Thinking about postponing exam

[deleted738762]

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My dat is on Wenesday of next week. . However my pat scores are just awful. I only took the BC practice tests and there always below a 15 lol. That's me guessing on a lot of them. It's really annoying... I still can't do angles, pattern folding, TFE, holepunching los method is okay but sometimes hard to see where folds are lol, keywhole not too bad, cube counting is easy lol. I've honestly been thinking about doing something else career wise because of this damn pat lol. I'm not good at visualizing things in my head and two of my friends did pat after me and scored a 18 and 20 on the 1st pat practice exam with barely any practice and I'm sitting there thinking wth. That got me thinking some people are just naturally better at this and this isn't for me.

Edit: Whoops. Bio for all 10 is 24. GC 23 for 7. OC 25 for I think 8. RC 17.

 

[Ani13]

I agree some parts of PAT are very challenging, but keep practicing and don't give up! Use the generators on bootcamp and watch strategy videos to find the best method for you. I don't think you shouldn't pursue a career in dentistry because of one section of the DAT. Shadowing is the best way to determine if dentistry is right for you, not based on the DAT. All of your other sections are very high, so try 15mins of each section a day and aim for an 18+ on PAT and I think you will be good! Good luck!!

 

[caffeine jitters]

I think PAT is one of the few sections someone can "cram" for. You just have to practice consistently, but you will get better.

Good luck!

 

[BosDent93]

Work without being timed for a few days first to get your foundation. You'll find out what you're good and you can fix the weakest areas. There's a bunch of methods for each section that you can find too. I was averaging 18-19 and I got 22 on the actual a couple weeks ago. I had no idea of the grid method of holepunching and it saved me so much time. For my actual, the only section close to the difficulty of BC was keyhole, everything else was easier, some more than others.

 

[DAT Destroyer]

My dat is on Wenesday of next week. My practice scores average for all 10 on BC have been 24 Bio 23GC 25OC RC 22 QR 20. 2009 DAT Bio 26 GC 24 OC 24 RC 24 QR N/A. However my pat scores are just awful. I only took the BC practice tests and there always below a 15 lol. That's me guessing on a lot of them. It's really annoying... I still can't do angles, pattern folding, TFE, holepunching los method is okay but sometimes hard to see where folds are lol, keywhole not too bad, cube counting is easy lol. I've honestly been thinking about doing something else career wise because of this damn pat lol. I'm not good at visualizing things in my head and two of my friends did pat after me and scored a 18 and 20 on the 1st pat practice exam with barely any practice and I'm sitting there thinking wth. That got me thinking some people are just naturally better at this and this isn't for me.

Wow, your other scores are over the top and you are on track to Destroy the DAT with the exception of the PAT, normally I would say don't worry about it so much but you don't want to fall below school minimum requirements. I struggle with the PAT so I feel your pain. Could you get anyone to help you hands on, like a tutor or another student where you live. Sometimes having a live person helping you can make all the difference. In your case I would suggest rescheduling unless you can make some major improvements fast.

Just my 2 cents..Nancy

 

[Faefly]

Kinda sad, I am on the same position in term of PAT. I am extremely slow, and I am wasting my time on PAT instead of the other materials. Practicing and noticing I am slow again and again and again.
But if I saw my scores were as high as yours I might take the leap and just do it.
I mean these are awesome scores but at the same time, I just don't want some arrogant school to turn you down because of something as irrelevant as PAT.

I would say postpone for a week or a week and a half no more than that and practice every day on Bootcamp generators like 3-4 hours every day, maybe more ( I am being serious here)

Don't just limit yourself to DAT Bootcamp (I know most people would say DAT bootcamp is the only resource you need, but chances are you are not like most people and so you need something based on your needs)
Purchase the other resources as well DATqvault, and crack the dat even though it is said to be easy, but I don't know. I believe sometimes doing a test that is easy might raise your moral and makes you do better on the real thing, plus extra practice is always good! Also, achiever, and Top scores.
Also dat crusher the candian prep has 4 pat tests
Canadian DAT Prep & Online Practice Tests | DATCrusher
Practice practice practice.
Normally, I would say practice makes perfect, but what do I know, I am just someone who spends 3 minutes on a keyhole problems
so I don't know!

 

[Faefly]

I remember some of the guys, who took the LSAT, he scored like 140, which is really bad, on his first cold test. Some people say if you scored like this on your first test, you can't get more than 10 scores higher as the LSAT tests your logic skills and your ability to solve puzzle games + reading.

Then he said to himself, this thing is just a test, I won't let it beat me, he spent months preparing for the test ( LSAT needs about 3-6 months prep time) He solved every test out there. They have like 70 tests so far! He solved them all!

Long story short, he got 176 or something, got accepted at top law school with a scholarship, and wrote about how to beat the LSAT.

So remember, it's just a test!
You'll beat it!
You just need more time!

 

[FeralisExtremum]

Are you applying this current cycle? If so, I personally wouldn't delay it more than another week or two just for the PAT. It sounds like you're pretty well prepared for the sciences.

 

[DAT Destroyer]

Are you applying this current cycle? If so, I personally wouldn't delay it more than another week or two just for the PAT. It sounds like you're pretty well prepared for the sciences.

Agreed, but what if he scores below a 15? That would mean possibly missing a whole cycle. He should be able to pull it together in a few weeks, if he gets help or finds PAT materials that make sense to him. I work with students year round that share the same struggles and we have a PAT tutor, our hope it to get them at least an 18 but not to fall below school cutoffs.

Students that typically excel in the sciences often struggle with PAT and vice versa. I find students that are naturally good in PAT are often talented in art and can draw or are good in photography. This is just my observation with many years of working with students. Thank goodness most schools don't require a high score in the section, the vast majorities of schools look at the Sciences and Reading..with QR and PAT next. Again I said the majority, there is always an exception. That is why I always advise students to contact the schools to where they applying to get the most up to date information, things are always changing, especially as competition to get into dental schools increases.

Wishing all the best..

Nancy

 

[deleted738762]

Are you applying this current cycle? If so, I personally wouldn't delay it more than another week or two just for the PAT. It sounds like you're pretty well prepared for the sciences.

Yes.

 

[tyjacobs]

My dat is on Wenesday of next week. My practice scores average for all 10 on BC have been 24 Bio 23GC 25OC RC 22 QR 20. 2009 DAT Bio 26 GC 24 OC 24 RC 24 QR N/A. However my pat scores are just awful. I only took the BC practice tests and there always below a 15 lol. That's me guessing on a lot of them. It's really annoying... I still can't do angles, pattern folding, TFE, holepunching los method is okay but sometimes hard to see where folds are lol, keywhole not too bad, cube counting is easy lol. I've honestly been thinking about doing something else career wise because of this damn pat lol. I'm not good at visualizing things in my head and two of my friends did pat after me and scored a 18 and 20 on the 1st pat practice exam with barely any practice and I'm sitting there thinking wth. That got me thinking some people are just naturally better at this and this isn't for me.

buy crack the dat PAT and do their practice tests and let me know what you score on them