Meet Tejas Patel, a happy DAT Bootcamp customer who recently dominated the DAT. I’ve asked Tejas to share his DAT experience with us as the featured student of September.

What is one piece of advice you would give to another student preparing to take the DAT?

Take a practice test or go through sample questions to gauge how well you know the material for the science and quantitative reasoning sections. This way, you can gauge how well you know the material and what you need to spend more time reviewing. It also will help you get into the proper mindset of how to approach the DAT. For example, a lot of the general chemistry sections aren’t as heavy on calculations as you’d typically see in a college course. Also, the organic chemistry section won’t be like your typical college class in which you have to draw out entire mechanisms and reactions, it’s multiple choice. Of course, you will still need to know and apply the knowledge gained from your classes.

How did you use DAT Bootcamp to prepare for the DAT?

At first, I used DAT Bootcamp as practice to see how well I knew the material before I really dove into studying. After taking the first set of practice tests and seeing how great the answer explanations and user interface was, I decided to upgrade my subscription to all 30 practice tests. The practice tests were immensely helpful during the week leading up to my test day. I used DAT Bootcamp to see how I was doing after studying and seeing if I needed more time or not. I also took each test in a timed setting so that I could build my stamina for the exam and really focus on time-management. Knowing how to take the exam is just as important as knowing the material that is on the exam.

What would you do differently to prepare for the DAT?

I would probably focus a little more time on prepping for the reading section. I wish I had known about DAT Bootcamp’s constantly updated list of articles to read that are similar to the dense, science-based passages that you see on the actual DAT. I only found out about this feature a couple of weeks before my exam and know that if I practiced reading a few articles every day throughout my studying, that I could have improved my reading comprehension score. I also dreaded the angle ranking section of perceptual ability, so I think I would have utilized the angle ranking generator a bit more. It was a really good way to drill myself and not only get better at determining the ranking of the angles, but also in doing the ranking much quicker.

My score breakdown is 23 AA, 24 TS, 21 BIO, 26 GC, 26 OC, 20 RC, 23 PAT, 24 QR.

Upgrade today and get instant access to all 30 of our practice tests – unmatched by any other practice test material, and proven to be most similar to the real DAT.

Meet Jordan Wineland, a happy DAT Bootcamp customer who recently re-took DAT and had some of the greatest gains I’ve ever seen. I’ve asked Jordan to share his DAT experience with us as the featured student of October.

What is one piece of advice you would give to another student preparing to take the DAT?

Studying for the DAT can be a grueling process for anyone who is not prepared for it. If you are aiming for scores 20 and above, you must put in the time and have the right mindset. Being a re-taker, I knew what the DAT was all about and knew 3 months would be sufficient enough for me to improve my previous scores. I also came in with the mindset that I would not be satisfied with any score I received on a practice test, not even a 30. I believe my drive to keep pushing forward and my optimism did it for me. I got what I was shooting for last year and this year, but this year I had more belief in ability to crack the 20 barrier.

How did you use DAT Bootcamp to prepare for the DAT?

DAT Bootcamp had, hands down, the most representative practice tests around. I went through all of the sciences and took all of the biology tests twice. I started with the first two tests of each section to gauge where I was at and then jumped into the areas I was weakest in. After feeling confident in those areas, I did the third test in the section and compared my results. After studying subjects I was weaker on again, I finished the last two tests in DAT Bootcamp. I feel this is essential to do within a week of test date because this site words questions exactly as the actual test.

What would you do differently to prepare for the DAT?

If I went back and studied for the DAT again, I would definitely do the math and reading sections of DAT Bootcamp. I feel if I had done the rest of the math section (only did one), I would have been able to get over the hump of the 24 mark and possibly get near a 30. If you do well on Bootcamp in this section, you will definitely do well on the actual test. I also would spend more time on the reading practice. Ari does a great job reviewing ADA materials to get the tests to be very similar to the actual DAT.

What would you advise to someone retaking the DAT?

Re-taking the DAT can be physically and mentally draining. If you did not receive the scores you wanted on your first go around, you must work harder and smarter on your second (or third, etc). I added more time to my study schedule and set goals higher than I had last year. As stated previously, I wanted and was very excited when I scored a 19 AA last year. My goal was a 19 because I thought it would be enough to get into my in-state school and be competitive at other schools. I wouldn’t say that it was a weak score by any means, but after going through the process, I knew a goal of 19 was lower than my true potential. Confidence is key. If you don’t believe in yourself, then no one will. This phrase proves true when studying for the DAT. I have read countless posts on SDN from people who are scared, anxious, and simply projecting through their words that they do not feel like they can do it. I cannot stand these posts because I KNOW that anything is possible. If you do not believe me, look at the increase in my DAT scores. You can do this. Take studying one day at a time, relax when necessary, and believe in yourself! Once you let this happen, you WILL succeed. Good luck!

Feel free to send me a message and ask any other questions on Student Doctor Network.

My 2012 score breakdown was 19 AA, 19 TS, 18 BIO, 19 GC, 19 OC, 20 RC, 22 PAT, 21 QR.

My 2013 score breakdown is 25 AA (+6), 25 TS (+6), 26 BIO (+8), 23 GC (+4), 29 OC (+10), 22 RC (+2), 30 PAT (+8), 24 QR (+3).

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Meet Jasmine Faldu, a happy DAT Bootcamp customer who recently conquered the DAT. I’ve asked Jasmine to share her DAT experience with us as the featured student of November.

What is one piece of advice you would give to another student preparing to take the DAT?

I highly recommend creating a plan of how you will prepare for the exam prior to picking your test date. This will ensure you have enough time to thoroughly complete all of your materials. I would clear two to three months of time to prepare for the exam. Preparation includes studying for 6-10 hours per day and taking practice tests every week while simulating real testing conditions. During this period of time, focus on the ultimate goal: conquering the DAT. Do not get frustrated or nervous about low practice test scores or unfamiliar material that may arise. Every day will be a learning opportunity and you have to make sure you are open to making mistakes, learning from them, and moving forward. When material does not make sense, take the time to read up on it and take extra notes. You will thank yourself in the long run for taking your studying seriously. It is so worth it in the end. I also recommend taking the DAT the summer between sophomore and junior year if your schedule permits and you have completed all of the subjects tested in the natural sciences section. I planned my first two years of college in order to do this, and am very happy with my decision!

How did you use DAT Bootcamp to prepare for the DAT?

I came across DAT Bootcamp with one week left before my exam, so I finished five of the six practice tests under timed conditions, taking one section right after the other to simulate real testing conditions. Then, I reviewed the sixth test and the random questions offered two days before my exam. Out of all the programs and DAT prep materials I used, DAT Bootcamp, by far, is the most similar to the actual exam. All of the sections on the actual DAT were similar in difficulty or easier (the QR section!). The detailed and colorful explanations for PAT significantly helped improve my score and certainly gave me that extra push in the end. I am so grateful for coming across this program, just wish I did sooner.

What would you do differently to prepare for the DAT?

If I had to do anything differently, it would have been preparing for the reading comprehension section more. For my first month of studying, it was the only subject I did not give any attention to, which impacted my reading speed. I wish I read more articles such as the ones posted in the recommended reading section on DAT Bootcamp. Reading comprehension comes with practice of reading and knowing how to decipher scientific journals and articles. This section is just as important as the others, so don’t forget to keep reading!

My score breakdown is 25 AA, 26 TS, 26 BIO, 25 GC, 29 OC, 21 RC, 24 PAT, 24 QR.

Upgrade today and get instant access to all 30 of our practice tests – unmatched by any other practice test material, and proven to be most similar to the real DAT.

Here’s a general chemistry concept that frequently appears on the DAT. We’re talking about intermolecular forces, not to be confused with intRAmolecular forces, which bind the atoms within a single particle (i.e. covalent bonds, metallic bonds, ionic bonds).

IntERmolecular forces are the interactions that occur between neighboring particles and have a large effect on a compound’s physical properties such as the melting point, boiling point, viscosity, etc. Here are the four intermolecular forces you should know in order of DECREASING strength:

1. Ion-Dipole: the interaction between an ion and an oppositely charged dipole. (example: the positive cation of NaCl will be surrounded be water’s oxygens which have a negative dipole).

2. Hydrogen Bonding: requires a hydrogen to be covalently bound to F, O, or N. The large contrast in electronegativities between the hydrogen and these other F, O, N atoms creates large dipoles. Partially-positive hydrogens will interact with partially-negative F,O, or Ns of neighboring molecules.

3. Dipole-Dipole: These can be basically thought of as weaker hydrogen bonds that do not contain F,O, or N as the electronegative atoms. The concept is the same as above except on a smaller scale since the dipoles will not be as large. Just remember, there will be a partially-positive atom that interacts with a partially-negative atom of a neighboring molecule.

4. London Dispersion: All molecules have these. It’s the very brief attraction between neighboring molecules due to the random movement of electrons. At any one snippet of time, the electrons on an atom may be bunched on one side making that side partially-negative while the electron-deficient side is partially-positive. These partially-positive/negative atomic domains interact with the domains of the atoms of neighboring molecules, but on a much smaller scale that the dipole-dipole interactions. However, these forces occur in such large numbers that their summation can’t be ignored. **The higher the molecular weight, the stronger the London dispersion forces**

Now, it’s time to apply what we know about IM forces.

Larger intermolecular forces equate to:

1. A higher melting point, boiling point, viscosity, surface tension.

2. A lower vapor pressure.

Think of an increase in IM forces as an increase in the stickiness between molecules. The stickier they are, the harder they will be to separate (melt/boil), the more tension they will have between them (viscous) and the less likely they will be to escape into the gas phase (vapor pressure).

Try this example problem to test what you’ve learned:

Rank the following from LOWEST boiling point to HIGHEST boiling point:

CH3OCH3, CH3OH, CH3CH2OH

Click to Reveal Answer

Meet Thao Nguyen, a happy DAT Bootcamp customer who recently dominated the DAT. Thao’s scores and tenacity truly impressed me; I asked for her to share her DAT experience with us as the featured student of August.

What is one piece of advice you would give to another student preparing to take the DAT?

Clear out your schedule for at least 4 weeks and focus on nothing but studying for DAT during that time. Taking practice tests is good but do not be discouraged by the low scores because they are not standardized tests and those scores are not your official ones. I think it is essential to go over your practice tests and understand why you made the mistakes on them.

How did you use DAT Bootcamp to prepare for the DAT?

In my opinion, DAT Bootcamp is the best simulation of the real DAT out there. The questions are presented in a very similar manner to the questions on my real DAT, especially for Biology section. Since DAT Bootcamp is relatively new and it is created by people who took the DAT recently, it offers one of the most up-to-date question banks out there. DAT Bootcamp is the main reason for my 21 in Biology due to the detailed explanations. I love how the explanations always analyzes every answer choice and offers extra information. I always went through the explanations carefully and take notes of any new info even if I had the right answer. The calculator on the QR section is exactly the same as the one on my real DAT. QR section of DAT Bootcamp is difficult and it was depressing going through the 5 practice tests but they significantly improved my Math skills.

What would you do differently to prepare for the DAT?

I would have spent another 2 weeks to prepare for my DAT If I could do it all over again. I was not confident after 3 weeks of studying but I could not push back my DAT due to my summer class starting the day after.

Which dental schools are you thinking about applying to and why?

I applied to all 3 Texas schools because I’m a Texas residents and I’d like to stay close to my family. I also applied to Columbia, and if I do get an interview, I hope to have a chance to meet you in person Ari!

My score breakdown is 23 AA, 23 TS, 21 BIO, 25 GC, 25 OC, 22 RC, 21 PAT, 21 QR.

Upgrade today and get instant access to all 30 of our practice tests – unmatched by any other practice test material, and proven to be most similar to the real DAT.

What is Search & Destroy?

Search and Destroy (or S&D) is a method used on the reading comprehension section of the DAT. In brief, the method is to skip reading the passage and to just go straight to the questions. If the question is application-based, inference-based, or tone-based, you mark and skip it. If the question is detail-based, which is the majority of the questions on the DAT, you quickly skim the passage and look for where the answer lies. Once you identify the part of the passage that answers the question, you read that specific area of the passage and answer the question. After you answer all of the detail-based questions, go back and answer the inference/tone questions you previously skipped.

How do I use Search & Destroy?

When you start the reading comprehension test, do not read the passage and instead look at the first question to determine if it is a detail-based question (definitions, dates, descriptions, reasons, motives, causes, etc.), or an inference/tone question (what is the tone, statement is true but reason is incorrect, what would happen if…, etc.). If it is the latter, skip it and come back after you answer all of the detail-based questions. The reason is that you’ll eventually have read the entire passage in pieces after answering the detail-based questions, giving you enough information to answer the inference/tone questions.

Once you determine it is a detail-based question, look for certain keywords in the question. Names of places, people, and things are good places to start. You want to identify keywords that are unique and not common. For example, read the following question on one of our DAT reading comprehension practice tests:

The keyword I would pickup from this question is “nonporous dry surfaces”. I wouldn’t choose “influenza virus” because that is what the entire passage is about – nearly every paragraph mentions influenza.

Now with the keyword in mind, quickly scan the passage paragraph by paragraph looking for that keyword. In this example, I found the keyword appears in the 9th paragraph, reprinted below:

“(9). In natural infections, the postulated modes of transmission have included aerosols, large droplets, and direct contact with secretions or fomites because the virus can remain infectious on nonporous dry surfaces for nearly two days. Because in practice completely ruling out contributions of a given mode of transmission is often difficult, the relative contribution of each mode is usually difficult to establish by epidemiological studies alone.”

Here we see the answer in the first sentence, “the virus can remain infectious on nonporous dry surfaces for nearly two days”. Now we go to our answer choices and select the correct answer. In this specific example, the answer choices are given in hours! We have to convert “two days” into 48 hours, a common twist on the DAT. Usually the correct answer will not be directly lifted from the passage, but rather slightly reworded (and thus requiring some comprehension).

Here are some warnings. Sometimes, the DAT will attempt to trick you by placing the keyword in multiple places in the passage. Be sure you read a few sentences before the keyword and a few sentences after to see if all of the information matches the answer choice. Often times, the DAT will use surrounding information around the keyword to create distractor answer choices, hoping you’ll choose it just because it seems familiar. You can avoid these pitfalls by thoroughly reading the information and determining whether or not the information adequately answers the question. You still have to comprehend the information and not just choose familiar looking phrases.

Remember, if you are having trouble finding the answer to a question, simply guess, mark it, and move on. You cannot waste too much time on a single question on the DAT.

Conclusion

This is a strategy that many students have found success with on the DAT. However, it all depends on your style and what works best for you. I personally didn’t like using this method because it put too much pressure on me, and I often ended up doing worse. Try it out and see if you can incorporate it into your strategy to beat the DAT reading comprehension section.

This is the method I used on the DAT reading section because it’s what made me feel most comfortable. It’s a very simple method. I would read the passage in full and then answer the questions in order. I would try to allocate 7-9 minutes to reading the passage, and then around 10-12 minutes to answering the questions.

Something unique I would do is read the first paragraph or two at least twice before reading the rest of the passage. I would try to get a strong sense of what the passage was going to discuss. Don’t race through the passage! You should clearly understand and comprehend what the passage is about. Don’t be afraid to reread if you need to.

Next, I would try to become genuinely interested in the passage. Nearly all of the passages on the DAT are science based, and since you’re going into a science-based career, you should be interested in how life and the world works. I would read the passages as an opportunity to learn about something unique, rather than thinking “Who the heck would write something boring like this?”.

Of course, as you read the passage, pay attention to special words and names of people, places, and things.

Once you begin to answer the questions, always go back and refer to the passage. Most questions on the DAT will refer to a particular part of the reading passage by using a keyword. After reading the entire passage, you should have a pretty good sense of where you could find that keyword. Take a few seconds to scroll to that particular part of the passage where the keyword is and confirm your answer, even if you know the answer already.

Remember, if you are having trouble finding the answer to a question, simply guess, mark it, and move on. You cannot waste too much time on a single question on the DAT.

This is a popular method a pre-dental student used to score a 30 on the RC section of the DAT. It is a version of the search and destroy method. In summary, it involves looking for keywords in all of the questions, and then browsing the passage to search for all of those keywords at once. When you find a keyword, you go to that question and answer it. Below is their strategy in full:

Source: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=615852

Often times on DAT reading passages, certain words and phrases will be used to convey the structure of the passage. By understanding what these words signify, you can more easily understand the structure of the reading passage. Here is a list of words you should look out for in DAT reading passages.

Names

You should always pay attention to names of people, places, and things. It’s likely they’ll be used as keywords in questions.

List Markers

If you see words like “first, second, third”, pay attention as the author is usually providing a lot of examples and reasons for their argument. Don’t get lost in the details in the dense paragraph, imagine that each marker is a bullet point.

Transition Words

This is the cream of the crop of the DAT reading section. A lot of inference questions are pulled from these sections. Often, a chain of reasoning will continue to be emphasized and supported or change directions. The author will usually reveal a lot about their argument when they start using the following words.

These words signify a change in the author’s argument:

These words signify a continuation of the author’s argument and usually contain supporting examples:

Conclusions

Normally, you can find the author’s “main idea” and “main point” in the conclusion of an argument. If you see these words, the author is probably writing a conclusion and will reveal their main idea:

Attention words

If you see these words, the author is about to reveal something critical. Pay extra attention to these parts of the passage.

Digestive enzymes is a topic frequently tested on the Biology section of the DAT. Knowing the function of key enzymes, where they are produced, and how they are regulated will translate to easy points come test day. Below, I’ve outlined how food is broken down from the moment of ingestion until it is absorbed in the small intestine.

Food entering the mouth is mechanically separated via mastication (chewing) into more manageable pieces. It is here that carbohydrates are initially hydrolyzed by salivary amylase produced by salivary glands. Proteins and lipids remain intact as they travel down the esophagus alongside hydrolyzed carbohydrate polymers collectively as a food bolus.

After passing through the esophageal sphincter, the bolus enters the stomach, which releases several gastric enzymes. Stomach expansion triggers G cells of the stomach to release gastrin, an endocrine hormone. Gastrin triggers parietal cells of the stomach to secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl), which increases the acidity inside the stomach. This increase in acidity has two important roles: 1) It denatures proteins to expose cleavage sites, 2) It triggers chief cells to release pepsinogen – an important zymogen – which is subsequently cleaved by HCl into its active form pepsin. Pepsin breaks down protein food particles into small peptide fragments. This acidified food mix, known as chyme, passes through the pyloric sphincter into the duodenum of the small intestine.

Acidified chyme is neutralized upon entering the duodenum by another endocrine hormone known as secretin, released by S cells lining the small intestine. Secretin triggers the release of bicarbonate by the pancreas into the small intestine and inhibits HCl release by the parietal cells in the stomach.

Food entry into the small intestine also signals the release of Enterokinase (or enteropeptidase) by cells lining the duodenum. Enterokinase can be thought of as a master switch because it initiates intestinal digestion by triggering the pancreas to deposit its mass of digestive enzymes into the duodenum. Protein and carbohydrate digestion continues as pancreatic amylase further breaks down carbohydrate polymers and protesases such as trypsin, chymotrypsin, and carboxypeptidase hydrolyze peptide fragments even further. The pancreas also aids in lipid digestion by releasing lipase to break down emulsified fat molecules (by bile produced by the liver, stored in the gall bladder, secreted into the small intestine). Emulsification of food fat into micelles increases the surface area upon which lipase can act.

The last bit of digestion is carried out by brush border enzymes found outside the microvilli of epithelial cells lining the small intestine, which cleave carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids into their respective monomers. These monomers are finally absorbed by the epithelial cells and delivered throughout the body via the bloodstream.

In an Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution (EAS) reaction, the benzene ring acts as a nucleophile that attacks an electrophile. The reaction mechanism below outlines the flow of electrons that occurs during all EAS reactions.

Here are the six EAS line reactions you should know for the DAT:

See our previous post on the 6 Important EAS reactions to know for the DAT.

Now we need to focus on benzene substituents and how they affect the location of subsequent additions. Here’s a list of the ones you would most likely see:

Electron donators / Activators (strongest to weakest): -O^-, -NR2, -NH2, -OH, -OR, -R

Electron Withdrawers / Deactivators (strongest to weakest): -NO2, -NR3⁺, -NH3⁺, -SO3H, -CN, -CO2H, -CO2R, -COH, -X

Generally speaking, electron donators / activators have a lone pair of electrons or an electron density that “pushes” into the benzene. Electron withdrawers / deactivators have a positive charge on the substituent or a very electronegative atom attached to it, which “pulls” electrons out of the benzene.

All activators AND halogens are ortho-para directors; Deactivators (not halogens) are meta-directing.

Therefore, depending on the character of the initial substituent (R), a subsequent substituent would be placed at the ortho or para position if R is an activator/halogen or at the meta position if it is a deactivator (but not a halogen).

Other facts to know:

• The more electron donating groups a benzene ring has initially, the faster an EAS reaction will occur (due to increased electron density to make benzene a better nucleophile).
• If there are already two or more substituents on the ring, the strongest donating group gets priority when choosing the location of the added substituent.
• When given an ortho / para choice, substituents will go to the location with the least steric strain.

Here is a basic list of definitions to start off your Quantitative Reasoning studies. Please note, this list does not include formulas needed for Geometry, Trigonometry, Algebra and other miscellaneous topics, which will all be covered in greater detail later on.

Can’t see / want to download the notes above? Use this link to get the PDF.

Meet Moheet Merchant, a happy DAT Bootcamp customer who recently conquered the DAT. I’ve asked Moheet to share his DAT experience with us as the featured student of February.

As a non-traditional student working full-time, what were some challenges you faced preparing for the DAT and how did you overcome them?

The major challenge was definitely the lack of time on a daily basis. Studying while working can be difficult, but it’s doable if approached with the right plan. As someone who tends to procrastinate often, I had to alter my entire mindset of time management. What worked for me was avoiding having “me” time and just focusing on study materials, even during potential breaks. I studied very thoroughly for approximately seven weeks. My test was only a few weeks after Christmas/NYE and distractions were aplenty. So, the most significant change I made was to isolate myself from friends, my computer, and any other distractions as much as possible. Efficiency was the key, as well. I would study while cooking, on lunch breaks at work, and on the commute to and from work. On the weekends, I put in long 6-8 hour study sessions. Essentially, I had to be a different person, and once I realized how much weight this test would hold for my future, everything just came together in time.

How did you use DAT Bootcamp to prepare for the DAT?

I purchased Bootcamp (BC) only two weeks before my test date. By the time I did, I was familiar with the general ideas of most topics. What BC did most for me was to help me focus on the specifics. The emphasis it puts on specificity is what pushed me to be more vigilant in re-studying everything about certain subjects in detail.

Indirectly, Bootcamp instilled in me a strategy I hadn’t considered before. It made me talk out the topic in question. For example, if a question focused on ATP production in the ETC, I would visualize the entire respiration process within a cell and talk it out. Once I reached the point of ETC, I slowed down and focused more on what the question asked. If a question pertaining gastrulation was presented, I would play out fertilization from the beginning until I arrived at gastrulation. I did this in practice with almost every question. This forced me to repeat entire systems/processes so often that by the time the actual DAT was upon me, the topics and their specifics were fully ingrained in memory. In this manner, BC was not only a practice test tool for me, it also acted as a testing strategy builder, something I desperately needed.

What would you do differently to prepare for the DAT?

In retrospect, I most regret two things: not practicing reading comprehension thoroughly, and not putting enough emphasis on chemistry. Reading has always been my biggest weakness as far back as I can remember, and it never improved. Therefore, I only spent a few days on the RC section. Truthfully, this section is far too important to neglect. Many schools look to the RC as the most standard basis of measurement for applicants across different fields. Try different strategies and evaluate which one works best. The best advice given to me was “don’t panic.” If you didn’t understand something, don’t be afraid to read it again. It will be difficult at first if you usually struggle with this section, but definitely ensure that you spend enough time with it!

Majoring in molecular biology, I had encountered general and organic chemistry very early on. Since then (~6 years ago), I hadn’t had much exposure to either of them. While I did re-learn them for the DAT, I neglected the very basics such as electron affinity, binding energy, IUPAC nomenclature, and molecular structure. I relied on my memory for those things, which isn’t the way to approach it. I highly recommend making the basics a part of your permanent memory bank. It will lay the foundation for the more complex topics.

My score breakdown: 23 AA, 23 TS, 23 BIO, 23 GC, 23 OC, 21 RC, 24 PAT, 27 QR.

Upgrade today and get instant access to all 30 of our practice tests – unmatched by any other practice test material, and proven to be most similar to the real DAT.

Use this spreadsheet as you work through DAT Destroyer to review questions missed and address topics that need more attention. Type “M” in the box to mark missed questions, and “I” to mark important questions / topics (use capitals).

“Missed” (M) questions will be highlighted red, while “Important” (I) questions will be highlighted green.

Questions marked as “Missed” or “Important” will be condensed into a list on Sheet 2. This allows for quick review of those questions only.

Click the following button to download the spreadsheet:

Credits to hurley

Meet Seo Won Kim, a happy DAT Bootcamp customer who recently conquered the DAT. I’ve asked Seo Won to share hwe DAT experience with us as the featured student of March.

What is one piece of advice you would give to another student preparing to take the DAT?

Before you start studying for the DAT, convince yourself that you can conquer it! If you are really motivated and willing to put in your time and effort, then you’ve already conquered half of the DAT. Next, try to mentally prepare yourself from day one of your studies. If your exam is scheduled in the morning, then wake up at least an hour earlier. Be consistent with when you wake up, when you go to sleep and how long you study for so your brain understands when it needs to be working at its peak. Also, make sure to give yourself a pat on the back at the end of each week of your study. You don’t want to drive yourself too crazy and get burnt out. Not only will you find your two/three months of studying frustrating and stressful but it could also be inefficient. If on a lazy day, you don’t feel like studying, then take that day off and do something fun! Also, like many advise, don’t get discouraged by what you get on your practice exams. Practice exams are for PRACTICE and the more you practice, the better you get. Keep practicing the problems and they will eventually come to you!

How did you use DAT Bootcamp to prepare for the DAT?

I came across DAT Bootcamp about two weeks before my exam and I wasn’t too happy with how I did on the first BC practice exam. I realized that I still needed more time to study so I ended up postponing my exam and I am really glad that I did. After I had rescheduled my exam date, my goal was to go through all five BC practice exams. I made sure to review the answers and understand what mistakes I made. What I did with GC and OC sections, which I found really helpful, is that I went through all the questions again by topic after completing all five practice exams. By reviewing questions this way, I was better able to understand the concepts from each topic and how those concepts tie in together and relate to each other. TIP: Make sure to understand the GC conceptual questions addressed in Bootcamp if you want an impressive GC score on your real DAT. Overall, BC practice exams are all amazing! I believe DAT Bootcamp is a must for those who are aiming for 20 and above!

What would you do differently to prepare for the DAT?

Many say RC section is luck of the draw with the passages you get, but it also depends on how much you practice with the strategy that works best for you. I started to panic when I realized that S&D method, which many people have found success with on the real DAT wasn’t working for me. I then tried different versions of modified S&D method and they still weren’t working for me at all. With only a few weeks left before my exam, I realized that the best thing to do is just to read the passage in full at my own speed and make sure that I understand them. My mentality was, “If I need to go back, then go back and reread! Don’t freak out. Remain calm.” If I had found out the strategy that works the best for me a little sooner and practiced with it more, then I believe I would have done a better job in RC.

My score breakdown: 24 AA, 28 TS, 24 BIO, 30 GC, 29 OC, 19 RC, 19 QR, 23 PAT.

Upgrade today and get instant access to all 30 of our practice tests – unmatched by any other practice test material, and proven to be most similar to the real DAT.

Meet Yang Zhou, a happy DAT Bootcamp customer who recently conquered the DAT. I’ve asked Yang to share his DAT experience with us as the featured student of March.

What is one piece of advice you would give to another student preparing to take the DAT?

One piece of advice that I would give to another students would be to give yourself plenty of time to study for the DAT. The DAT is not a difficult exam in terms of the materials covered on it. However, it is a lengthy exam that requires you to be very familiar with the contents and be able to answer questions quickly and accurately. The longer you give yourself to prepare and practice, the less frustrated you will feel. This is especially true with the PAT. Although the PAT section might seem difficult at first, it is something that can be mastered if you invest time into it and go through tons of problems.

How did you use DAT Bootcamp to prepare for the DAT?

I used DAT Bootcamp after I had gone over all other materials such as Chad’s Video, Kaplan’s Bluebook, Topscore, and Cliff’s AP biology review. I used DAT Bootcamp to figure out my weaknesses so I could tackle those areas during my study to utilize my time more efficiently. I went over questions that appeared on Bootcamp repeatedly to make sure that I was familiar with all the concepts that I didn’t master. Questions from Bootcamp turned out to be very similar to the questions tested on the real DAT.

What would you do differently to prepare for the DAT?

I would have spent more time on the biology section as well as the RC section. The biology section probably was the most difficult to prepare for simply due to the volume of material covered. A good way to study for the RC section would be to go over your old biology textbook and Cliff’s AP biology. Afterwards, go over questions from Bootcamp and use them to figure out your weak subjects and try to relearn them. The RC section was also difficult for me to prepare because English isn’t my first language, and the section requires a fast reading speed. My advice for the RC section would be to find a method that suits you best (there are many methods to tackle the RC section mentioned on SDN) and practice. In the mean time, try to read scientific magazines as much as possible to familiarize yourself with the type of reading that is expected on the DAT.

My score breakdown: 24 AA, 24 TS, 22 BIO, 28 GC, 22 OC, 26 RC, 22 QR, 22 PAT.

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I’ve received a few dozen emails over the past couple of months from students taking the Canadian DAT, asking if DAT Bootcamp could help them. Overall, these students have found DAT Bootcamp very helpful in studying for the Canadian DAT for the sciences, perceptual ability section, and reading comprehension. There is a lot of overlap between the American and Canadian DAT, which is why students are finding us resourceful in their preparation for the Canadian DAT, as well.

To start, there are a few key differences between the American and Canadian DAT:

• The Canadian DAT does not test organic chemistry or math.
• In place of organic chemistry and math, the Canadian DAT tests manual dexterity, where the student is required to carve a piece of soap according to some schematic.
• The Canadian DAT is administered twice a year, once in February and once in November.

The Canadian DAT and American DAT cover the exact same material in the biology and general chemistry sections (1). Given that DAT Bootcamp has developed high quality questions for the American DAT, Canadian students have found they translate very well for preparing for the Canadian DAT.

Here is what Canadian students have said after using DAT Bootcamp for the Canadian DAT:

“I wrote the Canadian DAT last year and scored 18 AA, 17 BIO, 17 CHEM, 17 TS, 17 PAT, and 19 RC. Needless to say, I was under prepared. There is enough reading material out there, but the resources for practice tests were not at all representative of the actual DAT.

This time around, I decided to go with DAT Bootcamp after hearing good things from some students who had used it. It was well worth it. I improved my scored to 20 AA, 20 BIO, 20 CHEM, 20 TS, 22 PAT, and 22 RC. The BIO and CHEM tests covered all of the areas that you need to know for the test. The PAT tests are the most representative PAT tests out there, preparing you for some of the tougher questions that you will encounter. The reading comprehension practice was also particularly helpful. The questions are worded very similarly to those on the actual test. I am very grateful for DAT Bootcamp and it was worth every penny.” – Evan, happy DAT Bootcamp customer.

1 – http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/becoming/dat/information/default.asp

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What is Anki?

Anki is a program which helps you remember things through flash cards. What’s unique about Anki is how it presents the flash cards to you.

Unlike physical flash cards, Anki is intelligent. Utilizing spaced repetition, Anki saves you study time by presenting your flash card deck in an efficient manner.

Spaced repetition is simple to understand: Anki shows you the front side of a flash card containing a Biology term, for example. If you can quickly recall what the term means, Anki will not show you that flash card again for another week. If you weren’t so sure what the term meant, Anki will show you that flash card again in a few days. If you had no clue what the term meant, Anki will show you that card again tomorrow.

This results in Anki presenting you with terms you’re not sure about more often, allowing you to quickly and efficiently remember all of the terms in the flash card deck.

How do I use Anki?

For the purpose of this tutorial, I’ll show you how to import existing Anki decks other users built into your Anki.

Let’s start by downloading the Anki deck of Feralis’ Biology Notes. You can download the Anki deck here.

Now let’s download Anki. Anki works anywhere – on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and any device with a web browser. You can download Anki here.

After Anki is finished downloading, install and boot up the program. Choose the language you’d like to use Anki in (English).

Your main screen should look something like this:

Click File -> Import. Find where you saved the Feralis’ Biology Notes Anki deck, and import it.

You should now see the Anki deck loaded and ready to go:

If you click on the gear icon to the right of the deck name, you can choose to edit the deck options. You can change the number of new cards Anki will test you on each day, change the order in which the cards are presented, etc. For now, let’s stick with the default settings.

By clicking on the actual deck name, you can begin to study the Anki deck. Click “Study Now” to begin studying.

After you’re presented your first card, you can click “Show Answer” to reveal the answer. Anki will ask you if you thought the question was difficult (“Again”), good (“Good”), or easy (“Easy”). This is where spaced repetition learning takes effect.

Once you make it through all of your cards for the day, you can return to the main screen by clicking “Decks” at the top. Anki will ask that you come back tomorrow to tackle another set of cards.

Hopefully this tutorial is clear and helps you learn how to use Anki! Anki is highly customizable, allowing you to create your own decks, add / remove flash cards, change the rate in which you see new cards, etc. As you grow comfortable with the program, Anki can become a valuable asset in your study arsenal.

If you happen to have any Anki decks already built for topics covered on the DAT, feel free to share them with me! I’d love to see them. Send me an email using the blue contact button at the bottom-left of your screen.

Meet Rutu Shah, a happy DAT Bootcamp customer who recently conquered the DAT. I’ve asked Rutu to share her DAT experience with us as the featured student of May.

What is one piece of advice you would give to another student preparing to take the DAT?

I would recommend taking the DAT when you can devote yourself completely to it and don’t have to worry about school. Staying on track for the DAT is hard, so having a plan and following it is important. I followed Ari’s study schedule strictly for the first half (reviewing content) and changed it to fit my needs for the second half (practicing). I can’t study for more than five-to-six hours a day, so I extended the schedule to three months to make it less overwhelming. Going at a pace you are comfortable with is important! Also, I would recommend making a correction notebook. I would write down any problems I got wrong or formulae I forgot and went over it twice in the last month. On the real DAT, there were a few similar questions that I would not have gotten right if I had not written them down in my notebook.

How did you use DAT Bootcamp to prepare for the DAT?

DAT Bootcamp was my primary source for practice. I used no other source for reading and PAT other than Bootcamp. The PAT and RC on the real test was harder while the other sections were equally difficult. All the sections were representative of the test. The amount and content of the five practice tests and the price are a great deal compared to other prep material. I went through all of the Bootcamp tests twice. The first time, I focused on the material and tried to solve it without looking at the explanation, even after the time limit was up. The second time around, I took each test everyday for five consecutive days before my exam and did practically nothing else.

What would you do differently to prepare for the DAT?

One mistake I made was ignoring my weak points. My content review was broad, and I tried to hit every possible topic that could possibly show up on the DAT, but I did not try and concentrate on a few topics that I struggled with like Elimination / Substitution Reactions in organic chemistry and distance problems in QR. If I were to retake the test, I would spend less time on areas I am comfortable with and practice a lot more on those areas I am weak in. The internet is a great source that has a lot of practice problems in various topics, and old class notes are a valuable resource as well. Another thing I would do differently is take practice tests in one sitting and only take the one break offered in the middle of the test. While all my practice sections were timed, I never took one practice test without either exceeding the fifteen minute break or taking additional breaks in between. On the real exam, I was tired by the QR section and my mind started to divert. It is important to build up mental stamina so your brain doesn’t fail on you during the real thing.

My score breakdown: 24 AA, 24 TS, 28 BIO, 22 GC, 24 OC, 26 RC, 21 QR, 24 PAT.

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