Dental Admission Test

1
Dental Admission Test

• Penn State PDS

2
Purpose

• The testing program is designed to measure
  general academic ability, comprehension of
  scientific information, and perceptual ability.
  While all dental schools require examinees to
  participate in the Dental Admission Testing
  Program, test results are only one factor
  considered in evaluating the admission potential
  of an examinee.

3
Scheduling

• After the application and fee payment are
  processed, the Prometric Contact Center will
  receive notification of your eligibility for DAT
  testing
• Upon receipt of the completed application and
  fee, an e-mail will be sent to schedule the day,
  time, and Prometric Test Center
• The Prometric Contact Center requires
  notification at least two business days before
  the scheduled DAT to cancel or reschedule an
  appointment for testing at a Prometric Test
  Center.
• No-shows, or examinees who cancel less than two
  business days prior to the scheduled testing
  date, will neither be rescheduled to another date
  nor will they receive a refund

4
Location

• Administered by Prometric at Prometric Test
  Centers in the United States, its territories
  including Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands,
  and in Canada
• Harrisburg, Allentown, Pittsburg, Lancaster,
  York, Clark Summit
• www.prometric.com

5
What To Bring

• Two original, current forms of identification,
  one primary and one secondary
• At least one ID must have both a picture and a
  signature
• The name on your ID must match exactly with the
  name on your DAT application file
• Social Security Number

6
What You Are Provided

• Two erasable note boards
• Two low-odor fine tip dry erase markers
• Eraser
• You will not receive paper, pens, or a calculator

7
DAT
8
Survey of Natural Science

• Biology (40)
• Cell and Molecular Biology, Taxonomy, Structure
  and Function of Systems, Developmental Biology,
  Genetics, Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior

9
Survey of Natural Sciences

• General Chemistry (30)
• Stoichiometry, Gases, Liquids, Solids, Solutions,
  Acid/Base, Equilibria, Thermodynamics/chemistry,
  Kinetics, OX/RED, Atomic/Molecular Structure,
  Periodic Properties, Nuclear Rxns

10
Survey of Natural Sciences

• Organic Chemistry (30)
• Mechanisms, Chemical and Physical Properties of
  Molecules and Organic Analysis, Stereochemistry,
  Nomenclature, Individual Reactions of the Major
  Functional Groups and Combinations of Reactions
  to Synthesize Compounds, Aromatics and Bonding

11
Perceptual Ability Test

• 90 questions
• 6 subtests of 15 questions
• Apertures (keyhole), angle discrimination
  (ranking), cube counting, 3D form development
  (pattern folding), paper folding (hole punching),
  and view recognition (TFE)

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Optional Break

• 15 minutes
• TAKE IT!!!!

13
Reading Comprehension

• 50 Questions
• 3 Short Readings
• 16-17 questions per reading
• Ability to read, organize, analyze, and remember
  new information in dental and basic sciences

14
Quantitative Reasoning

• 40 Questions
• Mathematical Problems, Numerical calculations,
  Conversions, Probability, Statistics, Geometry,
  Trigonometry, Applied Mathematics
• Full Breakdown ?
• http//www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/dat_users_m
  anual.pdf

15
Scoring

• DAT scores are based on the number of correct
  responses therefore, examinees are not penalized
  for guessing.
• The results are reported to dental schools in
  terms of standard scores rather than raw scores
  or percentile equivalents.
• Scores used in the testing program range from 1
  to 30
• A score of 17 is slightly below average of test
  takers (not of those accepted into DS)

16
Score Report

• Immediately upon completion of the DAT, an
  unofficial score report is provided directly to
  you at the Prometric Test Center
• The report includes both standard scores and
  percentile equivalents
• Your only personal copy
• Official scores will be available to the dental
  schools approximately three to four weeks after
  the test

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Score Conversions

• http//www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/raw_score_c
  onversions.pdf

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Competitive Scores

• http//forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t6
  02109

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Retest

• Examinees are required to submit a new
  application and fee for each retest
• An examinee must wait at least 90 days to retake
  the DAT
• Special permission after taking a third test

20
Retest

• Requests for additional testing must be submitted
  in writing to the Department of Testing Services
  (DTS) and must include evidence of current
  (within the previous 18 months) intent to apply
  to dental school
• Upon approval, you will be permitted to retake
  the DAT once per twelve-month period
• The results of the four most recent DATs taken,
  as well as the total number of DATs taken, are
  released on the official scores and forwarded to
  dental schools

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Penn State Classes

• Biology
• Biol 110, 240W, 230W, 220W, 472, or any
  equivalent, like Biol 141
• General Chemistry
• Chem 12, 13, 14, 15
• Organic Chemistry
• Chem 210, 212, 213
• RC and QR are very similar to SAT Reading and Math

22
DAT Costs

• 205
• Includes the submission of official score reports
  to five dental schools, a personal copy of
  scores, and a copy of scores for the pre-dental
  advisor.
• Additional 25 per school if applying to more

23
Example of Test Preparation Costs

• Kaplan Online
• 1049
• Crack DAT / PAT Royal Flush
• 200
• DAT
• 205
• 1,454 (DOES NOT INCLUDE AADSAS FEES)

24
Example of Test Preparation Time

• 2-3 months of studying
• Roughly 3 hours per day
• 6 days a week
• 160 240 hours of preparation