Someone Help!!!! with my DAT jitters??????

[ashman]

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So I have been reading up on the DAT advice some of you have to give. My problem with the test is I dont know if I am ready. I have been studying for a good three months, I have done all the KAPLAN homework and tests and averaged 20-22's on all the sciences, 19-20 PAT, and 19 math and verbal. I am aiming for above 20's all across. I took the TOPSCORE exams and averaged 20/20/20 on those test plus or minus a point in each section. My ??? for you all is my test is in 2 weeks, how did you guys know when you are ready or did you just take the test. I am friggin nervous that I will mess somethin up. I have the DAT achiever tests and am waiting a week before to do those tests (IT seems like you can only take those once and then it locks you out of the test for repeating it?)... So what do you guys think, I have some exams from the ADA, some Princeton/Hyperlearning exams that I am looking to do all 1 week before my exam (A total of 7 exams) then 3 days to review everything. AS YOU CAN SEE I am nervous and over wrote a simple ?. So what are your guys' experience before the test and overall if I am scoring these numbers is it complement to how I will do on the real test?????

 

[Toothdoc2b]

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So I have been reading up on the DAT advice some of you have to give. My problem with the test is I dont know if I am ready. I have been studying for a good three months, I have done all the KAPLAN homework and tests and averaged 20-22's on all the sciences, 19-20 PAT, and 19 math and verbal. I am aiming for above 20's all across. I took the TOPSCORE exams and averaged 20/20/20 on those test plus or minus a point in each section. My ??? for you all is my test is in 2 weeks, how did you guys know when you are ready or did you just take the test. I am friggin nervous that I will mess somethin up. I have the DAT achiever tests and am waiting a week before to do those tests (IT seems like you can only take those once and then it locks you out of the test for repeating it?)... So what do you guys think, I have some exams from the ADA, some Princeton/Hyperlearning exams that I am looking to do all 1 week before my exam (A total of 7 exams) then 3 days to review everything. AS YOU CAN SEE I am nervous and over wrote a simple ?. So what are your guys' experience before the test and overall if I am scoring these numbers is it complement to how I will do on the real test?????

Well.... my first suggestion is you breathe.... ahhhh.... doesnt that feel good... hahaha. If you were scoring on one type of test but not the others... you should worry... but you are performing consistantly on all your exams... that means you are ready. I was extremely nervous and my mentality going in was.... well.... if i screw up... that will be a year wasted... but it wont kill me. Not the greatest mentality... but I also did not feel ready. Long story short... I got a 21... and did most of my cramming in the week before the exam. 2 weeks before it... I was scoring 19s on the tests you mentioned. I used that mentality to calm myself down but you know what works best for you. Just remember... after all these tests, you have the timing down... you are scoring well so you know your stuff... now you just have to take the real one. Just review between every test you take from now on the topics that gave you trouble and watch the 20+s roll in... good luck...

 

[beredsox2]

I don't think anyone can ever think they are ready to take the biggest test of their lives. However, you can't look at it like that, because if you do not only will you be freaking out but your scores will probably be worse than usual. Bottom line is being able to stay calm and keeping things in perspective. I took mine at the end of August and it was the first time for me, so it was do or die but I didn't look it at like that, but rather just focused on looking over everything. The final day before the test I dedicated to OChem just because that's the one subject that is strictly about memorization. I ended up having my highest score on OChem section. So good luck studying and spend the last day before your test looking over your weakest subject.

 

[INFNITE]

you'll be fine. Just go in there with a positive attitude and relax! You can take the exam over again (once every 3 months I believe) if you don't do well. I went into my exam thinking I was under prepared. I didn't even score 20s on my topscore (I consistently bomb the science section because the gen chem section is much harder on the topscore than the real exam). If you prepared well for the exam, there's no reason why you should do poorly. Don't worry, you will score in the 20s, and you'll get into a good dental school.

 

[Pzak]

Ashman sounds like you know your stuff.......the day before the exam dont look at anything related to the DAT... I know that seems really hard but I was in your position a year ago and thats what I did. If you dont know it the day before its too late, so just trust yourself, take a deep breath and go for it....I dont know about everyone else but I did better on the real one than the practice exams... Good luck!!!!!

 

[beezies]

You know you're ready when you are absolutely sick of studying, and every little thing reminds you of a DAT question. If you've started to see carbon atoms in the simpsons, and when someone talks about feeling sick and you are diagnosing them in your head (or worse, picturing which organs are doing what), then you've probably pushed it too far. The worst thing you can do is burn out right before the test, so take it easy! But definately do tests up until a couple days before the real one so you have the timing and the feel down. Just don't try to learn anything new now, after three months, you pretty much know everything that you will need already!

 

[PDizzle]

If you got 20's on TopScore I think you will do fine. TopScore was pretty close to the actualy thing and most people did better on the actual DAT (except for the PAT which was generally harder on the actual DAT...even though I scored exactly the same).

You prepared way more then me and it's been 8 years since I have taken those science courses and I somehow managed to squeak out a 20.

Good luck!

 

[Mr.E]

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So I have been reading up on the DAT advice some of you have to give. My problem with the test is I dont know if I am ready. I have been studying for a good three months, I have done all the KAPLAN homework and tests and averaged 20-22's on all the sciences, 19-20 PAT, and 19 math and verbal. I am aiming for above 20's all across. I took the TOPSCORE exams and averaged 20/20/20 on those test plus or minus a point in each section. My ??? for you all is my test is in 2 weeks, how did you guys know when you are ready or did you just take the test. I am friggin nervous that I will mess somethin up. I have the DAT achiever tests and am waiting a week before to do those tests (IT seems like you can only take those once and then it locks you out of the test for repeating it?)... So what do you guys think, I have some exams from the ADA, some Princeton/Hyperlearning exams that I am looking to do all 1 week before my exam (A total of 7 exams) then 3 days to review everything. AS YOU CAN SEE I am nervous and over wrote a simple ?. So what are your guys' experience before the test and overall if I am scoring these numbers is it complement to how I will do on the real test?????

I wouldn't wait till the last week to do DAT achiever. DAT achiever can be slightly harder, so even if you are prepared it can take you by surprise and damage your physche before the test. Instead, gauge your final prep on the results of DAT achiever. Also, there is a way to clear your scores. Contact the maker of the program and he can tell you how to do it.