retake DAT

[emilia112]

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Hey I got a 460 AA/TS but 400 on the PAT section. i’m not sure how much emphasis is placed on the pat section but wondering if i should retake solely for improving my PAT? most schools pay avg is 20+ which is why im concerned

 

[DAT Destroyer]

A 460 AA/TS is a great score. Schools put far more weight on your Academic Average and the sciences than on PAT alone. While PAT is part of the exam, it is not a section that typically makes or breaks an application unless a school has a strict cutoff (and most do not).


A 400 PAT is not ideal, but it also isn’t disqualifying. Admissions committees look at the whole picture: GPA, AA/TS, trends, letters, experiences, and how well you’ll handle the academic load. Your science performance already shows you’re very capable.


The only time I recommend a retake is when:


• A specific school you’re applying to has a PAT minimum above your score, or
• You feel the rest of your application needs significant strengthening.


Retaking the DAT just to raise PAT — when your AA/TS are already so strong — carries the very real risk of your other sections dropping. Most students would not put a 460 AA/TS back on the line unless absolutely necessary.


If it were my student, I would say you’re in a good place. But if you have certain schools in mind, I always suggest contacting them directly to confirm their expectations.


Wishing you the best,
Nancy

 

[emilia112]

A 460 AA/TS is a great score. Schools put far more weight on your Academic Average and the sciences than on PAT alone. While PAT is part of the exam, it is not a section that typically makes or breaks an application unless a school has a strict cutoff (and most do not).


A 400 PAT is not ideal, but it also isn’t disqualifying. Admissions committees look at the whole picture: GPA, AA/TS, trends, letters, experiences, and how well you’ll handle the academic load. Your science performance already shows you’re very capable.


The only time I recommend a retake is when:


• A specific school you’re applying to has a PAT minimum above your score, or
• You feel the rest of your application needs significant strengthening.


Retaking the DAT just to raise PAT — when your AA/TS are already so strong — carries the very real risk of your other sections dropping. Most students would not put a 460 AA/TS back on the line unless absolutely necessary.


If it were my student, I would say you’re in a good place. But if you have certain schools in mind, I always suggest contacting them directly to confirm their expectations.


Wishing you the best,
Nancy

thanks. my gpa is also a 3.9 i just messed up on pat lol so hoping that won’t cause me to rejected

 

[DAT Destroyer]

thanks. my gpa is also a 3.9 i just messed up on pat lol so hoping that won’t cause me to rejected

With a 3.9 GPA and a 460 AA/TS, you are absolutely competitive. A low PAT score on its own is almost never a rejection factor when the rest of the application is this strong.


PAT is a skill-based section that doesn’t correlate with academic success the way AA and the sciences do, and admissions committees know that. Your academic record shows mastery and consistency, exactly what they want to see.


If everything else in your application aligns (GPA, AA/TS, strong LORs, solid experiences), PAT becomes a very small part of the overall picture.


You did extremely well. Don’t let one section overshadow your accomplishments. You should be proud of your scores and achievements.


Wishing you the best
Nancy
DAT Destroyer | OAT Destroyer