Brace yourself, it's another BREAKDOWN (YAY!) First time poster. Just took DAT today. Scores:
Bio: 20
Chem: 21
Ochem: 25
PAT: 22
Reading: 22
Math: 20
Total Science: 21
Academic Average: 22 🙂
Also I also searched snd endlessly during my prep to find out different practice test companies vs real dat. This is as legit as it's gonna get for a comprehensive breakdown of the practice tests I used, but let me just say that these are my opinions from my experiences from studying an entire summer, and everyone is different with their own strengths and weakness. I'm also a rising junior. And sorry for all the grammatical errors in this post lolz.
DAT Bootcamp all test avg: Bio: 19 Chem: 18 Ochem: 20 Pat: 21 Reading: 20 Math: 22
Topscore all test avg: Bio: 19 Chem: 20 Ochem: 20 Pat: 23 Reading: 22 Math: 21
Qvault all test avg: Bio: 18 Chem: 21 Ochem: 20 Pat: 20 Reading: 21 Math: 21
CRACK PAT: 18, 20, 20, 19, 22, 21, 21, 21, 25, 25
Didn't even touch Achiever.
Okay so I started studying mid May and took test today 8/4/2015, but there was a two week vacation somewhere in that time. I also burned out during my last month, went from studying from 10 hours a day to 8 to slowly 6 (oops). When I first started studying, I didn't know where to begin, but I hope this thread will help you newbies on your journey! =)
BIO: Okay, it's a lot of stuff!! I'm a bio major and it was hard for me! For bio, I memorized Cliff's AP book 3rd edition COVER TO COVER WORD FOR WORD. Memorize literally everything, answer every problem, and learn to tie different topics together so you can really understand things forwards and backwards. I tried Feralli's notes, and they're great, but I mostly used Cliffs. I also used a lot of khan academy and crash course on youtube. I spent time reviewing material until the day before the test. Remember, bio doesn't stop! For practice, I used DAT destroyer numbers 1-300ish, I thought it was worth it. Qvault, Topscore, and bootcamp were all great too! Remember to do practice problems from destroyer and take a lot of bio tests and expose yourself to problems as much as you read Cliff notes!
Chem: Chem was always my weakest ever. Period. Gchem in college and AP chem in high school were horrible experiences. But I can thank Chad's videos for helping! All I did for chem review was Chad's and his practice quizzes over and over and over. Also, in college I barely learned anything from chem 2 so it goes to show that for chem, Chad's videos are not only a great reviewing tool but a fantastic first time learning tool too! Again, I thought all 3 (Bootcamp, topscore, qvault) were really good practice. I didn't use destroyer for chem cuz im a bum, but don't be like me! Stay disciplined and do it! Also there's not calculator for this section (or anything other section other than math), so be good at logs, pH calculations, and mental math with scientific notation.
Ochem: So I just took ochem and it was pretty fresh in my mind, but I understand a lot of you are in different positions for when y'all took it. For me, ochem was easier than chem in college, so I reviewed for it with the same mindset that it would be a lil easier, and I spent the least amount of time on it compared to the other sciences. Again, watch chad's videos until your eyes bleed. Do all quizzes too. All 3 test companies were a great investment. Destroyer is also great. I did all the ochem problems in destroyer. Didn't use that odyssey destroyer book thing though.
PAT: When I first started studying, I didn't know where to begin. But I heard that PAT was all practice, so I bought Crack PAT. In my opinion, it was a great investment (Royal Flush edition). Crack the Pat was overall a little easier than the real DAT from my experience, but it was a great start. During that first month when I just reviewed everything and wasn't taking practice tests, I would take a crack PAT every other night before I went to bed. Qvault wasn't too great, but I thought bootcamp and topscore were on point! However, on the exam, be prepared for 1/3 and crazy folds that these systems don't really have for their hole punch section.
Reading: I don't read books. Heck, I barely even read. When Ari told me to read a science article on his schedule I would get lazy and watch youtube vids lol. This was my worst for the SAT too in high school and just getting through an entire 11 paragraph passage was hard for me at first. But with the DAT reading, practice as much as possible. All three test companies were good for reading in my opinion since I was constantly forcing myself to read, and that helped my attention span. After I got a hold of concentrating on words for an hour straight (ew), it's really smooth sailing. However, if English is your second language, I would recommend reading anything as much as possible. Tone questions can be kind of hard if English is your second language, but don't get discouraged, just practice and read anything you can get a hold of! I recommend a science journal because they're extra boring, just like the reading on the DAT!! WOOHOO!
Math: Time was always an issue for me. work fast for this section. Use the calculator if you need to, it's there for a reason after all. But practice practice practice. I didn't know a thing about trig, and I wish I spent the time to review that. All three testing companies were good for math practice and getting used to test timings. I didn't use any destroyer for math.
Materials Used: Destroyer, Cliffs, Feralli's notes, Chad's videos, Crack Pat royal flush, bootcamp, topscore, Khan academy/Crash Course (Youtube)
Tips:
Make a calendar. This is where I failed. I originally stuck to Ari's ten week calendar, but I got lazy halfway. His calendar is great in my opinion, but if you use it, I would also recommend following his advice every single day and throw in qvault, topscore, and crack pat in the mix. Go the extra mile with his study guide and add as much as you can fit. Watch Ari's videos about pat too, very helpful.
From my experience, Topscore and Bootcamp were the two best programs. If you decide to go my route, do crack pat every other night while you are doing your FRIST go thru review for everything else like bio and chem and ochem. For me, I spent from mid May till mid June (two week Vacation in this time period) reviewing everything, back half of June and first half July was full length qvault test every other day and in days between I would review all my weaknesses from the tests, and back half of July/early August I did bootcamp and topscore every other day since they are most realistic and review in days in between. If you don't have the time I did, or you're a fiscally efficient learner/gotta ball on a budget, you can skip out on the qvault month! Just spend more time studying per day than I did! Nothing wrong with that at all. Just know that if you spend this money now and get the score you want, you won't have to spend money or valuable time later! It's also to be better safe than sorry, especially if the risk is studying for this test during the school year which isn't worth it if you can study during a free summer.
If I ever missed a bio problem, I would review it's entire chapter in Cliff's and redo the end of chapter questions. if it was a chem or ochem problem, I would watch that section's video over in Chad's videos and take the quiz again!
Don't be discouraged by practice testing scores! Use them as a way to find your weaknesses! My highest ochem score from all my practice was one 21 on qvault, but I got a 25 on the real deal! Anything is possible during the actual test! Keep your head up. I would hang a bad score on my wall with a post it note and write the date as motivation!
Take breaks. I woke up at 10 am, studied till lunch, ate lunch for 20 min, then studied more till late dinner at 8ish. But know that throughout those hours, i would take time to check up on my espn and stuff. I would also workout regularly 1-1.5 hours and eat a lot while I studied. Then from 10pm till 1 am, I would work on other stuff/chores/chill. I don't have the attention span to study for 12 straight hours, but if you do, then study away!
I also did the prometric test drive, that was helpful. Throughout the summer, I ate clean (fruits, ton of veggies, lean meats, etc) and made sure I was hydrated 24/7 so I didn't get sick or get headaches. That helped me too. Didn't drink, smoke, or any of that stuff either.
Remember, the DAT is a marathon not a sprint. Don't burn out, stay consistent, and most importantly, stay optimistic. Use sdn as a tool, not a comparison guide to other people and their scores. Once it's all said and done, walking out of that evil testing center will be worth it, trust me. YOU CAN DO IT! GET SO GOOD AT THIS ISH THAT THE DAT IS GONNA BE SCARED OF YOU ON TEST DAY! Good luck 😉, and hit me up if you need help or got questions about the test!
Bio: 20
Chem: 21
Ochem: 25
PAT: 22
Reading: 22
Math: 20
Total Science: 21
Academic Average: 22 🙂
Also I also searched snd endlessly during my prep to find out different practice test companies vs real dat. This is as legit as it's gonna get for a comprehensive breakdown of the practice tests I used, but let me just say that these are my opinions from my experiences from studying an entire summer, and everyone is different with their own strengths and weakness. I'm also a rising junior. And sorry for all the grammatical errors in this post lolz.
DAT Bootcamp all test avg: Bio: 19 Chem: 18 Ochem: 20 Pat: 21 Reading: 20 Math: 22
Topscore all test avg: Bio: 19 Chem: 20 Ochem: 20 Pat: 23 Reading: 22 Math: 21
Qvault all test avg: Bio: 18 Chem: 21 Ochem: 20 Pat: 20 Reading: 21 Math: 21
CRACK PAT: 18, 20, 20, 19, 22, 21, 21, 21, 25, 25
Didn't even touch Achiever.
Okay so I started studying mid May and took test today 8/4/2015, but there was a two week vacation somewhere in that time. I also burned out during my last month, went from studying from 10 hours a day to 8 to slowly 6 (oops). When I first started studying, I didn't know where to begin, but I hope this thread will help you newbies on your journey! =)
BIO: Okay, it's a lot of stuff!! I'm a bio major and it was hard for me! For bio, I memorized Cliff's AP book 3rd edition COVER TO COVER WORD FOR WORD. Memorize literally everything, answer every problem, and learn to tie different topics together so you can really understand things forwards and backwards. I tried Feralli's notes, and they're great, but I mostly used Cliffs. I also used a lot of khan academy and crash course on youtube. I spent time reviewing material until the day before the test. Remember, bio doesn't stop! For practice, I used DAT destroyer numbers 1-300ish, I thought it was worth it. Qvault, Topscore, and bootcamp were all great too! Remember to do practice problems from destroyer and take a lot of bio tests and expose yourself to problems as much as you read Cliff notes!
Chem: Chem was always my weakest ever. Period. Gchem in college and AP chem in high school were horrible experiences. But I can thank Chad's videos for helping! All I did for chem review was Chad's and his practice quizzes over and over and over. Also, in college I barely learned anything from chem 2 so it goes to show that for chem, Chad's videos are not only a great reviewing tool but a fantastic first time learning tool too! Again, I thought all 3 (Bootcamp, topscore, qvault) were really good practice. I didn't use destroyer for chem cuz im a bum, but don't be like me! Stay disciplined and do it! Also there's not calculator for this section (or anything other section other than math), so be good at logs, pH calculations, and mental math with scientific notation.
Ochem: So I just took ochem and it was pretty fresh in my mind, but I understand a lot of you are in different positions for when y'all took it. For me, ochem was easier than chem in college, so I reviewed for it with the same mindset that it would be a lil easier, and I spent the least amount of time on it compared to the other sciences. Again, watch chad's videos until your eyes bleed. Do all quizzes too. All 3 test companies were a great investment. Destroyer is also great. I did all the ochem problems in destroyer. Didn't use that odyssey destroyer book thing though.
PAT: When I first started studying, I didn't know where to begin. But I heard that PAT was all practice, so I bought Crack PAT. In my opinion, it was a great investment (Royal Flush edition). Crack the Pat was overall a little easier than the real DAT from my experience, but it was a great start. During that first month when I just reviewed everything and wasn't taking practice tests, I would take a crack PAT every other night before I went to bed. Qvault wasn't too great, but I thought bootcamp and topscore were on point! However, on the exam, be prepared for 1/3 and crazy folds that these systems don't really have for their hole punch section.
Reading: I don't read books. Heck, I barely even read. When Ari told me to read a science article on his schedule I would get lazy and watch youtube vids lol. This was my worst for the SAT too in high school and just getting through an entire 11 paragraph passage was hard for me at first. But with the DAT reading, practice as much as possible. All three test companies were good for reading in my opinion since I was constantly forcing myself to read, and that helped my attention span. After I got a hold of concentrating on words for an hour straight (ew), it's really smooth sailing. However, if English is your second language, I would recommend reading anything as much as possible. Tone questions can be kind of hard if English is your second language, but don't get discouraged, just practice and read anything you can get a hold of! I recommend a science journal because they're extra boring, just like the reading on the DAT!! WOOHOO!
Math: Time was always an issue for me. work fast for this section. Use the calculator if you need to, it's there for a reason after all. But practice practice practice. I didn't know a thing about trig, and I wish I spent the time to review that. All three testing companies were good for math practice and getting used to test timings. I didn't use any destroyer for math.
Materials Used: Destroyer, Cliffs, Feralli's notes, Chad's videos, Crack Pat royal flush, bootcamp, topscore, Khan academy/Crash Course (Youtube)
Tips:
Make a calendar. This is where I failed. I originally stuck to Ari's ten week calendar, but I got lazy halfway. His calendar is great in my opinion, but if you use it, I would also recommend following his advice every single day and throw in qvault, topscore, and crack pat in the mix. Go the extra mile with his study guide and add as much as you can fit. Watch Ari's videos about pat too, very helpful.
From my experience, Topscore and Bootcamp were the two best programs. If you decide to go my route, do crack pat every other night while you are doing your FRIST go thru review for everything else like bio and chem and ochem. For me, I spent from mid May till mid June (two week Vacation in this time period) reviewing everything, back half of June and first half July was full length qvault test every other day and in days between I would review all my weaknesses from the tests, and back half of July/early August I did bootcamp and topscore every other day since they are most realistic and review in days in between. If you don't have the time I did, or you're a fiscally efficient learner/gotta ball on a budget, you can skip out on the qvault month! Just spend more time studying per day than I did! Nothing wrong with that at all. Just know that if you spend this money now and get the score you want, you won't have to spend money or valuable time later! It's also to be better safe than sorry, especially if the risk is studying for this test during the school year which isn't worth it if you can study during a free summer.
If I ever missed a bio problem, I would review it's entire chapter in Cliff's and redo the end of chapter questions. if it was a chem or ochem problem, I would watch that section's video over in Chad's videos and take the quiz again!
Don't be discouraged by practice testing scores! Use them as a way to find your weaknesses! My highest ochem score from all my practice was one 21 on qvault, but I got a 25 on the real deal! Anything is possible during the actual test! Keep your head up. I would hang a bad score on my wall with a post it note and write the date as motivation!
Take breaks. I woke up at 10 am, studied till lunch, ate lunch for 20 min, then studied more till late dinner at 8ish. But know that throughout those hours, i would take time to check up on my espn and stuff. I would also workout regularly 1-1.5 hours and eat a lot while I studied. Then from 10pm till 1 am, I would work on other stuff/chores/chill. I don't have the attention span to study for 12 straight hours, but if you do, then study away!
I also did the prometric test drive, that was helpful. Throughout the summer, I ate clean (fruits, ton of veggies, lean meats, etc) and made sure I was hydrated 24/7 so I didn't get sick or get headaches. That helped me too. Didn't drink, smoke, or any of that stuff either.
Remember, the DAT is a marathon not a sprint. Don't burn out, stay consistent, and most importantly, stay optimistic. Use sdn as a tool, not a comparison guide to other people and their scores. Once it's all said and done, walking out of that evil testing center will be worth it, trust me. YOU CAN DO IT! GET SO GOOD AT THIS ISH THAT THE DAT IS GONNA BE SCARED OF YOU ON TEST DAY! Good luck 😉, and hit me up if you need help or got questions about the test!
