Not Improving On The PAT

[Double Bonded]

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Hey Guys,

I've almost completed all 10 CDP tests but I'm getting frustrated with how little improvement I've had on hole punching.


I kill it in keyholes and TFE but by the end of hole punching I'm about 5-10 minutes behind. I end up rushing through angle ranking, cube counting, and pattern folding and make stupid mistakes because I'm behind in time.

It would be bearable if my hole punching scores were decent, but they're still my worst section. I end up wasting time on them and hurting my score. My cube counting score goes down because by the time I get to it I've got 15-20 minutes and 30 more questions to go.

I've looked at everything that I can get my hands on Sama, 2th DMD, condog, kaplan, etc...but none of the strategies seem to work.

I'm not gaining speed and I'm not becoming proficient at hole punching, how do I improve on this section?

 

[Strag]

How do you draw your hole punches?

I tried condog's cross, but I couldn't visualize so I drew 4x4 grids (every little box). Made a world of difference because I could track where the dots are at specifically.

I then did the extra Hole Punching problems until I became decent (came with the 10 test I believe)...

Also looked over the explanations in high speed. I got frustrated in the beginning and even tried hole punching actual figures, but it was time consuming.

I was like you and scored less than 8 in the beginning...Now all I get are 14s-15s. Just keep on practicing 👍.

 

[HannibalLecter]

How do you draw your hole punches?

I tried condog's cross, but I couldn't visualize so I drew 4x4 grids (every little box). Made a world of difference because I could track where the dots are at specifically.

I then did the extra Hole Punching problems until I became decent (came with the 10 test I believe)...

Also looked over the explanations in high speed. I got frustrated in the beginning and even tried hole punching actual figures, but it was time consuming.

I was like you and scored less than 8 in the beginning...Now all I get are 14s-15s. Just keep on practicing 👍.

As Strag has stated you have to meticulously draw in the 4x4 grid because on the DAT those lines of symmetry are going to come in handy. I don't always guess where the line of symmetry is on the grid I always draw it in, it gives me the precise location of where the hole is (pun intended). The point is you are going to draw the 4x4 anyways might as well do it the right way. And practice does make perfect. Keep on doing it man. I would try to get your hands on Barrons DAT if you feel like you need more practice.

 

[Double Bonded]

You guys are talking about the "tick-tac-toe" method right?

 

[EpicDentist]

Where can I find condogs videos?

 

[Double Bonded]

Where can I find condogs videos?

i think he removed all of them, all of his posts are edited out.

 

[HannibalLecter]

i think he removed all of them, all of his posts are edited out.

His videos are still online:

http://www.youtube.com/user/condog51#p/u

You guys are talking about the "tick-tac-toe" method right?

And, yes we are talking about the tic tac toe method

 

[VDR]

Is hole punching what's throwing you off? if so have you tried setting up the 4x4 squares up ahead of time? that usually shaves off roughly 2 minutes. It also gets you into a better rhythm.

One other thing I tried was skipping the hardest (tfe for me) till the end. because if i don't then i run into the same problem you do. Try these two thing out and see what happens.

Good Luck

 

[reely989]

What exactly is the tic tac toe method? I never really used it when I took the DAT I guess. I just visualized the punches in my head.

 

[dentalWorks]

Hey Guys,

I've almost completed all 10 CDP tests but I'm getting frustrated with how little improvement I've had on hole punching.


I kill it in keyholes and TFE but by the end of hole punching I'm about 5-10 minutes behind. I end up rushing through angle ranking, cube counting, and pattern folding and make stupid mistakes because I'm behind in time.

It would be bearable if my hole punching scores were decent, but they're still my worst section. I end up wasting time on them and hurting my score. My cube counting score goes down because by the time I get to it I've got 15-20 minutes and 30 more questions to go.

I've looked at everything that I can get my hands on Sama, 2th DMD, condog, kaplan, etc...but none of the strategies seem to work.

I'm not gaining speed and I'm not becoming proficient at hole punching, how do I improve on this section?

If I remember this correctly... Holepunch on the real DAT is much easier than CDPs

 

[addis4ever]

Hey Guys,

I've almost completed all 10 CDP tests but I'm getting frustrated with how little improvement I've had on hole punching.


I kill it in keyholes and TFE

How do u kill the Keyhole section? Thats the part I'm having a lot of problems with?

 

[Double Bonded]

How do u kill the Keyhole section? Thats the part I'm having a lot of problems with?

What I do is look at all the answer choices first, find which orientation is most common, go to the object, and imagine what it would look like if I shined a flashlight from that particular view.
If that doesn't work, I just go through the specific shape and rule out options.

I'm usually ahead of time when I finish TFE, but hole punching really kills me. I've tried condogs version of the TTT method but it really wasn't for me. Maybe I'll make the grid bigger so I can visualize it better and I really like the idea of drawing in the planes of symmetry.

 

[VDR]

If you try to implement to many tricks it might be confusing you. Try to focus on the grids and plane of symmetry. I got the highest jump in hole punching by using symmetry rules.

 

[Double Bonded]

Ahhh

Grid method is good! I made my grids huge and drew them with borders and all.
14/15



But my markers are always drying out (both of them).

I'm getting seriously concerned about this because they're new and if the ones at the prometric center run out during the test I won't be able to grab a pen and paper and not lose any time.

What should I do if both my dry-erase markers dry out while taking the test?

 

[HannibalLecter]

Ahhh

Grid method is good! I made my grids huge and drew them with borders and all.
14/15

But my markers are always drying out (both of them).

I'm getting seriously concerned about this because they're new and if the ones at the prometric center run out during the test I won't be able to grab a pen and paper and not lose any time.

What should I do if both my dry-erase markers dry out while taking the test?

What do you mean they dry out? You don't use the markers until actually 30 minutes of the test again after you have completed making your grids before the beginning of the PAT test.

This should be the schedule for the use of your markers if you are confused:

1) Before the NS and PAT begins, that first 15 minutes where they give you instructions on how to take the DAT, computer screen, you should have two boards. One you should leave alone because this one is going to be for any problems you might encounter on the NS sciences section. The other board you should draw the 4x4 grids on they dont have to have borders you know that right
2) Cap the markers don't leave them open they will dry out. If you are worrying about time for that think about how much time you are going to waste just worrying about them
3) Get done with the NS and in the PAT when you are on your hole punching section go backwards so you don't rub your hand on any of the grids erasing them.

There should be no case where your markers should run out, if you are leaving them uncapped get in a habit of capping them.

 

[annie12]

those are great tips! thanks!

 

[Double Bonded]

What do you mean they dry out? You don't use the markers until actually 30 minutes of the test again after you have completed making your grids before the beginning of the PAT test.

This should be the schedule for the use of your markers if you are confused:

1) Before the NS and PAT begins, that first 15 minutes where they give you instructions on how to take the DAT, computer screen, you should have two boards. One you should leave alone because this one is going to be for any problems you might encounter on the NS sciences section. The other board you should draw the 4x4 grids on they dont have to have borders you know that right
2) Cap the markers don't leave them open they will dry out. If you are worrying about time for that think about how much time you are going to waste just worrying about them
3) Get done with the NS and in the PAT when you are on your hole punching section go backwards so you don't rub your hand on any of the grids erasing them.

There should be no case where your markers should run out, if you are leaving them uncapped get in a habit of capping them.

I think you misunderstood what I was asking/I didn't ask it well.

The markers are capped all thought bio. I use them in G-chem and re-cap them for the rest of the 90 min + Keyhole + TFE. Sometimes I use them for hole punching but it's mostly during cube counting where I run into trouble.

The cap is off for almost the entirety of cube counting b/c I'm constantly doing tics for anywhere between 4-6 minutes (answering questions takes 15 seconds max and it takes be 1-2 min/figure..depending on if the count looks wrong).

I've read posts on here about people getting screwed over on QR and PAT, sometimes RC, because their pens don't write and every time I've done PAT and QR with my new markers , both of them dry out.

It's such a stupid issue to be worrying about but it's something that could severely **** up my score.

I guess I have to hope the dry-erase marks I get are new and don't dry out on me.