Master the DAT Destroyer = Master the DAT?

[Member 8586]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Title kind of sums it up lol.... maybe not "master the DAT"....But my question is if I know the Destroyer pretty well, am I pretty set for Orgo and Genchem? what kind of score estimations? and Bio..?..

 

[Kahr]

It's very difficult to say, especially given the fact that most people take the DAT having studied things in addition to the DAT Destroyer and have varied academic backgrounds.

Destroyer will probably set you up well for Gen Chem, and pretty well for Orgo (I supplemented heavily with Chad). For bio you absolutely need to utilize other resources.

 

[clubwestpua]

It's very difficult to say, especially given the fact that most people take the DAT having studied things in addition to the DAT Destroyer and have varied academic backgrounds.

Destroyer will probably set you up well for Gen Chem, and pretty well for Orgo (I supplemented heavily with Chad). For bio you absolutely need to utilize other resources.

So even after understanding and memorizing every information in Destroyer Bio, many cannot even score 20 on DAT bio?? 😱

 

[dymm]

OP, if you understand the gc/oc of destroyer well, and can score well on timed tests like topscore, etc.. you will most likely do well on the real thing.

Imo, Destroyer-Bio is very specific on some topics/questions and memorizing every single fact might not help if those same facts aren't tested on the DAT. I focused on the topics that are posted up by the ADA website, and tried to use multiple resources to learn and test myself on those topics.

On the side note, I felt like I knew the answers to some questions on the real DAT solely due to that fact that I am a bio major. Just amazing how a lab (that I once thought was quite boring while doing it years ago) could come back to help you on a DAT bio question. Even then I only scored a 23 for bio... which I am not really satisfied with personally....... sorry I will go cry elsewhere .

 

[Member 8586]

It's very difficult to say, especially given the fact that most people take the DAT having studied things in addition to the DAT Destroyer and have varied academic backgrounds.

Destroyer will probably set you up well for Gen Chem, and pretty well for Orgo (I supplemented heavily with Chad). For bio you absolutely need to utilize other resources.

well i took Romano's/Orgoman's class and watched all of Chad's Orgo videos once so i built a foundation that way and today i just finished my first run through the destroyer...gonna review information and ones i had trouble with over the next 5 or so days and then try to finish the Destroyer again in 6 days (first time was 8 days). now being that i have the foundation built and can just drill at these problems hopefully over and over again, is it enough to just focus on the problems in the Destroyer now? basically, does it miss anything? any type of problems that have shown up on the DAT that weren't covered (esp with chem since the way the question is worded really gets me sometimes) or miss any orgo rxns etc?

Also, does Chad's GC videos help with decoding wording of questions at all? I see a question and I'm often just totally lost on where to start. I see the first step and then boom im good...that first step wont be there for me on the test though lol

As for bio, Ive read and took notes on KBB and Cliffs. I'm gunna go over them each maybe once now and thoroughly over Alan's Notes and Destroyer which I hope will give me the broad and specific details, respectively

So even after understanding and memorizing every information in Destroyer Bio, many cannot even score 20 on DAT bio?? 😱

this is kinda what I was wondering for Bio as well...if Destroyer Bio is at least good for a 20 range

OP, if you understand the gc/oc of destroyer well, and can score well on timed tests like topscore, etc.. you will most likely do well on the real thing.

Imo, Destroyer-Bio is very specific on some topics/questions and memorizing every single fact might not help if those same facts aren't tested on the DAT. I focused on the topics that are posted up by the ADA website, and tried to use multiple resources to learn and test myself on those topics.

On the side note, I felt like I knew the answers to some questions on the real DAT solely due to that fact that I am a bio major. Just amazing how a lab (that I once thought was quite boring while doing it years ago) could come back to help you on a DAT bio question. Even then I only scored a 23 for bio... which I am not really satisfied with personally....... sorry I will go cry elsewhere .

im doing topscore in about 2 weeks so hopefully i can get over the time factor...i figure the better i know and more i practice, the faster ill know it and faster ill answer ...i havent timed myself yet as im just finishing destroyer completely today...but soon timing will be coming on Kaplan practice tests, the ADA 07 and 09 prac tests and TopScore, as well as Crack PAT, Crack Reading and Math Destroyer.

23 Bio I'd be ecstatic with lol..everyone always saying its so random is scaring me into thinking im gunna get stuff ive never heard of or something....ive seen multiple people say to focus on the broader overview and understanding of the topics (like u just said) which is why im gunna go heavy on Alan's Notes, combined with Destroyer for the more nit-picky stuff

 

[namiie]

You really should use multiple study resources but Destroyer is, without a doubt, the best one (that and Crack DAT PAT). I went through it thoroughly five times and ended up with 23s across (23 ochem, 23 gchem, 23 bio). Bio and ochem I was already pretty good at (only wish I had known about the roadmaps sooner though...could've used them for my actual ochem class) but Destroyer really drove gchem home for me. I also watched about 3-4 of Chad's videos for the gchem topics I was worst at, but I didn't use them as much as other DAT studiers might, I don't think.

And yes you should definitely focus on the broad picture first. I just think Destroyer was great for bio too in the sense that it applies the broad picture to difficult scenarios (e.g. not-so-straightforward Hardy-Weinberg calculations) that, on the test, could be that one question that so few people get right that it is worth more than the other 'easier' questions are. Good luck 👍

 

[Member 8586]

You really should use multiple study resources but Destroyer is, without a doubt, the best one (that and Crack DAT PAT). I went through it thoroughly five times and ended up with 23s across (23 ochem, 23 gchem, 23 bio). Bio and ochem I was already pretty good at (only wish I had known about the roadmaps sooner though...could've used them for my actual ochem class) but Destroyer really drove gchem home for me. I also watched about 3-4 of Chad's videos for the gchem topics I was worst at, but I didn't use them as much as other DAT studiers might, I don't think.

And yes you should definitely focus on the broad picture first. I just think Destroyer was great for bio too in the sense that it applies the broad picture to difficult scenarios (e.g. not-so-straightforward Hardy-Weinberg calculations) that, on the test, could be that one question that so few people get right that it is worth more than the other 'easier' questions are. Good luck 👍

i see many people saying they go through destroyer 3,4,5,6 times, but time is winding down for me and i might only get to go through it 3 times now ...my test is may 23 and the week before i want to do all practice tests....ahhh idk if i should reschedule but i guess im going to see as days get closer and depending on those practice tests 🙁

how long does it typically take you guys to go through Destroyer after the 1st time...first run through took 8 days (studying 12+ hrs a day) but i really thoroughly went over solutions and even memorized all Bio solns (prob forgot half of it by now though lol)....im thinking i can easily get through it in 6 days the next time or even less...is that too many days?

 

[Kahr]

So even after understanding and memorizing every information in Destroyer Bio, many cannot even score 20 on DAT bio?? 😱

I never said you couldn't score a 20 with Destroyer Bio. The point is, Destroyer is very specific, it basically just contains a large number of random-ish questions, some may seem normal, some extremely esoteric. On the actual DAT I felt Destroyer helped me answer maybe 1-3 questions in the bio section. But as I also said, it's impossible to gauge what Destroyer provides if that's all you studied for the bio section, as no one has done this to my knowledge (not to mention what you might remember from biology courses).

Spend your time studying biology guides, Barron's AP bio, Cliffs, and your textbook. If you've got time, go through the bio questions in Destroyer (I basically took all the questions and made Anki flash cards with them, just for added quick review).

well i took Romano's/Orgoman's class and watched all of Chad's Orgo videos once so i built a foundation that way and today i just finished my first run through the destroyer...gonna review information and ones i had trouble with over the next 5 or so days and then try to finish the Destroyer again in 6 days (first time was 8 days). now being that i have the foundation built and can just drill at these problems hopefully over and over again, is it enough to just focus on the problems in the Destroyer now? basically, does it miss anything? any type of problems that have shown up on the DAT that weren't covered (esp with chem since the way the question is worded really gets me sometimes) or miss any orgo rxns etc?

I don't think it misses anything, nor do I think you need much else since you've already built a very strong foundation. Something to note, the orgo on Destroyer is over kill for the actual DAT, the actual DAT is very simple, lots of questions testing you on the fundamentals, much less about mechanisms and specific reactions. Like: which of these is most acidic/basic, which one of these has the most acidic hydrogen, how many sigma and pi bonds in this molecule, etc. Honestly, it sounds like you're ready to rock the DAT. (I felt seriously gypped on this section in the real DAT, I remember cursing myself for going over reactions and mechanisms so much, 22)

Also, does Chad's GC videos help with decoding wording of questions at all? I see a question and I'm often just totally lost on where to start. I see the first step and then boom im good...that first step wont be there for me on the test though lol

Chad's videos are helpful for the actual DAT. Destroyer is much much more difficult to be honest, and even after Chad's I was having trouble with it. Unfortunately it'd been years since I took Gen Chem, so it was my weakest science (21 on DAT).

As for bio, Ive read and took notes on KBB and Cliffs. I'm gunna go over them each maybe once now and thoroughly over Alan's Notes and Destroyer which I hope will give me the broad and specific details, respectively

👍

this is kinda what I was wondering for Bio as well...if Destroyer Bio is at least good for a 20 range

Seriously, utilize other resources. I scored a 23 in Bio as well, and I was a History major. I used Barron's AP bio mostly, but also Campbell's bio (textbook), KBB, Cliffs, Destroyer, and SDN. Bio is the broadest, most information dense section on the DAT, you cannot rely on one resource, unless of course you feel highly confident of what you already know/remember from your bio courses in college.

 

[Member 8586]

I never said you couldn't score a 20 with Destroyer Bio. The point is, Destroyer is very specific, it basically just contains a large number of random-ish questions, some may seem normal, some extremely esoteric. On the actual DAT I felt Destroyer helped me answer maybe 1-3 questions in the bio section. But as I also said, it's impossible to gauge what Destroyer provides if that's all you studied for the bio section, as no one has done this to my knowledge (not to mention what you might remember from biology courses).

Spend your time studying biology guides, Barron's AP bio, Cliffs, and your textbook. If you've got time, go through the bio questions in Destroyer (I basically took all the questions and made Anki flash cards with them, just for added quick review).

thanks a lot for all the responses..much appreciated

for orgo, yeah i think im putting emphasis on reactions a lot too because theyre more complex and just SEEM more important, so i guess i really to need make sure i understand all the other conceptual stuff just as well

GC- im gunna take a look at Chads GC chems for topics im not as confident with as gauge if i wanna take the plunge into the rest of his GC videos as well....paid the $80 might as well use it right? lol

Bio - im pretty confident with most of the material in KBB, but Im thinking im too strapped for time to dive deep into Cliffs...I did already write out a lot of notes and i guess i can study just those but its still a lot more detailed...ill try doing as much in there as i can and see how it works on the practice tests

 

[clubwestpua]

What do you guys think about taking as many practice exams as possible and going through Destroyer just once?

I would review and take notes on every question I missed and even the ones I got right and read the notes about 2 or 3 times and spend other days taking practicing exams and look for weak areas. This is what most MCAT people are doing btw.

 

[biomolecmed]

It all depends on how you use the destroyer. If you solve problems correctly without looking at the solutions, then you are ready to take the day. If you see the solutions before solving problems, then you know how to solve that particular problem, but that does not mean you know the material. Destoyer is designed for you to understand the material, not must memorize the solutions. Hope this helps. Good luck.