How is the DAT Scored?

Updated on
Saturday, March 9, 2024
In this article, we discuss how the ADA scores the DAT and what you can do to improve your score for test day.
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What Should I Use To Study Biology?

Updated on
Thursday, March 7, 2024
Bootcamp has several ways to study biology, depending on how you learn best. I’ll explain the differences so you can choose the study method that works best for you.
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[2024] DAT Bootcamp Content Updates

Updated on
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Check out the latest updates we've made at DAT Bootcamp.
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How to Study for the DAT (2024)

Updated on
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
In this DAT Study Guide I’m going to teach you everything you need to know to ace the DAT. It’ll take you from zero to DAT hero.
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DAT Bootcamp's Organic Chemistry Anki Deck

Updated on
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
This Anki deck is based off of Dr. Mike's Organic Chemistry Review Videos. Download the deck to drill OC concepts.
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DAT Bootcamp's General Chemistry Anki Deck

Updated on
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
This Anki deck is based off of Dr. Mike's General Chemistry Review Videos. Download the deck to drill GC concepts.
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What to Expect on the First Day of Your Dental School Interview

Updated on
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Most of the anxiety of interview day stems from the unknowns. If you can minimize the unknowns, you can minimize the anxiety felt on interview day.
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Is DAT Bootcamp Harder than the DAT?

Updated on
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Many students ask if DAT Bootcamp is a realistic representation of the DAT. In this post, we answer that question and give advice on how to ace the DAT.
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What should I do after getting a low score on my first practice test?

Updated on
Friday, June 2, 2023
You completed your first practice test and didn’t score what you were hoping to. Feeling a bit discouraged? That's OK! Here's what to do next.
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How to Accurately Predict Your Score on the DAT

Updated on
Friday, June 2, 2023
What is the best way to predict my score for the DAT? We address what a student can do to get the best score estimates for his or her DAT.
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Pomodoro Technique - The Secret to Beating Procrastination

Updated on
Friday, June 2, 2023
Here are some practical tips to beat procrastination, something that I can be too familiar with at times.
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2022 BIG UPDATE - NEW DAT Bootcamp website, mobile app, and more

Updated on
Friday, June 2, 2023
We’ve created a brand new website and mobile app that makes studying for the DAT even easier. Learn how to transfer your DATBootcamp.com account over to the new site.
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Bootcamp's Biology Notes

Updated on
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
High-yield, quick DAT focused biology review. Everything you need to get a great bio score, nothing you don’t.
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General Chemistry Equation Sheet

Updated on
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Here is a list of formulas you need to know for DAT General Chemistry. However, remember that you have to memorize these formulas and this cheat sheet will not be available on the real DAT.
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General Chemistry Lab Techniques Cheatsheet

Updated on
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Gen Chem lab can be a confusing place. This post will explain the basic techniques, equipment, and safety information you need to know.
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DAT Organic Chemistry Reaction Cheat Sheet

Updated on
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
A major part of the DAT organic chemistry section is knowing your reactions. I have constructed the following reaction sheet to expose you to every reaction that could possibly show up on the DAT.
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Biology Mnemonics To Know For the DAT and OAT

Updated on
Friday, May 5, 2023
Mnemonics are a great tool to memorizing large amounts of information quickly. Here are a couple I used to answer some questions on the DAT and OAT.
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“There’s just so much Bio material! How do I get through it all?”

Updated on
Friday, May 5, 2023
One of the most frequently asked questions we get at Bootcamp is how to better prepare for the Biology Section. Here are some tips that can help you get the most out of your study.
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Dental School Secondary Questions

Updated on
Friday, April 28, 2023
Interested in learning what secondary questions are like for dental school applications? We have compiled a list of all of the secondary questions that schools asked!
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Vanilla Method for DAT Reading Comprehension

Updated on
Thursday, April 6, 2023
I used on the DAT reading section because it’s what made me feel most comfortable. It’s a very simple method. I would read the passage in full and then answer the questions in order.
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Vicviper Reading Comprehension Strategy

Updated on
Thursday, April 6, 2023
This is a popular method a pre-dental student used to score a 30 on the RC section of the DAT. It is a version of the search and destroy method.
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Search & Destroy Guide for DAT Reading Comprehension

Updated on
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Search and Destroy (or S&D) is a method used on the reading comprehension section of the DAT. In brief, the method is to skip reading the passage and to just go straight to the questions.
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QR Formulas Cheat Sheet

Updated on
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Here is a comprehensive list of definitions to start off your Quantitative Reasoning studies.
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Boost Your QR Score by Correctly Using the “Mark” Feature

Updated on
Thursday, March 23, 2023
There are 40 questions in the quantitative reasoning section of the DAT, all with varying difficulty. You will most likely react to each question in one of three ways.
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What is a good DAT score?

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
The average score for acceptance is around 20 AA. 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! 
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When Should I Start Studying for the DAT?

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
The majority of students study for the DAT while enrolled in classes, in the summer between junior and senior year. They start studying around April and take the test in the summer, around June through August. It's challenging, but it isn't anything harder than what you're going to do in dental school, consider it a test run!
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Common Traps on the DAT Reading Comprehension Section

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
There are three "traps" that can distract you from getting the correct answer in the DAT Reading Comprehension section. We talk about each trap in this article so that you can avoid them on test day.
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How does DAT Bootcamp Calculate Estimated Scores?

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Many students have asked us how we score our practice tests on DAT Bootcamp. We answer those questions by talking about our scoring system and what the next steps are to prepare for your DAT.
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What Makes a Great Personal Statement? (Part 3 of 3)

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
There are many factors that can make a good personal statement great. In this 3-part article series, we go over the ten steps necessary to evaluate a personal statement.
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What Makes a Great Personal Statement? (Part 2 of 3)

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
There are many factors that can make a good personal statement great. In this 3-part article series, we go over the ten steps necessary to evaluate a personal statement.
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What Makes a Great Personal Statement? (Part 1 of 3)

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
There are many factors that can make a good personal statement great. In this 3-part article series, we go over the ten steps necessary to evaluate a personal statement.
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How to Improve your Estimated DAT Score

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
You just recently took your first practice test and want to know what you can do to improve your score. In this article, we talk about the one secret to raising your score for future tests and on exam day.
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3 Reasons Why You Need to Use DAT Practice Tests

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Everyone knows taking practice tests is important before your exam day--here are three key reasons why you need to use practice tests to prepare for the DAT!
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What are Rock Keyholes?

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Rock keyholes are a unique type of question that appears in the PAT section of the DAT--we aim to break it down to make it easier for you to tackle them.
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Unsupported or Floating Cubes and How to Beat Them

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
What are floating cubes on the cube counting section of the PAT? We talk about what they are and how to answer floating cube questions in this article.
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What Kind of Scrap Paper Do I Get on the DAT?

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Many students have asked us what type of scrap paper is offered on the DAT. We address the three types of scrap paper you can get in this article.
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How to Use the Tagging System on Bootcamp

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Bootcamp.com uses a unique tagging system where you rate how well you understand a question during review. Learn how to use it to its full potential.
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How to Ace the PAT Section on your DAT

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Get started on the right foot learning all the best methods and techniques to ace the PAT section.
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Must Know Genetic Technologies for the DAT

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Genetics makes up a large portion of the biology section on the DAT. Here is a list of genetic technologies you should definitely know for the DAT.
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DAT Bootcamp Biology Anki Decks

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Many students are using Anki as a replacement for traditional flashcards. Anki utilizes spaced repetition to encourage more frequent active recall, helping cement information.
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Chromosome and Chromatid Numbers during Mitosis and Meiosis

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
A topic in biology that many students find challenging (and is known to appear on the DAT) is the number of chromosomes and chromatids present during the various stages of meiosis and mitosis in eukaryotes.
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What to Do the Day Before the DAT

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
The day of the DAT can be a stressful time, but it’s important to remain confident in your preparation. Knowing exactly what to expect the day you arrive can help ease a lot of the anxiety that comes with taking such a big test.
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When Am I Ready To Take The DAT?

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
So how do you tell when it is time to take the DAT? There are two ways you can go about it: qualitatively and quantitatively. Both of them work and have their own advantages.
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My Review of the Official ADA DAT Practice Test - Is it Worth it?

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
The ADA offers an official online DAT practice test sold through the Prometric testing site. Is it worth it?
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How To Study Effectively Using DAT Practice Tests

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
It’s pretty simple: how you study will determine how high you score on the DAT. In this strategy lesson, I break down a critical study method “A” students use when taking DAT practice tests.
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How to Use Full Length Test Simulations on DAT Bootcamp

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
In the study schedule, I recommend you complete tests 1-5 as individual practice tests (ex. Biology test 1) and use tests 6-10 as full length tests. 
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Canadian DAT vs. American DAT Differences

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Can DAT Bootcamp help me prepare for the Canadian DAT? Short answer: Yes! Canadian students have found DAT Bootcamp super helpful in studying for the Canadian DAT.
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Top Front End (TFE) Intro Tutorial

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Top front end (TFE) is probably the hardest section to initially understand in the PAT, but fear not! This post gives you all the necessary information you need to learn how to ace TFE questions!
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2022 DAT Biology Test Updates

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
DAT Bootcamp has been updated for the 2022 DAT Bio changes. We’ve done the research for you to find the highest-yield information on the new topics and what comes up most often in the DAT exams.
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Organic Chemistry Lab Techniques

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Below is a cheat sheet you can use to study organic chemistry lab techniques tested on the DAT.
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How to Easily Distinguish Ortho, Meta, and Para Directors in EAS Reactions

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Now we need to focus on benzene substituents and how they affect the location of subsequent additions. Here’s a list of the ones you would most likely see.
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Six EAS Reactions You Should Know for the DAT

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
In an Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution (EAS) reaction, the benzene ring acts as a nucleophile that attacks an electrophile. The reaction mechanism below outlines the flow of electrons that occurs during all EAS reactions.
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Do I Need to Know Mechanisms for DAT Organic Chemistry?

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
One of the toughest parts of organic chemistry is understanding the mechanisms behind reactions. Immediately, many pre-dental students want to know if they have to go through the same torture as they did in their college organic chemistry classes to memorize these complex reactions.
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Intermolecular Forces Explained

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Here’s a general chemistry concept that frequently appears on the DAT. We’re talking about intermolecular forces, not to be confused with intRAmolecular forces, which bind the atoms within a single particle (i.e. covalent bonds, metallic bonds, ionic bonds).
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What Types of Questions are on the DAT General Chemistry Section?

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
This is an important issue to address, because I feel a lot of study materials for the DAT sway pre-dental students in the wrong direction.
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Common Ions You Need to Know

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
The DAT general chemistry section expects you to be fluent in chemical compounds. For example, do you know the formula for chromate?
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Important Words to Recognize on the DAT and OAT Reading Section

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Often times on DAT and OAT reading passages, certain words and phrases will be used to convey the structure of the passage.
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Digestive Enzymes – An Overview

Updated on
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Digestive enzymes is a topic frequently tested on the Biology section of the DAT and OAT. Knowing the function of key enzymes, where they are produced, and how they are regulated will translate to easy points come test day.
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