Organic on DAT

[datstudy1]

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Hi, All. Thank you so much for all the valuable information you have given me so far. I was wondering if you could help me with the organic section as a hole. There are just so many reactions one needs to know.

My question is: If I only have a couple weeks until my test, should I learn how to do mechanisms so I can figure out what the product will be, or would it actually be easier to just memorize all the reactions?

Please give me your input. Thank you so much.

 

[mightyrat]

Learning the mechanisms is a waste of time in regards to the DAT!! Thats more like the ACS exam or just an orgo final

For the reactions on the DAT, the best thing to use is the roadmaps in the destroyer. I think that is the best source for reactions, because keep in mind, the DAT isnt just focued on orgo, so you dont need to know reactions like olefin metathesis, heck reactions, manic reactions, and things of that nature, thats simply going overboard.

But simple reactions like the markvonikov/antimark. reactions, grignard reactions, aryl reactions, and reactions of that nature is what is expected and tested on the exam, and the roadmaps on the destroyer does that in an amazing job, in my opinion.

If you take a look on people who did well on the orgo section on the DAT and ask them, most of them will say the roadmaps 🙂

 

[Lane138]

Hi, All. Thank you so much for all the valuable information you have given me so far. I was wondering if you could help me with the organic section as a hole. There are just so many reactions one needs to know.

My question is: If I only have a couple weeks until my test, should I learn how to do mechanisms so I can figure out what the product will be, or would it actually be easier to just memorize all the reactions?

Please give me your input. Thank you so much.

I, like datstudy1, am in the same boat! four weeks to cram for the exam... what was I thinking??

 

[chromosome21]

i'd say, make a list of all the reactions and go over mechanisms of each of them at least once. It'll help you memorize all these reactions faster. On the real DAT, there are some questions which will ask for the intermediates, if you don't known any mechanism, you'd not be able to answer such questions.

Mechanisms helped me memorize the reactions faster. It's just my two cents..

 

[mightyrat]

i'd say, make a list of all the reactions and go over mechanisms of each of them at least once. It'll help you memorize all these reactions faster. On the real DAT, there are some questions which will ask for the intermediates, if you don't known any mechanism, you'd not be able to answer such questions.

Mechanisms helped me memorize the reactions faster. It's just my two cents..

If i am not mistaken, the intermediates that are often asked on the DAT arent that complicated, not at least to the extent that you have to memorize the whole mechanism to get to anyway.

I say the ones that are often tested are the basic ones, carbocation, radical, once in a while you might encounter a carbene, or even a tetrahedral but nothing crazy like the benzynes or the ozonide or the oxymercuration-demercuration!

For example, you might have an alkene reaction that required a methyl or hydride shifts, if you just remember simple carbocation chemistry, you will know that the tertiary one is the answer.

Dont get me wrong, the mechanisms will definitely be an asset to you, but dont feel like if you dont know the mechanism you wont get anything right on the reactions. Just memorize the reactions in the roadmaps and your set! (in my opinion at least 🙂)

 

[104]

datstudy1

I would highly recommend going over the ADA posted sample DAT and go thru all of the problems and while doing them;

1. find the right answer
2. if applicable why are the other answers wrong
3. try to see what kind of question would make the other wrong answers correct
4. all in all try to see what concepts are being brought up most

thats my advice. Have you taken ochem?

 

[chromosome21]

If i am not mistaken, the intermediates that are often asked on the DAT arent that complicated, not at least to the extent that you have to memorize the whole mechanism to get to anyway.

I say the ones that are often tested are the basic ones, carbocation, radical, once in a while you might encounter a carbene, or even a tetrahedral but nothing crazy like the benzynes or the ozonide or the oxymercuration-demercuration!

For example, you might have an alkene reaction that required a methyl or hydride shifts, if you just remember simple carbocation chemistry, you will know that the tertiary one is the answer.

Dont get me wrong, the mechanisms will definitely be an asset to you, but dont feel like if you dont know the mechanism you wont get anything right on the reactions. Just memorize the reactions in the roadmaps and your set! (in my opinion at least 🙂)

I was answering to op's question. I didn't comment anything on your way of learning or preparing for the DAT. Why did you find my way so irritating? OP asked to all sdners and all sdners have right to share their own opinions. If mine doesn't match with yours, doesn't mean my way is wrong. It seems like you are trying to prove here that your way is the best, and roadmaps are god! I only shared my views and here you are trying to prove that learning mechanisms is a waste of time!! Learning mechanism helped me remmeber reactions faster, so why wouldn't I give that advise to everyone?

 

[mightyrat]

I was answering to op's question. I didn't comment anything on your way of learning or preparing for the DAT. Why did you find my way so irritating? OP asked to all sdners and all sdners have right to share their own opinions. If mine doesn't match with yours, doesn't mean my way is wrong. It seems like you are trying to prove here that your way is the best, and roadmaps are god! I only shared my views and here you are trying to prove that learning mechanisms is a waste of time!! Learning mechanism helped me remmeber reactions faster, so why wouldn't I give that advise to everyone?

Im sorry if i offended you, i really didnt mean anything by what i said in an offensive manner!! I just saw how easily people can get overwhelmed with this exam, just like how i was, and i was trying to find any means to lower that tension, but again i apologize if it came out to offensive to you.

Again, learning the mechansims is good, if it is what you used to answer the reactions than more power to you my friend and thats great for you because we are able to come up with the steps very quick! 👍

And let me clear something up about the roadmaps, did i find them helpful? yes i did, however i was shocked to find a reaction not on the roadmaps that i was tested on. Luckily i knew the reaction so i remained confident and got it right, but other than that the reactions on the roadmaps are really all that you need.

Again i apologize if i upset you, but my intention to help 😀

 

[chromosome21]

Im sorry if i offended you, i really didnt mean anything by what i said in an offensive manner!! I just saw how easily people can get overwhelmed with this exam, just like how i was, and i was trying to find any means to lower that tension, but again i apologize if it came out to offensive to you.

Again, learning the mechansims is good, if it is what you used to answer the reactions than more power to you my friend and thats great for you because we are able to come up with the steps very quick! 👍

And let me clear something up about the roadmaps, did i find them helpful? yes i did, however i was shocked to find a reaction not on the roadmaps that i was tested on. Luckily i knew the reaction so i remained confident and got it right, but other than that the reactions on the roadmaps are really all that you need.

Again i apologize if i upset you, but my intention to help 😀

I tried to memorize the list of reactions, but it didn't work for me. It was easier for me to make a mental video of a whole mechanism, and that way I solidified all the basics. It helped me so much that so called "hard mechanisms" became easier for me. I could predict the mechanisms of some reactions w/o seeing them before. It didn't take me too long. I had three-step-strategy: step 1 - understand the mechanism and make a mental video of it, step 2 - review it 2 times, and step 3 - come back to it at the end of the day for one week. After a week, it gets easier. No need to look up any of the reactions every day anymore. once/twice a week is sufficient based on how well you can recall what you've read. When I hit destroyer, I could able to predict the results w/o memorizing a single reaction. In short, I spent less time overall, and I had less chances to get anything wrong. Making a mental video for a single reaction did not take more than a minute or two. Those three steps would not require more than 2 hours of your day for a week, and after that, it'd not take more than half an hour! Everyone has different strategies, and this was mine which helped me get a 30 on the test!

 

[Lane138]

I tried to memorize the list of reactions, but it didn't work for me. It was easier for me to make a mental video of a whole mechanism, and that way I solidified all the basics. It helped me so much that so called "hard mechanisms" became easier for me. I could predict the mechanisms of some reactions w/o seeing them before. It didn't take me too long. I had three-step-strategy: step 1 - understand the mechanism and make a mental video of it, step 2 - review it 2 times, and step 3 - come back to it at the end of the day for one week. After a week, it gets easier. No need to look up any of the reactions every day anymore. once/twice a week is sufficient based on how well you can recall what you've read. When I hit destroyer, I could able to predict the results w/o memorizing a single reaction. In short, I spent less time overall, and I had less chances to get anything wrong. Making a mental video for a single reaction did not take more than a minute or two. Those three steps would not require more than 2 hours of your day for a week, and after that, it'd not take more than half an hour! Everyone has different strategies, and this was mine which helped me get a 30 on the test!

I was wondering where this "list of reactions" came from? thanks!

 

[sbdento]

I'm not sure about that specific "list", but the destroyer roadmaps are an excellent place to start.

 

[chromosome21]

I was wondering where this "list of reactions" came from? thanks!

I collected all the reactions from Kaplan, kaplan subject tests, chad, chad quizzes, mcat hyperlearning o.chem section.. and some important ones from o.chem as a second language I and II..

destroyer roadmaps are good too, but it was just a review for me! I liked my collection more cause I made them the way I wanted!