Kaplan and Topscore vs Real DAT

[JohnnyDentist]

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For those that took the DAT how do the Kaplan and Topscore science sections compare to the real thing? Thank you!

 

[predental1187]

I didn't do topscore, but I did a few Kaplan tests...

My midterm scores were off because I was only halfway through studying. I got an 18 Bio, 17 GC, and 18 OC


But these scores were closer to my test date:
Kaplan final (2 weeks before real one): Bio: 21, GC: 17, OC: 21

Kaplan Full length 1 (3 days before real one): Bio: 21, GC: 16, OC: 19

Real DAT: Bio 20, GC: 19, OC: 21

So I would say Bio and Orgo were pretty accurate, but I found Gen Chem to be easier on the real one.
Hope this helps!!

 

[watt]

For those that took the DAT how do the Kaplan and Topscore science sections compare to the real thing? Thank you!

I would say that topscore is a closer indication to the real DAT, but i think kaplan does a good job too (tho they are slightly easier for the sciences). i generally scored higher on all sections on the actual DAT vs any of my mocks. I think most people get +/- 1 or 2 on their actual DAT in comparison to topscore. Theres an older thread about topscore vs actual dat scores (with a poll) somewhere here if u search it.
Here are the scores of my mocks vs actual:

Test--------------BIO---CHEM---ORGO---PAT----RC-----QR---TS----AA
KAPLAN_MIDTERM--21-----18-----21------25-----/------18----20----21
KAPLANFINAL------21------19-----21-----22-----20-----20----20----20
TOPSCORE1-------18------21-----18-----22-----21-----22----19----20
TOPSCORE2-------20------19-----20-----22-----22-----21----20----20
TOPSCORE3-------21------20-----25-----23-----23-----22----22----22
ACTUAL DAT------26------23-----23-----21-----24-----24----24----24

I took the kaplans 2-3 weeks before my dat and the topscores 3-10 days before.

 

[JohnnyDentist]

Thanks a lot for the responses guys

 

[doc3232]

My bio went up. My chems went up a bit, but close to some of my practice tests.
The ridiculously detailed questions in the bio section we find in Achiever and Topscore are replaced by these tough thinking questions that most people get wrong.
The chem sections are probably a bit tougher but much more fair as in, if you understand all chem concepts then you will do great.