PAT panic!

[euphaire]

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My exam is just a few days away. I did fairly well on the PAT section of DAT using IQ publication books and Kaplan. However, I totally forgot that the real DAT is on computer, so NO LABELING on the diagrams whatsoever. This killed me when I practiced for the folding and cube counting sections on Achiever.

I am FREAKING out right now. I thought I'd do well on PAT but it turned out that I FAIL when it's on computer because I can't label on the diagrams!!!!! Does someone have any good tips for me? Please help!

 

[Barking Lamb]

If money isn't an issue I would recommend downloading Crack Dat PAT and just practicing problems.

 

[euphaire]

I did that. But is there a trick to do everything in mind as opposed to labeling on the diagrams? I'm particularly bad with cube counting, I'm not sure why 🙁

 

[crax]

sure is, cube counting method which works great for me:

on your paper draw 6 columns, labeled 0-5 (and leave more room for columns 2-4)
then if youre viewing it as a XYZ axis (where Z is vertical axis) always start counting from the same reference point (example: bottom left).

http://geostarslib.sourceforge.net/xyz.gif

from your reference point, count upwards (Z axiz). if two blocks are stacked on top of eachother, i just mentally would say 2 (sides exposed), 4 (sides exposed) and then go to my chart and tally a 2 and a 4. after you have done all of the Z blocks for that XY coordinate, i move in one direction (personally i worked up the x axis). the next block over on the X axis, i started from the bottom Z block, and once again counted sides going up, and then marked them down.

when youre completely done with a row, move over to the next streak of blocks. never try and jump ahead or you will get lost

edit: when i had completed tallying everything, i went to my tallys and put a little circle on the top of every third tally, so it was easy to count them quickly. (if you see two circles and one more tally, you know its 3+3+1)
if this doesnt make sense, let me know and i can elaborate.
​

 

[crax]

where else do you use drawing that might be a factor?

for hole punching i drew one small grid in the corner and used my fingers as placeholders for where holes should be. on some obvious folds i would know it would reflect over the x/y/diagonal axis so i would just look where my fingers were, and then pretend they were ALSO reflected on the other side.

 

[euphaire]

Thanks!! I saw your reply, watched a bunch of youtube videos, started with the "wicked" PAT tutorial on this forum, and improved tremendously. I now get 24ish on my Crack the DAT PAT exams.

On the side note, I'm starting to forget the bio/chem/ochem stuffs. FML 🙁

 

[TheDentist16]

Thanks!! I saw your reply, watched a bunch of youtube videos, started with the "wicked" PAT tutorial on this forum, and improved tremendously. I now get 24ish on my Crack the DAT PAT exams.

On the side note, I'm starting to forget the bio/chem/ochem stuffs. FML 🙁

Glad to hear you're improving 👍. If you can get 24's on the Crack DAT PAT exams then you're solid for the real DAT.

If you have notes on bio/chem/ochem then you should review them in the days to come. I felt like I was forgetting everything too, even up until a few hours before my real DAT exam, but when I saw the questions on the exam for the sciences, recalling the topics was not an issue. Maybe it's just a feeling you're having. If so, do not worry about it! You will do great on your exam.