RE-Taking the DAT. Study materials advice.

[toyotasupra]

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2012 cycle I used Kaplan, Topscore, Achiever, Exam kracker, and youtube/biology book. Spent 1 month studying. Mindset: Do a bunch of practice problems and crunch numbers. Note: I did nothing to prepare for the QR, PA, or RC and winged those sections.

Result:
PA: 18
QR: 17
RC: 18
BIO: 18
GC: 17
OC: 17

TS: 17
AA: 17

2013 cycle I plan to use DAT destroyer, Cliffs AP Bio, and Crack DAT PAT. I also hope they have a afternoon test time as I am not a morning person. 🙁 Should I add anything else? I am only going to study 2-3 months at the most this time around.

 

[ushaseos]

Spend more time than 1 month (2-3 months as you planned is good) Topscore and Achiever are definitely very good (shoot for around 18+ on Top Score and 16+ on Achiever).

If you want easy AA boost, prepare for QR and you'll most likely destroy the section and get a really high QR and subsequently a point boost in AA.

If you have EK's MCAT english book use that for RC prep. The passages aren't the same, but practice is good 🙂.

Lastly, make sure to analyze everything you do. You will learn a lot more from your mistakes than you might think. It also helps recognize the things which give you the most trouble so as to work on that.

 

[TheDentist16]

I would add Chad's videos to that list to round it out. I studied for my DAT for 2 months before I took it, and I used the materials you planned to use plus Chad's and KBB. And maybe to supplement the RC, EK MCAT English is good as ushaseos suggested, or Crack DAT Reading. Lastly, remember to take practice tests! TopScore and Achiever are popular.

 

[I Want Food]

Chad's Videos

 

[toyotasupra]

I don't know about achiever or topscore. I've already taken all those exams. Plus I didn't see a difference between this years achiever/topscore or the ones from 2 years so. The questions remain the same.

 

[ushaseos]

What were your scores on them? Also Achiever has added 2 more tests (7 total). The tests haven't changed but if you did them 2 years ago you shouldn't have access to them right now.

 

[toyotasupra]

I bought the programs 2 years ago, they expired. I bought them again and recognized a lot of the questions.

 

[ushaseos]

Ah so your memory is really good. Well you can always try DAT qvault or DAT Decoder or the Kaplan Test bank for more practice. Honestly I took the test only a few months back and I wouldn't be able to recognize the questions, but if your memory is really good I can see it being a problem.

 

[yankeefan86]

2012 cycle I used Kaplan, Topscore, Achiever, Exam kracker, and youtube/biology book. Spent 1 month studying. Mindset: Do a bunch of practice problems and crunch numbers. Note: I did nothing to prepare for the QR, PA, or RC and winged those sections.

Result:
PA: 18
QR: 17
RC: 18
BIO: 18
GC: 17
OC: 17

TS: 17
AA: 17

2013 cycle I plan to use DAT destroyer, Cliffs AP Bio, and Crack DAT PAT. I also hope they have a afternoon test time as I am not a morning person. 🙁 Should I add anything else? I am only going to study 2-3 months at the most this time around.

I think if you put some serious time into studying for the DAT you will do fine. Your scores aren't too bad for one month of studying and winging 3 sections. Good luck dude.

 

[toyotasupra]

I wouldn't say I have good memory, I re-took all tests 6-7 times. I just hate it when I end up knowing the answer by looking at the first few words.

Anyway, my DAT Destroyer came in today. I should have bought this a long time ago! Some of the questions I feel are nearly identical to the ones on the real DAT. 😱

 

[michaelamae1]

I wouldn't say I have good memory, I re-took all tests 6-7 times. I just hate it when I end up knowing the answer by looking at the first few words.

Anyway, my DAT Destroyer came in today. I should have bought this a long time ago! Some of the questions I feel are nearly identical to the ones on the real DAT. 😱

Are you talking about the GC and OC section being the same type of questions as the DAT Destroyer?

 

[toyotasupra]

Yes, they are very basic questions. Also for the biology section.... it's SUPER random. Don't waste too much time like me studying and memorizing the wrong things. I focused mainly on memorizing human anatomy, reproduction, naming schemes, different cell types/functions, respiration, atp generation, and different types of steroid/enzyme secretions. Only 50% of that was on the actual DAT, the other half was random questions about DNA synthesis in the laboratory, laboratory techniques, questions about people who invented things, even one on what year DNA was first discovered. Anyway, get DAT Destroyer and you will not be disappointed.

 

[ushaseos]

I wouldn't say I have good memory, I re-took all tests 6-7 times. I just hate it when I end up knowing the answer by looking at the first few words.

Anyway, my DAT Destroyer came in today. I should have bought this a long time ago! Some of the questions I feel are nearly identical to the ones on the real DAT. 😱

Wow 6-7 times? No wonder you feel familiar with the questions!

I am glad you are liking Destroyer. It just comes to show each person likes different things. I felt I got a whole lot more out of achiever's 7 tests than destroyer and you clearly feel the opposite. Good luck studying!

 

[toyotasupra]

Well I would have to say, use them both. I think that going through a larger bank of questions will help me do better on the DAT as I noticed that the DAT is not about how well and thorough you know the materials, but it's more about how broad is your knowledge. Most importantly, don't waste time memorizing biology mechs!!!