TFE line counting still seems to work for me

[StudentDentistsRock]

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Hi all,

I know that line counting was a popular method to tackle the TFE section of the PAT back in the days. Everyone claims that it does not work anymore, but it seems to work fine for me. For example, I may at least be able to eliminate some answer choices and then use my 3D spatial thinking to figure out the correct answer. Sometimes, I can immediately deduce the correct answer with line counting, and sometimes I cannot eliminate a single answer choice with line counting.

When people say line counting doesn't work anymore, what do they mean? I tried line counting on a bootcamp practice TFE quiz and it seemed to do wonders.

Can someone shed some light on this? I know that many of you will suggest I get used to using my 3D spatial thinking, and I'm trying, but struggling very hard.

 

[Orka]

I swear bootcamp wrote an article about not using this technique and yet it works on their generators? lol

Anyways, If it works for you, then by all means use it. It works for some questions and not on others.

 

[flying nimbus855]

It will still work on some but definitely not as much as it used to. Before it was almost like a loophole. If you are able to line count for most question on a specific resource and it works, than most likely those questions just have not been updated.

 

[StudentDentistsRock]

Has anyone used the line counting method on the actual DAT exam and it worked?

I'm not expecting it to work for every question, as it doesn't indeed but it still does for a good amount.

 

[FeralisExtremum]

I wouldn't risk using that technique, personally. TFE can be mastered the proper way with practice. The last thing you want to do is attempt it on the real DAT only to find out the hard way they've adjusted around it (and from what I've heard, they have).

 

[Orka]

I wouldn't risk using that technique, personally. TFE can be mastered the proper way with practice. The last thing you want to do is attempt it on the real DAT only to find out the hard way they've adjusted around it (and from what I've heard, they have).

How do you know they have? Do you know someone from the ADA that makes the tests?

 

[FeralisExtremum]

How do you know they have? Do you know someone from the ADA that makes the tests?

It's pretty common knowledge line counting doesn't work anymore based on feedback from people that have taken the test. If you'd prefer to find out from first-hand experience, go for it.

 

[StudentDentistsRock]

It's pretty common knowledge line counting doesn't work anymore based on feedback from people that have taken the test. If you'd prefer to find out from first-hand experience, go for it.

I know I wouldn't. I'm trying to learn to solve the problems the correct way. But to know that I'd have line counting as a backup would be nice though.

 

[Orka]

It's pretty common knowledge line counting doesn't work anymore based on feedback from people that have taken the test. If you'd prefer to find out from first-hand experience, go for it.

It's common knowledge? Are you guys referring to the feedback you get at DATBootcamp from students?
Even then, it's impossible to tell if it works/does not work since we don't find out our raw score for each section on the real DAT.

 

[doeordie]

When people say line counting doesn't work anymore, what do they mean? I tried line counting on a bootcamp practice TFE quiz and it seemed to do wonders.

Are you using a bootcamp generator or an actual bootcamp exam? On the BC exams, I find that line counting might work for maybe 1 or 2 problems max. In the overwhelming majority of problems there are an identical number of lines in the answer choices; what differentiates the answer choices are whether they're dotted or solid, extend throughout the figure or not, cutouts, etc.

On the Bootcamp generator, I find that line counting still works maybe every now and then, as does just checking the dimensions of the answer choice (not sure if this falls under your definition of line counting). For example, on the generator, I notice that I can usually eliminate 2-3 answer choices just by the fact that they have the completely wrong dimensions--i.e. the front view is very short in height but the end view choices are all very tall except one.

 

[Bingwen]

Knowing that you can do it is never a terrible thing. If you really get stuck on a problem, knowing how never hurts as it might give the answer. From many of the people I know who have taken it recently line counting hasn't worked on many of the problems, though one did use on I think 2 on his actual DAT. But most people I have talked to have said that it doesn't work for the majority of problems and I think that is why prep sites like bootcamp and others have tried to make their problems more "line counting proof". Again if you can do it that isn't a bad thing I just wouldn't plan on it as a first option, because trying it and failing is wasting time.

 

[CU2times]

Like bingwen suggests, I wouldn't use it as your primary method since the PAT section is as much about time management as it is about skill, and using line counting as your first method would be a huge waste of time if it didn't work. Use it as your backup method, and if you get stuck on a question and find yourself spending too much time trying to make a decision, then see if you can use that method to quickly make a choice and move on.

My personal experience was that my figures were so complicated and had so many lines, it would have destroyed my score if I used that method as primary. If TFE is the most challenging section for you, I would suggest skipping through that section initially and coming back at the end. keyhole was my nemesis, so I skipped all of those questions and came back at the end. I only had time to truly answer 3 of them, marked random answers for the 12 questions left in the seconds remaining, and still got a 21 on PAT. The good news on PAT is that you can afford to miss literally 15-20 questions and still score in the 20s - meaning that if you really just can't get a grip on TFE, master all of the other sections and you will be fine.

 

[kingtp]

It's common knowledge? Are you guys referring to the feedback you get at DATBootcamp from students?
Even then, it's impossible to tell if it works/does not work since we don't find out our raw score for each section on the real DAT.

What? I don't need to know my raw score to know if line counting works during my exam.

I took my DAT last year and tried to use line counting as a backup/method to confirm answers and it did not work.