Is angle ranking on the real DAT harder than it is in the Kaplan blue book?

[Vapor1122]

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I hear people say how hard the angles were all the time, but I breezed through every angle ranking problem in Kaplan with a perfect score. 😕 How accurate of a representation is it?

 

[INFNITE]

they're alot harder on the real thing. You will need to identify between angles that are ~3 degrees apart. It's almost impossible (for me at least). A lot of it was pure luck

 

[mouthcracker]

Believe me its way harder then you see on Kaplan...

Basically u r on ur luck!!

 

[Ex_EE]

I did the same with Kaplan but the test was hard. Probably due to 15" CRT.

 

[CSI Dentist]

angle ranking on Kaplan is what screwed me up so much. It is waaaaaaaaaaaay easier on Kaplan than the real thing. I thought all angles on the real thing looked the same to me!!!!!!!! the rest of PAT on Kaplan is OK, but angle ranking = BAD!

 

[kflinstone]

Same here. I agree with everyone else. Angles on the real DAT looked all the same. Was pure guessing.

 

[Vapor1122]

How about Barrons? Topscore? Does any of the prep book have accurate practice?

 

[rals]

Nothing like that works. It's killer. They really do all look the same a lot of the time. You need to just go with your gut. Maybe try to place your finger on the screen so that the lengths of the sides of the different triangles are the same for better comparison of the angles. does that make sense?

 

[toothfary25]

Another member on here mentioned that he asked for extra sharp pencils so that he could hold up the points to the angles for better perspective? Don't know how much it helps but sounded like a pretty good plan to me... ooh, unless they give you those marker/dry erase boards for scratch paper Blast! They're always thinking of new ways to screw us!

 

[CyborgNinjaX]

I'm guessing that its hard because the screens aren't flat. Having a flat screen might help in angle determination.

 

[toothfary25]

I think it just depends on your testing center whether or not you get a flatscreen, so you better ask! On my list to ask:

Flatscreens?
Dry erase board or pens and paper?
DAT testing only?

 

[Ex_EE]

Just a reminder that holding anything up to the screen is considered cheating. Check out the ADA website for the complete rules

 

[CSI Dentist]

is it??

They tell you to do that in Kaplan classes.. hahahha

however, it didn't help. Not unless you have really nice screen resolution, or really thin paper so that you can trace them out...

that is too funny... i had no idea that could be considered as cheating.

 

[Ex_EE]

That's great. You pay for a class where they give you info that could lead to your scores being voided. I read the rules before I went, because I was wondering about calculators when I saw that.

 

[Vapor1122]

Just a reminder that holding anything up to the screen is considered cheating. Check out the ADA website for the complete rules

I just read through the examinee guide and found nothing about it. Where did you see that?

 

[Ex_EE]

The 2006 guide was a little more specific.

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Here is a link from a previous discussion

There was a whole arguement over the use of any measuring devices.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=325864&highlight=Angle+Ranking

While I have heard some prometric centers "allowing" the use of measuring devices, the ADA testing guidelines clearly prohibit them. Therefore, this is your own ethical decision.

The new quideline says
Slide rules, paper, calculating devices, rulers or other measuring devices

I will see if I can find the old quideline.

 

[toothfary25]

Shoot, thanks for bursting my bubble. I guess that would make sense though. I'm sure you're right about it technically being against the rules, but I have a feeling people have been able to bend them with things like that. I'm not saying it's right or that the risk is worth it - following the rules is of course the only way to go, but that's my observation.

Plus, if using the point of your pencil warrants a voiding of your test score, then shouldn't the same thing apply to those who fold up their scratch paper to aid them on the paper folding section? I've heard of people doing that too. Even though that's supposed to be one of the easier sections on the PAT, but hey - different strokes...