Keys to the Bio Section

[Adamsswag]

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I've been reading a lot of threads about students struggling in biology. First off, biology is a weak subject for me when I was studying for my DATs. I went through numerous resources to prepare but if I were able to go back in time, I would definitely prepare for this section differently. Keep in mind that you must prepare for the bio section as you would for any sort of college final exam, in that general reading of the topics should be covered at minimum 3 weeks prior to test day, and that memorizing and reviewing (with study questions) should take place within the 3 weeks prior to test day. I would strongly recommend:

1) Go through AP Cliffs Bio (general reading, should be completed at minimum 3 weeks prior to test day)

2) Memorize Alan's notes and add extra details to it that you believe are essential. Google "Alan's notes DAT" to download a copy.

3) Go through the Bio DAT destroyer. Be sure to read the solutions. Again, add extra details you believe are essential to Alan's notes.

I didn't score high in this section but I did score pretty average. I believe looking through way too many sources can hurt test performance in this section. It's better to be really familiar with the main core of the concepts than to go out on a limb and know random, irrelevant facts. I strongly advocate this study schedule for bio preparation mainly because it is time-efficient and a great representation of the information you must know for the real DAT.

 

[sacapuntas]

I've been reading a lot of threads about students struggling in biology. First off, biology is a weak subject for me when I was studying for my DATs. I went through numerous resources to prepare but if I were able to go back in time, I would definitely prepare for this section differently. Keep in mind that you must prepare for the bio section as you would for any sort of college final exam, in that general reading of the topics should be covered at minimum 3 weeks prior to test day, and that memorizing and reviewing (with study questions) should take place within the 3 weeks prior to test day. I would strongly recommend:

1) Go through AP Cliffs Bio (general reading, should be completed at minimum 3 weeks prior to test day)

2) Memorize Alan's notes and add extra details to it that you believe are essential. Google "Alan's notes DAT" to download a copy.

3) Go through the Bio DAT destroyer. Be sure to read the solutions. Again, add extra details you believe are essential to Alan's notes.

I didn't score high in this section but I did score pretty average. I believe looking through way too many sources can hurt test performance in this section. It's better to be really familiar with the main core of the concepts than to go out on a limb and know random, irrelevant facts. I strongly advocate this study schedule for bio preparation mainly because it is time-efficient and a great representation of the information you must know for the real DAT.

Good post!

We went about it very different ways, but both had good results.

I think it all depends on your style of learning; I found reading biology sources from many different authors prepared me the best. Reading the same topic covered in 3 or 4 different ways really helped it sink in for me, not to mention that you then get practice questions from 3 or 4 different sources. By the time the real bio portion rolled around there wasn't too much I hadn't been exposed to that they could ask in an intro biology survey.

 

[Adamsswag]

Good post!

We went about it very different ways, but both had good results.

I think it all depends on your style of learning; I found reading biology sources from many different authors prepared me the best. Reading the same topic covered in 3 or 4 different ways really helped it sink in for me, not to mention that you then get practice questions from 3 or 4 different sources. By the time the real bio portion rolled around there wasn't too much I hadn't been exposed to that they could ask in an intro biology survey.

Very true. I just think the single most important quality in studying for this section is time efficiency. I suck at bio in general and I swear by Alan's notes and destroyer solutions LOL. I thought this post would be useful to those who feel lost in their preparations for bio, since I read so many of these concerning posts frequently.

 

[sacapuntas]

Very true. I just think the single most important quality in studying for this section is time efficiency. I suck at bio in general and I swear by Alan's notes and destroyer solutions LOL. I thought this post would be useful to those who feel lost in their preparations for bio, since I read so many of these concerning posts frequently.

It absolutely is a great post for those preparing for bio, I didn't mean to take away from what you wrote in any way...just wanted to add to it more or less!

 

[Adamsswag]

I totally didn't think you were taking anything from my post. I appreciate the additional details 🙂

 

[ushaseos]

This is pretty much the blueprint for bio success. Adam you should add some practice materials too. I'd like to elect DAT Q-vault or Kaplan's test bank.

 

[sacapuntas]

This is pretty much the blueprint for bio success. Adam you should add some practice materials too. I'd like to elect DAT Q-vault or Kaplan's test bank.

Cliffs's AP has probably 500+ questions in it and DAT destroyer bio has 450+ questions. If you do DAT Q-vault that is another 500 questions for only 20 some dollars. Pretty soon you are at roughly 1500 bio questions, which is great.

 

[Muelitas]

Chad's AP has probably 500+ questions in it and DAT destroyer bio has 450+ questions. If you do DAT Q-vault that is another 500 questions for only 20 some dollars. Pretty soon you are at roughly 2000 bio questions, which is great.

Hey Sacapuntas! Where can I find these questions?

 

[sacapuntas]

Hey Sacapuntas! Where can I find these questions?

Books like Cliffs and Barrons have questions after each chapter, 2 100 question practice AP bio exams and barrons even has a diagnostic test. It is a very cheap source of questions. The questions tend to be a little too easy, but half the Bio questions on the DAT are very easy.

 

[Muelitas]

Ohh ok, you meant Cliffs... I thought that Chad's had a bio section I didn't know of. You are right counting all those questions should definetly give a broader spectrum of possible bio questions.

 

[sacapuntas]

Ohh ok, you meant Cliffs... I thought that Chad's had a bio section I didn't know of. You are right counting all those questions should definetly give a broader spectrum of possible bio questions.

Oh Haha, even after re-reading my comment I didn't see that until you pointed it out!

Yes, I meant cliffs, sorry for the confusion!

 

[Dotoday]

Wow, thanks. That was a very good explanation.

Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk

 

[ushaseos]

Cliffs's AP has probably 500+ questions in it

That is true actually, but when I was using it I did those questions like right after so it didn't seem like so many. Yeah nvm Adam you took care of practice too 👍

 

[DrJ1Day]

Chad's won't have a bio section done until May/June of this year.