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Dental Admissions Test

DAT

General Information

The DAT is an important, and stressful test, but it doesn't have to be nerve wracking. The goal at Genius 360º is to provide you with exactly what you need to score higher and fulfill your potential. The following guide will help you get a feel for what you need to know to take the test with confidence.


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The DAT breakdown

The DAT is designed to provide dental schools with common measures for comparing the qualifications of applicants. The exam measures general academic aptitude, comprehension of scientific information, and perceptual ability. The exam is offered exclusively on computer and consists of a battery of four distinct tests. The DAT battery takes approximately four and a half hours to complete.

Survey of Natural Sciences Section

Time: 90 minutes

Format: 100 Questions

Topics Tested: Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry

Natural Sciences Information  •  Natural Sciences Sample Questions

Perceptual Ability Test (PAT)

Time: 60 minutes

Format: 90 Questions

Topics Tested: Visualization in three dimension, Angle discrimination

PAT Information  •  PAT Sample Questions

Reading Comprehension Section

Time: 60 minutes

Format: 50 Questions

Topics Tested: Reading Comprehension

Reading Section Information  •  Reading Sample Questions

Quantitative Reasoning Section

Time: 45 minutes

Format: 40 Questions

Topics Tested: Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Word Problems

Quantitative Reasoning Information  •  Quantitative Reasoning Questions

How is the DAT scored?

Please see a full description in our scoring process

When can I take the DAT?

With the introduction of the computerized DAT in 1999, the four tests can be taken nearly any day of the year at 282 Prometric Testing Centers throughout the U.S.

Can I re-take the DAT?

Current policy allows individuals to take the DAT an unlimited number of times, however examinees must wait 90 days before retesting. Furthermore, recent regulation is heading towards taking it a maximum of three times after which an examinee has to seek special permission to re-take the test. When a candidate repeats the examinations, the results of the four most recent attempts are released on the official transcript forwarded to the dental schools. Also, for all candidates, the total number of attempts is listed. Those who take review courses between their first and second attempts have statistically significant average increases in their scores for all tests on the battery except for reading comprehension. In a study of 1,245 examinees who repeated the DAT during 2004, all showed gains in scores.