- Joined
- Jan 1, 2004
- Messages
- 93
- Reaction score
- 2
There really is no secret to succeeding on the DAT. If you put in the time, you will reap the rewards. I DONT KNOW ONE PERSON WHO HAS PUT IN THE TIME THAT DIDNT SUCCEED ON THE DAT! This is not the MCAT. The DAT is not an IQ/thinking test. You can memorize your way to high scores if you put in the time. The biggest hurdle to the DAT is putting in the time. It's easier said than done. It's about endurance. Some people start off with good intentions but don't finish when preparing for the exam. Be a closer and not a quitter. Don't worry about not putting enough time; just make sure you put in at least 1-2 months worth of studying from 5-8 hours per day. This advice doesn't apply to everyone especially those who already know the science well. But to most test takers who forgot their pre-med classes and need to review all over again, 2 months at 5-8 hours per day is not asking for a lot if you want to score in the 20's. 2 months is nothing in the long scheme of things. You can do it.
I have noticed that there is a group of scared procrastinators on this forum. They have been asking DAT advice for nearly a year now. If these people would have spent that time studying instead of worrying and asking too many questions on SDN seeking the secret of scoring high on the exam, those people would have probably had 20/20 scores by now. Some people on this forum are really intimidated by it and they don't put in the effort as a result. They procrastinate and spend most of their time on here asking questions on how to improve their score when they don't put any effort in to begin with. Don't be one of those posters. Don't keep coming back here and asking for advice. Get away from SDN and your social circle for about 2 months and study 5-8 hours per day and you will score 20's.
My advice would be to memorize as much as you can from the big Kaplan book before taking any practice tests. Practice tests won't help you if you are missing nearly every problem because your fund of knowledge is limited. Practice tests only help when you are competent enough to answer most questions correctly or can limit your answer choices to at least 2 per question.
Don't waste time reading textbooks unless it is for Biology. It would be nice to understand the material in depth by supplementing the information with textbooks, but you don't have time for that now. People have memorized their way to great scores on the DAT. Yes, I'm aware that if you want to score 23+ in any section, a thorough understanding of the material is requird, but you don't need a 23+ in each section to succeed on the DAT. And most of those people who scored 24+ learned the material the first time around in their classes. I don't think reading textbooks is a bad idea but for many of you, textbook reading will just add to your stress and already long list of things to do to prepare for the DAT. You can eliminate this extra task and stress by just focusing ont the Kaplan book for the science sections.
I agree with the advice above. The Gen. Chem and O chem sections of the Kaplan book will adequately prepare you for the exam. You don't need any other source. If you use too many sources, you could get bogged down. Keep it simple and study. The biology section is lacking and I would read Campbell on evolution, eccology and classification to supplement the Kaplan biology section. Exam Krackers has a nice biology book. Other than biology, don't bother with a textbook.
Verbal, Math and PAT success is unfortunately due only to practice. The more you practice it, the better you will get. You can't memorize your way to succeeding on those sections.
Once you have the material memorized, practice on Topscore. Topscore is a computer simulated program that can be purchased on Amazon. It's almost a necessity as its practice tests most resemble the real DAT overall. Sure some sections on Topscore like the PAT are easier than the real thing. But the academic portions on Topscore are harder than the real DAT so it should prepare you very well.
I can't promise that you will score in the 20's if you do all of the above but I'm certain you will score at least 18 at the very worst and that will get you into dental school.
Lastly, if you join the Kaplan review course, that is not a bad idea. You don't need it and the only thing you will use are its resourse. If you have the money, go ahead and sign up for it. If you don't have the money, don't worry about it becaus you won't be at disadvantage. You can usually purchase Kaplan review material from ex test-takers in the classifieds.
CONCLUSION: Now that you know what to do. DONT PROCRASTINATE. Starting Studying! Get away from this website and study. Come back and post your scores and help the next test taker(s). 🙂
I have noticed that there is a group of scared procrastinators on this forum. They have been asking DAT advice for nearly a year now. If these people would have spent that time studying instead of worrying and asking too many questions on SDN seeking the secret of scoring high on the exam, those people would have probably had 20/20 scores by now. Some people on this forum are really intimidated by it and they don't put in the effort as a result. They procrastinate and spend most of their time on here asking questions on how to improve their score when they don't put any effort in to begin with. Don't be one of those posters. Don't keep coming back here and asking for advice. Get away from SDN and your social circle for about 2 months and study 5-8 hours per day and you will score 20's.
My advice would be to memorize as much as you can from the big Kaplan book before taking any practice tests. Practice tests won't help you if you are missing nearly every problem because your fund of knowledge is limited. Practice tests only help when you are competent enough to answer most questions correctly or can limit your answer choices to at least 2 per question.
Don't waste time reading textbooks unless it is for Biology. It would be nice to understand the material in depth by supplementing the information with textbooks, but you don't have time for that now. People have memorized their way to great scores on the DAT. Yes, I'm aware that if you want to score 23+ in any section, a thorough understanding of the material is requird, but you don't need a 23+ in each section to succeed on the DAT. And most of those people who scored 24+ learned the material the first time around in their classes. I don't think reading textbooks is a bad idea but for many of you, textbook reading will just add to your stress and already long list of things to do to prepare for the DAT. You can eliminate this extra task and stress by just focusing ont the Kaplan book for the science sections.
I agree with the advice above. The Gen. Chem and O chem sections of the Kaplan book will adequately prepare you for the exam. You don't need any other source. If you use too many sources, you could get bogged down. Keep it simple and study. The biology section is lacking and I would read Campbell on evolution, eccology and classification to supplement the Kaplan biology section. Exam Krackers has a nice biology book. Other than biology, don't bother with a textbook.
Verbal, Math and PAT success is unfortunately due only to practice. The more you practice it, the better you will get. You can't memorize your way to succeeding on those sections.
Once you have the material memorized, practice on Topscore. Topscore is a computer simulated program that can be purchased on Amazon. It's almost a necessity as its practice tests most resemble the real DAT overall. Sure some sections on Topscore like the PAT are easier than the real thing. But the academic portions on Topscore are harder than the real DAT so it should prepare you very well.
I can't promise that you will score in the 20's if you do all of the above but I'm certain you will score at least 18 at the very worst and that will get you into dental school.
Lastly, if you join the Kaplan review course, that is not a bad idea. You don't need it and the only thing you will use are its resourse. If you have the money, go ahead and sign up for it. If you don't have the money, don't worry about it becaus you won't be at disadvantage. You can usually purchase Kaplan review material from ex test-takers in the classifieds.
CONCLUSION: Now that you know what to do. DONT PROCRASTINATE. Starting Studying! Get away from this website and study. Come back and post your scores and help the next test taker(s). 🙂
