PAT 3-D folding

[hpets]

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Okay, when i do the part where i take a 1-D outline and make it the 3-D object (in specific for the objects that are partially shaded), is anyone else having a helluva hard time and just making guesses after awhile? Or is it just me? Wondering if anyone is in the same boat as me...and if anyone has any tips.

 

[future_dentist]

Hey dude.....pat folding is kicking my ass too.....so is that punch hole thing.....i started to review for Dat's like 2 days ago.....and I am so lost.....I forgot everything.....all bio, all o-chem.....this thing is stressing me out.....I am planning to take DAT in mid Aug.....my gpa is also not that great just an average.....hope u r doing better then me....

 

[JohnDoeDDS]

I was just about to post a question on this. I just started studying for the PAT part (taking a break from bio) and while it all seems hard I believe I can get better with practice on the other sections, but the DAMN Pattern Folding is kicking my a** BIG time! Does any1 have any tips for this. I mean Im just not seeing this thing.

 

[hpets]

okay good, it's not just me! anyone else feel our pain?

 

[jmick101]

I feel your pain guys. I am not that bad at this particular section and the way that I solve my problems is like this: I imagine the paper pattern to be like wallpaper. Just spread it over the examples and eliminate those that wont fit. What else may help, especially with the dice, is to draw it out on your scratch paper and rotate it that way. Hey, this may be the blind leading the blind, but give it a shot and see if it helps.

 

[jorUW]

Okay, PAT is the only section i feel I can count on. I scored well and finished w/ 10 minutes to spare. Here are my $.02....

Pattern Folding: I think the Kaplan method of knowing layers
(sheets of paper) where a whole is punched is obvious. Secondly, lines of symetry on the first fold are key for eliminating answers quickly. For me I found it easiest to work backwards from the the picture w/ the hole punches. I started by using the paper tests and making marks on the grid as I unfolded the paper in my mind. Practice this until you are pretty fast. Eventually dont allow yourself to make marks but touch the paper w/ your pencil. The last step is take a computer practice test and simply touch the screen with your fingers. If you keep practicing the hole-punch section you'll eventually be able to see patterns and anticipate the correct answer.

Cube counting: My stradegy was "mapping the structure." What I mean is re-create the structure with numbers on scrap paper. The cubes are displayed at some perspective. Slice into individual slices and go from there. I'll attach a PDF as an example. Once you have the structure in numbers, simply look at the questions and tally the # of cubes that fit the description. You can get very quick and mapping the structure and than you can go through the questions very fast. Mapping also makes sure you count every cube. IMO if you dont characterize the structure somehow before you go to the Q's you end up counting the same cubes numberous times.

Angles: NO trick here, just go with your instinct. I am convinced that some of the q's on my exam I couldnt have traced and measured w/ a protractor.

Pattern folding: Personally I thought way eaiser that even Kaplan. Some of the answer options weren't even the what it would look like folded up. Otherwise, pay very close attention to which edges touch. You can eliminate choices fairly easy.

Key wholes and projections (note: I had a lot of experience w/ mechanical drawing and CAD drafting): If you are having a lot of problems with this. Practice with any random object you can find and draw the front, top, end projections on scratch paper before you even look at PAT problems. It is important to understand how those projections are even made to get the right answer. As far as the test. Count lines and pay attention to dashed lines. I really think this comes to down to pure ability to visualize the object in 3-D.

I appologize if I wasn't able to verbalize my thoughts. I think anyone can score 19-20 on this with practice practice practice. However, scoring well beyond is in large part due to natural ability IMO.

 

[bevzi]

Thanks for the DAT strategies. Just to add to your strategies, i decided to share with you guys, my ANGLE RANKING STRATEGY.
For angles ranking, i found that the best strategy was to compared all 4 given angles to 90 degrees. It just get easier when a reference angle ((90) is chosen. Also keep in mind that angles can be acute ( less than 90) or obtus( more than 90). If you see two angles that are greater than 90, then just mentally see which one looks closer to 90. I took many angles ranking practice on my computer and so far the most questions i miss are 3.
Good luck guys.

Okay, PAT is the only section i feel I can count on. I scored well and finished w/ 10 minutes to spare. Here are my $.02....

Pattern Folding: I think the Kaplan method of knowing layers
(sheets of paper) where a whole is punched is obvious. Secondly, lines of symetry on the first fold are key for eliminating answers quickly. For meI found it easiest to work backwards from the the picture w/ the hole punches. I started by using the paper tests and making marks on the grid as I unfolded the paper in my mind. Practice this until you are pretty fast. Eventually dont allow yourself to make marks but touch the paper w/ your ncil. The last step is take a computer practice test and simply touch the screen with your fingers. If you keep practicing the hole-punch section you'll eventually be able to see patterns and anticipate the correct answer.

Cube counting: My stradegy was "mapping the structure." What I mean is re-create the structure with numbers on scrap paper. The cubes are displayed at some perspective. Slice into individual slices and go from there. I'll attach a PDF as an example. Once you have the structure in numbers, simply look at the questions and tally the # of cubes that fit the description. You can get very quick and mapping the structure and than you can go through the questions very fast. Mapping also makes sure you count every cube. IMO if you dont characterize the structure somehow before you go to the Q's you end up counting the same cubes numberous times.

Angles: NO trick here, just go with your instinct. I am convinced that some of the q's on my exam I couldnt have traced and measured w/ a protractor.

Pattern folding: Personally I thought way eaiser that even Kaplan. Some of the answer options weren't even the what it would look like folded up. Otherwise, pay very close attention to which edges touch. You can eliminate choices fairly easy.

Key wholes and projections (note: I had a lot of experience w/ mechanical drawing and CAD drafting): If you are having a lot of problems with this. Practice with any random object you can find and draw the front, top, end projections on scratch paper before you even look at PAT problems. It is important to understand how those projections are even made to get the right answer. As far as the test. Count lines and pay attention to dashed lines. I really think this comes to down to pure ability to visualize the object in 3-D.

I appologize if I wasn't able to verbalize my thoughts. I think anyone can score 19-20 on this with practice practice practice. However, scoring well beyond is in large part due to natural ability IMO.

 

[hpets]

thanks for all the advice guys!!! as for me, for the 3-d thing, i've been drawing and cutting the actual shapes of some of the problems and making them into the object. Sometimes seeing it in your hands makes something "click." a little more work involved of course, but i need all the help i can get.

any other ppl out there have any advice?

 

[StephL26]

Great Advice! I have been very very lucky in choosing my answers, but this will not be true everytime. Definitely great advice and strategies, thanks!!!

Good luck, everyone!

 

[gameguard]

Guys, for the angle determining part, are you allowed to like fold a piece of paper into diff angles and compair the angles to the paper?

 

[armorshell]

Guys, for the angle determining part, are you allowed to like fold a piece of paper into diff angles and compair the angles to the paper?

Apparently this differs from test site to site. My advice would be to not ask, just do it.

The worst that can happen is they'll come in and say "Hey quit doing that!", and then you stop.

 

[gameguard]

Apparently this differs from test site to site. My advice would be to not ask, just do it.

The worst that can happen is they'll come in and say "Hey quit doing that!", and then you stop.

Do you think they can kick you out?

 

[armorshell]

Do you think they can kick you out?

Technically they shouldn't be able to tell you to stop, there's nothing in the rules of the test against using the scratch paper you're given in that manner