MCAT and DAT Comparisons

[hawk52]

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I scored a 11 in physical science and a 11 in Bio. Science. Each of those scores ranks me at about 83-91 percentile. How well would this score correlate to a DAT test?

 

[dat_student]

I scored a 11 in physical science and a 11 in Bio. Science. Each of those scores ranks me at about 83-91 percentile. How well would this score correlate to a DAT test?

19 / 30

 

[hawk52]

Im not real familiar with the scoring..Is this a good score?

 

[dat_student]

Im not real familiar with the scoring..Is this a good score?

an ok score. you'll probably get accepted somewhere with a 19 average but a good score is 20+

 

[hawk52]

an ok score. you'll probably get accepted somewhere with a 19 average but a good score is 20+

So is this telling me that a 90%tile on the MCAT is only average on a DAT? I understand they are differnt test, but something gives me the feeling that ranking in roughly the top 10% of the MCAT test takers would place you in at least the top 10% of the DAT takers.

 

[KNightInBlue]

I scored a 11 in physical science and a 11 in Bio. Science. Each of those scores ranks me at about 83-91 percentile. How well would this score correlate to a DAT test?

Percentiles wise, dat student is correct. 11 on the MCAT corresponds to about a 19.
However, if you are scoring 11s on the MCAT sciences, you can EASILY break a 20 for the sciences on the DAT. I taught both the MCAT and DAT for Kaplan and I have seen this happen many a time when MCAT students also take the DAT.

As for the reading comprehension section on the DAT, its completely different from the verbal reasoning section on the MCAT. The VR section requires one to ANALYSE and INTERPRET while the RC section requires one to pick details and minutae from a very long passage.
Basically, if you want to ace the RC section on the DAT, start practicing to read fast. Really fast.

The one section that throws a curveball for MCAT students is the PAT section. It's a real bitch. There's no analogue for it on the science standardized tests, which means you will have to practice your butt off for this.


Overall, if you can hit close to the 90th percentile on the MCAT sciences, you can most porbably hit above the 90th percentile on the DAT.

Good Luck!

 

[dat_student]

So is this telling me that a 90%tile on the MCAT is only average on a DAT? I understand they are differnt test, but something gives me the feeling that ranking in roughly the top 10% of the MCAT test takers would place you in at least the top 10% of the DAT takers.

seems average to me.

MCAT: Stanford: phys sci 11, bio sci. 11
DAT: UCLA: 22

dat average for any school in California is at least 20.

 

[onetoothleft]

The DAT is a lot easier to study for IMO. There is less intense reasoning, so a very smart student that has done his homework will do very well. If you got 11's you should get an excellent score on the DAT if you study (and focus on PAT)

 

[hawk52]

seems average to me.

MCAT: Stanford: phys sci 11, bio sci. 11
DAT: UCLA: 22

dat average for any school in California is at least 20.

Ha, Is Stanford Medical School an average school? i dont think so.

 

[hawk52]

To anwser part of my own question, The only comparison I know of is that I had a roomate who took both the DAT and MCAT...MCAT he scored in the 65%tile, DAT he scored in the 99%tile.

 

[dat_student]

Ha, Is Stanford Medical School an average school? i dont think so.

I didn't say it's an average school
I said 19 seems average.
I compared Stanford with UCLA

 

[hawk52]

I didn't say it's an average school
I said 19 seems average.
I compared Stanford with UCLA

Then perhaps these MCAT scores would not correlate to a 19. Its a whole differnt test, so who knows, but i wouldnt say that someone who scores in the top 10 % on the MCAt will achive an average score on a somewhat simular test, the DAT.

 

[dat_student]

To anwser part of my own question, The only comparison I know of is that I had a roomate who took both the DAT and MCAT...MCAT he scored in the 65%tile, DAT he scored in the 99%tile.

That difference is very drastic. He probably studied more for DAT or studied for DAT after studying for MCAT.

 

[dat_student]

Then perhaps these MCAT scores would not correlate to a 19. Its a whole differnt test, so who knows, but i wouldnt say that someone who scores in the top 10 % on the MCAt will achive an average score on a somewhat simular test, the DAT.

who knows? You may get 30s but 19 seems average and is not very competitive in California.

 

[hawk52]

who knows? You may get 30s but 19 seems average and is not very competitive in California.

Im not arguing that 19 is average, I dont know what is average. I believe you. I was just pointing out that an 11's is far above average for the MCAT. 90th %tile to be more exact. Therefore, if there is any sort of correlation, i would think that I would be in roughly the same rank.

I took the MCAT in April so i am still fairly studied up for it and I tutor all chem courses. Not sure when my old roomate took the DAT.

 

[dat_student]

Im not arguing that 19 is average, I dont know what is average. I believe you. I was just pointing out that an 11's is far above average for the MCAT. 90th %tile to be more exact. Therefore, if there is any sort of correlation, i would think that I would be in roughly the same rank.

I took the MCAT in April so i am still fairly studied up for it and I tutor all chem courses. Not sure when my old roomate took the DAT.

10-11 is average for medical schools in California.
20-22 is average for dental schools in California.
65% is probably 9/15 if not 8/15...

I took a sample MCAT a while ago just to see how I do.
I easily got double digits for the sciences...

MCAT's verbal is a lot harder than DAT's RCT (at least for me). I am NOT so much into philosophy and humanities.

I haven't taken the real test but seems like it takes a lot more time to get DAT >= 25 and MCAT >= 13....

I feel DAT = 20 & MCAT = 10 are doable with a little bit of studying...

The good thing about MCAT's bio is that you don't have to memorize a lot....

DAT's bio is different. Independent questions but there is always something I don't know. It seems like to get 25+ on some of the practice tests one has to memorize all the classes, families,....& many strange names...

I feel the real DAT is easier than the practice tests that I have seen. So, my comparisons may not be accurate.

 

[hawk52]

10-11 is average for medical schools in California.
20-22 is average for dental schools in California.
65% is probably 9/15 if not 8/15...

I took a sample MCAT a while ago just to see how I do.
I easily got double digits for the sciences...

MCAT's verbal is a lot harder than DAT's RCT (at least for me). I am NOT so much into philosophy and humanities.

I haven't taken the real test but seems like it takes a lot more time to get DAT >= 25 and MCAT >= 13....

I feel DAT = 20 & MCAT = 10 are doable with a little bit of studying...

The good thing about MCAT's bio is that you don't have to memorize a lot and a lot less needs to be memorized.

DAT's bio is different. Independent questions but there is always something I don't know. It seems like to get 25+ on some of the practice tests one has to memorize all the classes, families,....& many strange names...

I feel the real DAT is easier than the practice tests that I have seen. So, my comparisons may not be accurate.

Makes sense...But comparing dental school admissions to medical school admissions probably wont give a fair comparison...I think we could agree that it is much more difficult to get into medical school, therfore medical school averages will be higher than dental school averages. The best way to do it is probably to take their ranks...what is 90%tile DAT score....Although i have a inkling that the MCAT is probably a bit harder so maybe 93-95%tile.

 

[Mustt Mustt]

Hawk, I think the problem you have is that you are comparing two different schools admission process and you you want to make a point that it's easier to get into dental school than medical school. You know aht there is no arguing there but If you are smart enough stop comparing apples to oranges. Also, %ile in DAT means Squat Vs in MCAT it means a lot. Schools never see your percentiles in DAT because all they see is your raw score. My percentile for 21AA was 92 while another student I know with 21AA whose %ile was 90. All students don;t ahve the same DAT and they take it on different days of the year. 17AA is the averqge and 19AA will give you a good chance of getting in but it's not that hard to get 20AA. But to go from 20 to 23AA is as much more difficult as going from 11 to 13 in MCAT. I took MCAT last year in April and I got 8V, 11BS, 11PS so total of 30 MCAT and I took DAT in July of last year and I got 21AA/21TS/15PAT. Now I am taking DAT again ina month and hoping to get that 15 to 18 or above. DAT and MCAT are different tests. I didn't do well on MCAT becasue I ahve problem with Reading and I didn't finish any Section on time in MCAT plsu I only took MCAT because my parents wanted me to and it might ahve somthing to do with that low 30 MCAT. LAst 8 questions on Verbal I put random answers. In DAT you ahve more than enough time for everything. MCAT time constraints is very tight. SO I would say that 30MCAT = 21AA and both are competitive anough to get you into any Medical or Dental school if rest of application is good.

Makes sense...But comparing dental school admissions to medical school admissions probably wont give a fair comparison...I think we could agree that it is much more difficult to get into medical school, therfore medical school averages will be higher than dental school averages. The best way to do it is probably to take their ranks...what is 90%tile DAT score....Although i have a inkling that the MCAT is probably a bit harder so maybe 93-95%tile.

 

[ddsnp]

Hawk, I think the problem you have is that you are comparing two different schools admission process and you you want to make a point that it's easier to get into dental school than medical school. You know aht there is no arguing there but If you are smart enough stop comparing apples to oranges. Also, %ile in DAT means Squat Vs in MCAT it means a lot. Schools never see your percentiles in DAT because all they see is your raw score. My percentile for 21AA was 92 while another student I know with 21AA whose %ile was 90. All students don;t ahve the same DAT and they take it on different days of the year. 17AA is the averqge and 19AA will give you a good chance of getting in but it's not that hard to get 20AA. But to go from 20 to 23AA is as much more difficult as going from 11 to 13 in MCAT. I took MCAT last year in April and I got 8V, 11BS, 11PS so total of 30 MCAT and I took DAT in July of last year and I got 21AA/21TS/15PAT. Now I am taking DAT again ina month and hoping to get that 15 to 18 or above. DAT and MCAT are different tests. I didn't do well on MCAT becasue I ahve problem with Reading and I didn't finish any Section on time in MCAT plsu I only took MCAT because my parents wanted me to and it might ahve somthing to do with that low 30 MCAT. LAst 8 questions on Verbal I put random answers. In DAT you ahve more than enough time for everything. MCAT time constraints is very tight. SO I would say that 30MCAT = 21AA and both are competitive anough to get you into any Medical or Dental school if rest of application is good.

Goodjob

 

[tiny2533]

To Hawk52
Dude you would most likely nail the DAT. It probably wont challenge you. You would be in the 99.999999%ile. Dental schools would be calling you off the hook trying to beg you to apply to their school. Every predental student would bow down to you and a shrine of you will be present at every prometric testing center. lol.

Seriously though, do you come on the dental forums for an ego boost or what?