Sigh, retaking DAT

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Fancy312

Fancy312

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I didn't do so well on the DAT the first time, I am determined to retake it again.

The first time, I did sort of rush through last minute studying, and I figured since I always do well under pressure, it wasn't the case this time.
Since my QR score was beyond horrible, I got Math Destroyer, it came in the mail today, just wanted to ask, did you guys run through these problems once and it just clicked into your head how to do them?

Bio, I'm going to re-read cliff notes and Feralis, not sure if I should reread the 2016 Kaplan Bio book section, but also doing practice bio exams on DAT BOOTCAMP (even though I feel like I completely memorized them by now -___- )

PAT, mine was ALRIGHT, but not as high as I wanted it, I've always struggled with hole punching which took me forever on the real DAT to complete, so I'm going to get a hole puncher today along with some post it notes to just practice visualizing things differently. Also going to take Crack PAT seriously.

RC, this was the ONLY section I scored high on, which made me feel low about my sciences. I'm not planning to do anything for this, my DAT exam had a particular passage that was 25 small paragraphs long (mind you this was the last passage so I didn't even get to read it completely, so I just skimmed) If I have time I'm just going to read some science articles

ORGO- don't get me started on this, I did pretty bad, but I realized the only way to do better is to completely re-teach myself orgo using chads videos, and then do practice problems on dat destroyer, is this what you guys reccomend?

GEN CHEM- You guys get the jist since I was pretty bad at math, I didn't do so hot on this section either. Some people get lucky with conceptual questions on the DAT but mine was like 90% math. Sigh 🤔


IS THERE ANYTHING, LITERALLY ANYTHING MORE that I can do? , I feel like I'm just going to study at least 7 hours a day for this since its going to be in 3 months. Do you guys recommend I rotate through subjects or do one a day? Whats best? I'm working part time, 20 hours a week so I think I should be good ( seriously thought if I should quit my job so I can dedicate more time for this)

Any advice would be genuinely appreciated:writer:
 
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I think if you want honest and diligent responses you should really give us the nitty gritty - aka QR of 12 bad/GC of 15 bad..or do you consider 17's in these sections "bad" - it's very relative...as you can imagine it is hard to give real answers based on that...
 
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Watch these videos for hole punching. I got every single hole punching question correct on my practice exams/review thanks to these videos. 🙂

 
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@akakakakak That was basically it, I got a 13 on QR, I couldn't believe my score because I actually did so much better on practice exams when it came to math. GC I got a 15 . I feel horrible even typing this out from how disappointed I am in myself🤔
 
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@qkrdpsk I used this method and its working better since I've been practicing it more often. Can I ask what you used for TFE?
 
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Those videos are golden - I haven't even started hitting PAT hard, but I am scoring 20's based on those. I would also go over Chad's meticulously, taking notes. I watched the Gen Chem series 5 times - It was almost a waste because the 6th time (this time around) is when I am feeling like I really understand the concepts - THE SECRET- take notes galore, and go over and over them - If you get a single one of his practice quiz questions wrong, than you don't understand things as well as you think...
 
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Fancy312 said:
@qkrdpsk I used this method and its working better since I've been practicing it more often. Can I ask what you used for TFE?
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I only used the Bootcamp TFE generator & googled around for some free practice problems.. But didn't find much. :lame: And don't feel so discouraged or disappointed by your scores. I also didn't do very well the first time so I retook the exam and ended up making a pretty big improvement. Hang in there. 🙂
 
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dont be discourage! I am also retake!

How was your Bootcamp scores? I'm ranging between 18-19 on BC and I'm wondering if I should push back my test date. (mine is on the 20th). And did you utilize the Destroyer book for BIO/GC/OC? They have a lot of math problems for the GC section and tons of multi reactions for OC. Good for practice.

goodluck!
 
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@amihs222 my bootcamp scores were along the same range of my actual DAT. Thing is, I originally panicked because I was thinking how could I be doing so horribly after studying this much. So I went on to ask some advice on here and so many people were saying how practice tests are harder than the actual DAT. HOWEVER now I know that a person needs to know each subject, down to the little details in order to do well on the DAT. Its hard realizing that I dedicated so much effort into this and that it wasn't enough.
 
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@amihs222 If you're feeling any hesitation to push back your exam, by all means reschedule. Take it when you are feeling confident that you can perform well.
 
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Dont get discourage! I spent 3-4 months studying for my DAT the first time and I made a (AA16). I felt I knew Chads + BC back to back. When in reality I didn't understand everything a 100%. For example, I remember skipping the PH/POH concepts and thermo problems for GC. And what happen on my DAT (just like yours) I had TONS of math problems thermo and several PH problems.

I even remember vaguely reading Cliffs for bio, but not supplementing it with much (just with BC bio, I just ended up memorizing it) and that ended up being my lowest section (14). I know that feeling after taking a 5 hour test, spending MONTHS of studying and getting a horrible score. It was the worst feeling. I remember crying in the car at the testing center for an hour. ughhh horrible memories lol

but after 3 more months, I did A LOT different studying. I made sure I understand EVERYTHING from chads (went over his quiz 2-3 times), bought the Destroyer and went through it 3 times!! I made sure I wrote down notes of ALL the questions I got wrong. And I reviewed them over and over again. I rmr going through the BC exams vaguely the first time and scoring 14-15s and now im scoring 18-19s. Even though its not a HUGE improvement after 6 months of studying, I feel like I understand concepts so much BETTER now. I can approach problems much quicker and it helps A LOT that I know chads notes from back to back.

My point is (even though I haven't retake my exam yet), I know I'll improve and I worked hard. Don't get discourage, you're smart. Wish you ALLLL the luck!! I know you'll do great on your retake!
 
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amihs you still have time! I'm cramming to take it soon too. I'm only doing a little better than you are on BC right now but Ik i could do way better my attacking my weaknesses more. If you have any questions, especially math lemme know!
 
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LuckBloodandSweat said:
amihs you still have time! I'm cramming to take it soon too. I'm only doing a little better than you are on BC right now but Ik i could do way better my attacking my weaknesses more. If you have any questions, especially math lemme know!
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thank you! and I agree! I'm going through destroyer my last time this week and taking chads quizess here and there. But def concentrating on my weak areas! I feel like I'm doing much better on GC math! (it's actually the least amount of problems I get wrong now lol)

How did you approach QR? I've only done back of the DAT destroyer and math destroyer (test 1-7) problems. Hope thats enough lol good luck on your exam!!
 
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Well, I have always loved math and find QR fairly easy for the most part haha! To be honest, in normal every day situations, whether I go out to eat or just am calculating something I use mental math as much as possible and I'm usually right. It really saves time to not pull out the calculator during QR. Like use it for 2-3 questions max or you're just losing time. I barely finish and do end up guessing a little because of time but on all the ones I actually do I get them all right. I'm just using my practice exams and the DAT destroyer. I naturally know a lot of the math because I used to tutor ppl for the SAT and have an ok math background. Post math questions on the board or PM me and I'll definitely try to answer them if you want 😀.
 
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Fancy312 said:
@akakakakak seriously, 5 times? I'll try it and do the quizzes, thats probably one thing that I didn't challenge myself well on. I would watch the video, take notes, and just take it in, but apparently that wasn't enough.
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As Chad would say, "It's a point of diminishing returns at a certain point." But yes, I would recommend once or twice - once if you took crazy good notes, maybe twice
 
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Some great advice here. If I was able to get a decent score, then I'm 100% sure anyone can. You got this!
 
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qkrdpsk said:
Watch these videos for hole punching. I got every single hole punching question correct on my practice exams/review thanks to these videos. 🙂

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I second these videos. Take the time to really understand them.
 
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Thanks guys! Its really motivating reading everyones positive replies on here, it means a lot. @Dr. Dan did you happen to retake the exam? If so did you have a strategy on how you prepared?
 
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Math Destroyer is really helpful. You should go through all the tests slowly first so you can understand the concepts and not worry about the timing yet. When you go through all the tests then go back and start timing yourself like the real DAT. Chad's videos help a lot for QR. he has a lot of quick shortcuts and tips for that section. Good luck on the DATs!
 
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Fancy312 said:
@Dr. Dan did you happen to retake the exam? If so did you have a strategy on how you prepared?
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I only took it once! I studied with the mindset that I was only going to write one time, and not take the exam until I was fully prepared. I've had a few people message me and ask what I did to prepare, if you'd like I could inbox you as well, hopefully you would find it helpful. Really, anything I can do to pay it forward as I received a lot of good advice here as well
 
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