What is the DAT? | Disco Dent

✔ Updated with data from the 2023-2024 academic year!

Everything you need to know about the Dental Admission Test (DAT)

When it comes to pursuing a career in dentistry, the journey begins with the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). This comprehensive exam plays a crucial role in the dental school application process and assesses a range of skills necessary for success in dental school. Whether you're a pre-dental student or someone interested in the admissions process, understanding the DAT is essential. This page will cover everything from what the DAT is, its structure, and how it's scored, to additional tips on how to prepare.

What Is the DAT?

The Dental Admissions Test (DAT) is a standardized exam designed to evaluate the academic ability, scientific knowledge, and perceptual ability of individuals applying to dental schools in the United States and Canada. Administered by the American Dental Association (ADA), it serves as a critical factor in the admissions process for dental school. The exam covers a wide range of topics including biology, chemistry, and perceptual skills, ensuring that applicants are well-rounded and capable of handling the academic rigors of dental school.

What Is the Structure of the DAT?

The DAT consists of four sections, each testing a different skill set. The exam is administered on a computer and takes approximately 5 hours and 15 minutes to complete, inclusive of the breaks and surveys. Here is a breakdown of each section:

Survey of Natural Sciences (90 minutes/100 items)
- This section tests your knowledge of basic science concepts and is divided into three subsections:
  1. Biology (40 questions): Covers general biology topics such as cell biology, genetics, evolution, and systems of the body.
  2. General Chemistry (30 questions): Tests understanding of key concepts in chemistry including stoichiometry, thermodynamics, and chemical reactions.
  3. Organic Chemistry (30 questions): Focuses on organic molecules, reaction mechanisms, and stereochemistry.
Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) (60 minutes/90 questions)
- The PAT is unique to the DAT and assesses your ability to visualize and manipulate objects in space. Mastering these skills is crucial for tasks in dentistry that require precise hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness. It consists of 90 questions spread across six subtests:
  1. Apertures: Evaluate a three-dimensional object and determine if it can pass through an opening.
  2. View Recognition: Visualize how an object would appear if viewed from different angles.
  3. Angle Discrimination: Rank a series of angles from smallest to largest.
  4. Paper Folding: Mentally unfold a piece of paper that has been folded one or more times and then hole- punched.
  5. Cube Counting: Evaluate a stack of cubes and determine how much of each cube is exposed.
  6. Spatial Relations / 3D Form Development: Identify the three-dimensional shape that a flat pattern produces when folded in a specific way.
Reading Comprehension (60 minutes/50 items)
- This section evaluates your ability to read, understand, and analyze scientific information. You'll read three scientific passages and answer 50 questions based on the material. The focus is on understanding complex texts, which is a key skill in dentistry for reviewing academic literature and patient records. You'll have 60 minutes to complete this section.
Quantitative Reasoning (45 minutes/40 items)
- The final section of the DAT assesses your mathematical skills. It covers topics such as algebra, probability, statistics, and data analysis. There are 40 questions, and you'll have 45 minutes to complete this section.

How Is the DAT Scored?

Notice: The DAT scoring system is changing from a 2-digit score to a 3-digit score. Learn more about the changes and access our score converter tool here: Old to New DAT Score Converter and Details.

The DAT is scored on a scale of 1 to 30 for each section, with 30 being the highest possible score. However, it's important to note that scoring a perfect 30 is very rare. To see the average DAT scores of students at each dental school in the US, check out our detailed summary table here: Average DAT scores, Ranked.

Here's a breakdown of the scoring system:

Total Science (TS) Score: An average of your scores from the biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry sections.
Academic Average (AA) Score: The average of your scores from all four sections except the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT).
Perceptual Ability (PA) Score: This is a separate score based solely on your performance in the PAT section.

The DAT doesn't penalize for wrong answers, so it's in your best interest to answer every question, even if it's a guess.

Why Is the DAT Important?

The DAT is a major component of dental school admissions because it provides an objective measure of an applicant's readiness for the academic demands of dental school. It not only tests academic knowledge but also assesses skills critical for dental practice, such as spatial awareness and the ability to understand complex scientific material. A strong DAT score can significantly enhance your application, especially when paired with a solid GPA, extracurricular involvement, and dental experience. To see how much each dental school weighs the DAT in their admissions process, check out our detailed summary table here: Dental School Admissions Factors, Ranked.

What Happens After the DAT?

Once you've taken the DAT and received your scores, you'll need to submit your official scores to the dental schools to which you are applying. Most schools have their own minimum score requirements, so it's important to check the specific admission guidelines for each school. If you're not satisfied with your score, you have the option to retake the DAT after a 90-day waiting period, but keep in mind that some dental schools may view multiple attempts differently.

Curious about how your DAT scores and Pre-Dental GPA compare to other applicants? Check out our interactive scatter plot here: Compare Your Stats With Each School's Average.

Good luck with your DAT preparation!