What am I doing wrong?

[Jaba]

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Sad news, I just got my DAT scores and they are terribly low... I am very upset because this is the second time writing this test and it is not like I didn't study for it....

I have no idea how I should study differently? I read the study books, but find that when I am not getting enough practice questions done. When I attempt to do the chemistry/biology questions, it is different from what I have studied....I am very upset because I though I covered it all, and then it doesnt appear on the test.

I will try again, but I need to know how to do better... I thought I have already done everything possible, but I guess I will have to do much better.

We are talking about scores in the 16's.... and this is my second attempt...
Feeling very down right now... any advice please help.

Jaba

 

[Shunwei]

Sad news, I just got my DAT scores and they are terribly low... I am very upset because this is the second time writing this test and it is not like I didn't study for it....

I have no idea how I should study differently? I read the study books, but find that when I am not getting enough practice questions done. When I attempt to do the chemistry/biology questions, it is different from what I have studied....I am very upset because I though I covered it all, and then it doesnt appear on the test.

I will try again, but I need to know how to do better... I thought I have already done everything possible, but I guess I will have to do much better.

We are talking about scores in the 16's.... and this is my second attempt...
Feeling very down right now... any advice please help.

Jaba

What material are you using for your two tests?

 

[Jaba]

What material are you using for your two tests?

I wrote the Canadian DAT..... so there are NO study guides specifically available for it.


I have been using the American books etc Kaplan (blue), Barrons, and TopScore (Canadian questions).

I have been reading through my chemistry and biology books, but its just a lot of information and I don't think that studying 1300 + pages of those books will help me remember the specific details. For example, in chemistry, there are lots of questions that are given, but they take a long time to solve i.e titrations, acid base pH etc.... I just need to know what to study, so that I can do well on this test... I will give the American one a try.


It really is frustrating.

 

[Jaba]

Also, the Kaplan course is 1250 american.... and that is quite expensive.... but so is writing this test over and over again! I just need to know what kind of study schedule everyone has been working to get those 20+ scores.. I know I can do it, but I need some direction.

 

[appassionata]

Hi Jaba,
I also wrote CDAT.
My scores aren't great either; RC 20, Bio 20, Chem 21, Sci avg 21, PAT 17, AA 20 or 21 (can't remember)

I only used Kaplan blue book. I think it's possible to get 20 for Bio and Chem by just using Kaplan blue book; at least it worked for me. so i think reading textbook is a waste of time but it might work for some people.

Also someone told me that examkracker is really good for bio and chem but i havent used them.

 

[Jaba]

Hi Jaba,
I also wrote CDAT.
My scores aren't great either; RC 20, Bio 20, Chem 21, Sci avg 21, PAT 17, AA 20 or 21 (can't remember)

I only used Kaplan blue book. I think it's possible to get 20 for Bio and Chem by just using Kaplan blue book; at least it worked for me. so i think reading textbook is a waste of time but it might work for some people.

Also someone told me that examkracker is really good for bio and chem but i havent used them.

The thing is I used the blue book and still got 16's.... The questions really weren't that similar to it though. I dont understand. One question I remember was developmental biology... that is not in the blue book, nor was the question 'how many mm of rain does this place of the world get"...
Or even what layer surrounds the lungs... etc etc etc... This applies to most questions, I have no idea where they are getting them from.

 

[Montserrat]

I haven't taken the Canadian version of the DAT, but for the type of questions you typed out, try buying Schaum's biology guide. It's not too expensive (I saw a few on Amazon for under 10 American $), and is quite detailed. As for the gen chem type problems you listed, unfortunately, you do have to know all of it, and have to be able to solve/approximate quickly. I don't think there is anyway around it, because you won't know whether your exam will be more conceptual or quantitative.

 

[rose786]

I have been reading through my chemistry and biology books, but its just a lot of information and I don't think that studying 1300 + pages of those books will help me remember the specific details.

Do you mean that you're reading your textbooks cover to cover? Bad idea. Only reference them when you come across a tricky question or your review book doesn't make something clear. Otherwise, it's easy to get bogged down.

Try basic books with questions sprinkled throughout (like Cliffs Bio, an AP Chem book) and couple this with a ton of practice (Destroyer, Achiever, Topscore). You need to take more tests, analyze what you get wrong, and then go back and review that.

 

[NismoDDS]

I wrote the Canadian DAT..... so there are NO study guides specifically available for it.


I have been using the American books etc Kaplan (blue), Barrons, and TopScore (Canadian questions).

I have been reading through my chemistry and biology books, but its just a lot of information and I don't think that studying 1300 + pages of those books will help me remember the specific details. For example, in chemistry, there are lots of questions that are given, but they take a long time to solve i.e titrations, acid base pH etc.... I just need to know what to study, so that I can do well on this test... I will give the American one a try.


It really is frustrating.

Yea dont read your textbooks, they have wayyy to much information that you're not going to need for the DAT. And also get rid of the Barrons book they have so many errors in them. I don't know if you took a Kaplan class or not but i would highly recommend it. Its alot of money but its a great investment. I used topscore pro in addition to my kaplan class and practice tests.

 

[Jaba]

great thanks everyone! I will give the american one a shot....


oh and ps, what is the Topscores DAT "pro"... ? is it any different from the regular version?

 

[jigabodo]

great thanks everyone! I will give the american one a shot....


oh and ps, what is the Topscores DAT "pro"... ? is it any different from the regular version?

They are the same thing. 🙂