Sample test included in DAT test packet

[freedyx3]

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Hi all

Ok I just took the sample test that is at the end of the DAT test info packet that is sent out. I got a 20 in every section and a 17 in reading section. Is this pretty much indicative of what i will get on the real DAT.

I thought the math section was kinda tough, definately didn't have enough time. Also the reading section was tough again due to time isssues. I tried to just skip right to the sections but many of the questions requires a general udnerstanding of the passage. Orgo section was very easy. CHem and bio section weren't too bad.

Just wondering how does this sample test compare to the real DAT test?


thanks

 

[ItsGavinC]

That test in the application packet really doesn't compare at all, IMO.

I missed only a handful of questions on that entire exam and scored something like a 26 or 27 overall.

That might have been a valid exam at one point, but no longer should be viewed as such.

I believe that exam was from the early 90s, but I could be wrong.

Current Kaplan/TopScore exams are MUCH better as indicators of performance.

 

[RSXer]

agreed with Gavin.

The registration packet test was quite easy compared to the real DAT....and I believe it was from the 90s as well.

I see the Kaplan exams to be pretty good indicators...but the TopScore ones were the hardest. Topscore is stil really good to practice with, but were harder than the real ddeal IMO.

 

[freedyx3]

would it be fair to say that a score of 17 on topscore is equilvalent to a 20 on the real DAT?

 

[ItsGavinC]

17 as an overall academic? No, not at all. 17 on one of the individual subsections? Perhaps, which one are you referring to?

 

[shootin4par]

Freddy

I must agree with the rest of the guys on the forum. The PAT on that DAT isn't remotely close to the real PAT either. Also the sciences were a complete joke. I think thats a good way to start if you had no other avenue, but realistically comparing your score on that rudimentary exam is like a professor of mathematics taking an alegra 1 test..........real simple. Thats a stretch but you get the idea.........

Good luck

 

[ItsGavinC]

Another idea I just had is that there really isn't any way of telling whether a 17 (regardless of overall or subsection) on TopScore would be a 20 on the real thing.

However, if 20 is a score that you are shooting for or feel you ought to obtain, then I would work until you get a 20 on TopScore (if that is your measurement tool).

Then, you'll do well on the real DAT, and may even get higher than a 20!

Good comments by shootin', also.

 

[freedyx3]

Well I"m just trying to find a good way to gauge approximately how i'll score on the real DAT. What practice test do you think comes closest to the real DAT?

 

[ItsGavinC]

TopScore probably comes closest. If you are doing 20+ scores on that, then you'll probably do well on the DAT.

 

[freedyx3]

Is it fair to say that topscore academic sectoins are harder and PAT is easier then the real DAT?

 

[ItsGavinC]

I'd say the TopScore PAT is easier than the real DAT (those angles, grrrr.).

I'd also say the TopScore academic is generally a bit more difficult than the real DAT.

 

[freedyx3]

Thanks for the input guys..

Man 2 more weeks then its game time😡

 

[Beagle]

Topscores reading section is much easier than the real thing. On the real DAT, they ask you some thought questions. Topscore gives you questions where the answers are word for word from the passage. The real DATS PAT section is much harder than Topscore. The angle resolution sucks and some of the hole punching is ridiculous...in my opinion

 

[savvysearch]

From my experience, actual PAT is more difficult than both kaplan and topscore. All sciences are much more difficult on topscore than the real thing. I found topscore to be incredibly non-representative of the real thing. If you study topscore, my feeling is that it will prepare you well. I thought the DAT booklet was actually a really good indicator of what the actual test was going to be like. Even Kaplan is more indicative of the reat test than topscore. I scored much higher on the real thing than I did on either topscore and kaplan. I even thought it was easier than both.

Except remember to pay attention to classifications on actual DAT

 

[freedyx3]

What do you mean when you say pay extra attention to classifications on actual DAT?

 

[tinker bell]

I would say that the science section is the closest in the booklet to the real test (which is not very surprise). You have to pay close attention to the ochem format questions in there, and classification in bio.

In the ochem part, I remember the stability of the aromatic ring (which one is most stable?) And those statistic questions in the math will sure show up.

Best of luck to all of you. Study hard and it will pay off.

 

[savvysearch]

the dat booklet and kaplan dont cover classification very well, but I remember there was a number of classification questions on the real thing. I do thing topscore covers classification well though and that is the only thing of topscore in biology that is really representative.

 

[Stomatologist]

Hey guys,

I also agree, none of the exams available out there compare nor give an accurate representation of the actual DAT score.

The PAT was way harder on the actual DAT than in both Kaplan and Topscore. Also, the exam at the end of the application material's booklet was a joke compare to the actual DAT.

I hope this helps.

 

[freedyx3]

Geez seems from all the helpful comments above that the PAT on the real DAT is going to be hell!!! I'm really getting scared now.

 

[ItsGavinC]

SOME of the PAT is very hard. The angles, for instance, on my exam were not distinguishable one from another. On the Kaplan practice tests the hardest problem had two angles that were nearly the same and two that were very large. On the real exam, however, all four angles were ALWAYS the same (I'll swear by it!).

On the other hand some sections, like cube-counting and hole-punching, were always fairly easy for me.

So, I figured that if I only got 1/4 or 1/3 of the angles correct, I'd still do okay based on the other sections.

BTW, I thought the pattern-folding was a beast also.

 

[freedyx3]

Ok just did the practice test at the end of the big red kaplan book. Got 20's in academic and PAT and 21 in math. How do you think i will score on the real DAT based on these scores?

Also, I'm still having trouble using the search for key word technique for the reading section. I'm havinga hard time finishing the section since it takes some time to find key words.

Also, i find that the math section is impossible to finish in the allowed time. Its not that the problems are too hard but its because too many problems require calculating which is time consuming. Especially when your working with dividing and multiplying big numbers, it just takes some time to do the math.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Well, my GUESS, in a very GENERAL sense is that those numbers would equate 2-3 points lower on the real thing.

But then again, who knows?

 

[freedyx3]

Lower on all sections?? Oh boy.....not looking too good.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Well, like I said, it is only a general guess. Any answer that anybody gives you would be wrong, because you just can't be 100% sure until you take the actual exam.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll do fine!

 

[millmm]

I scored a 21 academic. The topscore is good practice, especially for O chem. I had all of the material in the big Kaplan book down cold and took topscore. There were O chem things in there that were not in the Kaplan book. Another thing, even if it feels like you are going over the same questions over and over again (only 3 topscore tests/CD and 3/Kaplan CD if I remember correctly), keep it up. This will help w/ time and reinforce why a certian answer is correct or incorrect. The poster who mentioned classification was refering to taxonomy (both zoo and bot) so study that stuff. Study and work alot of the math probs, it seems like rudimentary math, but how easily it is forgotten, and the time will get you on this section. And last but not least, the sample test in the registration packet is a joke. Sorry to hurt your ego, but I was scoring 27 on it or something and got a 21 avg.

 

[freedyx3]

millmm,

Don't worry your def not hurting my ego. Its not like i think i'm giogn to ace the test cause i'm a genius or anything. I'm just getting alittle worried based on the comments here. So what kind of scores were you getting with topscore???