Kaplan DAT book

[dragonfly9]

Does anyone find that the Kaplan book tends to be a bit "different" than TopScore, Barron's or even the practice test that came with the DAT packet? Some of the questions seem bizarre, and some of the answers I find to be a bit strange. . .

Just trying to figure out if it's just me <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

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[ItsGavinC]

dragonfly,

Could be -- then again, studying for the DAT constantly has probably stunted my entire mindset. I've read and reread that entire Kaplan book 8-9 times.

What questions/answers in particular were you referring to? Give me some examples and I'll let you know if you're crazy .

- G

 

[DesiDentist]

Gavin

you read the kaplan book 8-9 times. How long did it take you to do that. I'm trying on finishing it once. damn man...i feel so slow. Any suggestions?

DesiDentist

 

[Hysteria24]

I'm with you on that. I'm still trying to get through it once. I might be going a little slower because I'm taking notes at the same time, but 8-9 times is amazing.

To answer dragonfly?s question. I haven't used many other materials, however I heard the Barron?s book had many mistakes in it, especially with the answer keys. I took a Kaplan DAT practice test at one of the centers, and a lot of the questions directly related to the Kaplan review book. Also, I felt it did a good job covering the practice test in the DAT packet.

It seems that there is a pretty broad range of questions on the DAT. That?s probably why it seems like the Kaplan book is all over the place. It is twice as long as the Barron?s book so has more room to cover many topics. Just trying to get you prepared for any curve ball the actual DAT decides to throw.

 

[Beagle]

Is it just me or is some of the Ochem in the Kaplan book kind of weak? Maybe I am thinking that I need to know more detail than is on the test? but it seems like Kaplan is skipping A LOT of reactions and I wonder if I will need to know them for the exam. For instance, they don't even go over Gringard reagents (at least in the 99 version). I thought this reaction was very important when I took OChem. Am I trying to learn too much detail???

 

[DesiDentist]

My DAT instructor told me that the Kaplan DAT book goes way overboard with Ochem. everything else seems fair game but OCHEM is too dense in the Kaplan book. So far everyone I've talked to has done extremely good on the Ochem section, which gives me hope since I forgot all of my Ochem. I guess they are just out to see if you know the basic concepts.

DesiDentist

Anyone who has experience with the Ochem section and Kaplan prep materials please share your insights. Thanks.

 

[Beagle]

What do you guys think of the Math section in the Kaplan book? Is it adequate?

 

[DesiDentist]

Most of my friends said that the math is way to complicated in the book and the resources. Which is good. The only way to get better is to understand really hard problems. But it is hard to be wrong a lot--&gt; it lowers my confidence. However, the main goal of Kaplan is to make you understand complex problems and when you are actually taking the DAT it will come back faster. The goal is to be fast. Remember the Quantitative Reasoning section is the last section. Personally, I am way too tired by then. So anything helps. Just think if you can do 3 problems 2X faster that will give you time to solve a couple more. Timing is the key. The problems aren't hard.

DesiDentist

 

[TRON]

My opinions about Kaplan's DAT review book (I have the copyright 2000 edition)...

The ochem section does go in depth by the amount of reactions that it covers, but it doesn't really explain WHY many of the reactions follow the path they do. You don't really have to know the mechanisms on the real thing (at least it didn't when I took it a couple of weeks ago), but I study best when reactions are described mechanistically rather than the generic "what is produced when A is added to B". When I needed deeper info, I broke out the good ol' ochem textbook.

 

[Yah-E]

My opinion on the Kaplan DAT book....I owe my DAT scores to that book!! I, too, read that thing 5 or 6 times (only the science sections)!! I also took a one-page (front and back) notes on every chapter (Biology, GenChem, and OrgChem), and read them on the toilet, before bed, during breakfast, dinner, lunch, and rehearse things in the shower in my head!!! <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

When I was studying the DAT, I was in DA ZONE!!! I was on FIRE!! I was talking, sleeping, walking, breathing and thinking DAT topics 24/7!! I would ask myself a question in my head and I would be able to answer it!!

Yes, read that book over and over will guarantee you success on the DAT. I've said it over and over, if you know every page in the sciences by heart, then you'll for sure get 20s on the DAT. Easy!

As far as the Barron's book....I had that book too, I used that book as my "relief tool" to throw across the room when I get pissed off when I answered a question incorrectly!!! In another word, I find that book useless!! It's just my opinion.

Study hard boys and girls!! Once you got those 20s...you've won half of your "dental admissions" battle! Happy studying.

 

[GTchick]

For those of you trying to get through the Kaplan book for the first time have fun. It was rough the first time I went through it and it took forever but now I know the thing like the back of my hand because I have been over it so many times. Everytime you go through it it gets faster and easier. Good luck studying! I am almost done. 2 more days of studying left!!!!

 

[KDBuff]

Do you guys think that the science sections go into enough detail for everything on the DAT? I find myself going to my biology textbook to have a better understanding of things. I too am going through that book for the first time. Just about halfway there! Also, looking at some of the O-Chem on the practice tests, it seems like it is mostly O-Chem 1. Is this how it really is? I haven't taken O-Chem 2 yet, and was wondering how in depth i need to get with that.

 

[Yah-E]

GT Chick,

You go girl!!! I know exactly what you're talking about...I was like that too!! Pretty soon, you will "MASTER" (for those of you that are applying to Temple, you'll hear this word over and over!!) that book!!

 

[GTchick]

I just hope that I have "mastered" enough to gain entry into the 20/20 club

 

[Beagle]

I'm going over it the first time too and it seems never ending! thank god the chapters aren't that long. Kdbuff--I think the Ochem is mostly
Ochem I.
the only thing diff in Ochem 2 is simply MORE REACTIONS!! ---carboxylic acids, aldehyde, ketone, amine reactions...since they're just pure memorization, you'll do fine

 

[tinker bell]

I'm done going through the Math Book the third time. And it's the old DAT math book with about 400 problems of all kinds in it. The third time I went through it, I seem to know all of those rules. (The first time I did it was in September.) So, after time, thing seems to get easier.
Happy studying
T

 

[ItsGavinC]

Desi,

I've been working with the Kaplan book for 6-7 months now, so it hasn't been too hard to read through it several times. As Yah-E pointed out, the stuff is permanently engraved into the brain at that point. I'm recalling stuff in my sleep and it's driving me crazy. I don't even *want* to review the stuff and I find myself reviewing it just out of sheer habit. I suppose that is better than the alternative!

Only 4 days until the big day.

- G

 

[ItsGavinC]

By the way, I have *two* Kaplan DAT books for sale. One of them has been used for 45 minutes or so (CD used once, a few marks in the book), and the other one has never been used at all (CD seal not broken, book never opened).

Anybody interested in these puppies? Send me a PM.

- G