DAT: Dental Admission Test
Introduction
For individuals who possess both a 4-year degree and the desire to work in the dental industry, pursuing and passing the Dental Admission Test (DAT) provides them with acceptance into dental schools across the country and globally. Qualified applicants for DAT need to acquire at least 40 credit hours of study in biology, physics, general chemistry, organic chemistry and English. Read more to find out about DAT practice tests, DAT registration, DAT application, DAT test, DAT scores, DAT test dates and get tips to crack the DAT exam.
Why is DAT Important?
A good score on DAT is an essential prerequisite for entry into many dental schools. Obtaining desirable scores on this exam ensures dental schools that it's applicants possess sufficient knowledge in general studies, the pre-dental sciences and comprehension areas. Overall, DAT provides individuals with an excellent means of entry into dental schools that are accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (ADA/CDA).
Prerequisites for DAT
For both national and international students, there are specific prerequisites that each student must meet before qualifying to take the DAT. Those specific requirements include:
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A 4-year degree from an accredited institution of higher learning;
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A minimum GPA of 3.0; and
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The completion of pre-dental science requirements.
In addition, examinees must possess both a primary and a secondary form of identification on their testing dates. Primary forms of identification include a driver's licence, passport, and/or government identification card. Secondary forms of identification include a debit card, a credit card, and/or a library card.
Test Structure
The DAT is comprised of 4 sections: Survey of the
Natural Sciences, Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative
Reasoning. The entire examination process consists of 280 minutes or 5 hours
total, which includes an optional tutorial, an optional break, and an optional
survey.
| Focus Areas | Coverage | Questions | Time Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survey of the Natural Sciences | Biology, general chemistry and organic chemistry. | 100 Multiple Choice Questions | 90 Minutes |
| Perceptual Ability | Areas include keyhole, top/front/end visualization, angle ranking, hole punches, cube counting, and pattern folding. | 90 Multiple Choice Questions | 60 Minutes |
| Reading Comprehension | Based on passages related to the dental industry, dental sciences, and dental procedures | 50 Multiple Choice Questions | 60 Minutes |
| Quantitative Reasoning |
Mathematics, geometry,
trigonometry, applied mathematics, mathematical reasoning
and mathematical equations. |
45 Multiple Choice Questions | 45 Minutes |
Tips to Prepare for DAT
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While the DAT does not promote any specific preparation courses, it does encourage potential test takers to ensure that they have acquired the skills in biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, reading comprehension, and mathematics that are essential components of DAT;
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Dental admission practice tests are available online. Students should take up these practice exams regularly to see where they stand and further focus in improving their weak areas;
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International test takers should also ensure that they are proficient in speaking and writing English language.
Score
The DAT is graded on a scale of 1 to 30. While no examinee can actually fail this exam, any score below 17 is considered to be undesirable by many accredited dental schools. On the other hand, a score of 17 or higher ensures dental schools that their potential students meet competency and skill requirements that are required for entry into their dental programs. Failing is not possible because this test is graded according to the number of questions that are answered correctly and no points are received for incorrect or unanswered questions. Immediately following the completion of the DAT, applicants are provided with an unofficial score report.
An official score report is provided within 3 to 4 weeks of testing, and is sent to those dental schools as selected by the applicant. The DAT may be retaken up to three times after the first attempt, and there must be at least 90 days between each retest. A new application and fee for testing each time must be submitted to Prometric, a company that specializes in technology based testing and assessment services including test preparation, processing and consulting.
Fees
Students who are entering
their senior year of undergraduate studies are encouraged to take the DAT if
they plan to pursue a dental school after graduation. The cost of this exam for
both national and international applicants is $360, which cannot be refunded or
transferred. In addition, rescheduling and cancellation fees do apply. All fees
and costs can be paid by credit or debit card, money order, or
through certified and/or personal check.
Registration
Individuals are encouraged to register for the DAT
at least 60 to 90 days before taking the exam. Applicants should first read the
DAT guide. After that, they must obtain a DENTPIN, which provides each applicant
with a personal identification number to take the test. Next, individuals must
fill out and submit a DAT application with the American Dental Association, and
this can be done electronically through their website. Once testing fees
and applications have been acquired and accepted, scheduling for this test is
done by calling or online scheduling the test with Prometric . If however,
qualified applicants do not schedule their DAT within 6 months of acquiring an
acceptance to test, both their eligibility to test and their testing fee is
forfeited. This registration process applies to both national and international
applicants.
International Students
As long as international students possess a passport, proficiency in English language, and the other basic prerequisites that are required of all applicants, they can apply to take the DAT. Most often, international students must pass tests such as the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) to verify their proficiencies in English and other areas. The cost for the DAT is $360 for international students.
Test Dates & Location
Dental Admission Test (DAT) exams are offered
around the year at Prometric Test Centers in the United States, Guam, Puerto
Rico, the Virgin Islands and Canada. Individuals are qualifed to schedule their
test location, date, and time once they have received a confirmation of their
acceptance to take the DAT by phone or email. To obtain their desired location,
date, and time for testing, individuals are encouraged to schedule their test at
least 60 to 90 days in advance. Scheduling is done by either calling or visting
Prometric online.