How to Prepare for the Dental Admissions Test (DAT)

The Dental Admissions Test (DAT) is a critical step for any pre-dental student aiming to secure a spot in dental school. Given its importance, thorough preparation is essential. This article provides information about how to prepare for the Dental Admissions Test by providing practical tips and strategies to help you excel.

Understanding the DAT

Before you begin your preparation, it’s important to understand the structure and content of the DAT. The test consists of 7 parts and 4 subject sections with a total runtime of approximately 4.5 hours.

1. Tutorial (optional – 15 minutes)
2. Survey of the Natural Sciences (90 minutes)
3. Perceptual Ability (60 minutes)
4. Optional Break (30 minutes)
5. Reading Comprehension (60 minutes)
6. Quantitative Reasoning (45 minutes)
7. Post-Test Survey (optional 15 minutes)

Each section tests different skills and knowledge areas, so a well-rounded study plan is crucial.

When Should You Take the DAT?

Prospective dental students are advised to take the DAT either in the second semester of their junior undergraduate year or in the summer between their junior and senior years. It is crucial to ensure that you have completed the courses covered by the test, with a particular emphasis on general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biological sciences (including cell-biology).

Who Oversees the DAT?

The American Dental Association’s (ADA) Council on Dental Education and Licensure (CDEL or Governing Body) oversees the DAT, and the Department of Testing Services (DTS), a shared service of the ADA, is responsible for implementing the test.

Who Administers the DAT?

The ADA has contracted Prometric (Prometric or Administration Vendor) to administer the examination.

Don’t Be Nervous About Preparing for the DAT:

While the DAT is a big test, and your score is important, it’s crucial to understand that you can take the test several times in an effort to improve your score. Furthermore, your DAT score is just one part of your application which will be reviewed in its totality by admissions committees.

Review the DAT Exam Guide Provided by the American Dental Association:

Each year, the American Dental Association (ADA) releases DAT Candidate Guide that you should review in full. This guide serves as the official candidate guide to the policies and procedures for the Dental Admission Test. It encompasses important information including application and testing procedures, exam content, consequences of rule violations, scoring details, and more. You can obtain a copy of the guide by following the link(s) below:

• 2024 DAT Candidate Guide (PDF)

Fees:

At the time of this writing, the DAT costs $540 to take.

Now Let’s Review a Step-by-Step Approach About How to Prepare for the DAT

Step 1: Take a Practice Test

Start by taking a practice test to assess your current (baseline) understanding of the subject matter and identify your strengths and weaknesses. This will help you tailor your study plan to focus on areas that require the most improvement.

Many students will start studying for the DAT before taking a practice test, but since the scope of the exam is so large, taking a practice test right away and identifying your strengths and weaknesses early will work to your advantage.

Step 2: Set a Study Schedule

When preparing for the DAT, being consistent is very important. Create a study schedule that allocates time each day to different sections of the test. Make sure your schedule is realistic and allows for breaks to prevent burnout.

Step 3: Gather Study Materials

Invest in high-quality study materials. Some recommended resources include:

• DAT Prep Books (e.g., DAT Destroyer)
• Online Courses and Tutorials (e.g., DAT Bootcamp or DAT Booster)
• Subject-Specific Reviews (e.g., Chad’s videos, Ninja Nerd, or Mental Dental)

Step 4: Review the Fundamentals

Before diving into your second practice rest, ensure you have a solid understanding of fundamental concepts in biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and mathematics by reviewing the appropriate sections in the DAT course you have enrolled in. If you are finding an entire subject difficult, review subject-specific material or videos that fill in the gaps. For example, if you are having a hard time with biology, an AP book or MCAT Book may be a quick read to get you up to speed.¹

Note that if you are having to resort to material such as Cliffs AP Biology or Examcracker’s MCAT because you feel very weak in a subject area, consider adding time to your study schedule.

Step 5: Prepare for the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT)

The Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) is unique to the DAT and requires specific preparation. Practice visualizing and manipulating shapes, and use online tools like angle ranking, hole punching, and cube counting exercises to improve your spatial reasoning skills. The PAT is an area where practice can dramatically increase your score and you can begin practicing for the PAT well before you start studying for the DAT – there are even software solutions dedicated to the PAT (like the PAT Booster or Crack the PAT).

Step 6: Hone Your Reading Comprehension Skills for the DAT

For the Reading Comprehension section, it’s all about time management, and most of this section is going to depend on your natural ability. If you are not scoring well on this section, you can improve your score with regular practice, but it takes time. To boost your score, consider adopting one of the popular methods such as “Search & Destroy” or the “Vanilla Method”.²

Step 7: Take Full-Length Practice DAT Tests Frequently

Simulate the test-day experience by taking full-length practice tests under timed conditions as often as you can. This will help you build stamina and get accustomed to the test format. Most importantly, make sure you analyze your results and identify areas that need improvement because that is where you should spend your time studying.

Step 8: Join Study DAT Groups

Studying with peers can provide motivation and different perspectives on challenging topics. Join or form study groups with fellow pre-dental students to discuss difficult concepts, share resources, and support each other. You can even use Embrasure Space to create a free group with your study partners.

Step 9: Focus on Test-Taking Strategies

Every time you take a practice test, make sure you are practicing effective test-taking strategies, such as:

• Time Management: Allocate your time wisely and avoid spending too much time on any single question.
• Process of Elimination: Narrow down answer choices to increase your chances of selecting the correct one.
• Guess Strategically: If unsure, make educated guesses rather than leaving questions blank.

Step 10: Stay Healthy and Manage Stress

A healthy mind and body are crucial for optimal performance. Ensure you get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise regularly.

Conclusion

Preparing for the DAT is a demanding but manageable process. By following a structured study plan, utilizing the right resources, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you can maximize your chances of success. Remember, persistence and dedication are key. Good luck on your DAT journey!

1. Many students struggling with biology, will read through Cliffs AP Biology. Likewise, if you are struggling with general chemistry, reviewing Examcracker’s MCAT Chemistry is a quick way to get up to speed. ↩︎
2. There really are a lot of strategies you can use when trying to improve you score on RC. I use the search and destroy method because I find the section’s time limit to be challenging and many students circle back to S&D after trying other methods. ↩︎