Chapter 1: Introduction to the DAT
The Dental Admission Test, affectionately known as the DAT, is designed to provide dental schools with common measures for comparing the qualifications of applicants. Dental schools use DAT scores to assess whether you possess the foundation upon which to build a successful dental career. In addition to evaluating your knowledge of the sciences, the test also calls for your skills in solving mathematical problems, reading comprehension, and spatial manipulation.
The DAT's power comes from its use as an indicator of your abilities. Good scores can open doors. Your power comes from preparation and mindset, because the key to DAT success is knowing what you're up against. And that's where this book comes in. We'll explain the test, review the sections one by one, share some of Kaplan's proven tips, provide you with practice questions and answers, and clue you in to what the test makers are really after. You'll get a handle on the process, find a confident new perspective, and achieve your highest possible scores.
REGISTRATION
The DAT is administered exclusively on computer, and can be taken almost any day of the year. For the most up-to-date information regarding the exam, contact the Dental Admission Testing Program directly at (312) 440-2689.
To register for the DAT, pick up an Application and Preparation Materials booklet from your Pre-Med/Pre-Dental adviser, or write to:
Dental Admission Testing Program
211 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 1846
Chicago, IL 60611-2678
(312) 440-2689
After you submit your application to the Dental Admission Testing Program, you will receive a toll-free number to register with a Sylvan Testing Center for the exam. The testing centers require at least a 48-hour lead time for scheduling a test.
NOTE: Sylvan Testing Centers require a two-business day notification to reschedule or cancel a test date. Anything less than two days will not be recognized for a refund.
ANATOMY OF THE DAT
Before mastering the content and test-taking skills, you need to know exactly what you're dealing with on the DAT. It consists of four multiple-choice sections: Survey of the Natural Sciences, Perceptual Ability Test, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning. You will have a total of about four hours to complete the four sections. There is a 15-minute break (optional) after completing the second section.
It's a grueling experience, to say the least. If you can't approach it with confidence and stamina, you'll quickly lose your composure. That's why it's so important that you take control of the test.
In this book we'll take an in-depth look at each DAT section, but here's a general overview:
Survey of the Natural Sciences
Time: 90 minutes
Format: 100 multiple-choice questions, subdivided into three science areas:
Biology (40 questions)
Inorganic (General) Chemistry (30 questions)
Organic Chemistry (30 questions)
What it tests: knowledge of university-level sciences
Perceptual Ability
Time: 60 minutes
Format: 90 multiple-choice questions, subdivided into six parts of 15 questions each:
Keyholes (Apertures)
Top-Front-End (Orthographic Projections)
Angle Ranking
Hole Punching
Cube Counting
Pattern Folding
What it tests: ability to visualize and mentally manipulate objects in three dimensions; angle discrimination
Reading Comprehension
Time: 60 minutes
Format: 50 multiple-choice questions: three passages with 16-17 questions each
What it tests: ability to absorb and keep track of information in long, technical writings
Quantitative Reasoning
Time: 45 minutes
Format: 40 multiple-choice questions on the following topics:
Fractions, Decimals, and Percents
Algebra
Word Problems
Geometry
Trigonometry
What it tests: proficiency in mathematics and problem-solving skills
SCORING
You will get your score after you complete the test. Each VAT section receives its own score, based on a scale of 1-30. In addition, each Natural Sciences subsection (Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry) also receives its own score. Finally, your scores in all sections except for the PAT are combined into an academic average based on the same scale.
Your score report will tell you (and dental schools) not only your scaled scores, but also your percentile ranking.
Each question within a section is worth the same amount, and there's no penalty for guessing. That means that you should always answer every question, whether you get to that question or not! This is an important piece of advice, so pay it heed. Never let time run out on any section without answering every question.
Students often ask: What's a good score? Much depends on the strength of the rest of your application (if your transcript is first rate, the pressure to strut your stuff on the DAT isn't as intense) and on where you want to go to school (different schools have different score expectations). However, recent statistics show that the average score per section is about 17.
You don't have to be perfect to do well. In the PAT section, for example, you can typically get 30 questions wrong (that's a third!) and still obtain a scaled score of 17. Even students who receive perfect scaled scores usually get a handful of questions wrong. It's important to maximize your performance on every question. Just a few questions one way or the other can make a big difference in your score.
KAPLAN'S TOP DAT TIPS
1. Relax!
You don't have to get every question right to get a great score.
2. Remember: It's primarily a thinking test.
Never forget the purpose of the DAT: It's designed to test your powers of analytical reasoning. You need to know the content, as each section has its own particular "language," but the underlying intention is consistent throughout the test.
3. Avoid wrong-answer traps.
Try to anticipate answers before you read the answer choices. This helps boost your confidence and protects you from persuasive or tricky incorrect choices. Most wrong answer choices are logical twists on the correct choice.
4. Think, think, think!
We said it before, but it's important enough to say again: Think. Don't compute.
5. Don't look back.
Don't spend time worrying about questions you had to guess on. Keep moving forward. Don't let your spirit start to flag, or your attitude will slow you down. You can recheck answers within a section if you have time left, but don't worry about a section after your time has run out.
6. Don't leave any questions unanswered.
There are no points taken off for wrong answers, so if you're not sure of an answer, guess. And guess quickly, so you'll have more time to work through other questions.
7. Mark it up.
Take advantage of the "Mark" feature on the computer for questions you may want to revisit. At the end, you can review all the marked questions before submitting your answers as final.
Copyright © 2000 by Kaplan, Inc.
