Reviewed by:
Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine
Reviewed: 5/13/22
A large part of dental school admissions is the DAT exam. To learn more about what a good DAT score is, read on.
It’s difficult to determine how well a student will perform in dental school. Considering the curriculum is highly specialized, and students are expected to participate in extensive practical training, dental school is known to be demanding.
Accordingly, admissions committees essentially gamble on the most qualified and promising candidates, hoping they will thrive in this challenging environment.
While the other aspects of your dental school application, such as your personal statement, give the admissions committee a better understanding of your personality and character, your DAT score is the main form of assessment used to predict your academic potential.
Considering how heavily this score is weighed in the selection process, you may be wondering, “what is a good DAT score?” This guide will explore this question further and help you determine which score to aim for to get into your dream dental school!
There will be 280 questions on the DAT. Your raw score is the number of questions you get correct, but this is not the score you’ll see on your report. Instead, you’ll see a scaled score. This score will range between 1-30.
You will receive a scaled score for each section of the DAT along with a composite score. This will provide you with an average of your overall performance on the exam. The average DAT score is around 17.
The answer to the question, “what is a good DAT score” is a little more complicated than just stating a number. A good DAT score depends entirely on the schools you’re applying to.
The higher the ranking of your desired school, the higher your target score should be. However, this is how different score ranges are typically categorized:
Any scores that fall below 16 are considered to be low. With below average scores, it’s difficult to get accepted into accredited dental schools.
Scores that are slightly above average, between 17-18 are decent scores. While they won’t be considered competitive at the majority of dental schools, they may be accepted at lower-ranking schools.
Scores between 19-20 are considered competitive at the majority of US dental schools. Aiming for a score within this range will assure you meet the DAT requirements for most schools.
Scores in the 21-25 range are considered to be very high. These top scores are considered to be competitive enough to get into the most selective dental schools in the nation.
It’s important to note, your GPA will also influence the DAT score you should aim for. If you have a GPA that is significantly higher than your school’s median, there’s some leeway with how high your DAT score has to be.
On the other hand, if you have a low GPA you’ll have to compensate for it with an even higher than expected DAT score to prove your academic potential.
In this guide, we’ve answered the question, “what is a good score on the DAT?” and what to consider when determining your target score. For any remaining questions about this entrance exam, read on to find your answers.
Yes, a 25 on the DAT is an extremely high score to achieve! This score surpasses the DAT medians of all US dental schools.
Yes, this score will likely put you in the competitive range to get into high-ranking dental schools.
A 19 is the median or minimum DAT score for the majority of dental schools. As such, this score can get you into most mid to high-ranking dental schools.
A 20 puts you well above the average DAT score, meaning it is a great score to receive. Some of the highest-ranking dental schools, such as Harvard, prefer DAT scores of 20 and higher.
Practice and patience are essential to improve your DAT score. Ensure you don’t rush the process and give yourself enough time to learn the most effective strategies to master each section of the exam.
Some other tips to improve your score include:
Check out the free DAT Practice Questions Quiz we created you help you ace the test:
If self-study isn’t getting you to your target score, you may want to call in the big guns, like Inspira’s 99th percentile tutors who can provide you with personalized DAT support to maximize your score.
Create a DAT study schedule based on your other commitments and how many resources you plan on using. If you’re able to dedicate full-time hours to your studies, around three to four months is typically enough time to prepare for the exam.
On the other hand, if you have other time-consuming responsibilities, you may need to dedicate five to six months to your DAT prep. Don’t be afraid to also change your timeline as you progress in your studies. This is why it’s essential to begin your studies early, so you have time to adjust your plan and retake the exam if necessary!
Students typically struggle with the perceptual ability test the most because it requires you to be able to visualize and interpret two-dimensional representations of three-dimensional objects, a skill most students have never had to develop.
Students also find the reading comprehension section to be challenging because analysis and reading skills aren’t easily improved. Students typically see the least improvement in this section.
Figuring out the DAT score to aim for to get into your dream dental school shouldn’t create more stress in this already nerve-wracking application step. Using the score ranges shared in this guide, you can determine your target score easier and begin the hard part—studying!
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