Percentiles?

[Dentalkid434]

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Do dental schools receive percentiles of the DAT performance or just the scaled score?

 

[teett]

I think just the scores. The schools don't know ur percentile.

 

[Glimmer1991]

No percentiles.... But I wish they did!

 

[carlfusco]

Is the numerical score (0-30) on the DAT a reflection of how you did compared to others who took the same test, or is it some calculation based on the # of questions you answered correctly?

 

[cwoodds]

Is the numerical score (0-30) on the DAT a reflection of how you did compared to others who took the same test, or is it some calculation based on the # of questions you answered correctly?

If you really want to know...

http://www.ada.org/sections/educationAndCareers/pdfs/dat_users_manual.pdf

 

[UCSFx2017]

I think the percentile shows where you stand among the limited number of people who took that same test. The numerical scores are probably based on the number of questions you got right/wrong. The 0-30 score is how you did against the test. The percentile is how you did against other people who took the same test.
Most statisticians would argue that the percentile is the better number to judge an applicant. But it is the 0-30 score that schools can advertise so that's probably what matters to them.
For a 2009 test, a 20 AA would mean a 89.7 percentile but for my 2012 July test, a 20 AA was a ~93.5 percentile. However, a 20 AA's percentile for one person is a different 20 AA's percentile for another person who took the same test because there is some leeway for the number of questions correct that will get you a 20 AA but varied percentile.

 

[mdb6476]

........

 

[NDPitch]

My 21 AA and 22 TS were both 98th percentile. That was surprising to me. I figured a 24 or something would have been 98+ percentile. Like you said, it's relative. I might have had a hard test.

 

[steveymcdubs]

For me, 23AA was 99.7% and 25PAT was 99.1%.

 

[cwoodds]

My 20AA gave me the 84th percentile in July 2012..looks like I had an easier test.

It means that 16% of the people who took the same test did better than you, not that the test was easier than other tests. Maybe you had a particularly good cohort of test-takers?

 

[mdb6476]

It means that 16% of the people who took the same test did better than you, not that the test was easier than other tests. Maybe you had a particularly good cohort of test-takers?

I guess it's possible..

 

[gumdrop16]

just for reference. it literally says on the bottom of your examination score sheet that u get when u leave prometric---PERCENTILES are NOT sent to schools. just saying.

 

[doc toothache]

just for reference. it literally says on the bottom of your examination score sheet that u get when u leave prometric---PERCENTILES are NOT sent to schools. just saying.

It takes such an effort to read, let alone comprehend.