DAT 2017: Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) Section!

07. Jul
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Advice, DAT, Dental School, Review, Tips
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Part 3 of a series of breakdown posts that will outline the 2017 Dental Admission Test.

Be sure to check out the other breakdown posts on each section of the DAT 2017 too!

Today let’s dive into the…

Perceptual Ability Test a.k.a. the PAT section!

The Perceptual Ability Test exams your spatial ability and reasoning (two important things for a dental career I’d imagine) with six different kinds of visual mind games. Love or hate it, the PAT section is the second section you’ll hit on DAT 2017 day!

This section immediately follows the big Survey of Natural Sciences section and is before the scheduled break so your brain might be feeling a little drained.

You have 60 minutes to answer 90 questions!

There will be 15 questions on each of the 6 kinds of PAT questions.

Here are basic breakdowns of the instructions plus examples of the 6 types of Perceptual Ability Test questions below:

Apertures aka Keyholes, 15 questions

You are given a 3D object along with 5 openings and you have to determine which aperture the shape could pass through (in any orientation). Example:

DAT keyhole sample

Answer: A. These types of questions remind me of that Japanese game show that’s like human tetris: hilarious example. Maybe that helps you visualize these types of questions better, maybe it doesn’t but either way fun to watch. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

View Recognition aka Top Front End, 15 questions

Here you will be presented with 2 of 3 views of an object: Top, Front, and/or End and your job is to pick the third view not given. Example:

DAT front top end sample

Answer: C. Similar to the Keyhole problems the main thing is to be able to visualize the 3D object. Here’s you’ll need to do it with only two sides.

Angle Discrimination aka Angle Ranking, 15 questions

You are given 4 angles to rank in order from smallest to largest. Example:

DAT angle rank sample

Answer: B. Seems pretty straight forward and this example isn’t too hard to see it but these questions can get tricky. There are quite a few different strategies out there to consider but it’s with practice that you’ll find a way that works best for you.

Paper Folding aka Hole Punching, 15 questions

A square piece of paper is folded one, two, or three times then one or more holes are punched through it. You then have to visual what the paper looks like now with the holes unfolded.

DAT hole punching sample

Answer: D. One suggestion I found online was to actually practice with a real piece of paper and hole puncher. This practice can make it easier to visualize it in your head once you really see it with real paper.

Cube Counting, 15 questions

You have various stacks of cubes stuck together then you have to imagine that the resulting shape is painted on all sides except for the bottom. You will be asked to determine how many cubes have how many of their sides painted. If that sounds a little confusing, that’s because it is. Example:

DAT cube counting sample

Answer: C. It’s a little hard to explain but you’ll really get the hang of this subtest with practice (I know that’s the whole theme here but it’s because it’s really true)!

3D Form Development aka Pattern Folding, 15 questions

You are given a flat pattern and you must pick the 3D object the flat pattern will make when folded.

DAT pattern folding sample

Answer: C. Pro Tip for practicing: Side counting and visualizing.

It’s pretty clear the best way to ace this section is with PRACTICE and lots of it.

The great thing about DAT Cracker is that once you take the (free) diagnostic test and pin point which areas you need the most work in, you can hone in on the kind of PAT questions you want to work on. So if you’re bomb at Keyholes but Cube Counting is tough, you can focus on practicing just Cube Counting.

With practice you can really ace this section.

Remember like with every section, do your favorite/the easiest questions first. You are more likely to get the ones you’re more comfortable with right and it’s the number of correct responses the counts!

Happy Practicing.

Applying to Dental School: AADSAS 2018 Is Now Open!

29. Jun
/
AADSAS Application, Advice, DAT, Dental School, Pre-Dental Society
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As of June 1st the 2017 – 2018 cycle of the AADSAS is officially open!

The time has arrived. So you’ve been working to keep up that GPA, right? Got gleaming DAT scores? How about all that extra stuff like volunteer work, research projects, and extracurriculars? Well now it’s time to lay it all on the line! The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) has officially opened the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service aka the AADSAS for the 2018 cycle!

*Now just because the application is open until February doesn’t mean this gets to go on the back burner. It is highly suggested by literally everyone (schools, advisors, DAT Cracker, and me) that you get your completed application in the summer time!

Check out the full & official ADEA AADSAS Application Instructions here.

For now we’ll focus on the highlights…

Getting Started…

Firstly you’ll need to create an ADEA AADSAS account, here, and receive an identification number for the application process. This account/number is different from you DENTPIN you created for taking the Dental Admission Test (DAT). But have your DENTPIN handy too because you’ll need it submit your DAT scores along to dental schools through the AADSAS.

The application is dense and filling it out all the required information is a task not to be taken lightly. Take your time to insure all the detailed information is correct. Some of the sections you’ll see include Personal Information, Academic History,Relevant Experiences, and your Personal Statement to name a few.

Check out this video from ADEA on filling out the big Academic History section:

In addition to the filling out all the sections of the AADSAS you will also submit official transcripts and your letters of evaluation in order to completely complete your AADSAS 2018 application.

$ Cost $

The total application cost truly lies in the number of dental programs you are planning on applying to. Upon completely the AADSAS the fee is $245 and it includes submission to one school then it’s an additional $98 for each additional school. The application process as a whole can quickly become expensive with the cost of taking the DAT, completely the AADSAS, then individual schools secondary application fees, traveling to interviews, etc. so you really want to do your research and narrow down the programs you really want to apply to!

The Fee Assistance Program (FAP) is available to assist students who demonstrate extreme financial need while completing the AADSAS 2018 process. The FAP covers the initial AADSAS 2018 submission cost as well two additional dental school designations. Availability of these funds is limited and submission of additional paperwork is required so if you’re interested I’d suggest to get on this post haste! All the info: Fee Assistance Program.

TMDSAS

If you are a Texas resident applying to a Texas school then you need the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service aka the TMDSAS, which already opened up May 1st! Applicants from Texas MUST use this application while non-Texas residents can apply with either the TMDSAS or the AADSAS! FYI the $150 app fee covers you to apply to all three dental schools! This application deadline is a whole lot sooner than the AADSAS 2018; the TMDSAS closes on 5:00 pm (central time) on September 29th!

Check out the Blog!

Be sure to take a gander at the other DAT Cracker blog posts covering the big application such as Letters of Recommendation, The Interview, and stay tuned for much more!

HAPPY APPLYING! 🙂

DAT 2017: Survey of Natural Sciences

31. Mar
/
DAT, Review
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1 Comment

This is Part 2 of a series of breakdown posts that will outline the DAT 2017!

On the menu today: The Survey of Natural Sciences, which is the longest section of the test, both in time and in number of questions!

Survey of Natural Sciences is the first section of the DAT,

there are 100 questions, and you have 90 minutes.

Within the section, there are 3 sciences tested: Biology (40 questions), General Chemistry aka Inorganic Chemistry (30 questions), and Organic Chemistry (30 questions). The content of these questions is limited to the things you learned in your entire first-year course in biology, general/inorganic chemistry course, and the organic chemistry class. Basically this means no upper level concepts beyond what you saw in those courses.

The ADA (maker of the DAT) gives a fairly detailed list of topics within the subsections so you can really hone in on certain areas when studying. Check out each subsection topic breakdown and a couple ADA-supplied sample questions below:

Biology, 40 questions

DAT biology topics

Sample Question:

General/Inorganic Chemistry, 30 questions

DAT gen chem topics 1

DAT gen chem topics 2

Sample Question:

Organic Chemistry, 30 questions

DAT org chem topics

Sample Question:

The Survey of Natural Sciences is first big hump in your DAT 2017 day adventure and it’s a doozy! The key is perfecting your time management to keep you calm so you can focus on the questions and not worry about running out of time. Practice and ace it with DAT Cracker, where you can take practice tests in each section with questions that look and feel like the real thing! Stay tuned for further breakdowns!

**P.S. Here are the sample question answers:

5. E

51. C

81. C

🙂

DAT 2017: Introduction Guide to the Dental Admission Test!

31. Dec
/
Advice, DAT, Dental School, Tips, Uncategorized
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This is Part 1 of a series of breakdown posts that will outline the DAT 2017!

We’ve actually done a series like this before but the test has gone through some changes and here at DAT Cracker we like to keep you updated to make sure test day is the best day! First of all we’ll focus on the specifics of the DAT 2017 itself and then in upcoming posts we will discuss each of the sections in detail individually.

The Dental Admission Test is developed by the American Dental Association (ADA) to assess your readiness for dental school and is the official admission exam used by all U.S. dental schools in the application process as a factor in their decision.

The DAT 2017 is a monstrous marathon of an exam with a wide scope of testing topics and clocking in at 5 hours!

DENTPIN

Before you can do anything, you need to get your DENTPIN. It’s your unique personal identifier for many things throughout the U.S. dental education system including the DAT, your ADEA AADSAS, the TMDSAS, etc. Get it here.

Applying to take the DAT

With your DENTPIN you can now apply to take the DAT here. Important: once you have been approved to take the exam you have a six month window to do it after which you’ll have to reapply. If you wish to retake the DAT you have to wait at least 90 days and if you feel the need to take it more than three times you have to gain special permission. Plus with each retake you’ll have to reapply to take it and pay the test fee again. Speaking of test fee…

$ Cost of taking the DAT $

Currently the test fee is $445 and that includes sending official score reports to all the schools you specify on your DAT application. If you want your official DAT scores sent to an additional school you didn’t list on the application it’s $36 each. The $445 fee is non-refundable and non-transferable so pick a date and stick to it! If you must reschedule, well more fees for you:

Scheduling a test date

Once your DAT application is approved you’ll receive email confirmation and only then can you schedule your test with Prometric. You can take the test year-round at Prometric Test Centers in your area. Prometric administers quite a few different computer-based tests like the DAT, GRE, MCAT, etc. and depending on the size of test centers, the day you wish to take the DAT can fill up so schedule ASAP.

What’s on the DAT?

As mentioned earlier, there are four sections to the Dental Admissions Test and we will discuss each in detail in upcoming breakdown posts. There are as followed:

1) Survey of Natural Sciences (100 Questions)

2) Perceptual Ability (90 Questions)

3) Reading Comprehension (50 Questions)

4) Quantitative Reasoning (40 Questions)

How long is the DAT?

Total test time is technically 4 hours and 15 minutes but there’s an optional 15-minute tutorial (to get you familiar with using the test interface), an optional 15-minute break, and an optional 15-minute survey after the test so could be 5 hours. Here’s the test schedule:

If you really need an additional break the timer on your test will not stop so don’t! With proper practice and a goodnight’s sleep you can handle no extra breaks no problem!

Can I use scratch paper?

The test center will provide two note boards and two fine tip markers to use during the test. Scratch paper, pencils, or markers that have not been provided by the testing center are prohibited. The note boards cannot be used as measuring devices and cannot be folded, bent, distorted, or mutilated in any way and you can’t touch the monitor during testing with the boards (i.e. during the Perceptual Ability section). All items must be returned to the test administrator before leaving the test center.

DAT Scores

Your scores are based on the number of correct responses, which means you’re not penalized for guessing so that means don’t leave any question blank! You will get an unofficial score as soon as you finish the test and official scores are available about 3 weeks later. DAT scores on made on a scale from 1-30 so there’s no passing or failing. The average score is 17 and some schools require a specific score so be sure to check with them and aim high!

What’s Next?

This breakdown to the DAT is really an outlined introduction the official ADA DAT 2017 Guide that you should definitely check out in full here. Remember the best way to prepare for this long and dense exam is with practice. With DAT Cracker you will get practice with the look and feel of the real thing plus you’ll get plenty of exercise with the timing of the sections.

While you’re here why not check out other pertinent DAT Cracker blog posts such as…

DAT Study Tips

DAT Test Day Tips

We will keep you updated and in the loop with any other future DAT 2017 changes. That’s all for now! Get out there and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

Applying to Dental School: Non-Traditional Paths

30. Sep
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AADSAS Application, ASDA, Career, DAT, Dental School, Tips
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The road to dental school isn’t always so straight forward and according to the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) an increasing number of students are entering dental programs later in life perhaps after a career in a different field prior to deciding to pursue dentistry or just after taking a few years to work after undergraduate studies before applying.

A non-traditional path to applying to dental school may seem daunting but rest assured it’s NOT impossible!

Dr. Jonathan Meiers (second from left), professor and chair of the Division of Operative Dentistry, assists second-year dental student John Walsh. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health Center Photo)

Required Coursework

Keep in mind the classes all dental schools require you to complete (including corresponding labs)

-two semesters of biology

-two semesters of general chemistry

-two semesters of organic chemistry

-two semesters of physics

The ADEA shares that some schools will let you substitute one semester of organic chemistry for one semester of biochemistry, and many schools are now requiring biochemistry. Some schools have additional requirements, such as writing seminars, calculus or psychology courses.

It is imperative to research schools’ specific requirements to be certain of the correct course required.

Make Your Application Stand Out

-Letters of Recommendation

Your experiences leading up to dental school are unique and it’s important to highlight them in a way to best demonstrate your proven abilities that have prepared you for the dental world. Letters of recommendation from former employer even though not in the dental field can be beneficial if they illustrate qualities that reflect those of the program your are applying to. More on reference letters here.

-Personal Statement

This is your time to shine. Besides the interview this is the only place in your dental school application where you can sell yourself in your own words. Make it clear how and why you are committed to the dental field. Create a comprehensive story of your experiences and coming your decision to pursue dentistry. More on the personal statement here.

The American Student Dental Association (ASDA) held a webinar of a panel of current non-traditional students discussing different roads that led to dental school and it is available below.

A non-traditional path to dental school may be a daunting one but it can be achieved!

HAPPY APPLYING!

Applying to Dental School: AADSAS 2017 Is Now Open!

30. Jun
/
AADSAS Application, Advice, Dental School, Pre-Dental Society
/
No Comments

As of June 1st the 2016 – 2017 cycle of the AADSAS is officially open!

The time has arrived. You’ve been working hard keeping up that GPA, getting gleaming DAT scores, and all those extracurriculars, well now it’s time to put it all on the line! The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) has officially opened the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service aka the AADSAS for the 2017 cycle!

Screen Shot 2016-07-01 at 1.23.09 AM

*Now just because the application is open until February doesn’t mean it goes on the back burner. It is highly suggested by everyone (schools, advisors, DAT Cracker, and me) that you get your completed application in the summer time aka ASAP!

Check out the full official ADEA AADSAS Application Instructions here.

For now we’ll focus on the highlights…

DENTPIN®

First thing’s first you need a DENTPIN, a unique identification number assigned to each applicant. You’ll use the same DENTPIN login info you used when signing up for the DAT. If you have applied using the AADSAS before you use the same DENTPIN login and good news is most of the application fields are saved and ready to use again. But not everything transfers so be sure review, add, and update as needed.

So if you need to register for a DENTPIN go here.