A

 

[olivejuicee]

If this makes you feel a little better... my first DAT bootcamp test, I got lower than a 16. Spent about a solid week and a half doing the generators (pattern folding, hole punch, angle ranking, and cube counting) and then spent a little extra time going over TFE with crack the pat. By the end of the week I was averaging 19-20 on dat bootcamp and 20-22 with CDP. Don't ever lose hope, you will get there! just practice.
I have an ipad so I did the generators before I slept. I got a 21 on the real thing and I am pretty proud of that because PAT was one of my weaknesses.

For TFE, choose a side and compare it to the answers, you can easily deduce which ones are wrong off the bat from doing that. Just keep practicing and I promise you, you will get where you want to be and it's also luck too! you can't change the cards you are dealt once you take the test.. so hope for the best! <3

Note: Choose about three sections you are pretty good at and that you could do very fast and increase your strengths, it could mask your weaknesses.

 

[TheEpicFruitCake]

Nope, A

merp, well I had it down to B or A 🙂

 

[BobbyBeavis]

merp, well I had it down to B or A 🙂

Could you explain your thought process? I've gone through other tutorials but I guess it's the way they explain it that doesn't fit for me.

(I have never been artistic, and honestly never envisioned how Organic molecules appeared when I took the class)

 

[TheEpicFruitCake]

I looked at the front view. I was like wtf? So I moved to the top view. The top view is much more telling here. You can see that the front of the object is flat like. and that there is one flat surface on the front. I confirmed this with the front view looking at the bottom part that is a SOLID line around the edges. This is confirmed by every answer choice (LMAO). Focusing on the front view now: From the dotted lines inside the rectangle, I can see that the object on top does not extend into the rectangle (there is a break and the lines aren't really connected if you look closely aka the outside of the diamond thing ends when it hits the top of the rectangle. So next I'm thinking, where are these dotted lines coming from? Looking back at the top view, I can see that in the back there are indentations below the top surface. This was all just making the 3D image in my head.
Actually, now that I'm explaining it I can see why A is correct and B is wrong.
An important rule about TFE. You can ave multiple lines (aka multiple indentions/height changes) but you will only see the first one. So looking at the top part, you know the top part has edges that you can see when looking from the side view (right side). Now there are 2 sets of edges. Cut the object down the middle in your head to separate it left and right. Your eye only see the right one (GREEN). The left side edges are DIRECTLY BEHIND the ones you can see (YELLOW). Technically there are dashed lines there but have a dashed line (left side) and a solid line (right side) = solid line. This rules out D.

To rule out C: look at top view, you can see the entire outer edge from your right view. The first edge is on the outside and therefore will be a solid line (RED)
To rule out B: is a little harder but it corresponds to the highlighted edge in the picture. (BLUE)

steps to TFE:
1. 3D construction
2. Elimination

btw I spend 15 minutes on TFE (13-14/15) usually. I make up the time with holepunch

 

[BobbyBeavis]

So I do not understand how the yellow/green lines correspond to the middle of the pyramid. Doing this question, I would have saw the front view, imagined looking at it from the right, seeing that the middle lines are blocked, and then easily would have chosen D to contribute to my 3/15 TFE average 🙂

Sorry for my French but I am ****ing frustrated!!!!!! How in the hell does the top view lines of the pyramid correspond to the middle lines of the end view? THEY ARENT IN THE SAME MOTHER****ING ANGLE/POSITION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BobbyBeavis]

Im gonna pick a problem and walk myself through so maybe you guys can help on where I go wrong

 

[BobbyBeavis]

Alright here we go. Another TFE problem. Awww ****. The urge to choose a random answer is high, but this one doesn't look too bad.

So there's a square in the middle in the front and top. Probably should be a square in the middle in the answers. Yup, there is in all of them. ****

In the top view and front view there are dotted lines to the right. That means if I look at the figure from the right to get the end view, I will see solid lines. WHAT THE **** THERE ARE NO LINES AT ALL ON THE BOTTOM. ABOUT TO GIVE UP.


Okay now after trying to calm myself down, it's been about 5 minutes. I have no clue what to do. I'm going to choose D.

(Correct answer was C. Should have went with the popular guess)

EDIT: Even knowing the answer is C, I can't even reason how the hell why. I see the dotted lines on the right in both the top and front correspond to the dotted lines on the top for the answer choice............... WHYYYYY

 

[TheEpicFruitCake]

from the top view we know that the front square indention doesnt reach the middle. From the front view we know that the right side indention goes all the way to the middle (doesn't help us to know that)
from the front view we know that the indention in the top goes all the way to the middle.

C corresponds to all this

 

[TheEpicFruitCake]

there should be a 3D image that goes along with these

 

[Thetoothhurts91]

I color coded it. I hope this helps!
From the TOP view, you can tell that red and blue do not actually touch. So that narrows down to B and C.
From the FRONT view, you can tell that green and blue will touch when you look at it's left side (END view).

 

[Thetoothhurts91]

Okay and to clarify between solid and dashed lines:

Notice that blue is a solid line for the TOP view, but dashed in the FRONT view. That's because it's a hole in the cube. So when you look at it from the top, you can see that there's a hole (solid). If you turn it so you're facing directly at it (FRONT) you won't see the hole anymore, but you know there's something there (dashed).

Green is dashed for both TOP and FRONT because you won't actually see the hole in this example until you turn to look at the left side (kinda like looking at someone's left cheek). That's why it's now a solid when you go to END view.

Red is dashed for the top because it's another hole but only visible if you look directly at the object. So the dashed line tells you there's "something going on" most likely a hole. FRONT view is solid for red because you're now seeing the hole. So, what happens when you look at the left of the object? You won't see the hole anymore but you know it's there.

Like I mentioned before, from the TOP view you can tell that the Red hole isn't deep enough to reach the center.

 

[jmustelier]

Keyholes are my best section, I usually get them all right, so here is a little review. Hope it helps!

Here is an example:

First thing I do is look at the answers and try to determine which angle its trying to depict the object. So looking at B & E, you see that there are cut outs. Think to yourself, does the image have cut outs? Yes! Don't eliminate these yet. Next we have A, C and D. These involve a little more thinking. Lets look at them one by one.

A, is looking at the image from the front view. At first, you think "yea, that's it!!" But it's not, this is a distractor. I'll show you why. The right highlights are portions that look like they could be part of the answer but you're missing some crucial parts. If answer A were to be right then it would the cutouts on top that I mentions before. Secondly, the bottom right corner would actually need to be solid, like below. So answer A is eliminated right away. Next let look at C, this one is another distractor and really tempting to choose. We are looking at the object from the side view but we can eliminate it in the same fashion as A.

Now D. D is looking at the object from the top. This actually looks good, but lets examine it a little closer. The top view looks like it has a cut out, but closer examination shows that the cut out should be a solid.

Next lets look at B & E simultaneously. Both of these are back views, so the image shown should be in reverse order. Only one of them can be right. We can immediately eliminate E, because of the same reason we eliminated A. So by a process of elimination we've come up with the answer being B. Lets see why it's right:

I think you should practice doing some keyholes like this and eventually you will get faster at doing them. What I do now that I'm really good at them is look at the craziest answer first (so B & E) for this keyhole. Then I think to myself, why are these right or wrong. Immediately I see B as right, then I quickly glance at the other options to make sure they're wrong. I'll go through another example in the next post, I can only put 5 images at a time.

Now can someone put a review for angles? I'm really terrible at those. Ha!

 

[jmustelier]

Here's another example, more condensed. Also, if anyone needs help, just send me the keyhole in a PM and I will try to explain it to you.

Remember, first look at the answers. B, D & E look possible, these are all from the top. So lets eliminate A & C. A has an exterior column in the wrong area, so it's eliminated. C has columns on the top AND bottom. The figure only has them on the top, eliminate it as well. Now onto D. The figure has a whole in the middle, D doesn't, so eliminate it. Now what' the difference between E and B? E has two columns and B and one on the top. What does the figure have? Only one column. Check out the drawing below:

Good luck!

 

[Psalm104:33]

Thanks for explaining those two examples 🙂 I found a video for the angles on youtube hope it helps, here's the link also check out Ari's tutorials on Bootcamp

 

[BobbyBeavis]

I just wanted to thank everybody! I was getting so stressed out about PAT so I haven't been able to read the responses yet, but they look very thorough and helpful from what I peered over so far! I am practicing the sciences/math right now and hope to dive in PAT with a new mindset tonight 🙂

Thank you all again

 

[BobbyBeavis]

Okay and to clarify between solid and dashed lines:

Notice that blue is a solid line for the TOP view, but dashed in the FRONT view. That's because it's a hole in the cube. So when you look at it from the top, you can see that there's a hole (solid). If you turn it so you're facing directly at it (FRONT) you won't see the hole anymore, but you know there's something there (dashed).

Green is dashed for both TOP and FRONT because you won't actually see the hole in this example until you turn to look at the left side (kinda like looking at someone's left cheek). That's why it's now a solid when you go to END view.

Red is dashed for the top because it's another hole but only visible if you look directly at the object. So the dashed line tells you there's "something going on" most likely a hole. FRONT view is solid for red because you're now seeing the hole. So, what happens when you look at the left of the object? You won't see the hole anymore but you know it's there.

Like I mentioned before, from the TOP view you can tell that the Red hole isn't deep enough to reach the center.

Honestly I don't know what it is but I still can't follow.

I tried to turn my computer to the right to help but not sure it did much. How does 1/4 of a line (the green line) translate into a whole square in the middle of the figure?

And the green touches the red in the front view.

I'm basically a lost cause... probably going to go back to guessing because clearly nothing will help me

What's the point of playing these stupid mind games to determine success in Dental School? That's how frustrated I am...........

 

[tooth knockn]

View attachment 184312

Alright here we go. Another TFE problem. Awww ****. The urge to choose a random answer is high, but this one doesn't look too bad.

So there's a square in the middle in the front and top. Probably should be a square in the middle in the answers. Yup, there is in all of them. ****

In the top view and front view there are dotted lines to the right. That means if I look at the figure from the right to get the end view, I will see solid lines. WHAT THE **** THERE ARE NO LINES AT ALL ON THE BOTTOM. ABOUT TO GIVE UP.


Okay now after trying to calm myself down, it's been about 5 minutes. I have no clue what to do. I'm going to choose D.

(Correct answer was C. Should have went with the popular guess)

EDIT: Even knowing the answer is C, I can't even reason how the hell why. I see the dotted lines on the right in both the top and front correspond to the dotted lines on the top for the answer choice............... WHYYYYY

Imagine it like a die, but without the numerical points.

Now on this die, there are 3 concave square shaped cavities
Located:
Top
Front
And
End

Let me know if that helped, if not I can add more...

 

[Thetoothhurts91]

Because I don't have playdough, I'm gonna stick with hand sanitizers as my example.

So this is the FRONT view. From this 2D image, it looks like they're touching, right?

Wrong! At least, now that we can see the TOP view. So what would this look like from the END view?

Ta-da! So that's sort of how the blue and red squares are like. Physically turning the computer won't really help, you have to be able to sort of visualize it in your head.

 

[Thetoothhurts91]

Honestly I don't know what it is but I still can't follow.
How does 1/4 of a line (the green line) translate into a whole square in the middle of the figure?

In the END view, you are directly facing the "green" hole, and it's in the shape of a square. Looking at it from the TOP and FRONT view, you can judge by how deep the "green" hole goes. Notice that when you look at the FRONT view, it's a full square for "red" because you're looking directly at it. From TOP and END view, you are seeing how deep the "red" hole goes. When you look at the TOP view, "blue" is now the middle square because you're looking directly at it. Looking at the FRONT and END view tells you how deep the "blue" hole is.

 

[BobbyBeavis]

I appreciate the help, but really think I am a lost cause. The test is in 10 days. Just tried 10 problems (took me about 30 mins) and still received a 3/10, with one of those being a lucky guess.