How were you able to retain information when you were studying for the DAT?

[Merisa15]

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Hi everyone!

The more and more I study, the more problems I have retaining the information. So, how were you able to retain all the information that you are learning for the DAT?

 

[DDSER1]

Practise tests, practise tests, and more practise tests. For my DAT I didn't do anything other than practise tests for a month. The day before the DAT I read through the bio chapters that I had trouble with and managed to score a 22 AA.

 

[TrevorwestDDS]

I ran into that same exact problem. A certain question would ask about something I knew I had studied and understood a week or two ago, but I just couldn't recall it because everyday I was trying to jam as much new information in my brain as possible. After getting frustrated beyond belief with forgetting information, I started making flashcards on anything I wanted to remember...lots of flashcards. Every night I would set a time for 15 minutes and go over them. It helped immensely. To avoid having too huge of a stack, I would put 3 or 4 terms on one flash card. It was the only way I could get some of the random facts or trends down that always seemed to pop up on practice tests. Good luck! Go get that 20+ score

 

[Polkadotfan]

Videos. I had to cram a lot of biology that I might have learned (but was many, many years old). This helped. I would also make pictures to follow along with the video for systems (like the kidneys, ect)

 

[WheatLom]

I do a simple method to learn the material. Then I learn the why behind it all.

Let's says I want to learn and cover ally of genetics.

Day 0 - before bed exposure (crucial!!). You watch some basic general videos on genetics. For biology I used bozeman science. So you watch the 1-3 videos (per subject), about 10-25 minutes depending on the topic. The videos are meant for you to just refresh some vocabulary, get a new perspective, and develop AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHY THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND HOW.


Day 1 (first study day): hit genetics hard in detail. All the vocabulary and different facts/processes.

Day 1 Nigt time: review genetics from notes and books, then do the pre-exposure for next topic.

Repeat. (I could do 2 topic usually a day since bio stacks up), but it depends on what other studying you do that day.

I used psychology principles for memory to help maximize my efforts.
-the pre exposure before bed, your mind replays your day in your sleep and you will sub consciously go over the material in your sleep.
-the full in depth study is the main component that you gain the bulk of information.
-nightly review: review everything before you sleep and your memory consolidates it more.

-****this method give 3 separate exposures to the material in 24 hours*****. This is crucial!!!!!!! Repition over time is the easiest and most fool proof way to learn.



-****learn the
-why behind things/why things are that way
-how things work.
-what would happen if this process was presented in a different situation or stressor.****

You can use the concept of contextual learning as well. I wore my retainer for all my studying and the same hoodie for most my studying. This creates a context that you associate the material with. It sounds weird, but there is actual research (peer reviewed) on contextual learning.


Message me if you want more details.

 

[S_Diamond_DDS]

Write the problems and solutions down after you attempt them.

 

[yaya97]

Lots of notecards and the realised I didn't have enough time to write out everything so then I switched to quizlet which made it easier to always be reviewing whenever I had any free time!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Every minute you spend studying builds upon your formation. It will be insanely difficult for the first week or two, but you will find yourself exponentially becoming more familiar with the material. Hang in there. If you want to join a study GroupMe with fellow SDNers shoot me a PM

 

[BrooklynSmilez]

Hi everyone!

The more and more I study, the more problems I have retaining the information. So, how were you able to retain all the information that you are learning for the DAT?

Flash cards!

 

[FeralisExtremum]

I took thorough notes and would review them every few days to keep the information fresh in my head. I think this is a critical part of retaining everything, trying to remember it from your first pass through the material alone is extremely challenging.