some test harder than others

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snaggletoof

Have Faith
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is it true that some dats are harder than others and that they scale them accordingly? also is it true that they put test questions on some that may be used on future dats that dont get averaged in your score?
 
its all relative to the individual. some say they are harder, but I mean it is a standardized exam, so that means the scales would be different (harder test, so less reduction of score per incorrect answer in a sense). I think that those who say it was "so hard" just weren't prepared enough, or got hit with information that they didn't know. That's why you need to study things that you are weak in.

There are many random questions on the exam that you probably have never encountered before, but your best bet is to stay calm, and to just pick the most logical answer.

Only in the PAT section are there 15 random q's that don't count.
 
where are you getting that they do not count 15 questions on the PAT section?

I have seen no evidence of experimental questions.
 
where are you getting that they do not count 15 questions on the PAT section?

I have seen no evidence of experimental questions.

I agree with Doctor Pete...I was first told that "PAT has 15 experimental questions" in a Barron's DAT review book, but I'm pretty sure the ADA/DAT guide has that somewhere too.

And as for evidence...well...I don't think it makes sense for the test itself to tell you which are experimental and which aren't. That would defeat the purpose of the experiment, right? They want you to try equally hard on all of them.
 
the only source that quotes 15 experimental questions is barron. No one else even mentions it. I highly doubt that only barron has someone on the inside telling them this.

You can easily tell takers there will be an experimental section and still have them try their best.

the LSATs for instance there will be there are 6 sections to the exam including writing. the experimental always comes within the 1st 3 sections given. But you don't know which one until you at least get past the 1st. and even then if you happen to get a duplicate section you still won't know which is scored and which isn't.
 
the dat examinee guide mentions it, yet doesn't specify that it is 15 questions.

"Each test includes equating and pretest questions. The purpose of the equating questions is to form a link among collections of items, so that examinee’s standard scores can be placed on the same measurement scale. Because of these equating questions, examinee’s scores have the same meaning regardless of the test they were administered. Unscored pretest questions are included on the test in order to gather information. This information is used in the test construction process to insure that these questions are appropriate before they are included among the scored items."
 
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