This is what I am doing... What do you think?

[Philippines03j]

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First of all thanks to those of you who are out there giving advice and making posts. I have just been observing for the past month and all of you have been great help. This is what I am doing for my studying. Please leave advice or comments.

1) Math- I am using Destroyer, CDM and Text Book. Destroyer to find my weak points. CDM for timing and finding weak points. Textbook to help refine any of those weak points.

CDM Scores
11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20
21 21 18 18 17 21 18 18 21 21

Not all were taken in order and these are the only ones I have a record of. I am finding my self making alot of dumb errors. I have been working on this for about a month and a half any advice on jumping my scores from 18-21s up to 24-25s?

2) PAT- All I have used so far is CDP and KAPLAN for some tips. I spend maybe 1-2 hours a week reviewing this section. I have seen alot of great tips for angle ranking on SDN.
CDP Scores
4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10
20 25 22 22 22 22 24

3)Gen Chem- I was glad to see that using the ACS manuals works for others. I bought "Chemistry" by Masterton and Hurley(Recource of ADA), use Kaplan subject tests, Destroyer and ACS. I am doing what was suggested in other posts and going through ACS mastering each section. I feel like I am improving quicker this way.

I will be taking some more full length practice tests within the next couple of weeks. At the begining of Feb I took a Top Score and Begining of Mar I took an Achiever. Heres the scores

Top Score
AA Bio GC OC PAT RC QR
18 13 15 14 22 19 22

Achiever
AA Bio GC OC PAT RC QR
17 12 14 19 17 20 18

As you can see bio is not doing great but I dont plan on studying that until 7 weeks or so before I take the DAT that way its fresh and I dont waste time memorizing now and forgeting it next semester. I have also only taken the first o-chem and will be taking the second this coming semester. I have not put alot of time into that either. Anyways let me know what you think. Is waiting to the last 6-7 weeks an ok strategy for BIO?

Also I am alternating tests using Top score more as a gage. I am going to be taking one of top scores at the end of April and another sometime during summer that way I have a steady measuring stick of how i am improving. Achiever I will be taking every other week.

 

[Ryltar]

I would start reading Cliff's AP Biology. Biology is a subject area that is not meant to be crammed, but rather learned over a decently long period of time. To me that bio score in topscore pro indicates biology as a really weak area that needs to be focused on. I would continue doing practice problems for gen chem and o chem to improve those areas as well.

 

[doc3232]

No comment on 12 and 13 in bio.
Solid scores in PAT. Expect lower scores in QR because that section is weird.
Good job in Ochem/Gchem

Remember practice scores mean little.

 

[eldirty]

I agree that practice scores mean little if anything at all ... check out my DAT STORY to see how I prepared.

 

[klutzy1987]

As long as you are breaking 17 or 18 in every section in achiever you should be ok. You are prob gonna score 3 or more points higher on the real thing so you need to make sure that you can break 17-18 in every section in achiever by the time the DAT rolls around.

 

[brightsmiles9]

Good job on PAT and Reading!!

 

[Philippines03j]

Thank you all for the encouragement and advice. I definatly will not dwell on any of practice scores good or bad. And DOC what do you mean by the QR section is "weird"?

 

[allstardentist]

study harder

 

[Philippines03j]

study harder

Will Do! Also Thanks for the blog that you have. That is one of the first things I read from SDN. It has helped alot. I will not settle for less!

 

[maln4830]

Good job, it'll be great when it's all over! What's your opinion on crack dat math? I was thinking of getting it

 

[Philippines03j]

Having not taken the real dat I am not sure how to compare it but I like it because there are a ton of problems. I was really weak on Probability questions so I was able to go through the tests that I have done and just do all the probablity(there is a feature to select if you want to take a full math test or if you only want to do certain types of problems). It deffinatly helps alot with timing also. Other than that I will give more insight when I see what the real thing is like.

 

[CountinCavities]

As far as Bio goes, I am similar to you. I got A's in Bio I and II and forgot the material right after the semester was over. I feel like I NEED to read the text to understand the material. I would suggest you study Cliff's and whatever does not make complete sense, you would read over in the textbook (Cambells or whatever). Keep studying!!

 

[Philippines03j]

I purchased "Cliffs AP BIO" it looks and sounds like a good tool. I also got the flash cards for on the go studying. I also spent a few extra bucks and bought secrets of Mental math. I have heard a few good reviews on that also. I will let you know how everything goes but can feel that cliffs is going to be golden. Thanks for the resources!