Took the DAT yesterday... did pretty bad...suggestions on improvement?

[ssd90]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello all. I took the DAT yesterday and did pretty bad. I don't know exactly what happened, I just had a mental block, I wasnt focused while taking the exam, I didnt pace myself and I ran out of time on every section. Here are my scores:

Bio - 23
GenChem - 19
Ochem - 21
TS-21
PAT - 19
RC-16 🙁
QR - 14 :'(
AA - 19

I used chad's videos and kaplan to study for the science and CrackDATPAT for the PAT... I was scoring 23-26 on crackDATPAT, so I was pretty disappointed with the 19. The RC and QR.... I dont even know.. I guess I did neglect studying for those a little bit but I didnt expect to bomb those sections. How can I improve these scores? I really wanted to apply this year but I think I would just be wasting money applying with these scores. Should I just apply early with these scores and retake the DAT in 3 months??? Suggestions? Thanks all

 

[hope_to_match]

have you used the destroyer?

 

[Slumber]

Hello all. I took the DAT yesterday and did pretty bad. I don't know exactly what happened, I just had a mental block, I wasnt focused while taking the exam, I didnt pace myself and I ran out of time on every section. Here are my scores:

Bio - 23
GenChem - 19
Ochem - 21
TS-21
PAT - 19
RC-16 🙁
QR - 14 :'(
AA - 19

I used chad's videos and kaplan to study for the science and CrackDATPAT for the PAT... I was scoring 23-26 on crackDATPAT, so I was pretty disappointed with the 19. The RC and QR.... I dont even know.. I guess I did neglect studying for those a little bit but I didnt expect to bomb those sections. How can I improve these scores? I really wanted to apply this year but I think I would just be wasting money applying with these scores. Should I just apply early with these scores and retake the DAT in 3 months??? Suggestions? Thanks all

You can't expect us to help you with so little info. What materials did you used to study for RC and QR? What strategy did you used for RC? What type of questions did you encounter in your RC and QR section? Was it heavy calculation oriented? Or did it had a lot of long wordy rate/probability problems? What type of passages/questions did you have for your RC? Non-science? Tone/inference?

 

[ssd90]

QR : Used kaplan bluebook and chad's videos for basic understanding of the content. I used DAT achiever to practice for QR and would end up getting 17's on those...in the kaplan practice exams I would get about 22-25 on QR. I basically ran out of time on the actual DAT, spent too much time on one problem. By the time I had 15 mins left I only finished 20 problems. There were about 4 rate problems that I was having trouble with.. I usually kill rate problems in under a minute.

RC: Again... used KAPLAN and DAT achiever to practice reading, scored 20+ on kaplan practice exams and about 17 on achiever. The passages had were atmospheric science, 2nd passage about stomach bacteria and 3rd about nuclear chemistry.The questions were very specific to small details in the passages, basically had to scan the whole article to find some answers. I ran out of time on this section too, I only had about 10 mins left for passage 3 and guessed on a lot of the questions.

 

[ssd90]

have you used the destroyer?

I have not, is it a good tool for QR?

 

[hope_to_match]

From what everyone is saying on this forum DAT Math Destroyer is golden for QR section. Also, the regulat DAT destroyer would also be a good idea

 

[Slumber]

QR : Used kaplan bluebook and chad's videos for basic understanding of the content. I used DAT achiever to practice for QR and would end up getting 17's on those...in the kaplan practice exams I would get about 22-25 on QR. I basically ran out of time on the actual DAT, spent too much time on one problem. By the time I had 15 mins left I only finished 20 problems. There were about 4 rate problems that I was having trouble with.. I usually kill rate problems in under a minute.

RC: Again... used KAPLAN and DAT achiever to practice reading, scored 20+ on kaplan practice exams and about 17 on achiever. The passages had were atmospheric science, 2nd passage about stomach bacteria and 3rd about nuclear chemistry.The questions were very specific to small details in the passages, basically had to scan the whole article to find some answers. I ran out of time on this section too, I only had about 10 mins left for passage 3 and guessed on a lot of the questions.

For QR, practice with math destroyer! Practice a lot, and do not be afraid if you can't finish a destroyer exam in 45minutes! Strategy wise for the real deal, I'd suggest you to mark the longer lengthy problems, and do the easier questions first. Don't skip them, just randomly pick an answer, mark it, and move on. Once you're done with all of the easier problems, you can go back to review the marked questions. This way you can spend your time more productively on easier problems and save the harder ones for the end.

For RC, I'd suggest you to find a strategy that works for you. Tryout a couple different strategies on topcore, achiever, or CDReading. Find the one that works best for you and then stick to it.

 

[hope_to_match]

For QR, practice with math destroyer! Practice a lot, and do not be afraid if you can't finish a destroyer exam in 45minutes! Strategy wise for the real deal, I'd suggest you to mark the longer lengthy problems, and do the easier questions first. Don't skip them, just randomly pick an answer, mark it, and move on. Once you're done with all of the easier problems, you can go back to review the marked questions. This way you can spend your time more productively on easier problems and save the harder ones for the end.

For RC, I'd suggest you to find a strategy that works for you. Tryout a couple different strategies on topcore, achiever, or CDReading. Find the one that works best for you and then stick to it.

do you suggest looking at Chad's notes or other notes/look up formulas that don't remember for the first few math destroyer tests? also, what about timing? i am currently working on math problem from the QR section of the regular dat destroyer but i am just working on problems without timing+ looking up formulas occasionally

 

[Slumber]

do you suggest looking at Chad's notes or other notes/look up formulas that don't remember for the first few math destroyer tests? also, what about timing? i am currently working on math problem from the QR section of the regular dat destroyer but i am just working on problems without timing+ looking up formulas occasionally

It's okay to review equation/formulas when you first start using the destoryer. I wouldn't worry too much about timing at first, you'll pick up speed as you do some practice problems. However, if you have time, I'd suggest you to spend 10-15 minutes to review all of the equations before you go to bed each night. Could be any equations really and they don't have to be the same every night. QR, GC, OC reactions, NMR/IR stuff, just take out 10-15 minutes each night before you go to bed. You'll be amazed at how much that'd help.

 

[hope_to_match]

It's okay to review equation/formulas when you first start using the destoryer. I wouldn't worry too much about timing at first, you'll pick up speed as you do some practice problems. However, if you have time, I'd suggest you to spend 10-15 minutes to review all of the equations before you go to bed each night. Could be any equations really and they don't have to be the same every night. QR, GC, OC reactions, NMR/IR stuff, just take out 10-15 minutes each night before you go to bed. You'll be amazed at how much that'd help.

have you used a calculator for some calculations when practicing the destroyer?

 

[Slumber]

have you used a calculator for some calculations when practicing the destroyer?

just the simple Window calculator, it resembles the calculator on the actual DAT quite a lot.

 

[hope_to_match]

just the simple Window calculator, it resembles the calculator on the actual DAT quite a lot.

yes..that is what I am using. But I was wondering if you attempted practicing without using one at all since I heard that the calculator on the real thing is sometimes unreliable..

 

[Slumber]

yes..that is what I am using. But I was wondering if you attempted practicing without using one at all since I heard that the calculator on the real thing is sometimes unreliable..

I have. But I have also practiced some exams with heavy usage of the calculator. My calculator during the exam was fine, and I used it frequently during my exam.

 

[hope_to_match]

I have. But I have also practiced some exams with heavy usage of the calculator. My calculator during the exam was fine, and I used it frequently during my exam.

alright. thanks 🙂