Study Problem

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TheMotivator

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10+ Year Member
Hey,

I am studying for the OAT. However, the OAT is very similar to the DAT in terms of the "Natural Science" section & I haven't received much posts in regards to this in the OAT discussion thread, that's why I came to post here and ask you guys for some advice on the NS section - Biology, General Chemistry & Organic Chemistry.

So a current problem I have is that I am having trouble finding actual "practice questions" to help reinforce the concepts. I am using the Kaplan course + Chad's Videos. For example, for General Chemistry, I read with the Kaplan Blue Book, I take in depth notes and then I do a workshop/quiz if available for that topic. Afterwards, I use Chad's Videos and take notes to like condense what I just read with Kaplan. Then I do his quiz - The problem with his quiz is that it's like 5 questions or max 10 questions and I feel like I need more practice questions.

In 2011, the Kaplan Blue Book had practice questions after each chapter for each subject. 2012/2013 doesn't have that.

Now, Kaplan does have "subject tests" - However, these are like cumulative, it's a mix of chapters 1 - 15, and I intend on doing this after I finish all of Gen-Chem, however, for the time being, I need like a resource to like do practice questions ASAP of me finishing the topic.

For example, yesterday, I studied molecular geometry, and I started with Kaplan and ended with chads videos, and at end of day I felt like I need more and more practice questions. How did you guys do it? Did you study all Gen-Chem concepts and at end of it doing practice questions with Destroyer/Crack the DAT?

The problem with OAT/DAT destroyer is the practice questions are scattered all over. I wish the questions were laid out and organized by topic for each subject. I need a resource like that. As I study with kaplan + chads videos, there isn't much practice questions for each topic I study.

OAT/DAT destroyer is awesome, but questions are so scattered, like random - Like question one will be about hybridization and question 2 about thermochem, when I haven't even started thermochem.

I know I have asked some of you awesome people on here in regards to this in private message, however, I made this thread to see what others out there think.

Hope to hear from ya'll soon. Thanks!
 
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I used EK 1001 to study for both the MCAT and the DAT. EK 1001 has alot of conceptualized questions and sort of lacks straight plug and chug type questions. I haven't looked at the OAT but EK Chemistry along with EK 1001 will provide you with a strong general chemistry background, with its greatest strength probably being its wealth of questions on every topic. I would highly recommend this book, if in fact the OAT is very similar to the DAT. Good luck
 
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Centry said:
I used EK 1001 to study for both the MCAT and the DAT. EK 1001 has alot of conceptualized questions and sort of lacks straight plug and chug type questions. I haven't looked at the OAT but EK Chemistry along with EK 1001 will provide you with a strong general chemistry background, with its greatest strength probably being its wealth of questions on every topic. I would highly recommend this book, if in fact the OAT is very similar to the DAT. Good luck
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On the Dat Natural Science section, were the questions plug and chug type or conceptualized? So the Examkrackers 1001 book is worth it only for conceptual questions, not plug and chug?
 
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For the general chemistry portion of the DAT it was about 2/3 conceptual and 1/3 calculation-based. Even so, the calculations were simple and could be done without a calculator (as one is not allowed). EK 1001 doesn't specialize in plug and chugs because calculators aren't used on the MCAT.

For both the DAT and MCAT, the process of setting up the answer will usually be asked as often as the value itself, which is covered wonderfully in EK 1001. I would highly recommend it as I used it to practice Gen Chem (along with destroyer) and got a 25.
 
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Centry said:
For the general chemistry portion of the DAT it was about 2/3 conceptual and 1/3 calculation-based. Even so, the calculations were simple and could be done without a calculator (as one is not allowed). EK 1001 doesn't specialize in plug and chugs because calculators aren't used on the MCAT.

For both the DAT and MCAT, the process of setting up the answer will usually be asked as often as the value itself, which is covered wonderfully in EK 1001. I would highly recommend it as I used it to practice Gen Chem (along with destroyer) and got a 25.
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So like basically what I am looking for is a resource that I can use along with Chad's Videos. I want to do my kaplan reading first + any kaplan workshops/quizzes and then followup with Chad's videos and then reinforce the concepts by doing practice questions. So 1001 Examkrackers is perfect for this? Then at the end of like the month, I can do the OAT destroyer since those questions are scattered/randomized.

One thing I'm concerned about is what if the questions on the Examkrackers difficulty level is set for the MCAT only. Like, isn't the DAT/OAT Natural science questions much more easier than the MCAT? I heard the 1001 Biology Examkrackers is not worth it because it is passages.
 
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TheMotivator said:
One thing I'm concerned about is what if the questions on the Examkrackers difficulty level is set for the MCAT only. Like, isn't the DAT/OAT Natural science questions much more easier than the MCAT? I heard the 1001 Biology Examkrackers is not worth it because it is passages.
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It isn't a bad thing to do problems of higher difficulty. But if you want problems designed for the OAT, I do believe that there's an OAT destroyer, you might want to look into that.
 
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I didn't use Chad's videos but EK 1001 is perfect for doing practice questions, under any circumstances. I would supplement that with Destroyer, which really helped me get the 25 in the gen chem portion.

EK 1001 isn't that difficult, IMO. I think its alot easier than destroyer, and covers more bases. Destroyer tends to be more scattered in the areas that they cover.

I have used 1001 EK Biology and the passages probably won't be helpful. However, in the back of the book, there are the "High-Yield" facts which are very helpful. Additionally, there are scattered stand-alone questions which you may find useful. Personally, I found EK 1001 Biology to be pretty good, but I wouldn't recommend it as highly as EK 1001 Chemistry.

The only drawback in using EK 1001 Chemistry is the sheer amount of questions and managing how to complete them all during your preparation.
 
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Slumber said:
It isn't a bad thing to do problems of higher difficulty. But if you want problems designed for the OAT, I do believe that there's an OAT destroyer, you might want to look into that.
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But the OAT destroyer has scattered question banks. Like it is random. I want a resource that has questions laid out by topic for each subject.

Also, it's not good having a lot of resources, because that can be overwhelming and organization and time management is key to these exams. I don't think it's a good idea to do harder questions than what will show up on the exam because your like over-preparing yourself.
 
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Centry said:
I didn't use Chad's videos but EK 1001 is perfect for doing practice questions, under any circumstances. I would supplement that with Destroyer, which really helped me get the 25 in the gen chem portion.

EK 1001 isn't that difficult, IMO. I think its alot easier than destroyer, and covers more bases. Destroyer tends to be more scattered in the areas that they cover.

I have used 1001 EK Biology and the passages probably won't be helpful. However, in the back of the book, there are the "High-Yield" facts which are very helpful. Additionally, there are scattered stand-alone questions which you may find useful. Personally, I found EK 1001 Biology to be pretty good, but I wouldn't recommend it as highly as EK 1001 Chemistry.

The only drawback in using EK 1001 Chemistry is the sheer amount of questions and managing how to complete them all during your preparation.
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What about for Organic Chemistry?

Have you tried cliff's AP biology book?
 
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I didn't use EK 1001 Orgo to prepare for the DAT because my Orgo background was already strong. I stuck with destroyer mostly. I thought EK 1001 Orgo was pretty tedious, sometimes being too easy.

I didn't use Cliffs AP Bio. Instead, I used Schaum's outline and read only the chapters that didn't involve human biology, because I had a good foundation already. I would use EK Biology (the review book, not EK 1001 Biology).

Remember, using EK 1001 for Gen Chem, Orgo, and Bio means doing 3003 questions.
 
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How about DAT qvault? There's thousands of questions there. It's $50.00 per subject or you can buy the "package" and get everything for $200.00

I'm finding it to be a great resource for practice questions so far. It also shows you which areas you're doing poorly in so you can practice only those topics.
 
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Longcatislong said:
How about DAT qvault? There's thousands of questions there. It's $50.00 per subject or you can buy the "package" and get everything for $200.00

I'm finding it to be a great resource for practice questions so far. It also shows you which areas you're doing poorly in so you can practice only those topics.
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Are the questions scattered/randomized or organized by each topic of the subject?
 
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Centry said:
Like 9 weeks.

I did about 85-100 destroyer a day, and all of QR destroyer in a day. I didn't do all of EK 1001 orgo in preparation for the DAT
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Did you use the EK 1001 for Biology? Wow, you did a ton of practice questions per day. Did you do the Math Destroyer, like all of the full tests?

Also, is it fine if I just stick with the 1001 Examkrackers books? I know you used the EK subject books along with the 1001 books, but I have the Kaplan course + Chads videos to use as reference sources for the 1001 books. What did you use those EK subject books for?
 
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I didn't use EK 1001 for biology because all the Biology on the DAT is multiple choice. The passage-based nature of EK 1001 Biology isn't gonna help.

I did 8 of the 10 math destroyers. I did like the first 5, then felt sufficient in my abilities, then devoted my studies elsewhere. I read somewhere here that 9 and 10 are the most difficult, so I made sure to do those.

The EK subject books, for me, were good review. I used textbooks as my reference material. I think the EK 1001 books are good on their own, but I'm not sure I would use them without the EK review books.
 
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Centry said:
I didn't use EK 1001 for biology because all the Biology on the DAT is multiple choice. The passage-based nature of EK 1001 Biology isn't gonna help.

I did 8 of the 10 math destroyers. I did like the first 5, then felt sufficient in my abilities, then devoted my studies elsewhere. I read somewhere here that 9 and 10 are the most difficult, so I made sure to do those.

The EK subject books, for me, were good review. I used textbooks as my reference material. I think the EK 1001 books are good on their own, but I'm not sure I would use them without the EK review books.
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Well, I learn concepts using Kaplan + Chads videos, so wouldn't that be like using the EK review books?

I do have the EK Audio series. You liked it? I like it 🙂
 
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As long as you have a solid foundation in your sciences, you should be good to go.

I haven't used the EK Audio series but have heard some good things about it.
 
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