Take 3 on the DAT... Advice on best study resources!

[mm12785]

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So I've taken the DAT 2x's now. I got a 17 both times. It wasn't good enough to get me anywhere. I'm serious about the 3rd time now.

The 1st time I took the DAT:
I studied the KBB and took the Kaplan course.

The 2nd time I took the DAT:
I repurchased the Kaplan online work and completed all the subject tests and full length tests.

NOW:
I've found student doctor and the right resources to get me through it this time around.

I've been using the following resources:
#1 DAT Destroyer
The Organic and Chemistry sections are the key to success! I've taken the DAT twice now and I can say that the destroyer covers all possible questions for these two sections. Not only does it fully prepare you for the types of questions on the DAT, but it also opens your eyes to "exception rules" and really makes you pay attention to every detail so you don't make silly mistakes. My plan is to go through the Organic and Chemistry DAT Destroyer questions 2 or 3 times and I'm positive I'll succeed in these section. Also, don't forget, that if you're going to get a 18 on your worst section, it SHOULD NOT be 1 of your 3 science sections. The Bio on DAT Destroyer is a great review too! I really know this time around I will score at least 21+ on Organic and Chemistry because of the Destroyer.

#2 Math Destroyer
Quantitative reasoning is by far my worst subject on the DAT. The Math Destroyer is plenty of practice of the exact types of questions on the DAT. Again, since I've taken the DAT I know what will be asked. With 11 Full Length 40 question tests, I am able to time myself and go through DAT style questions. Timing is most important in this section. The more comfortable I get with the Math Destroyer, the faster my time, the better my score!

#3 Crack PAT
Great program from practice. Format is just like the DAT. The Hole Punch section on Crack PAT is definitely a lot harder than the actual DAT. But it prepares you well.

#4 Topscore
This is a good source for practice full length timed tests and seeing where you may score on the DAT. I found out that I know all the material for all the subjects on the DAT, but applying them to questions is the key. So don't think, I know all the Organic reactions, practice them and make your silly mistakes now, rather than on the DAT!

#5 Kaplan notecards
-good review for bio

#6 Achiever
I haven't started this yet, but I've heard from student doctor that this test is harder than the DAT. Again, I'm going to do it because I think practice the knowledge you know is more important than knowing everything.

I'll be taking the DAT in August. I'll update on these resources when I do my break down with my amazing scores!

Good luck to you all!

 

[marymatthews]

So Kaplan is not helpful (other than notecards)?
Thanks for your help!

 

[TamHLe]

I think Kaplan BB had good gchem and ochem reviews. The biology section for it did not cover much, but it would be good to use it as a start up. I first started with Kaplan and I am now using chad, DAT and math destroyer, CDP, CDR ( just so i could practice timing) Topscore, and Achiever. Best of luck to you.

 

[mm12785]

Hey guys. Don't get me wrong. I do think Kaplan is a great source, but I definitely don't think it's good enough. If I could do it all over again, I would start off with Kaplan but I'd spend the rest of the time mastering the destroyer books before taking the test. Kaplan refreshes everything and organizes it well for getting a hang on all the subjects. Destroyer helps apply the difficulties of the actual DAT. Kaplan teaches you; Destroyer helps you practice and apply. Good luck!

 

[shiftypoptart]

Chads videos. Get them now. Its all I needed for ochem and gchem wish I didn't waste so much money on all this other stuff. Kaplan Blue Book is definitely good, but if your like me reading is not enough. I used MCAT audio osmosis as sound stimulus, Chads videos as video visual stimulus, and Kaplan BB as reading stimulus making sure to balance them out so I didn't get bored of the other. I studied for a month straight anymore and I would have cracked.

My rank of study aids
1. Chads videos 40$
2. Kaplan BB 50$
3. Mcat audio osmosis cds 100$
Total ~200$

These three alone were better than destroyer, crack dat, and kaplan online course combined which cost me ~1600$

 

[Chrono]

Chads videos. Get them now. Its all I needed for ochem and gchem wish I didn't waste so much money on all this other stuff. Kaplan Blue Book is definitely good, but if your like me reading is not enough. I used MCAT audio osmosis as sound stimulus, Chads videos as video visual stimulus, and Kaplan BB as reading stimulus making sure to balance them out so I didn't get bored of the other. I studied for a month straight anymore and I would have cracked.

My rank of study aids
1. Chads videos 40$
2. Kaplan BB 50$
3. Mcat audio osmosis cds 100$
Total ~200$

These three alone were better than destroyer, crack dat, and kaplan online course combined which cost me ~1600$

hey shifty, what did you like about chads videos, and did they cover everything? Were his quiz questions good practice and similar to real thing? Thanks.

 

[shiftypoptart]

He definitely covers the big topics that are most likely to appear on the test. I also love that he encourages doing quick math in your head and help you through it which is funny cause it helps you way more on the QR section than it does the gen chem. I only had a few problems were I actually had to use calculations and even then it wasn't too tough. The DAT test mostly your ability to think quickly and critically rather than do you know this stupid little detail from page 305 paragraph 4 sentence 2 of you text book like it was in college. You can probably miss a simple question because you overlook details like, wait this isn't balanced, or wait they want this not that. Its the simple things that make people who study too long for this thing get lower scores than they should. Just study the big topics that ADA has on their website and make sure you can work your way around problems of average difficulty. No sense in stressing over the hard stuff in destroyer, kaplan online, and crack dat (although kaplan online is good for biology). My thing has always been to study smart and know all the concepts theories and WHY its done the way it is so its even easier to remember, Rather than studying long just memorizing random stuff that youll probably forget during testing conditions.

Last thing, I know the biology section is a big deal so I would consider putting mcat audio osmosis on your ipod and just listening and relistening all of the bio sections, they cover everything except plants which I am so grateful wasn't a hefty portion of my test or I would have been pwned like the people from the The Happening. Also I read the Kaplan BB twice for the bio section and the gen chem section.