5 things about the Dental Admission Test that may surprise you
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The Dental Admission Test (DAT) typically is required for applicants applying to dental schools in the U.S. and in Canada. This test, which covers topics ranging from biology to organic chemistry to reading comprehension, is often unfamiliar to test-takers as they begin their DAT journeys. In this article, we discuss 5 things about the DAT that may surprise you, including how the test is scored, how it is administered, what it covers (and does not cover), and how it is used in the admissions process. Read on!
1. You will get your (unofficial) scores the very same day you take the test — right after you hit submit!
This is one of the aspects of the DAT that comes as a surprise to most people! Unlike standardized tests such as the MCAT or SAT, the DAT allows test-takers to see their unofficial score reports as soon as they hit submit. These are scaled scores, and the highest possible score for each section is 30 (for a more in-depth discussion of DAT scores, check out our past blog post here). Although official/verified scores take a bit longer to process, in the vast majority of instances, official scores are the same as the unofficial scores released on test day.
2. You can take the DAT on almost any given day.
Again, unlike tests such as the SAT which are administered only on specific dates, the DAT is offered nearly every day of the year. However, the exam is offered only at a specific line of test centers (Prometric), and you must register for the exam in advance. The current (2023) DAT fee is $525. For more about how to apply, register, and get started with your DAT journey, read our past blog post here.
3. The DAT includes an entire section dedicated to perceptual/spatial reasoning.
This may be one of the most surprising aspects of the test! The second section of the DAT, following the Survey of Natural Sciences, is the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT). This section includes 6 different question types, including angle ranking, cube counting, and paper folding, that assess the test-taker’s ability to mentally manipulate 2D and 3D images. This is important since perceptual skills are an important component of dentistry. Below are some examples of PAT questions:
Although this section can be intimidating at first, with plenty of practice, it can become incredibly manageable! If you’re worried about preparing for PAT, we’ve got you covered with a comprehensive list of PAT Breakdowns, plus countless PAT resources (full-length tests, PAT generators, PAT guides) on the CrackDAT website.
4. Dental schools value the sections of the DAT differently.
Some dental schools highly value the Reading Comprehension section, as they view it as a good predictor of success in dental school. Some dental schools are primarily focused on the Academic Average (AA), which represents the average of someone’s Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Quantitative Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension scores (the AA does not include the PAT score). Most schools will not disclose this information and would ideally like to see proficiency in all of the DAT sections, but it is interesting to note that different sections may carry different weights depending on where you apply.
5. Many of the courses you took as prerequisites for dental school will NOT be on the DAT.
For many people, this is quite a relief! The DAT, for example, does not cover physics or calculus, even though many pre-dental students will have taken both courses as part of their prerequisite coursework. This gives you more time to focus on the subjects that are covered on the test!
Thank you for reading! From the CrackDAT team, we wish you the best of luck on your DAT journey and are here to support you from start to finish.
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