How much time should I spend on each section on the DAT?

[wiiturtledove]

What is your strategy for each section?

I have broken it down to like this.

Sciences: 30 minutes each

PAT: about 15 min each section
RC: 10 minutes to read each section, then another 10 min to answer each passage

QR: 1 minute per question. Move on if you dont know.


How is this or should I do other things like skip G Chem go directly to O Chem and then come back to it?

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[ashlander]

What is your strategy for each section?

I have broken it down to like this.

Sciences: 30 minutes each
- 20-25min BIO / 35-40 min GC / rest OC
So, GC takes longer, go over bio fast if you wanna do well on GC&OC.
PAT: about 15 min each section
- Angle shouldn't take that long, 20-30sec each. You won't do better the longer you stare at it.
RC: 10 minutes to read each section, then another 10 min to answer each passage
- different for everyone.
QR: 1 minute per question. Move on if you dont know.
- correct

How is this or should I do other things like skip G Chem go directly to O Chem and then come back to it?

.

 

[uclaDDS101]

My strategy:

Bio: 15 min
GC: 25 min
OC: 15 min

Aperature passing: 15 min
TFE: 10-15 min
Angle: 5 min
Cube: 5 min
Holepunch: 5 min
Pattern fold: 10 min

RC: 5 min scanning passage + 10 min answering questions (for each passage)

QR: I just went as fast as I could.

 

[bennijai]

The timing of each section depends on your strengths and weaknesses. So you will need to take a few practice exams and determine this. The timing strategy is unique to each individual, so something that works for one person may not work for you. Look at uclaDDS, this guy apparently doesn't need the remaining 35 minutes in science but still came out with stellar scores. So just gauge your abilities as you take practice exams.

I would adjust your PAT section time, there are sections such as pattern folding and keyholes that may require more time, where you have angle ranking and cube counting that requires less.

 

[wiiturtledove]

I thought he had a typo. 15 min for bio and o chem that's insane. Are they supposed to be that easy? Either you know it or you dont

 

[uclaDDS101]

I thought he had a typo. 15 min for bio and o chem that's insane. Are they supposed to be that easy? Either you know it or you dont

The bio section isn't easy. But that is the case: you either know it or you don't. My method for studying bio was pretty solid, so during the real test, I guess i just "knew it". Ochem, on the other hand, did seem easy. If ochem classes at your school are even remotely difficult, you'll find DAT ochem easy too. On the real test, I ended up going over all of the science sections twice. I have OCD when it comes to double-checking my answers.