Study guides for the DAT...

[mochafreak]

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Just wanted to share my opinion on study materials for the DAT, since I see some people are still asking, search is disabled, and I used almost everything known to man (too expensive, not recommended).

Bio: I used Kaplan (materials from online course, bought from Ebay), Examkrackers, Schaum's and Columbia Review high yield bio. I'd say that Kaplan and Schaum's is the best combo. If you're short on time maybe use Columbia Review instead of Schaum's. Examkrackers bio book is great for the bio topics that are covered on the MCAT (genetics, microbio, human phys), but probably a waste of money for the DAT. The Examkrackers 1001 bio questions book is too specific, partially passage based and a waste of time for the DAT.

Ochem: I used Kaplan, Examkrackers and a book I had from class called Organic chemistry As a Second Language by Klein. Kaplan is all you need as far as info. and rxns go. Examkrackers is good, but probably overkill. Although, if you need more practice Examkrackers 1001 questions is great for Ochem. If you're not comfortable with the concepts (which are high yield for DAT), then get Klein's book, it's awesome.

Chem: Used Kaplan and Examkrackers. Kaplan is definitely all you need. Examkrackers is wayyy too hard and a waste of time and money.

QR: Kaplan, Barron's, ARCO GRE/GMAT Math Review, and Princeton Review's Math Workout for the SAT II. I didn't like Kaplan's math review...hadn't done this kind of math since late '80's. The ARCO book is great for arithmetic and algebra, awesome for word problems, alright for geometry, and has no trig or combinations stuff. SATII workout is good for trig, alright for combinations, good for extra practice and gives good tips for taking standardized math tests. I wish I had started to study for QR from the beginning and that I had the ARCO and Princeton Review books from the beginning.

PAT: Used Kaplan, Barron's, Top Score, and DAT Achiever. I'd start by looking at Barron's strategies, then doing the Kaplan problems for practice, because they're the easiest. Then, I'd do Barron's...then DAT Achiever, which is awesome for PAT...then Top Score, which I think is closest to the DAT.

Electronic Stuff and Practice Tests: Used Kaplan, Top Score, KSF, and DAT Achiever. Wouldn't spend money on KSF unless I had all the others and felt I still needed more practice. DAT Achiever is super hard, but if you can get through those tests, the real thing will be easy and you can relax during the test. I think I had 22 minutes left on the science of the real thing and I really took my time too. Top Score is most like the DAT and if I could only get one of them, it's probably the most helpful overall.

OK, I'm done... 🙂 Just wanted to share my measly opinion, since I actually bought and managed to use most of the guides.

 

[dat_student]

Thanks so much. Any advice for RCT? What strategy did you use for RCT? Did you read each passage 1st? Were the passages longer and harder to understand? Was it much much harder to locate answers? 🙁

 

[mochafreak]

Thanks so much. Any advice for RCT? What strategy did you use for RCT? Did you read each passage 1st? Were the passages longer and harder to understand? Was it much much harder to locate answers? 🙁

Sorry, I left off RCT because I didn't study for it...I only did one Kaplan and one Top Score. I skimmed the passage first, and then searched for the answers. I didn't make a map...maybe I should have. For 'tone' questions I read the paragraph in question a couple of times. I think the passages were a bit longer than Top Score and the questions were maybe a bit harder to find. Also, there were some 'what is the author's tone', 'what would the last sentence of the paragraph be' questions. Overall, I just lost my focus on that section...oh well.

I didn't use this book...but Examkrackers has a verbal reasoning book for the MCAT verbal. The MCAT verbal is MUCH more difficult than the DAT. I didn't realize how hard verbal comp could be until I took an MCAT verbal for fun about two years ago. I would say that using that and doing some MCAT verbal passages would be serious overkill for the DAT. Basically, it would be like doing DAT Achiever...much harder than the real thing, but maybe worth it if verbal is your weakness. I think that might be worth checking out.

 

[katdds]

Just wanted to share my opinion on study materials for the DAT, since I see some people are still asking, search is disabled, and I used almost everything known to man (too expensive, not recommended).

Bio: I used Kaplan (materials from online course, bought from Ebay), Examkrackers, Schaum's and Columbia Review high yield bio. I'd say that Kaplan and Schaum's is the best combo. If you're short on time maybe use Columbia Review instead of Schaum's. Examkrackers bio book is great for the bio topics that are covered on the MCAT (genetics, microbio, human phys), but probably a waste of money for the DAT. The Examkrackers 1001 bio questions book is too specific, partially passage based and a waste of time for the DAT.

Ochem: I used Kaplan, Examkrackers and a book I had from class called Organic chemistry As a Second Language by Klein. Kaplan is all you need as far as info. and rxns go. Examkrackers is good, but probably overkill. Although, if you need more practice Examkrackers 1001 questions is great for Ochem. If you're not comfortable with the concepts (which are high yield for DAT), then get Klein's book, it's awesome.

Chem: Used Kaplan and Examkrackers. Kaplan is definitely all you need. Examkrackers is wayyy too hard and a waste of time and money.

QR: Kaplan, Barron's, ARCO GRE/GMAT Math Review, and Princeton Review's Math Workout for the SAT II. I didn't like Kaplan's math review...hadn't done this kind of math since late '80's. The ARCO book is great for arithmetic and algebra, awesome for word problems, alright for geometry, and has no trig or combinations stuff. SATII workout is good for trig, alright for combinations, good for extra practice and gives good tips for taking standardized math tests. I wish I had started to study for QR from the beginning and that I had the ARCO and Princeton Review books from the beginning.

PAT: Used Kaplan, Barron's, Top Score, and DAT Achiever. I'd start by looking at Barron's strategies, then doing the Kaplan problems for practice, because they're the easiest. Then, I'd do Barron's...then DAT Achiever, which is awesome for PAT...then Top Score, which I think is closest to the DAT.

Electronic Stuff and Practice Tests: Used Kaplan, Top Score, KSF, and DAT Achiever. Wouldn't spend money on KSF unless I had all the others and felt I still needed more practice. DAT Achiever is super hard, but if you can get through those tests, the real thing will be easy and you can relax during the test. I think I had 22 minutes left on the science of the real thing and I really took my time too. Top Score is most like the DAT and if I could only get one of them, it's probably the most helpful overall.

OK, I'm done... 🙂 Just wanted to share my measly opinion, since I actually bought and managed to use most of the guides.

hey, for the QR -- did u think that the GRE/GMAT arco book was sufficient enough for the real DAT because I went through that easily but when it came to kaplan subject tests word problems it took forever.. and some seem so hard to set up... other than that, the algebra part of kaplan subject tests were easy... and on topscore, I couldn't seem to finish the GC - how is it compared to topscore?

thanks.. =)

 

[mochafreak]

hey, for the QR -- did u think that the GRE/GMAT arco book was sufficient enough for the real DAT because I went through that easily but when it came to kaplan subject tests word problems it took forever.. and some seem so hard to set up... other than that, the algebra part of kaplan subject tests were easy... and on topscore, I couldn't seem to finish the GC - how is it compared to topscore?

thanks.. =)

I thought the GRE/GMAT book was good for me, because I hadn't done that kind of math in forever and Kaplan's review wasn't in-depth enough. I thought some of their word problems were harder than Barron's and Kaplan. But, I didn't take the subject tests, and I've heard they're very hard. As far as GC goes, I took my time on the entire science section. I re-read each question, re-read my answer, double-checked most things because I like to make stupid mistakes. I had time to do that...Top Score and DAT Achiever chem is much harder due to calculation time and even certain types of problems. The chem was VERY basic.

 

[katdds]

I thought the GRE/GMAT book was good for me, because I hadn't done that kind of math in forever and Kaplan's review wasn't in-depth enough. I thought some of their word problems were harder than Barron's and Kaplan. But, I didn't take the subject tests, and I've heard they're very hard. As far as GC goes, I took my time on the entire science section. I re-read each question, re-read my answer, double-checked most things because I like to make stupid mistakes. I had time to do that...Top Score and DAT Achiever chem is much harder due to calculation time and even certain types of problems. The chem was VERY basic.

thanks mochafreak! my DAT is next friday.. been freaking out!

 

[mochafreak]

thanks mochafreak! my DAT is next friday.. been freaking out!

I remember that feeling...just like it was yesterday... 😀