Should I postpone?
- Thread starter lakers11
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You can always postpone your test date, if you want to put more study hours and get the score you want. Best wishes!!!
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Based on your achiever scores (which are usually much lower than the real DAT) and your CDP, I'd say you're not only fine but going to do quite well. It sounds like you've really put in a lot of time, the only thing left you need is confidence. If you REALLY don't feel confident, you need to postpone. However, I'd at least take another topscore test to gauge where you're at before you reschedule. If you get an 18-20, I'd go for it. Good Luck!
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I'm like in the same shoes.
I'm taking mine in 4 days T_T
whew,,, so intense... good luck
I'm taking mine in 4 days T_T
whew,,, so intense... good luck
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i was getting 18 on topscore and i got 20 on the real thing. so if you are scoring above 18-20. just relax, be confident, and dont panic.
Honestly those achiever scores are much higher than mine, and the CDP is the same as mine. I ended up with a 21 AA and a 22 PAT. My Highest RC EVER was like 16 and I got a 22. The test is significantly easier. You will go through the sciences and it will feel much easier than what you are used to, and it should give you confidence for the rest of the test. Also, don't underestimate adrenaline 🙂
However, no matter how ready you are (and honestly it feels like you are ready), if you don't go into the test confident, then no amount of readiness will help. So if you have a strong sense of uneasiness, I'd say postpone regardless of what anyone says here.
Also how long do you plan on postponing? The application cycle is passing by and you eventually need to do your DAT.
However, no matter how ready you are (and honestly it feels like you are ready), if you don't go into the test confident, then no amount of readiness will help. So if you have a strong sense of uneasiness, I'd say postpone regardless of what anyone says here.
Also how long do you plan on postponing? The application cycle is passing by and you eventually need to do your DAT.
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Whats your gpa? Why would you wait until Aug to submit app when it seems like you are ready for the DAT once you get confidence. I didn't have confidence until the week of the DAT when I started taking topscore, but I didn't have achiever to compare to. I don't think you should wait so long to submit unless you have a low GPA and are banking on a heavy science 4.0 semester. Get a sample ADA, keep going through topscore, and kill it. It seems like you're on track to at least do well above average so just keep on trucking. Make sure your LORs are ready, or near ready, kill that DAT, and get that app in.
It feels so good once you're finally done. When I was studying I thought I'd be lucky to get a 19. I took topscore and got AA 20, 22, 22 and similar on the sample ADA. I'd taken so many practice tests and knew not to get bogged down by tricky problems. I managed my time fairly well and came back to marked problems, even changing a few on bio. Once I finished the last problem on the actual DAT and rushed through the survey using the hot keys, it took a few seconds and displayed my scores. I just looked up and down the list and saw all numbers that were fairly reasonable and I was pleasantly surprised. I never would have thought when i first started studying for the dat that I'd pull a 21.
Holy **** your scores are almost identical to mine (minus bio 🙁 ).
But yeah, you don't want to wait till Augest to submit your application (tbh regardless of your GPA). Here is the thing. If something goes horribly wrong (i.e you are sick, not your day, etc.), you can rewrite it.
My brother did his DAT the first time and didn't do so hot. He sent his application and scheduled another DAT as soon as possible. I think he got to do it again around October and killed it. He called them and told them he re did the DAT, and literally got an interview from NYU that same week. Obviously, the other parts of the app was solid, but still. Taking the DAT early allows for that type of flexibility. Again, maybe postponing for a week or 2 will help you touch up on the little things you are not confident with and you can do it with one try.
Also, in Biology, they test simple big picture stuff for the most part, mixed with a few random BS questions. Those simple questions are actually REALLY simple. They can be answered probably by having a strong Bio foundation (Bio major? even minor) and just reading through Cliffs and KBB to recall some details. (Although, warning: I didn't do so hot in bio so don't take too much advise from me. But honestly I should have done better, it was a version of the test that didn't have too many random questions).
