How many dat

When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. In order to get accepted into a top-tier dental school, you must first score high on the DAT. Use the jump-to links above to quickly skip between sections.

When it comes to taking the DAT, you are not limited to just one attempt. For those looking to be admitted into dental school, you are able to take the DAT a total of three times. Whether your score was too low to get into your preferred school or you simply want to see if you can improve your examination results, taking the DAT a second and third time is allowed. If taking the exam again, applicants should be aware that they must wait a minimum of 90 days from their last examination attempt before retesting, and each new testing attempt will require a new application and examination fee.

Be sure to check with your potential dental schools, as all schools handle their admissions differently, including which DAT score s they will consider for admission. If a situation arises where you have exhausted your three DAT exam attempts, and are still dissatisfied with your score or ability to enter dental school, you may be able to get approved for an additional attempt.

In order to gain permission for a fourth attempt, you will need to submit an appeal to the American Dental Association ADA. The ADA is the only entity with authority to authorize candidates to test more than three times. While three attempts are permitted, it is wise to prepare for and study for the DAT as if you are only going to take the test one time.

If you can get a good score the first time around, you should have no problem getting into dental school. This is just an average though, a quick look at the ADEA Guide to Dental Schools shows that students get accepted with lower scores as well!

Some scores are looked at more closely than others. Currently, the quantitative reasoning score is usually weighted the LEAST to admission committees, while the academic average, total science, and reading comprehension scores are usually weighted the MOST. Many schools also have cutoffs for minimum DAT scores. Each school has a different cutoff, and some have no cutoff. I know of one student who was accepted to the University of Florida with a 14 in QR, on the condition that he retake the DAT and score at least a 15 in each section to meet their cutoff.

Talk about pressure! Natural sciences biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry Perceptual ability two- and three-dimensional problem solving Reading comprehension dental and basic sciences Quantitative reasoning mathematical problems in algebra, numerical calculations, conversions, etc.

When should I take the test? When you have completed your prerequisites in biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. It is recommended that you take the test at least one year before you want to go to dental school.

Most of those who take the DAT do so after their third year of college. How do I study for the test? Review the content and outline of the exam itself. Study the key principles you learned in biology and chemistry.