Pre-Dental Talk Episode #3: 10 steps to a 25+ on the DAT

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This article accompanies Episode #3 of CrackDAT.com’s Pre-Dental Talk, hosted by Iman. Check out the podcasts here on Spotify — topics range from information about the dental school application process, to advice for the DAT, to interviews with dental school faculty and students!

Episode #3 outlines the ten steps Iman took to score a 25 AA/24 TS/23 PAT on the Dental Admission Test (DAT). Iman shares his advice for utilizing your study resources, creating an efficient study schedule, and ensuring you’re prepared to crush the DAT!

Listen to Episode #3 here or watch the YouTube video linked below, and read on for a summary of the key takeaways!

1. Talk to someone who has gone through the process before.

Reach out to someone you know, whether it’s another pre-dental, a current dental student, or a dentist, about their experience studying for and taking the DAT. Iman talked to his dentist, Dr. George Kwon, who recommended Crack the DAT as a great study resource. You can read about Dr. Kwon’s path to dentistry here, or listen to it in Episode #2 of Pre-Dental Talk here.

2. Pick resources and learn about them.

Decide which resources you want to use to study for the DAT, and use these resources effectively. Know your study style — if you learn well by watching videos, expect to incorporate lots of videos into your study schedule. If you learn best by doing practice problems, ensure that your studying incorporates plenty of practice questions and explanations.

CrackDAT.com has crash course and strategy videos, practice tests and explanations, PAT question generators, and notes, so however you learn best, you’ll find resources that work for you. You can get 10% off your Crack the DAT subscription with the code PODCAST.

3. Make a realistic schedule.

Once you’ve decided on a DAT date and know how much time you’ll have to study, create a study schedule! Be sure to take into account your other commitments. Iman applied to dental schools and wrote a personal statement while also studying for the DAT, and the application process was much more time-consuming than he had anticipated. When you’re crafting a study schedule, be realistic with yourself about how much time you’ll have to study each day.

4. Plan your “review phase.”

This should be the first part of your DAT study schedule. Iman used Google Calendar to track and plan out which subjects he reviewed each day during the review phase. Constantly reassess how much you’re absorbing during this phase, and ensure that you’re using your time as efficiently as possible and focusing most on the topics that are most difficult for you. Avoid just learning passively (ie., reading and highlighting), and focus more on learning actively (ie., making flashcards and answering practice questions) to retain what you review.

5. Plan your “testing phase.”

The testing phase is all about answering questions and then reviewing both the questions you answered incorrectly and those you answered correctly. The goal is to reinforce everything you studied during the review phase and to determine which subjects you’ve mastered and which you need to review further. During his testing phase, Iman spent most weekdays doing and reviewing practice questions, and most weekends taking full-length DAT practice tests.

Practice tests are an important tool for gauging your performance on test day, but don’t feel discouraged if your practice test scores are lower than you’d like. Continue practicing and reviewing — don’t avoid the questions you get wrong or the subjects you find challenging.

6. Familiarize yourself with your test center.

If possible, schedule your DAT at a test center close to where you live. If you do need to drive a long distance to your test center, aim to drive up the night before to avoid feeling exhausted from a long drive on test day.

It can also be very helpful to drive the route to your test center before your real test day. This way, you’ll know where you’re going and what your test center looks like, which will help ease any worries of getting lost or running late on the day you take the DAT.

7. Try to relax.

Admittedly, this is easier said than done, but trust that if you prepared adequately and worked hard, your efforts will pay off on test day! Your preparation matters, but so does your mindset, so try to relax and feel confident. Cramming the day before your test can do more harm than good for your confidence, so do some light review instead.

8. Get good sleep.

While you’re studying for the DAT, stick with whichever sleep schedule works well for you, whether you’re more of a night owl or an early bird. In the week leading up to your exam, however, try modifying your sleep schedule so that it parallels your test day sleep schedule. For example, if you plan to go to sleep at 11 p.m. and wake up at 7:30 a.m. on the day of your DAT, try to maintain a similar sleep schedule the week leading up to the exam. Also ensure that you’re getting enough sleep — aim for 7–9 hours so you’ll be alert and have the endurance needed to tackle the test.

9. Bring water and snacks.

Remember that you have an optional scheduled break of up to 30 minutes during your DAT! Utilize that time to recharge. Bring water and a snack that will fuel your body and give you the energy to finish strong in the Reading Comprehension and Quantitative Reasoning sections. If you’re able to, step outside, stretch your legs, and take some time to decompress. Be sure to leave enough time to sign back in to the testing room after you’re finished taking a break.

10. Crack the DAT!

With Crack the DAT, you have the resources and support needed to do great on the DAT. Take full advantage of these resources and have confidence in your abilities. Your efforts will pay off, and you’ll be one step closer to making your dental school dreams a reality. Good luck!

To hear all of Iman’s advice for scoring a 25+ on the DAT, be sure to check out the podcast on YouTube here or on Spotify here. Email hi@crackdat.com with questions or with topic suggestions for future episodes, and stay tuned for more Pre-Dental Talks!

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