I'm in deep dookie!

[TEXDENT]

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Ok, so I just finished with Campbell text, took two topscore bio tests and my results totally sucked!
first one:17
second one:16

ahhh, what should I do to study better?

Also I noticed that the second topscore bio seemed like it covered quite a bit of in-depth taxonomy. And you needed to know your taxonomy very well to be able to answer all the questions because they asked about specific structures/features of different phyla. Is this level of taxonomy realistic for the DAT?

What were other peoples thoughts of the second topscore bio?

 

[golfmontpoker]

Ok, so I just finished with Campbell text, took two topscore bio tests and my results totally sucked!
first one:17
second one:16

ahhh, what should I do to study better?

Also I noticed that the second topscore bio seemed like it covered quite a bit of in-depth taxonomy. And you needed to know your taxonomy very well to be able to answer all the questions because they asked about specific structures/features of different phyla. Is this level of taxonomy realistic for the DAT?

What were other peoples thoughts of the second topscore bio?

Well i havent took topscore, but I can give you some advice on how to study better. Make sure you know the basic terminology before you go on to more advanced material. Also make sure you know how things are interconnected and actually how it "Works"... This is how i always studyed for biology classes. Dont know if this helped or not.

 

[Chrono1984]

Go over all of the answers and see if you truly didn't know something, or if you made careless mistakes. What I find useful is going over what all the wrong answers mean too.

Random example: the question about which protozoan moves via pseudopodia. Amoebas (rhizopoda) move this way. Even if you got the answer right, you should go over all of the other choices and mentally note their movement types as well ie flagellated, cilliated, ect. You can learn a lot from ONE question if you spend a little time reviewing it.

Topscore, DAT achiever, and any other practice tests are valuable resources - not for predicting your score, but for learning and absorbing more information.

 

[TEXDENT]

yea, been reviewing answers, I just don't seem to be getting better, this is depressing

 

[golfmontpoker]

yea, been reviewing answers, I just don't seem to be getting better, this is depressing

stick with it! Review those weak areas in depth... Im in the same situation as you with chemistry, i just cant stand it! But review those weak areas and keep studying! when are u plannin on takin the dat and how long have u been going at it now?

 

[Lonely Sol]

stick with it! Review those weak areas in depth... Im in the same situation as you with chemistry, i just cant stand it! But review those weak areas and keep studying! when are u plannin on takin the dat and how long have u been going at it now?

Yea, In a way, getting low score on ur test is a good thing, cuz that will motivate u to study better and more. I had the same problem as u, "golf". I hated gen chem with passion. So the last two days, before I took the test, all i studied was Gchem. I wasnt happy with the Gchem score (19). But i will take it! Anyways, yes if you go over all the test and not just look at the answer but understand how to do the problem and get the concept of it then u will be good to go! Dont be down, everyone does bad, its how you go back and understand the problem is what matters!!

 

[TEXDENT]

I've been studying for two weeks (roughly 6-8 hrs/day just bio) that's all I've studied so far. I knew I am at a disadvantage having been out of college for 2yrs and the way UT breaks down their intro bio classes, there are 4 that cover the general bio book (Campbell), well if you are a biochem major you only have to take 3 of those 4 classes, so 25% of the material I'm learning from scratch, still I thought I would be doing better than this after going through it all.

I was planning on taking the DAT early June, but depending on how bio continues, it looks like I may be pushing it back

 

[golfmontpoker]

I've been studying for two weeks (roughly 6-8 hrs/day just bio) that's all I've studied so far. I knew I am at a disadvantage having been out of college for 2yrs and the way UT breaks down their intro bio classes, there are 4 that cover the general bio book (Campbell), well if you are a biochem major you only have to take 3 of those 4 classes, so 25% of the material I'm learning from scratch, still I thought I would be doing better than this after going through it all.

I was planning on taking the DAT early June, but depending on how bio continues, it looks like I may be pushing it back

Well Tex... keep pushing it back until you feel confident you are going to do well... My optometrist gave me some great advice the other day whenn talking to him about the DAT (He obviously had to take the OAT, difficult test as well) while in an appointment. He saidd out of all his friends that took the MCATS, DATS, and OATS... The ones that did well were not the ones who studied the most, but the ones that were less nervous and confident. This is good advice and its the truth. Take the DAT when you are confident and not nervous about it! If you have to push it back to July, DO IT... If you take the DAT before mid August, you will be in tip top shape! Just keep studying man, it will all CLICK for ya, and the hard work will pay off