Hey guys. Anyone else who has used this program and taken the DAT. Did you find Crack PAT was helpful, and realistic?? I ask b/c I have been practicing, and for test scores I have T1 = 22, T2 = 22, T3 = 22, T4 = 22, and T5 = 28 (this was unreal).
Obliterating Crack PAT
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hey hoya, do you use any particular strategy as far as which problems to do first or last...or do you just do them all in sequence from beginning to end?
like for me...right now I skip TFE's and then go back to them after i'm done with everything else. I'm considering skipping angles too until the very end
like for me...right now I skip TFE's and then go back to them after i'm done with everything else. I'm considering skipping angles too until the very end
No, I don't use any particular sequence. I try to simulate as real testing conditions as possible (shut room door, quiet and set timer to 1hr). I actually like the way its layed out.....having keyholes first is nice, b/c it gets your mind thinking in shapes...so you can tackle the TFE next. I would try to practice them in real order, so you can know whats coming on test day.
Lol
. It is a nice program, although I havn't compared it to anything else. There are a few problems in Kaplans giant purple book, but they are really basic compared to Crack's.but what if i planned on doing it that way on test day? I never feel completely satisfied with the answer I give for TFE, so if i dont leave them until the end ill just spend way to much time on them in the beginning. By leaving them at the end i can feel more comfortable about time when im solving them
Inevitably you're going to have to do what makes YOU feel most confortable on test day, even if its saving TFE for last. Also, somethings that help me on TFE is looking for "events" in the figure. For example: holes, height, width, and dimensions are all the same........this eleminates a choice or two usually. Then comparing the last 2 choices, look at why they are different. Does one have a line that the other doesn't?? Then look at the question. Hope that helps.
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That's what I'm doing too. TFE and I are not very good friends... haha.. I might just put in an answer randomly and then try to figure them out after I've done everything else.
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how are you so awesome at PAT??? are there any hints to improve. my scores have been so inconsistent. I don't think I have technique except for the cube counting, and sometimes that is really hard also. what are your tricks?
Hey skittles PM me and i will see if I can help you out a little with the PAT
Hey. Part of practicing is learning to build strategy for each section and then trying it out. For keyholes, I take a similar approach as in TFE, I look at the top, front, and side views of the shape, and then see what answer is one of those. For TFE, I first look to see if the correct dimensions are represented in the answer.....this usually eliminates 1 clearly wrong one, and then I look for major "events" such as holes, or something sticking up, and see which answer agrees. Then when its narrowed down to 2 choices left, just compare to the question. For angles, process of elmination works to get rid of smallest and largest, then forget about the rest of the angles and just compare the last 2 (this is my most inconsistent section though). For holepunching, I just work backwards, don;'t even look at the beginning folds. I just picture where the holes will be on each diagram working backwards. For CC, use the chart method (if you don;t know what I'm talking about PM or IM me). And lastly for patternfolding, I look again for major "events" in the figure......like the side markings and other tell-tale markings. Hope that helps.......but all in all...you just have to sit down and practice it.
For Cube Counting I was using the chart method for a long time, just recently started counting for each question seperately now that I recognize things faster, gave me a gain of like 3 more questions right
The thing i dont like about the chart method is if u count wrong, u could be screwing yourself for however many questions it asks u for that certain figure, whereas if u do each seperately, u get a new chance each time. Also, its easier to lose ur place by looking down to keep a count ...so if u dont have to mark, u can go faster with less mistakes cuz ur never looking away
The thing i dont like about the chart method is if u count wrong, u could be screwing yourself for however many questions it asks u for that certain figure, whereas if u do each seperately, u get a new chance each time. Also, its easier to lose ur place by looking down to keep a count ...so if u dont have to mark, u can go faster with less mistakes cuz ur never looking away
Yeah there is a risk of counting wrong. What I do to help rid that is by counting the tallies in my chart and then counting the cubes in the structure. Also, I always count starting in the southwest corner to the northeast.
Your right it serves no good to count if you have no time. Part of practicing is trying to nail the time limit. If you are faster and confident in other sections, then you may have time to count.
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Does Crack the DAT - PAT provide explanations as to how to solve problems aka TEF or just test simulations?
They do show you the explanations, though not worded. For example, in TFE as you mentioned.....you can see the entire real shape in 3-D, and rotate it around as you wish to see what the answer would be. For hole-punching and pattern folding, they walk you through a video simulation of the folds. For angles, they just list the degrees, and CC they just shade the cubes. Hope that answers your question. 👍
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I think the Crack DATPAT is a lot easier than other programs. I get like 22+ easily each time, only problems come from like 1-2 stupid mistakes and a couple angle rankings. 10ish wrong is a 22, and thats easily acheivable. I started doing the PAT on other review materials, like topscore, and its so much harder (the keyhole section only) becuase the shapes are so different, and the differences are a lot more subtle. I hope real PAT is as easy as these tests are.
