Reviewed by:
Former Chief Resident in Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, & Admissions Officer, Columbia University
Reviewed: 5/13/22
Are you an aspiring dental student and wondering to yourself how to study for the DAT? Continue reading as we go over helpful tips for studying for the DAT, including how long to study for the DAT and when you should take the test.
One major step in becoming a dentist is getting into a credible dental school. To get into a good dental school, you will have to take the DAT.
The Dental Admissions Test, often referred to as DAT, is a test that dental school admissions officers use to determine whether you have potential to be successful in dental school and the field of dentistry. Your DAT score, along with other factors like your GPA, is an important piece of information on your college application.
To answer the question, “how to study for the DAT?,” we have made a list of helpful tips and answered some other frequently asked questions about studying for the DAT.
Like the dreaded LSAT, the DAT can be daunting to think about for any student. There is a lot at stake, like getting into your dream college, and you’ll want to do your best on the test.
Even getting started to study for the DAT can be intimidating and overwhelming. It’s hard to know where to even begin. That’s why we have put together a list of tips on how to study for the DAT.
Before you start building a study plan, familiarize yourself with topics that will appear on the DAT.
In order to have a study plan that will actually help you prepare, you’ll need to know what to focus on. This will provide a good foundation for you to begin creating your DAT study schedule.
Pay attention in your undergraduate courses, as the DAT will cover topics and information that you will have learned in your classes.
Specifically, pay close attention to Chemistry, Biology, and Organic Chemistry as they are major topics that appear on the DAT.
While you pay attention in class, take detailed and organized notes. You will thank yourself later for doing this.
Class notes are some of the best resources to use when studying. They are accurate, reliable, and accessible study materials. Keeping your notes organized will also save you so much time on sourcing other study materials.
This is one of the most important tips on this list. Don’t overcomplicate your study plan, but make sure you are dedicating enough time to subjects that are weighted heavily on the test.
Keep your plan simple and manageable, so you are able to follow it.
While it can be tempting to skip over questions or subjects you don’t understand, you unfortunately cannot pick and choose which sections you answer on the test. Subjects you may struggle with could be weighted heavily on the test as well.
Maximize your potential score earnings by tackling areas of weakness, so you are prepared and equipped to do as well as you possibly can on the test.
There are tons of practice tests available online. Utilize these resources to time yourself and identify areas on the test you may potentially struggle with.
The American Dental Association offers individual modules or a full practice DAT test online.
Don’t go into the test thinking, “well, it doesn’t matter how I do because I can just retake the test.”
While it is true that you can retake the DAT, this should be a last resort. Preparing and taking the test multiple times is time-consuming and stressful. Not to mention, it costs money too!
Go in ready with the mindset of passing on your first try.
So, how long should you study for the DAT? Overall, aim to study for at least 300 hours for the test.
Two months should be a sufficient amount of time to study for the DAT if you spend enough time per week studying. To reach about 300 hours of prep in two months, you would need to dedicate around 35 to 40 hours a week.
If you have a busy schedule, consider beginning to study about three months before your test.
The American Dental Association recommends that students schedule their DAT exam during the summer between your junior and senior year.
The ADA also suggests submitting your application 60 to 90 days before you are planning to take the exam.
We answer some of your frequently asked questions on how to study for the DAT below.
Follow our list of tips to make the most of your study time!
There are many ways to study. Some people may find studying independently at their own pace more effective, some may find one-on-one tutoring sessions most helpful, while others may find studying with a friend keeps them focused.
It is generally recommended that you study for at least three months in preparation for the DAT, so a month's study time is not recommended.
The DAT is a pretty tough test, and requires a lot of studying and prep. You should not give yourself any less than two months to study.
However, you can technically study for the DAT in a month. However, the time crunch will mean you will have to dedicate a lot of hours daily to study time.
The best way to best prepare yourself for the test is to begin preparing earlier.
The short answer is, yes, the DAT is known for being a difficult test.
However, if you follow a study plan and give yourself enough preparation time, you have nothing to worry about.
You should start preparing for the DAT at least two months before you intend to write the test. However, you should begin to prepare for the test just over a year before you want to start dental school. This prep includes registering for the test, which you should do as early as possible.
Keep college application timelines in mind as well as you plan and prepare for the DAT.
Studying for the DAT can be stressful. But remember, you are not starting from scratch. Your undergraduate courses and assignments have been preparing you with the knowledge and skills you need to be successful.
Follow our tips to create a productive study schedule, begin your prep early, make sure to practice self-care and get proper sleep in there as well, and you will be good to tackle the DAT.
Good luck!
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