Preparing for the DAT

A good time to take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) is the summer after your sophomore year. You will have already completed the courses that appear on the DAT and the material from organic chemistry will still be fresh in your mind. In addition, taking Physiological Control Systems Biol 3058 in the spring of your Sophomore year will prepare you well for topics in the circulatory, respiratory, and nervous systems. Taking it now will also afford you time to take the DAT a second time if necessary. Nevertheless, prepare for the DAT as if you only have one opportunity to take it!

Signing up for the DAT

Step 1: Get a DENTPIN.

• Visit http://www.ada.org/dat.aspx/ for information about signing up for the test. You will need to obtain a DENTPIN which is basically an identification number (like the PIN used for the FAFSA).

Step 2: Use your DENTPIN to apply to take the DAT.

• Feel free to select every school to receive your scores when you apply to take the DAT. Selecting the schools is free and since most schools participate in AADSAS, as long as you select at least one school that participates in AADSAS the ADA will send your scores to AADSAS who will then report your scores to all the schools that you designate on your AADSAS app.

Step 3: Sign up for a date and time.

• You will receive an email with information on how to sign up after you apply to take the test. All exams will be proctored on a computer at a local Prometric Testing Center. The amount of time required to study depends on you and your schedule. A lot of people find it helpful to allow themselves 4-8 weeks to focus solely on studying over the summer.

Step 4: STUDY HARD!

• Below, you will find a list of useful resources. Also, be sure to reference the ADA DAT Guide for an outline of what will be covered on the exam (page 17), as well as for answers to any questions you could possible have regarding administration of the test.

Step 5: Take the test.

• On test day remember to bring two forms of ID with a signature (if one of your ID forms is a credit card make sure you actually sign the back!). Try to get enough rest the night before, bring a snack to eat during the break, and breathe! You’ve got this! You’ve studied hard!

 

Preparation materials:

There are two main comprehensive study courses for the DAT. They cover all the subjects and are the most commonly used! Feel free to browse both the sources and see which fits you the best!

• DAT Bootcamp
• DAT Booster

 

Other Resources:

• CHAD’s videos and quizzes: These videos are GREAT for organic chemistry and general chemistry! Watch the videos, take notes, and do the quizzes. He covers nearly all of the topics that you will see on the DAT except 1 or 2 lab related questions may come up on the DAT which CHAD’s videos do not cover. He also offers Biology and math videos. The math videos are good as an initial review, but should not be your sole source of studying. I only watched one of the biology videos so I’m not sure how helpful they are.
• DAT Destroyer: If you can do every problem in DAT destroyer, you will be more than prepared for the DAT. The actual DAT is easier than both the organic chemistry and general chemistry sections of DAT destroyer and will prepare you for just about every type of problem you will find on the DAT (except the 1-2 lab questions on the general chemistry section that may show up). The biology portion is also very good because of the detailed explanations. Make flash cards of the topics you don’t know about from the explanations. Almost anything can show up on the biology portion and it has been deemed “extremely random” on student doctor network forums.
• Anki Flashcard maker: An easy way to quickly make flashcards and review them over a period of time. You can search for DAT flashcards made by others and study those and add your own. The program shows you the flashcards you have trouble remembering more frequently than those you know well helping you to focus your studying.