Dental Admission Test
| Acronym | DAT |
|---|---|
| Type | Computer-based standardized test |
| Developer / administrator | American Dental Association |
| Knowledge / skills tested | Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning |
| Purpose | Admissions to dental colleges (mostly in United States and Canada). |
| Year started | 1950 |
| Score / grade range | 1 to 30 (in 1-point increments) for each of the 8 sections (Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning, Total Science, and Academic Average ). |
| Score / grade validity | Usually 2 to 3 years (depends on dental college being applied to). |
| Offered | Year-round. |
| Restrictions on attempts | Can be taken maximum 3 times. Additional retesting requires authorization by the ADA. |
| Countries / regions | United States, Canada, Guam, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. |
| Languages | English |
| Prerequisites / eligibility criteria | Candidate must be preparing to apply to a dental school. Fluency in English assumed. |
| Fee |
US$ 435 |
| Scores / grades used by | Dental colleges (mostly in United States and Canada). |
| Website | www |
US$ 435
The Dental Admission Test (abbreviated DAT) is a multiple-choice standardized exam taken by potential dental school students in the United States and Canada (although there is a separate Canadian version with differing sections, both American and Canadian versions are usually interchangeably accepted in both countries' dental schools. This article will specifically describe the American DAT). The DAT is a computer based test that can be administered almost any day of the year. Tests are taken at Prometric testing centers throughout the United States after the preliminary application through the American Dental Association is completed. Each applicant may only take the test a total of three times before having to ask special permission to take the exam again. After taking the exam you must wait 90 days before repeating it. Each exam costs $415, all of which is non-refundable.
The DAT comprises four sections: survey of the natural sciences (90 minutes), perceptual ability (often called the PAT, 60 minutes), reading comprehension (60 minutes), and quantitative reasoning (45 minutes). The mathematics of the quantitative exam is similar to that of the SAT. The first section is divided into questions about biology (40 questions), general chemistry (30 questions), and organic chemistry (30 questions). The second section is divided into six different problem sets designed to test perceptual ability, specifically in the areas of three-dimensional manipulation and spatial reasoning. The third section of the DAT is divided into three academic essays, each of which is followed by questions about the passage's content. The final section tests basic mathematics skills, with emphasis placed on algebra, critical thinking, fractions, roots, and trigonometric identities.
Test Breakdown
The test specifications for the Biology section are changing in 2014. Such changes will reflect a shift on the way that Biology is taught in survey courses. This means that the questions will focus on "complex interactions within biological systems, rather than viewing biology in a reductionist manner" . There will also be changes to the Quantitative Reasoning section. It has been "revised to eliminate the sections for numerical calculations, conversions, geometry, and trigonometry. Items will be added in the following areas: data analysis, interpretation, and sufficiency; quantitative comparison; and probability and statistics." During 2014 and 2015, examinees may see some questions that reflect such changes, however, they won't be scored. Actual changes to the sections won't take place sooner than 2015.
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