How Effective is Destroyer???

[LifeisWonderful]

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Hi,

I have started studying for the DAt about a month ago..I have reviewed the Kaplan (storebought) blue book and have purchased DAT achiever and finished the tests....I really want more practice to further boost up my gchem and my ochem..and I have read on other threads that the destroyer is really effective ..I was just wondering if anyone has used destroyer and what they were getting before using the book and how much did they improve by on the actual DAT.

I was also wondering if the ADA has actual past exams available and if so..where can we get those from??

 

[Decan]

I HIGHLY recommend the destroyer. I read the kaplan blue book and started the destroyer on sunday. I learned more ochem in 3 days from the destroyer than reading the whole blue book (not that the blue book is not important). Get the destroyer...its worth it.

 

[shane.]

H'okay,

So i've just started going through my copy of Destroyer this week (having read through the Kaplan Blue Book already) and I decided to start with the biology section.

The benefit i'm finding to reap the most with Destroyer is it is catching the areas of study that I am a little weaker in. What I do is answer about four pages of questions at a time then check the solutions to see how I did. If I find I had trouble with a particular topic of study, say a question regarding fungi or phylogeny, i'll read over the respective topic again. In some of the questions I see terms in some of the answer choices that I don't even recognize (few, but they're there) and i'll write them down and when i'm done i'll take my study party over to wikipedia for enlightenment. Wikipedia is a great online resource (so convenient) I think is often overlooked.

As a result of my method i'm finding my studying to be a lot more efficient as I inquire further into the areas of study that need the most attention.

Good luck!

Edit: I forgot to add that although the Kaplan Blue Book takes a great deal of criticism on these forums i've found it to be an excellent base resource to begin your studying. I've supplemented quite a bit of the biology sections with Cliff's AP Biology, and together they've worked well for me.

 

[orthdent786]

the destroyer isnt a review book, its hundreds of questions that test you on the material that you are supposed to know ( through the kaplan book etc.) so after youve gone through kaplan and you know it inside out you should get the destroyer to see what information you have retained and it allows you to look at different angles on how questions can be framed, which is extremely essential for the dats, some questions are straightforward but the ones that differentiate from an average bio score to an above average bio scores are the questions that test information on a more conceptual level.. all in all destroyer is an awesome tool, i would recommend not buying the kaplan course just buying the book and investing in the destroyer as well as achiever. good luck!

 

[evlyann]

It is VERY helpful. Do urself a favor and GET IT!

 

[poc91nc]

Reviews are a tad overrated in my opinion. A good pool of comprehensive questions can easily serve as a stand alone review. That being said, I think the kaplan blue book is a tad overrated. However, it really depends on how you study..

FWIW, I think you will benefit greatly from Destroyer. Especially if you've already been through achiever. My personal opinion is that there really isn't anything like it.

It's pretty much indisputable that the chem and ochem sections are solid, but the Bio is great in my opinion. Destroyer bio was the key to getting my 23 in this section.

Good luck!

 

[beccaaron]

I would definitely recommend reading through the kaplan blue book first- once you are done with that and you feel confident with the material you should 100% purchase the destroyer!! its amazing! There really isn't a better way to describe it-
My friends who have taken the dat swear that destroyer made the difference in their scores-

I think the explanations to the questions are very detailed and are really helping me get a better/deeper understanding of the material!!


good luck with your studying!!! 🙂🙂

 

[IsRaEl21]

I am studying for the DAT over 6 months I read Kaplan in and out, I also did top score and Achiever, but I haven't done the Destroyer. I really regard not studying from the destroyer right away. Last month I have bought the destroyer and now I really feel that I am learning something, remember you shouldn't memorize only the answers the main part is to understand the explanations, and the destroyer has the best explanations and the best questions that I have seen. Studying from the destroyer I really understand what are my weakness and I try to practice more and more. So If you really want to waste ur time like I did, study from Kaplan. If u want to learn the most important material u should get the Destroyer and Achiever.

Good Luck!!!!!

 

[Hokie08]

I just got the Destroyer a few days ago in the mail. I'm taking the kaplan course and have gone through the blue book once but I still can only get ~20% of the problems right in Destroyer. Did all of you that have used destroyer have that much trouble??? I'm really confused to whether I should read the blue book again or just go through destroyer and and refer back to teh blue book for the things I dont know.

 

[pudz]

Hey,
If you are looking to work on your gen chem and orgo than you MUST GET DESTROYER. The strongest sections in Destryr are those sections and they are truly amazing and exhaustive. After mastering that you should have no problem when you review other materials (except catching their mistakes lol).

I find the Destryr Orgo 'Roadmaps' especially, useful, educational and fun (you know, fun in that cool organic chemistry kinda way) 😎

well GOOD LUCK!! when are you taking the test, i'm taking it in mid-August.

pudz

 

[poc91nc]

I just got the Destroyer a few days ago in the mail. I'm taking the kaplan course and have gone through the blue book once but I still can only get ~20% of the problems right in Destroyer. Did all of you that have used destroyer have that much trouble??? I'm really confused to whether I should read the blue book again or just go through destroyer and and refer back to teh blue book for the things I dont know.

Destroyer gchem and ochem tore me a new one when I first did it. It was very difficult! But I learned so much from it.

If you need extra gchem practice, achiever has some really good gchem questions. Destroyer and achiever is all you need for gchem.

 

[IsRaEl21]

I really agree with poc Destroyer and Achiever is all what u need for ur sciences. I also think that cliffs AP bio is really helpful, So take it all into consideration. Good Luck!!!!!!!!!

 

[Saber tooth]

The sample test's from ada can be found on the ada web page:

http://ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/index.asp

its the only one they posted! "DAT Sample Test Items"

about the destroyer, its worth the money... dont think twice because you can use all the practice you can get your hands on and the Destroyer is an excellent book. Howevermstill obtain other resourses such as Achiever and Cliffs AP Biology which seem to be also on the money! Good luck and hope it helps

 

[teefy16]

I have a question on how the Destroyer works. I was reading some posts and they said that the Destroyer updates regularly. How would one know when it's updated and would we get those updates for free after we purchase it? Thanks!

 

[xenomblack]

Hi,

I have started studying for the DAt about a month ago..I have reviewed the Kaplan (storebought) blue book and have purchased DAT achiever and finished the tests....I really want more practice to further boost up my gchem and my ochem..and I have read on other threads that the destroyer is really effective ..I was just wondering if anyone has used destroyer and what they were getting before using the book and how much did they improve by on the actual DAT.

I was also wondering if the ADA has actual past exams available and if so..where can we get those from??

two thumbs up! 👍👍

 

[Orthodox Bear]

I used a few study tools when I took the DAT last summer. The big three that I feel are essential are Kaplan book to go through the basic sciences, Topscore to give you a feel of taking the DAT on a computer and Destroyer as your main tool to give you an edge on any tough questions that the DAT may ask. If you master those three tools and you give yourself a month to brush up you're sure to hit 20's in almost every section. Also, one great advantage to purchasing the Destroyer is that you have one of the most dedicated teachers on your side, helping you through this grueling exam process. Dr. Romano, the author of the Destroyer, pledges to not only personally help his students with problems they are having but will also keep you updated on all the changes that the DAT undergoes. This proved to be key when I took my exam. Good Luck to everyone this year, and if you have any questions, give me a PM shout out.

 

[sdn_addict]

I have a question on how the Destroyer works. I was reading some posts and they said that the Destroyer updates regularly. How would one know when it's updated and would we get those updates for free after we purchase it? Thanks!

i find out about updates by reading posts on SDN. you would contact nancy to get the updates and paypal her for shipping costs.