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
