Study material
Started by Alaa1984
You may have better luck in the For Sale section of the website:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forums/for-sale-and-advertisements.230/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forums/for-sale-and-advertisements.230/
Hi feralis,
I was actually looking for your bio notes. I heard so much about them. How can I get them? Also, can you please advice me on the right material that I need to buy to succeed in the DAT? I am looking for someone who can tell me what is the best material to use because I really can't afford buying so many expensive things. Also, if you know any one who has the new destroyer book for a cheap price, please let me know
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/ultimate-breakdown-collection.992975/
This will address everything for you except maybe the last sentence. I suggest not to blindly follow any one person's approach because it is their approach. It would be like the time Captain Ginyu got inside Goku's body. He knew he had solid power, but he didn't know how to use it. If you follow a person's approach, you may not know each decision behind constructing his or her approach. Good luck and remember to use the search function
This will address everything for you except maybe the last sentence. I suggest not to blindly follow any one person's approach because it is their approach. It would be like the time Captain Ginyu got inside Goku's body. He knew he had solid power, but he didn't know how to use it. If you follow a person's approach, you may not know each decision behind constructing his or her approach. Good luck and remember to use the search function
You can find my notes on Bootcamp currently: http://datbootcamp.com/feralis-biology-notes/
As for the right material, that can really vary based on personal preference. The most popular ones are (and my opinions of them):
1. Chad's videos + quizzes. Excellent for learning general and organic chemistry, and the math practice isn't bad either. The quizzes are good for reinforcing the material. The free bio section isn't bad, but doesn't cover everything you need.
2. DAT Bootcamp. Has practice tests for each subject which are again good for checking your knowledge. The PAT hole punching/cube counting/angle ranking/pattern folding generators are invaluable IMO, some of the best practice you can get without worrying about running out of questions. I've found the practice questions useful for all topics.
3. DAT QVault. Has practice tests and questions for each subject (and the subjects are broken down even further into specific topics), great way to test your knowledge and weak spots. I've found the questions useful for all topics, much like Bootcamp.
4. Crack DAT - IMO only the PAT package is worth it. I hear they have angle ranking/cube counting/hole punching generators now, but I've never had the chance to try them. I'm told their science subject testing is kind of weak.
5. DAT & Math Destroyer - Filled with practice questions for each subject. It can be pretty tough but it really checks your knowledge, especially if you used with depth (meaning learn about all the answer choices offered, even if they weren't relevant to the right answer). The explanations in the back are helpful. Great practice material. The same company also offers an Organic Chem book stacked with practice questions, probably with more depth and difficulty than you'll ever need on the DAT, but I've found it helpful nonetheless to practice sharpening my orgo skills.
6. Achiever and Top Score - Full practice exams, I've personally never used them.
7. Cliff's/Barron's AP Bio - covers the fundamentals of biology, not 100% but it's an excellent resource for learning the material on first look. I would expand with other resources to fill in the holes of subjects that aren't covered in enough depth (e.g. anatomy & physiology).
I'll try to add more if any come to mind. As for finding them cheap, I would use the For Sale subforum of this website as well as anywhere else you can find used material (Ebay, Craigslist, etc.). You can probably find a used copy of Destroyer there for a cheaper price, at least for the 2014 editions or earlier (the 2015 ones literally just came out, you'll have a hard time finding them used for sale at the moment).
Hi Feralis,
thank you very much for the information!! I just have couple of questions:
1. do you recommend buying the 2015 version of the destroyer? is it different from the 2011 version? I found a cheap 2011, but I dont want to get it if its different from the 2015 version. is the 2015 worth the money or just go with the 2011?
2. I noticed that chad has lectures for orgo and gen chem. do you know if he also has lectures for bio other than the free ones? I also noticed that his videos are from 2012, is there an updated section for the lectures?
3. I heard that the DAT will change in 2015 ( I am planning to take if in february) do you know anything about this change? is there a new material out there for the new DAT? or just use the same ones you listed?
4. based on your experience, how long you think I should study for the exam?
I really appreciate your help!!!
thank you very much for the information!! I just have couple of questions:
1. do you recommend buying the 2015 version of the destroyer? is it different from the 2011 version? I found a cheap 2011, but I dont want to get it if its different from the 2015 version. is the 2015 worth the money or just go with the 2011?
2. I noticed that chad has lectures for orgo and gen chem. do you know if he also has lectures for bio other than the free ones? I also noticed that his videos are from 2012, is there an updated section for the lectures?
3. I heard that the DAT will change in 2015 ( I am planning to take if in february) do you know anything about this change? is there a new material out there for the new DAT? or just use the same ones you listed?
4. based on your experience, how long you think I should study for the exam?
I really appreciate your help!!!
I am surprised you have not seen the numerous posts on the forum discussing the ADA changes. Here is what is posted on the ADA website, no one knows any more than that.
http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Education and Careers/Files/dat_news_volume5_2014.ashx
1. The difference between say, 2014 and 2015 isn't very substantial - maybe 30-50 questions per section - but that's roughly as many as they add each year, so 2011 might be substantially shorter on total questions, albeit much cheaper.
2. He has lectures for bio but only the free ones, and they are not comprehensive enough by themselves for the DAT (and in some cases they go into way too much detail).
3. The link posted above by orgoman22 should cover your question there. Basically we don't know when the changes will be yet, as a date of implementation hasn't yet been announced, but the material should be largely the same.
4. I would say the typical amount is about 3 months at a steady pace. That said I've seen people do really well by compressing it into as short as 4 weeks and increasing the amount of hours they spent each day. It really depends on the pace you're comfortable with.
Here is what I used:
*Kaplan Book (read through it 2-3 times for all sections...esp Ochem & Bio (for Gchem I used chemguy.com)
*for general chemistry....I highly suggest www.chemguy.com (go to this guys website, I donated $10, and got access to over 100 youtube videos on gen chem. Hes a professor from Canada who teaches the material VERY well...IT WORKED FOR ME, and I know itll work for anyone else. I didnt want to spend tons of $$$)....***its not a scam I promise
*flashcard exchange website...for bio, chem, ochem...there are more flashcards on this website than I thought there would be...esp lots of DAT study type flashcards for most sections
*CrackDat (PAT ONLY)...dont waste your time on science section...its way too hard and will just make you lose confidence....PAT section was EXACTLY like my test. I was seriously scoring 14s and 13s on science sections with this stupid program.
*Barrons DAT for all sections
I studed for 2.5 months
Initially I read kaplan book and barrons book, after I read those twice or so, i took the practice tests those books gave. then I went with chemguy stuff for a week or 2, then flashcard exchange.., then just a a thorough review of everything with lots of practice tests until test day.
PS I had alredy graduated from undergrad before I started studying for this test, so it had been at least a few years since I studied this stuff in school, and this is all I used to prepare.
Hope this helps!
I scored:
AA: 23
TS: 24
Bio: 23
GC: 23
OC: 27
QR: 21
RC: 19
PA: 24
I don't think I spent more than $250 studying for this test
*Kaplan Book (read through it 2-3 times for all sections...esp Ochem & Bio (for Gchem I used chemguy.com)
*for general chemistry....I highly suggest www.chemguy.com (go to this guys website, I donated $10, and got access to over 100 youtube videos on gen chem. Hes a professor from Canada who teaches the material VERY well...IT WORKED FOR ME, and I know itll work for anyone else. I didnt want to spend tons of $$$)....***its not a scam I promise
*flashcard exchange website...for bio, chem, ochem...there are more flashcards on this website than I thought there would be...esp lots of DAT study type flashcards for most sections
*CrackDat (PAT ONLY)...dont waste your time on science section...its way too hard and will just make you lose confidence....PAT section was EXACTLY like my test. I was seriously scoring 14s and 13s on science sections with this stupid program.
*Barrons DAT for all sections
I studed for 2.5 months
Initially I read kaplan book and barrons book, after I read those twice or so, i took the practice tests those books gave. then I went with chemguy stuff for a week or 2, then flashcard exchange.., then just a a thorough review of everything with lots of practice tests until test day.
PS I had alredy graduated from undergrad before I started studying for this test, so it had been at least a few years since I studied this stuff in school, and this is all I used to prepare.
Hope this helps!
I scored:
AA: 23
TS: 24
Bio: 23
GC: 23
OC: 27
QR: 21
RC: 19
PA: 24
I don't think I spent more than $250 studying for this test
Hi,
Thank you all for the help!
Regarding chad's videos, do we purchase the quizzes separately or they come with the videos??
Thanks,
UOTE="capitan2011, post: 15951321, member: 453492"]Here is what I used:
*Kaplan Book (read through it 2-3 times for all sections...esp Ochem & Bio (for Gchem I used chemguy.com)
*for general chemistry....I highly suggest www.chemguy.com (go to this guys website, I donated $10, and got access to over 100 youtube videos on gen chem. Hes a professor from Canada who teaches the material VERY well...IT WORKED FOR ME, and I know itll work for anyone else. I didnt want to spend tons of $$$)....***its not a scam I promise
*flashcard exchange website...for bio, chem, ochem...there are more flashcards on this website than I thought there would be...esp lots of DAT study type flashcards for most sections
*CrackDat (PAT ONLY)...dont waste your time on science section...its way too hard and will just make you lose confidence....PAT section was EXACTLY like my test. I was seriously scoring 14s and 13s on science sections with this stupid program.
*Barrons DAT for all sections
I studed for 2.5 months
Initially I read kaplan book and barrons book, after I read those twice or so, i took the practice tests those books gave. then I went with chemguy stuff for a week or 2, then flashcard exchange.., then just a a thorough review of everything with lots of practice tests until test day.
PS I had alredy graduated from undergrad before I started studying for this test, so it had been at least a few years since I studied this stuff in school, and this is all I used to prepare.
Hope this helps!
I scored:
AA: 23
TS: 24
Bio: 23
GC: 23
OC: 27
QR: 21
RC: 19
PA: 24
I don't think I spent more than $250 studying for this test[/QUOTE]
Thank you all for the help!
Regarding chad's videos, do we purchase the quizzes separately or they come with the videos??
Thanks,
UOTE="capitan2011, post: 15951321, member: 453492"]Here is what I used:
*Kaplan Book (read through it 2-3 times for all sections...esp Ochem & Bio (for Gchem I used chemguy.com)
*for general chemistry....I highly suggest www.chemguy.com (go to this guys website, I donated $10, and got access to over 100 youtube videos on gen chem. Hes a professor from Canada who teaches the material VERY well...IT WORKED FOR ME, and I know itll work for anyone else. I didnt want to spend tons of $$$)....***its not a scam I promise
*flashcard exchange website...for bio, chem, ochem...there are more flashcards on this website than I thought there would be...esp lots of DAT study type flashcards for most sections
*CrackDat (PAT ONLY)...dont waste your time on science section...its way too hard and will just make you lose confidence....PAT section was EXACTLY like my test. I was seriously scoring 14s and 13s on science sections with this stupid program.
*Barrons DAT for all sections
I studed for 2.5 months
Initially I read kaplan book and barrons book, after I read those twice or so, i took the practice tests those books gave. then I went with chemguy stuff for a week or 2, then flashcard exchange.., then just a a thorough review of everything with lots of practice tests until test day.
PS I had alredy graduated from undergrad before I started studying for this test, so it had been at least a few years since I studied this stuff in school, and this is all I used to prepare.
Hope this helps!
I scored:
AA: 23
TS: 24
Bio: 23
GC: 23
OC: 27
QR: 21
RC: 19
PA: 24
I don't think I spent more than $250 studying for this test[/QUOTE]
