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DAT and Test Center Introduction

DAT Prep Platform

DAT Advices

What is the DAT?

The DAT is the standard exam required for admission to U.S. dental schools. From March 1st, the exam is updated into a 600-point scaling system instead of 30 30-point scaling system.

 

The exam includes:

  1. Survey of Natural Sciences (Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry)

    • Biology has 40 Questions.

    • General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry have 30 Questions each.

    • SNS is one session, a total of 90 minutes.

  2. Perceptual Ability Test (PAT)

    • 15 Questions for each of the following sections:

      • Keyholes

      • Top-Front-End

      • Angle-Ranking

      • Hole-Punching

      • Cube-Counting

      • Pattern-Folding

    • A total of 90 Questions in 1 hour.

    • Key tips to success:

      • Practice daily, 15 questions for each section, is strongly recommended.

  3. Short Break (30 minutes)

  4. Reading Comprehension Test

    • Given 3 passages with 50 questions in 1 hour session.

    • Key tips to success:

      • 1. Time management is crucial – Around 20 minutes per passage.
        2. Skim the passage first to get a general idea, then look for answers.
        3. Practice active reading – Focus on key details like time, year, names, unfamiliar scientific names, and important event.
        4. Use the Search & Destroy method if running out of time – Locate keywords in the question and scan for the answer.

  5. Quantitative Reasoning Test (Math)

    • 40 Questions in 45 minutes.

    • It covers:

      • 1. Algebra – Equations, inequalities, exponents, logarithms.
        2. Word Problems – Rate, distance, work, percentages.
        3. Probability & Statistics – Combinations, permutations, mean, median, mode.
        4. Geometry – Angles, triangles, circles.
        5. Trigonometry – Sin, cos, tan, identities.

    • Tips:

      • 1. Time management – ~1 min per question.
        2. Memorize key formulas – No formula sheet is provided.
        3. Skip and return – Don’t get stuck on hard questions; mark them and come back. You can always mark questions.
        4. Use estimation – DAT is multiple choice exam, you can eliminate wrong answers quickly.

Registering for the DAT

Unlike the SAT, the exam is available year-round, but you must schedule it in advance at an approved testing center.

You must register on the ADA website. The DAT registration fee is $535 (subject to change; check the ADA website for the latest updates).

 

Retake Policy:

  • You must wait 60 days before retaking the exam.

  • You can take the DAT up to three times without special permission.

  • After three attempts, you need official approval from the ADA to retake it.

 

What to bring on test day?

  1. Two Forms of ID. One must be a government-issued photo ID with a signature (e.g., passport, driver’s license).

  2. Earplugs (Optional, but Recommended). They will provide noise-canceling headphone in testing center.

  3. Comfortable Clothing (Hoodie, Jacket, etc.).

  4. Water Bottle (Plastic Only)

    • No glass or metal bottles are allowed.

  5. Snacks & Food

    • Food must be kept in your locker and can only be accessed during breaks.

What to Expect at the Testing Center and Date?

  • You will be assigned a locker to store your personal belongings.

  • Before entering the exam room, you will need to:

  • Show your valid IDs.

  • Go through a security check (pockets, sleeves, and hoodie may be inspected).

  • Store any unapproved items (phones, smartwatches, bags, etc.) in your locker.

 

Important Tips for testing day:

  1. Arrive at least 10-20 minutes early. Many students report they face traffic in the morning to the testing centers.

  2. Some testing centers allow you access to your personal belongings in the locker during break.

    • Make sure to eat something such as an energy bar to provide energy for your brain!

    • Make sure do not drink too much water, the exam will not pause because you want to go to the bathroom.

    • A simple math note (Tip: Bring a small reference sheet with key formulas!)

 

What will be Provided by testing centers?

  • Plastic Writing Board & Marker.

  • You will receive a laminated board and a marker for scratch work.

  • Raise your hand if you need a new board during the test.

​

Recommended Platform for Preparing DAT

Best DAT Study Resources:

  1. DAT Bootcamp (Best for Competitive Scores)

    • Strong all-around resource

    • Great for high scorers aiming for 22+

    • High-quality practice tests

    • Recommended for students who “learn from lectures & informations”.

    • Provided helpful cheat sheet for biology (FREE)

  2. DAT Booster (Best for Realistic Practice Tests)

    • Many students report very accurate practice tests

    • Have Helpful biology cheat sheets

    • Recommended for students who “learn from practicing questions”.

  3. Chad’s Prep (Best for Chemistry Lectures)

    • Highly recommended for General Chemistry & Organic Chemistry

    • Many students find his explanations very clear.

    • Recommended for those who need help with chemistry materials.

  4. Kaplan DAT Prep (Provide structured courses)

  5. DAT Destroyer (good for extra problem-solving practice, especially in chemistry & QR)

What is the DAT?

The DAT is the standard exam required for admission to U.S. dental schools. From March 1st, the exam is updated into a 600-point scaling system instead of 30 30-point scaling system.

 

The exam includes:

  1. Survey of Natural Sciences (Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry)

    • Biology has 40 Questions.

    • General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry have 30 Questions each.

    • SNS is one session, a total of 90 minutes.

  2. Perceptual Ability Test (PAT)

    • 15 Questions for each of the following sections:

      • Keyholes

      • Top-Front-End

      • Angle-Ranking

      • Hole-Punching

      • Cube-Counting

      • Pattern-Folding

    • A total of 90 Questions in 1 hour.

    • Key tips to success:

      • Practice daily, 15 questions for each section, is strongly recommended.

  3. Short Break (30 minutes)

  4. Reading Comprehension Test

    • Given 3 passages with 50 questions in 1 hour session.

    • Key tips to success:

      • 1. Time management is crucial – Around 20 minutes per passage.
        2. Skim the passage first to get a general idea, then look for answers.
        3. Practice active reading – Focus on key details like time, year, names, unfamiliar scientific names, and important event.
        4. Use the Search & Destroy method if running out of time – Locate keywords in the question and scan for the answer.

  5. Quantitative Reasoning Test (Math)

    • 40 Questions in 45 minutes.

    • It covers:

      • 1. Algebra – Equations, inequalities, exponents, logarithms.
        2. Word Problems – Rate, distance, work, percentages.
        3. Probability & Statistics – Combinations, permutations, mean, median, mode.
        4. Geometry – Angles, triangles, circles.
        5. Trigonometry – Sin, cos, tan, identities.

    • Tips:

      • 1. Time management – ~1 min per question.
        2. Memorize key formulas – No formula sheet is provided.
        3. Skip and return – Don’t get stuck on hard questions; mark them and come back. You can always mark questions.
        4. Use estimation – DAT is multiple choice exam, you can eliminate wrong answers quickly.

Registering for the DAT

Unlike the SAT, the exam is available year-round, but you must schedule it in advance at an approved testing center.

You must register on the ADA website. The DAT registration fee is $535 (subject to change; check the ADA website for the latest updates).

 

Retake Policy:

  • You must wait 60 days before retaking the exam.

  • You can take the DAT up to three times without special permission.

  • After three attempts, you need official approval from the ADA to retake it.

 

What to bring on test day?

  1. Two Forms of ID. One must be a government-issued photo ID with a signature (e.g., passport, driver’s license).

  2. Earplugs (Optional, but Recommended). They will provide noise-canceling headphone in testing center.

  3. Comfortable Clothing (Hoodie, Jacket, etc.).

  4. Water Bottle (Plastic Only)

    • No glass or metal bottles are allowed.

  5. Snacks & Food

    • Food must be kept in your locker and can only be accessed during breaks.

What to Expect at the Testing Center and Date?

  • You will be assigned a locker to store your personal belongings.

  • Before entering the exam room, you will need to:

  • Show your valid IDs.

  • Go through a security check (pockets, sleeves, and hoodie may be inspected).

  • Store any unapproved items (phones, smartwatches, bags, etc.) in your locker.

 

Important Tips for testing day:

  1. Arrive at least 10-20 minutes early. Many students report they face traffic in the morning to the testing centers.

  2. Some testing centers allow you access to your personal belongings in the locker during break.

    • Make sure to eat something such as an energy bar to provide energy for your brain!

    • Make sure do not drink too much water, the exam will not pause because you want to go to the bathroom.

    • A simple math note (Tip: Bring a small reference sheet with key formulas!)

 

What will be Provided by testing centers?

  • Plastic Writing Board & Marker.

  • You will receive a laminated board and a marker for scratch work.

  • Raise your hand if you need a new board during the test.

​

Recommended Platform for Preparing DAT

Best DAT Study Resources:

  1. DAT Bootcamp (Best for Competitive Scores)

    • Strong all-around resource

    • Great for high scorers aiming for 22+

    • High-quality practice tests

    • Recommended for students who “learn from lectures & informations”.

    • Provided helpful cheat sheet for biology (FREE)

  2. DAT Booster (Best for Realistic Practice Tests)

    • Many students report very accurate practice tests

    • Have Helpful biology cheat sheets

    • Recommended for students who “learn from practicing questions”.

  3. Chad’s Prep (Best for Chemistry Lectures)

    • Highly recommended for General Chemistry & Organic Chemistry

    • Many students find his explanations very clear.

    • Recommended for those who need help with chemistry materials.

  4. Kaplan DAT Prep (Provide structured courses)

  5. DAT Destroyer (good for extra problem-solving practice, especially in chemistry & QR)

Studying Tips

General Study Tips:

  1. Take Full-Length Practice Tests

    • Don’t just practice each section separately—simulate real test conditions.

    • Get used to managing test fatigue.

  2. Use Anki Flashcards for Biology

    • Many high-score students report using Anki Flashcards for the Biology section.

    • They are provided and you can download them from Bootcamp/Booster. You can also create your own Anki.

    • Many students reported the actual Biology section is often more surface-level knowledge but broader.

  3. Chemistry Requires Lots of Practice

    • General Chemistry & Organic Chemistry are pattern-based—the more types of problems you see, the better you’ll perform.

  4. PAT Requires Consistent Practice

    • Many students feel stuck and unconfident at first.

    • Keep practicing! Most students improve significantly over time.

    • The actual DAT PAT is often reported to be slightly easier than practice exams.

  5. Reading Comprehension – Speed Over Perfection

    • Prioritize speed over getting every answer perfectly.

    • If you can’t find an answer quickly, move on!

    • This section has a difficulty level similar to practice exams.

  6. Quantitative Reasoning – Master Everything Except Probability

    • Many students report probability is the hardest part.

    • If the probability section is too difficult, focus on doing well in all other math areas for a solid QR score.

    • This section has a difficulty level similar to practice exams.

DAT Advice (Biology)

Biology

  • Student scored (470): “The vids are also really good to start out with as well as the practice tests. I bought 5 extra practice exam and 100% worth it! I started using bootcamps anki (free) around a month before and did it every day and it really helped me reinforce concepts. I think in general tho bio is a bit easier than booster! The vids are also really good to start out with as well as the practice tests.” (DAT Booster)

  • Student scored (23): “Please just do bio bits after reading each chapter.  Def breadth over depth; Booster is better for this section.” (DAT Booster)

  • Student scored (26): “I read DATBooster’s High-yield notes nearly every day, completed all of the bio bites, drew my own diagrams and made my own notes, watched all of the bio videos, and completed all of the bio exams. This section was daunting for me because of the sheer volume of information I needed to know but when I finally told myself to take this section one day at a time I started to see improvement. I’ll join the bandwagon and say that this subject really is breadth over depth. Understand the main idea of a biological process, read the high-yield notes routinely, and complete all of the bio exams. I purchased 5 additional practice exams and made sure to finish those as well.”(DAT Booster)

  • Student scored (560):  “I watched all the videos on Booster and basically none on Bootcamp. I did not do Bio Bits on Booster, but did all of the Bio Bites on Bootcamp. After reviewing all the topics on Booster once, I reviewed them all again using the Bootcamp High-Yield Biology notes. I probably reviewed every topic about 3 times, regardless of whether or not I already knew the concept or not. As mentioned previously, the DAT’s biology section was a lot more simple than what I practiced on Booster and Bootcamp.” (DAT Booster + Bootcamp)​

​

DAT Advice (General Chemistry)

General Chemistry

  • Student scored (470): “Boosters notes & videos r super helpful! I also bought 5 extra tests and used Anki just to reinforce everything and it was def super helpful. I honestly got like 5 conjugate acid-base questions which was so nice.” (DAT Booster)

  • Student scored (30): “Bootcamp has a super great teacher for this section, make sure to study the lecture notes and do bites.” (DAT Bootcamp)

  • Student scored (30):  “I made sure to complete all of the question banks and redid them for topics from GC I & II that I was a bit rusty on, such as lab techniques, periodic trends, properties of metals, etc. I also made sure to complete every practice exam that Booster provided, including 5 additional practice exams I purchased. I highly recommend the practice exams from Booster.” (DAT Booster)

  • Student scored (520): “I don’t know why, but this section was one that didn’t really click until I started using Bootcamp. The question banks were definitely helpful for my understanding and really did save me last minute. Had it not been for Bootcamp’s question banks, I don’t think I would have done even partially as well as I did.” (DAT Bootcamp)​

DAT Advice (Organic Chemistry)

Organic Chemistry

  • Student scored (450): “BOOTCAMPS ANKIS changed my life. There is much memorization, remembering all types of mechanisms and other contents. Make sure to study beyond just mechanisms.” (DAT Bootcamp)

  • Student scored (25): “I think Chad’s Orgo notes PDF covers every rxn possible, and was my preferred option. There are weird questions like intermediate questions in my test. Make sure to study every single detail in ORGO, there are unexpected questions.” (Chad)

  • Student scored (570): “There were less reactions, then I thought there would be and a bunch of conceptual stuff on reactions, intermediates and some lab test stuff.  Make sure you keep up with the reactions and do a few of them per day. Even though I didn’t get a ton of them on my test form yours could be way different. ORGO is high varied section based on the test you get!” (DAT Booster)

DAT Advice (PAT)

PAT

  • Student scored (440): “The best strategy is to race thru angle ranking (go w/ ur gut just don’t overthink it) then hp, cube counting, pattern folding and save the last bit for keyhole and TFE. If it takes you longer than a minute for a question select a random answer, mark it and go back bc that’s valuable time taken away from other questions. The only thing I would say was harder than booster was hole punching, so make sure to set it to insane difficulty. I think it matches bootcamps difficulty tho!” (DAT Bootcamp)

  • Student scored (490): ” Keyholes – i searched for similar answer choices then eliminated the ones that were automatically wrong. TFE – this was the hardest for me. visaulize the 3d model first then compare the given information. Angles – just pray lol. I used knife method for small angles and then laptop method for others. Hole punch – use the grid method, write it out on the provided laminated grid paper during the tutorial. Cube counting – do the tally system to keep track, its super helpful. Pattern folding – fold it mentally always making sure to fold into the page and keep track of shaded regions.” (DAT Booster)

DAT Advice (Reading)

Reading

  • Student scored (27): “I would read the passage fully and highlight what I thought was important (all within 4 minutes) and then I would answer the questions.  The key to this section is pacing yourself so that you have at least 10 minutes to review all 50 questions in RC. Make sure you find a method that works best for YOU and stick with it and perfect it!” (DAT Booster)

  • Student scored (550): “For RC, I mainly did quick read through of each passage (in about 4-5 minutes) and took time highlighting lists, and strong words like however, but, etc. I always highlighted names and did not read sections that were very heavily mechanism or explanation based and only read them when a question called for it (which then I’d use search and destroy for). I chose answers and then marked questions that I wasn’t 100% on and kept going until I finished and reviewed them with a fresh mind at the end.” (DAT Bootcamp)

  • Student scored (24): “The test-taking strategy I used was the “search and destroy” method because I found that it was the quickest. I took the practice tests and question banks on DATCrusher regularly (probably every day or every two days?) in the last two/three weeks leading up to my exam.. I would also make it a point to highlight some main ideas of that paragraph so it makes it easier for me to find when I’m checking over my answers at the end. Also, DO NOT leave any question blank! Even if you don’t know the answer, just pick one, mark it, and move on. Don’t spend too much time on one question. I left myself 15 minutes at the end to check my answers over again.” (DAT Crusher)

DAT Advice (Quantitive Reasoning)

Quantitive Reasoning

  • Student scored (590): “The QR section is extremely similar to booster, I would recommend getting 5 extra tests bc that helped me a lot! Booster has great cheet sheets which will help you so much and I went through those every day. I didn’t use anki but if you were to use anki i’d reccomend bootcamps over boosters. Nothing was surprising with QR so honestly just memorize, memorize, memorize.” (DAT Booster)

  • Student scored (28): “The best advice here is to MOVE QUICK, skip and come back if you don’t know. Bootcamp is better for this section still, because of their geometry section.” (DAT Bootcamp)

  • Student scored (30): “Most of the problems were probability, algebra, rate, and concentration. I had about 5 minutes left over, so I went back and did the questions I had marked. I made my own notes from the videos and just practiced a bunch of probability problems on Booster, as it was my weakest area. However, the exam was a little easier than the booster practice sections.” (DAT Booster)

Free Studying Resouce

These flashcards and notes were created based on the study materials of successful students who scored between 25–27 on the DAT. Please use them as a reference to support your own studying!

​

Biology Flashcards: DAT BIOLOGY

General Chemistry Flashcards: DAT GC

General Chemistry Notes: DAT GC NOTES

Organic Chemistry Flashcards: DAT OC

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