I did worse on my DAT the second time...

[Dentisting]

I was asked this question at my interview... I screwed up, b/c I gave them a very straightforward answer about getting sick that day (which was true, but I doubt its believable).

In general im not a very good test taker. I studied harder for my second time (like 2-3 hours a day for close to 2 months), and still somehow ended up getting lower scores... I figured, ok even if im sick, I should be able to get through this test... Guess I was wrong.

I should have told them that I should have canceled that test... but at the same time, that would have delayed me another 3 months?

Really... I dont know what else I could have done.

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[berrygoat811]

The problem with most dental schools is that they take your most recent DAT scores, not your best score, so it's always somewhat of a risk to retake them. I thought about retaking the DAT to improve my PAT score (I got a 19/20/16) but I ended up not retaking in fear that I'd end up with worse AA and TS without really improving the PAT score. Honestly, the science questions (especially biology) were so random that I felt lucky I got the scores I got and I didn't want to take the risk. Just my opinion.

 

[Dentisting]

The problem with most dental schools is that they take your most recent DAT scores, not your best score, so it's always somewhat of a risk to retake them. I thought about retaking the DAT to improve my PAT score (I got a 19/20/16) but I ended up not retaking in fear that I'd end up with worse AA and TS without really improving the PAT score. Honestly, the science questions (especially biology) were so random that I felt lucky I got the scores I got and I didn't want to take the risk. Just my opinion.

I hope your wrong about the most recent test thing. It truly doesnt make any sense to me to throw out your higher scores b/c you did worse on another test. I mean... You must have been smart enough or prepared enough to do well the first time.

 

[fireblast713]

I've heard the most recent test thing also. Higher scores don't always equate to increased knowledge, you could have gotten a easier test or just got a few more lucky guesses, statistically they should probably average your scores, not just taken the higher ones.

 

[StayinNCali]

Though many schools do "the most recent test thing", I know that some schools don't. USC for example takes the highest score in any section during any re-take or original. But who wants to go there if they have been reading what current USC students have to say.

 

[ssik]

I have been wondering if this is really true or just a rumor... Where did you hear this information? Can you site it on their website or anywhere?

 

[ssik]

Though many schools do "the most recent test thing", I know that some schools don't. USC for example takes the highest score in any section during any re-take or original. But who wants to go there if they have been reading what current USC students have to say.

I have been wondering if this is really true or just a rumor... Where did you hear this information? Can you site it on their website or anywhere?

 

[CMistry]

Most people who re-take the DAT do worse every successive time. There was a thread about this a while ago, I believe ADA releases the statistics - the average score drops almost 1 whole point for people taking it a second time! I have no idea why it is this way. So don't feel too bad, I'm sure dental schools see this more often than you think.

-Cyrus

 

[btizzels]

I hope your wrong about the most recent test thing. It truly doesnt make any sense to me to throw out your higher scores b/c you did worse on another test. I mean... You must have been smart enough or prepared enough to do well the first time.

I had the same thing happen to me...... My scores dropped... about a point... but there are some schools that only care about your highest score (ie highest one day test, no mixing sections). I know VCU, NYU, and I believe Temple really only care about your highest score. NOVA, does take your most recent score..... they asked me about why i retook my test and they said that they would try to convince the Committee that the drop was due to me being out of school for a year.... I guess it worked... BTW my scores on Predents are my older/better scores

 

[SoCalDent]

Most people who re-take the DAT do worse every successive time. There was a thread about this a while ago, I believe ADA releases the statistics - the average score drops almost 1 whole point for people taking it a second time! I have no idea why it is this way. So don't feel too bad, I'm sure dental schools see this more often than you think.

-Cyrus

Pretty sure thats false. The stats that the ADA puts out do however show that there is VERY minimal improvment from the first to second test.

 

[rose786]

Pretty sure thats false. The stats that the ADA puts out do however show that there is VERY minimal improvment from the first to second test.

Actually it's true, you can see it for yourself here (pg 26):
http://ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/dat_users_manual.pdf

There's a 1 point drop in all sections except PAT.

 

[eldirty]

I really hope thats not the case.

 

[Chemiguy]

As much as I sincerely hope it's NOT true, according to ADA it IS. So depressing.

 

[jeejeejiji]

It's not always the case.. I've seen people around me getting either the same score or doing slightly better than before

 

[Jo07]

Unfortunetly it happened to me too. One whole point, and the scary part is that I felt SO much better about the test the second time than the first (which I was about to walk out of in the middle!) So much that I had it audited because I was in disbelief. So yea...I guess I had some good guesses my first time! I'm retaking for the 3rd time soon... I'm praying I do better than my first time!!