Topscore Ochem Question - real DAT
Started by jabeck74
i scored 13's to 15's on my practice tests and i was lucky enough to get a 17 on the real thing. 😀
The Topscore program is very good and is close to the real test except for the angle ranking which is harder on the real exam. And DATachiever is way harder on the PAT and has crazy probability math questions, but the angle ranking is like the real test.
If you are getting 13's on the comparable practice tests, I don't think you are ready. The Topscore ochem section is close to the real DAT ochem, so I recommend reviewing the ochem section a few more times. Make sure you are comforable with the basic reactions, reaction groups, Sn1 etc, and naming compounds. Get as many ochem review books as you can, the MCAT has a similar ochem section so get some MCAT books that have the ochem review.
Good luck.
If you are getting 13's on the comparable practice tests, I don't think you are ready. The Topscore ochem section is close to the real DAT ochem, so I recommend reviewing the ochem section a few more times. Make sure you are comforable with the basic reactions, reaction groups, Sn1 etc, and naming compounds. Get as many ochem review books as you can, the MCAT has a similar ochem section so get some MCAT books that have the ochem review.
Good luck.
I pulled a 23 in o-chem... What I did sucked, I know, but it works....
I have tutored physics, Gen-Chem, O-Chem among others, my system works... I promise.
Prior to the DAT I had never taken a test like this, so I was really nervous.
(Never took the SAT or ACT). I had no idea where to begin, so this what I did.
PUT AWAY THAT DAMN KAPLAN BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First, read the title: REVIEW for the DAT. And honestly think about it for a second. Did you ONLY go to the review before your tests when you took O-Chem? Probably not.
So get out your old book... You can use your Kaplan book as a guide as to what to focus on. EG don't spend a day on chapter 1 and likewise don't spend a day on some obscure reaction because you thought it would be cool to know how to make meth!
So now you have a guide and you know what to study. Now start working problems.
Focus on CONCEPTS and not knowing rxns. Can you explain to me in words why Sn1 prefers a highly substituted carbon? What role do the constituents play in stabilization?
Why are some elements better leaving groups than others? (Think about atomic trends in the periodic table.)
After working 10-20 problems in the appropriate chapters you will be set.
Also the working of all of these problems will jog your memory on functional groups, like what is an Amine or amide...
What I would JUST memorize are orto/para/meta directors. But if you can't or don't want to do that. Start considering why one constituent is ortho/para vs. meta. What makes a group electron withdrawing or donating?
NOW get out the Kaplan and start REVIEWING!
A quote from my Gen Chem I professor
Chemistry is not unlike a sport. You don't get good at it by watching.
- E. Thall
Good Luck,
-C
P.S. Before you take it, don't forget to ask that damn computer this one simple question:
Who's your daddy?
I have tutored physics, Gen-Chem, O-Chem among others, my system works... I promise.
Prior to the DAT I had never taken a test like this, so I was really nervous.
(Never took the SAT or ACT). I had no idea where to begin, so this what I did.
PUT AWAY THAT DAMN KAPLAN BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First, read the title: REVIEW for the DAT. And honestly think about it for a second. Did you ONLY go to the review before your tests when you took O-Chem? Probably not.
So get out your old book... You can use your Kaplan book as a guide as to what to focus on. EG don't spend a day on chapter 1 and likewise don't spend a day on some obscure reaction because you thought it would be cool to know how to make meth!
So now you have a guide and you know what to study. Now start working problems.
Focus on CONCEPTS and not knowing rxns. Can you explain to me in words why Sn1 prefers a highly substituted carbon? What role do the constituents play in stabilization?
Why are some elements better leaving groups than others? (Think about atomic trends in the periodic table.)
After working 10-20 problems in the appropriate chapters you will be set.
Also the working of all of these problems will jog your memory on functional groups, like what is an Amine or amide...
What I would JUST memorize are orto/para/meta directors. But if you can't or don't want to do that. Start considering why one constituent is ortho/para vs. meta. What makes a group electron withdrawing or donating?
NOW get out the Kaplan and start REVIEWING!
A quote from my Gen Chem I professor
Chemistry is not unlike a sport. You don't get good at it by watching.
- E. Thall
Good Luck,
-C
P.S. Before you take it, don't forget to ask that damn computer this one simple question:
Who's your daddy?
SuperC said:
I bought kaplan organic chemistry edge and it worked wonders for me. Didn't reference back to the textbook often either, maybe for 2 reactions I saw in topscore. However, I still did pretty well in orgo in the real exam, 21.
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