I hate Hole punching.

[Jo07]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Does anyone have any tips for the hole punching section? I just took Crack the PAT test 2, and the hole punching section killed me. I have tried using paper and practicing manually, but I can't seem to get a hang of it.

Also, in crack the pat...some of the Key Hole figures are not 'to scale'... What are they like on the real thing?

So in general, I know Crack the Pat is good practice, but is it comparable to what is on the DAT?

 

[ean]

I haven't used crack the PAT, but I do have some things that I do. I unfold the paper, one fold at a time, making sure that I know exactly which holes are being punched at which places. This works most of the time, but for the confusing ones that are a pain to do mentally, I use scratch paper. I draw a 4x4 grid (with 16 possible places for the holes to be punched). As I mentally unfold the paper, I mark each of the holes on my grid. This takes a bit longer, but it is a sure way to check yourself, and it works. I hope this helps. If you have any other PAT questions, feel free to ask me - that is my fav part of the test. Good luck.

 

[cskpeter]

Does anyone have any tips for the hole punching section? I just took Crack the PAT test 2, and the hole punching section killed me. I have tried using paper and practicing manually, but I can't seem to get a hang of it.

LOL. Yeah, you're right. The Crack Pat tests, especially lower number ones have some nasty, nasty hole punchings. They can make you sick to the stomach. But it will get a little easier afterwards. Don't be discouraged or hate it but LEARN to love it. You will after practice and practice. Ean has a good method I also have used. It will take some time in the beginning but after practices you will figure it out faster. Sometimes elimination of wrong choices works too but it does not work effectively all the time.

Also, in crack the pat...some of the Key Hole figures are not 'to scale'... What are they like on the real thing?

So in general, I know Crack the Pat is good practice, but is it comparable to what is on the DAT?

I cannot tell 100% certainly because of my limited experience with actual DAT, but it seemed that most key hole figures are "to scale". I mean I haven't seen any totally "off the scale" ones, IIRC.

I'd say, Yes, crack the pat is good practice. As in general the more practice you have, the better your score will get. But it's hard to tell whether it is comparable on which part because everybody will have a different opinion. My personal opinion is that actual DAT was a little easier than crack the pat in general.

 

[Jo07]

Does anyone else have any tips/advice for hole punching?

Thank you!

 

[jigabodo]

I usually just try to unfold it mentally. It that doesn't work, I try to look for the line of symmetry too.

 

[DMDreaming]

I haven't used crack the PAT, but I do have some things that I do. I unfold the paper, one fold at a time, making sure that I know exactly which holes are being punched at which places. This works most of the time, but for the confusing ones that are a pain to do mentally, I use scratch paper. I draw a 4x4 grid (with 16 possible places for the holes to be punched). As I mentally unfold the paper, I mark each of the holes on my grid. This takes a bit longer, but it is a sure way to check yourself, and it works. I hope this helps. If you have any other PAT questions, feel free to ask me - that is my fav part of the test. Good luck.

I used the same grid technique when I took the DAT in July and was able to improve my score by 4 points from last year. This worked especially well in helping me keep track of the more complicated problems.

 

[Jo07]

Thanks..I'm going to try the grid technique.


Also, with the 'line of symmetry' technique...doesn't that only work for simple folds like in Kaplan? I tried using that on crack the pat and achiever and I don't think you can. Am I wrong or symmetrically ******ed? haha

thanks guys

 

[dsony2284]

counting the number of layers and corelating it with the number of holes punched in the product is what i do. Then i elminate answers. Finally if two answers are the same number of layers (giving same number of holes) i then mentally check where the holes will be made and correspond that to the answer choices.

 

[Longhorns]

I rock the hole punching portion. I start from the first fold and mentally picture it all the way until the end, where the hole is made. Then I unfold it mentally, and with each unfold I remember where the hole is.

 

[Jo07]

okay sounds great... can I borrow your brain then? haha. Mine doesn't do that! Not fair!