As an interested student, to get admission to the dental medicine graduate program, you must fulfill the requirements to get admission to good colleges offering the course. For the same, you have to appear for the competitive Dental Admissions Test (DAT) exam.
DAT is a multiple-choice question-based entrance test that students must take if they want to pursue their dental degree in the States. The DAT exam score is considered for admissions, and you must cater to the same while applying to the colleges.
Scoring in the DAT test is not as easy as it seems. It would help if you had a proper schedule and strategy to help you score well and secure admission to the college of your interest.
Scoring In The Exam
In the overall exam, there is no set passing score for the exam. However, if you have a score of 19, it is considered an average score. You can have an idea about the same when you receive an unofficial score before you leave the test center. Also, the official report of your score will reach you within 3-4 weeks.
So, you should aim for a good score if you want to be a part of good institutions offering dental courses. The top schools in countries like the US accept only 2-5% of the total applications. Also, they offer a limited number of slots only. You should note that the number of applications is rising each year; hence, you should ensure that your score is good so that the chances of getting in are high. As the pool is high, you must have a clear-cut and result-oriented strategy to help you sail through the rising competition.
So, let’s discuss the strategy for good preparation.
5 Study Techniques That Will Help You Ace, The Exam
The preparation for no exam is complete until you have the plan to follow. The preparation for the DAT exam is similar. It would help if you did not move forward randomly and, instead, have a strong roadmap. Here is a 5-step guide that will help you ace the exam.
Decode The Syllabus And See The Samples
The exam accesses the students based on their general academic ability, scientific information comprehension, and perceptual abilities. 17 is the average scaled score for all the administrations, which equates to the 50th percentile. But, if you want to be a part of the competition, you should set your target above the 50th percentile. So, for this, the basic must be thorough with the syllabus. Apart from the syllabus, it would help if you considered glancing at the sample papers to help you understand the section-wise distribution and questions.
It will help you with clarity to distribute your time and schedule accordingly. There can be one section that offers a high-performance and another one that does not offer the same. Your overall goal should be a consistent performance for a good score.
Make A Schedule
Once you have your hand at the basics, like the syllabus and questions expected in the exam, you can begin making a schedule. Your focus should be on the areas that need more attention. Also, it would help if you did not begin by studying directly for 8-10 hours a day. It would help if you began by studying for 2 hours a week. If you are comfortable, you can increase the period to the second week.
Also, the weekends should be free. It would help if you dedicate your weekends to revision and use Sundays to test your progress. The changes should be done if you see that you are going at the right speed and the expected results are coming.
Learn From Mistakes And Experiences
The basic structure of the exam includes MCQ questions. They are 280 in number, and you will have 4 hours and 15 minutes to complete the exam. Also, while preparing, you should understand the idea behind conducting the test. The test is sort of an assessment of the readiness of the test-takers planning to apply for various dental education programs that various colleges offer.
So, it would help if you had these things in mind. Also, when doing the sample tests, you should mark the mistakes you are committing. The analysis will help you know the areas that need maximum attention. When you give various tests, you should ensure that you are doing it in a test-like environment. It will help you get the right mindset that will help you get the hand of the overall thing. When you develop this mindset, you will be less nervous on the actual day of the exam.
Revisions, Early Application Submission, And Others
The study circle is incomplete until you are not revising. The revision cycles should be weekly, and you should be thorough with the same when the exam is near. Here is a tip for you. When you submit your DAT application, you should do it early. You should apply 60-90 days beforehand. You will get the DENTPIN which is important for taking the exam. The exam won’t be possible without the same. You cannot move forward with the exam if you miss taking it.
Ensure To Read The Available Guide
The DAT guide is available whenever you are trying to take the exam. The guide helps provide information regarding the application, followed by the testing procedure. Also, the guide will help you with the examination content, followed by the scoring. The things will act as tips for acing the exam. You should read the document to help you opt for an easy application for the test.
The DAT program application is incomplete without the practice tests. You can see if you get questions about the test constructors. All these things will help you closely match the actual test.
Conclusion
If you want to score high on the DAT exam, you must jeopardize other things and prioritize your academics. Cracking the competition is not tough if you have a clear perspective and are ready to put in effort and consistency to prepare for the same. The best time to prepare for the exam is either in the middle or the end of your junior year while pursuing the undergrad program. You should not think and give in your best shot.
