Preparing for the DAT

[fuze]

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I have been trying to find materials to study for the DAT. I have the Kaplan book and the Barron's book. The perceptual ability parts though are just practice problems, and I was wondering if anyone knew of any resources that give strategies on working the PAT problems.
Is Kaplan the best way to go for reviewing everything on DAT?

 

[DMD_hopeful]

I have been trying to find materials to study for the DAT. I have the Kaplan book and the Barron's book. The perceptual ability parts though are just practice problems, and I was wondering if anyone knew of any resources that give strategies on working the PAT problems.
Is Kaplan the best way to go for reviewing everything on DAT?

I thought Kaplan was a little weak in BIO and PAT. Topscore, which is a CD that contains 3 full-length exams, is another good resource.

I didn't use "AceTheDAT" but I heard that it was great for the PAT section.

As for PAT strategies, I only used Kaplan and looking back now I probably should have used some other sources. Maybe someone else can be a better help to you in pointing you towards better PAT-strategy sources.

Best of luck

 

[wimmcs]

check your private messages.

 

[Darksunshine]

I have been trying to find materials to study for the DAT. I have the Kaplan book and the Barron's book. The perceptual ability parts though are just practice problems, and I was wondering if anyone knew of any resources that give strategies on working the PAT problems.
Is Kaplan the best way to go for reviewing everything on DAT?

Hello Fuze:

I agree with some of the posters so far. Kaplan was a little weak on the PAT section compared to the actual test. BIO was covered very generally in some areas and way to specific in others. I think Kaplan did a good job on O Chem, RC, and the others.

I believe we all learn differently but studying something before hand is really wise. Not to mention doing practice tests, which Kaplan offers, can really help you feel better about the whole process.

Good luck!

 

[lunguv]

Kaplan diagnostic tests were a bunch of crap. On my final Kaplan diagnostic test I got the following.

Orgo 13
Chem 17
Bio 16
RC 22
Math 17
PAT 25

A week later I took the real test and got the following:

Orgo 18
Chem 21
Bio 20
RC 22
Math 16
PAT 18

I feel like the only thing it predicted was my RC and math. Oh and the math, I actually didn't answer 10 out of the 40 questions, cause I didn't pay attention to the time. I got smoked on the real PAT. I thought the angles and key holes were much tougher than the Kaplan. I also used the Topscore PRO cd thing. I consistently got 24-25's on their PAT too, but the real one was much tougher. I was really dissapointed after the test when I saw my PAT was so low because this was consistently my best section. ORGO was bull crap because I never took orgo2 before the test, had I taken orgo 2 I would have gotten well into the 20's, I actually just took that this last semester. If I could do it all over again, I would find any other resources for the PAT and practice like crazy!! I did feel that kaplan prepared me pretty well for the Bio and Chem though. Good luck.

 

[champSJL]

Are there any companies that provide DAT test preps outside of Kaplan? I don't see it on Princeton Review...

 

[Dr.Bear]

Kaplan PAT was horrible. MY diagnostic tests had me scoring in the high 20's on all of the exams I took.. and it's not what I scored on the actual exam... I feel that if I spent less time using Kaplan material for the PAT and more time using something different, I would have done MUCH BETTER... just some advice.

 

[TX Hopeful]

I have been trying to find materials to study for the DAT. I have the Kaplan book and the Barron's book. The perceptual ability parts though are just practice problems, and I was wondering if anyone knew of any resources that give strategies on working the PAT problems.
Is Kaplan the best way to go for reviewing everything on DAT?

The best source that explains methods and strategy is Barron's. The best way to learn though is to practice, practice, practice. Kaplan privides the most examples and practice problems, so go with that. Take whatever you can to prepare...Kaplan, Barron's, AcetheDAT, Topscore, etc. By the time you're about to take the DAT, you want to be scoring in the 20's on the practice exams...expect your actual score to drop at least 2-3 points.

Honestly, the best place to get tips on the PAT is SDN. Place a search, and fellow SDNers have some pretty good tips.

 

[Sprgrover]

The best source that explains methods and strategy is Barron's. The best way to learn though is to practice, practice, practice. Kaplan privides the most examples and practice problems, so go with that. Take whatever you can to prepare...Kaplan, Barron's, AcetheDAT, Topscore, etc. By the time you're about to take the DAT, you want to be scoring in the 20's on the practice exams...expect your actual score to drop at least 2-3 points.

Honestly, the best place to get tips on the PAT is SDN. Place a search, and fellow SDNers have some pretty good tips.

I agree with this post. The key to the PAT section is indeed practice. Never, and I do mean NEVER, let your guard down and assume that you are doing fine and start to put less time and effort into it. A good rule of thumb is that your final PAT score will be at least three points lower from what you are averaging on Kaplan or Topscore. It was true in my case as well as many other's here on SDN. Acethedat's PAT is harder than either Topscore's or Kaplans and a more 'realistic' simulation of what you will be faced with on test day. If you have the extra money to spare I suggest that you purchase their product (but be aware that there are problems with acethedat, such as grading issues, proper wording of questions, etc.). Best of luck!

 

[The Candidate]

Can a one apply with a DAT score from Jan '04 this cycle?

 

[Qarmonist]

I agree with this post. The key to the PAT section is indeed practice. Never, and I do mean NEVER, let your guard down and assume that you are doing fine and start to put less time and effort into it. A good rule of thumb is that your final PAT score will be at least three points lower from what you are averaging on Kaplan or Topscore. It was true in my case as well as many other's here on SDN. Acethedat's PAT is harder than either Topscore's or Kaplans and a more 'realistic' simulation of what you will be faced with on test day. If you have the extra money to spare I suggest that you purchase their product (but be aware that there are problems with acethedat, such as grading issues, proper wording of questions, etc.). Best of luck!

Thanks for the info, what were your stats if you don't mind me asking

 

[fuze]

thanks everyone for all the advice!
I think i definitely have a better idea of what i need to do

 

[The Candidate]

why not? is it real?

what do you mean is it real? - ofcourse it's real... it's not like I will submit the actual scores to schools by myself. 🙄

 

[Sprgrover]

Can a one apply with a DAT score from Jan '04 this cycle?

Yes, most schools accept DAT scores that (I believe) are up to three years old.

 

[Sprgrover]

Thanks for the info, what were your stats if you don't mind me asking

20AA, 20TS, 18PAT

 

[Typo]

Make sure to get yourself a copy of Halo 2 for PAT study too . . . 😉 I'm only partially kidding.

Edit: Okay, I'll put more substance in my post since the above is a cop out.

Like people said above, Kaplan is a good comprehensive prep system for every section except for Biology and PAT. For Biology, I felt like it prepared me very well except for taxonomy/animal diversity. I suggest you focus on memorizing everything in Kaplan's Biology section to start with. Once you've mastered that and if you have more time, break out a biology textbook and start learning as much taxonomy as you can. The Kaplan bio material will be much higher yield than a textbook, so turn to that in the end.

For the PAT, do study Kaplan. Even though it isn't the best prep, it's better than nothing. Take a look at the Barron's book as well, but be wary of errors. Studying things like pattern folding over and over will help you. Study the same patterns until you can fold them up in your mind within seconds. Once you've done that, imagine flipping it in all directions, and visualize what it would look like from all different angles. This sort of mental gymnastics can be painful to your brain, but the more you do it the better you'll get at it.

Also, visualize when you are not specifically studying for the PAT. What I mean by this is to take random everyday objects you encounter, like a chair or a desk or whatever, and think, "What kind of a keyhole would that fit through?" Try visualizing what the room or landscape would look like in a mirror, and then picture it upside down. Exercises like this will improve your visual-spatial skills.

Video games have been proven to increase visual-spatial abilities, so they truly can be a study aid for the PAT, in my opinion. But then again, I've got lots of kooky ideas, so who knows. 🙂