I'm mad at my DAT score

[FOCUS785]

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I need some help please. I dont know what is wrong with me! I score so high on the PAT 22, but than i miss everything else up. I am from the U.S so I had to take the Toefl also. okay, here are my scores:
Reading 15 (you can guess why) we will say that the Toefl can make up for that.
Biology 16!! what in the world. I have never had anything less than A in any bio classes. I have taken all bio that are req, and suggested.
Gen Chem: 18
Orgo: 18
total science : 17
QR: 14
AA: 16

i have been in the field for 6 years! i knew what i wanted to do. Im not here to play! i have been extremely hard on my self and have NO life other than the books! I teach Orgo classes tutorial for 40 students. I cant believe my self!
I know that im not good in stand. testing. but this is crazy. 👎

 

[dwill]

Well buddy it looks like you should start looking into a new career. That really sucks for you.

 

[efficient]

Relax for now. Then think very carefully on the strategy you used to prepare for the DAT. Examine your strengths and weakness. Retake and see how you do. There is always the next cycle. It takes perseverance and patience to get to dental school. Just hang in there buddy.

 

[kms55]

Well buddy it looks like you should start looking into a new career. That really sucks for you.

wow, nice first post, pal.

seriously, though, although a retake is looking like it's in order, think of other things you've achieved on your way to being a dentist and just perservere. you can do this, the path might just be a bit longer than you expected.

 

[Andrew324]

Yeah retake is needed, did you study at all? Going to the classes and doing well I dont think prepares you well for the test. Good Luck on the retake.

 

[gogiantsss]

Doing well in undergrad does not entitle you to a high score on the DAT. Although both may cover similar material, the DAT cover a wider range of info with less depth. Study hard and earn your high score.

Good luck.

 

[appassionata]

how did you study? did you study from textbooks (dont think it is the best way)? or used review books like kaplan or ek (i used kaplan)? did you do practice questions from Kaplan, topscore and achiever? i think what it matters is not the amount of time you put into study but how efficient your study method is. i took vacation from my work for one week and focused on my study except for going out for meals and stuff. i used kaplan thick book and questions and also used topscore and achiever to practice. i bought ek books but had no time to use them. i didn't get high high scores on DAT but i guess i did okay-got 2 interviews.
good luck on your retake.

p.s. myself is one word. not my self.

 

[rose786]

Don't worry. I retook after a lousy experience and am quite satisfied with my new scores. I'll second the question about how you studied? How many practice tests did you do and what were your scores? If you want to talk about methods or what books to read, PM me.

 

[osimsDDS]

Well buddy it looks like you should start looking into a new career. That really sucks for you.

i suggest you get off this forum if your going to make comments like that. I am sure people on this forum have helped you, so why dont you help others? Thats what this forum is about man, so dont come on this forum and put people down in order to make yourself feel better and fondle your emotions....

To the OP, I know many many people who did worse than you and ended up taking it again and getting above 20 on almost every section. My first take I had TS 18/AA 17/PAT 19 then my second time i got TS 23/AA 21/PAT 21. I thought it would be impossible to get above 20's but hey man its all hard work. I know what your saying about no life and all books, but you know there are 12,000 applicants who took the DAT's and had no life as well when they were studying for it, so dont feel like ur the only one. So yes, I suggest a retake and work hard to achieve the scores you will be happy with. Good luck!!!

 

[FOCUS785]

I used Kaplan, destroyer, crack and topscore. its not that i did not study. I did. it seems that i looked at everything in depth. Im one of those students who never forgets what was studied in a course and i use it all the time in relating it to everyday life. even the way i eat or what i need to eat before a exam "brainfood". the thing is that im not stupid. there is no way that i would be where i am if i was! i know that im not booksmart, and it takes me longer than others to grasp the material but the benefit is that i take in the info forever. what i dont understand is the biology section. I think that i read too much into the info. i dont really know what i am doing wrong. when i take my Kaplan Exams, i score 22+ thats what is worrying me. i didnt rely on Kaplan in bio and math (even if i was scoring well) because i knew that i should be better prepared.
As i said before, i am a hard worker. and about the ugly comment that was made: buddy! why dont you try to be as focused as i have been for my goals! i have had nothing stop me from what i want to do. I had a court trial last week because i was carjacked and kidnapped last year! hmm. try making it through that and making all A's in physics, genetics, histology. and stay focused. I dont want anyone to feel sorry or bad, but the amount of work i have put in to this is not small.
I thank you all for the other comments. What i am trying to do is figure out what i am doing wrong in studying. any other suggestions? I thank you again.

 

[Jake8]

The DAT is as much a test of knowledge as it is a test of how to take the test. Let me ask you did you do any timed practice tests? What was your study routine like?

A friend of mine once told me that she could teach a monkey how to take the test and if given enough time it would do well. This is not an insult but it is to prove a point in that its all about being familar to the test and its environment. Basically you need to go through and act you have forgotten everything you know and relearn everything which is applicable to the test. I did well in bio but still studied Kaplan bio hard. I was terrible in Orgo but knew how to take the orgo section and ended up with a 20.

Study Kaplan hard even if you think you know the topics. Then work all the problems in Destroyer at least ten times a piece. Redo Crack PAT and also get both DAT achiever and Topscore to help simulate the real test. Take the tests in place with no distraction and take the whole thing like you do on test day.

I you put the time and approach it correctly you will get 20's or better on your next test.

 

[FOCUS785]

thank you. i studied 8-9 hours a day. i took practice exams - timed
I did have one thing that i called and told the prometrics soon as my test was over- they had students walk in and out and the test centers phones were ringing the whole time. they said that they had students complain before and they may allow my to take my test again because i was not the only one complaining. i understand that i may be in fault and not the smartest. but when i study- i am in a quiet room. i know that all of this may be an excuse but i am just amazed of how bad i have done. i did study the kaplan. that was my first guide and after i finished making my own notes from it, i focused on everything else that i had like destroyer and...
i will buy the achiever. thats the only thing that i have not tried yet.
I thank you again for the advice.

 

[summershimmer]

I find that a quiet place is not the best place to take a practice test, because in reality there are going to b people around you that make noise, and if you are use to there being no noise that can be very distracting. I suggest taking a practice test in a library, where there is noise but not too much...it helps you learn how to block the noise out...Also, it seems that you could be reading the questions too in depth if you remember everything you have learnt. I suggest, if you havent already, try answering questions before you look at the answers and just look for the answer. did you study for 8-9 hrs every day? for how many months? that also could of affected your scores, b/c you could of burned out early in your studying...try to take breaks every now and then...when i was studying n took a practice test, i would take the rest of the day off and reviewed it the next day....hope this helps 🙂

 

[FOCUS785]

yes that does help. because i dont know how to stop once i start studying. other than working about 20 hours a week to pay bills, i studied all summer. i did not stop after taking practice exams. i took the rest of the day to review it. thank you for the advice.

 

[ffoxxttrott]

If you have been doing awesomely in your subject classes, used Kaplan, used Destroyer, studied so many hours for a day, and you've seriously been studying that long (not twiddling your thumbs or day dreaming while you think you're studying) then there should be absolutely nothing stopping you...

If you seriously put in the time and effort (and clearly you hold the intelligence needed because you have been doing well in your classes), then those scores are a fluke. What have you been getting on your practice tests?

Take it again.

 

[La Dentista]

Well buddy it looks like you should start looking into a new career. That really sucks for you.

Grow up.. childish little kids, jesus.

Anyhow, There could be a lot that went wrong.. maybe you aren't use to the format, the testing conditions, whatever it is.. you'll def. need to retake but considering your background, did you feel like you needed to study for it or no? Even if you feel you don't, you should still buy the materials for it and go through them.

Goodluck, you'll do better next one.