The timing of DAT

[krnkimsung]

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Dear SDNers,

I have signed up for my first DAT on 4/2/10, and I'm currently taking the second half of O-Chem and Biology sequence.

I know you are probably going like ... "it's not recommended to take the test prior to finish the pre-reqs", and for that reason, I really studied hard to cover the second half of OC and Bio over the break. Luckily I have been getting avg of 19~20 on TS on practice exams so far (top score and achiever mock test) and I plan to use my classes as reinforcement to what I studied already.

Anyway, my question is ...

Is it wise to take the test on April without further studying during the summer break and may take another shot at it during July (if the score wasn't sufficiently high)? This helps to get DAT out of the way during the application proceses and may give another opportunity in case the first score wasn't that great.

As far as my practice tests go, I've been getting around AA/TS/PAT, 20/19/20 range.

Or do you suggest I should just push it off till June/July and just take once and make sure to nail that test. It sounds like a gamble to me.

I really like to know when would be the best time to take DAT for upcoming application cycle. Everyone is telling me that you should take DAT no later than August, but this 3 month time period between each test kind of pushes me to take it earlier and take it again if necessary.

Thanks for your replies.

 

[MTD52]

This is a tough question to answer because it really depends on the person. I know it seems appealing to get it done early and have the option to retake, but in your case, I think it's best to wait. If you're already getting 19-20 on the practice tests, and you take an extra month or so in the summer to really crack down and study, I think you'll be more than fine. I studied for about 6 weeks total, all in the summer, and I got a 21TS, 21PAT, 21AA, all of which were slightly higher or equal to my TopScore scores. And I took my last TopScore practice about a week before the DAT, so it was pretty accurate.

 

[pawkinlot]

I would take it sooner than later. That way if for some reason you dont do well or as well as you would like you know what to study specifically and exactly what the test is like and how you feel on test day. But who knows, maybe you will do fine the first time around and wont have to re-take it. Plus if you do good the first time then your scores will be ready and available asap...i took my dat september 29, and schools didnt consider my application complete until middle of October 😡