Please Help/Explain My Achiever Score

[BalooTheBear]

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My test is on May 6th. I feel confident but not after what happened today with my Achiever practice test. I completed 3 Achievers and 2 TopScores (last topscore will be this upcoming weekend). Here are my most recent scores. My achiever scares the crap out of me. My question is if anyone thinks I should push my test back. Thank you.

Bio GChem OChem NS PAT RC QR AA
Topscore#2 21 19 20 20 22 23 19 20
Achiever#2 17 17 16 17 20 22 19 19
Achiever#3 17 15!!!! 21 18 18 26 21 20

I got a 15! Should I push my test back and do more GChem? Or are the achiever tests just really hard and I shouldn't stress about it?
After reviewing my test, I noticed I made some stupid math errors, so I don't even think know if studying a ton more GChem would make a difference if my issue is with execution. Or maybe I'm making excuses...any help would be amazing.

Also, from that achiever3 test, I have a couple Gchem questions:

#1: Determine the rate constant for an isotope disintegrating to 1/8th of its original sample in 9 years:
Answer: k = .693/(3)= .231/year
Where did .693 come from? I understand 3 (3 half-lives), but not .693

#2: Choose the smallest cation/anion from the following isoelectric ions:
Correct Order: Se(--)>Br(-)>Rb(+)>Sr(++)>Y(+++)
Answer: Y(+++)
I thought that since Br was the most electronegative, it would have the smallest radius because it would hold its electrons the tightest. Am I missing some fundamental concept?

Thank you for any advice/help you have.

 

[BalooTheBear]

Bio GChem OChem NS PAT RC QR AA
21 19 20 20 22 23 19 20 Topscore #2
17 17 16 17 20 22 19 19 Achiever #2
17 15!!!! 21 18 18 26 21 20 Achiever #3


My scores came out unaligned. This should look better

 

[Albuterol]

#2: Choose the smallest cation/anion from the following isoelectric ions:
Correct Order: Se(--)>Br(-)>Rb(+)>Sr(++)>Y(+++)
Answer: Y(+++)

-It is Y(+++) because it is deficient of 3 electrons...losing electrons causes the radius to decrease in size. The addition of an electron causes electron repulsion and as result increases the size. So cations will decrease in size and anions will increase in size. Hope this helps.

 

[dentalplan]

Baloo-

If you feel you're not ready to take it in May, then don't. Don't take it until you're abs ready.

I'm taking mine early August, and getting my app submitted (everything but DAT scores) out early July. I bet you schools will get my DAT scores even before my app. If you think about it, schools wont start reviewing stuff until a certain day...which is probably end of August. And if you call a few schools, they will tell you that to be considered early, they need to have everything already in by the end of August. So if you send your app in June or July, and take your DAT in June, July, or even August, you will still be part of the very early applicant pool. Many schools start interviews in September or October anyway. So get everything done by July, or early August the latest. Take your DAT by then if that will help you. If you're still not ready to take DAT by mid-August, then I'd wait till next app cycle. Or...if you want to take your chances, apply anyway, and do your DAT like sometime in September or October (or as soon as your ready).

But be careful- if you take your DAT in September, schools may not get it until October, or if you take if in October, they may not get it until November. So, the chances that you'll be accepted this cycle if you take the DAT in September or October reduces dramatically....i.e. you won't get in...regardless of your other stats (you may...of course...it's a risk)

 

[CookieDough]

Hey,

I think you are ready to take it. Don't worry about that one low score b/c trust me, the gen chem section on the DAT is a joke compared to achievers (i.e. does not require nearly as much thinking and/or calculating). Your other scores surely show you know your stuff - go for it 🙂

 

[hoss19]

for 1st order rxn: t-1/2 = .693/k. therefore k = .693 / t-1/2
(look up standard 0th thru 2nd order half-live formulas in your text - they may come in handy...)

I too am taking may 6th...i just took my 1st achiever and got:

TS Och Gch Bio PAT RC QR AA
19 19 18 20 18 22 20 20

the gchem and pat scared me a little...i've been using CRACK dat pat and have been used to scoring in 21-23 range. i couldn't believe how much tougher the aperture passing and TFE was! the gchem had a ton of calculation which slowed me up and cut into my orgo (only 22 minutes to do the 30 orgo questions...yikes)