DAT Tutoring Overview

Whether you're struggling with natural sciences, PAT, reading comp, quant, or multiple sections, Parliament Tutors can customize a DAT tutoring program to ensure admission into your target dental schools. If you've already taken the exam and haven't met your goals, don't be intimidated. We've regularly seen our students increase their scores from 17 to 21, and from 19-22. There are some fundamental approaches to DAT questions that you may not have considered.

The test consists of 280 multiple choice questions subdivided into four sections: natural sciences, perceptual ability, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning, with the greatest weight and number of questions on the natural sciences section.

The natural sciences section covers a broader range of material than most college or professional school entrance exams: from genetics and evolution to thermodynamics and stoichiometry. The section contains 100 questions, the majority of which cover biology and general and organic chemistry. An unusual aspect of the Dental Admission Test is its perceptual ability section. This section, consisting of 90 questions, is intended to evaluate raw visual processing ability and requires the test-taker to answer questions involving the folding of surfaces, the counting of objects, and recognition of patterns.

As this is not a skill typically cultivated in high schools, tutoring can be extremely useful in preparing the test-taker for this portion of the exam. The quantitative reasoning, or mathematics, portion of the exam consists of 40 questions covering content similar to the quantitative reasoning portion of the SAT exam, with the notable addition of trigonometry material. The reading comprehension is also similar to the reading comprehension portion of the SAT, except that the essays are academic papers on scientific, and often specifically dental, topics.

What is the Test Content?

The DAT is a standard multiple-choice format scoring system, with points awarded according to total correct answers. It consists of 280 questions and lasts five hours. The score is given on a scale of 1-30, with an average score of 17.

DAT Exam Preparation and Tutoring Program

• Parliament’s DAT tutoring program equips you with the fundamental knowledge as well as the reasoning, visual processing, and test strategy skills needed to succeed on the exam.
• A thorough review of the natural science topics covered on the exam, with a focus on the relevant biology material.
• Preparation for the mathematics portion of the exam through tutor-guided completion of DAT-style math questions
• Training in reading for speed and comprehension useful for the reading comprehension section of the test
• Cognitive exercises to improve the student's ability to think visually. This is extremely important for the perceptual ability portion of the test.
• A Parliament tutor will give you the individual attention needed to feel comfortable and confident with the examination chosen, and to achieve the highest score possible. Our tutors will help you become familiar with the format and content of the chosen qualifying test and review the essential material for their grade level.

DAT Enrollment & Contact Information

To learn more speak to an Academic Advisor, submit an Inquiry Form or use our registration forms to enroll online and meet a DAT Tutor today.