Call : 416 795 5000
DAT Prep for Dental School
What is the DAT?
The DAT is the Dental Aptitude Test. The exam is a prerequisite for admissions to almost all dental schools in Canada and the US, in addition to Australian, European, and Caribbean dental schools. There are two types of DAT examinations. There is the Canadian DAT, more formally known as the Canadian Dental Aptitude Test. There is also the American DAT, formally known as the American Dental Aptitude Test. Tutor STEM offers preparation courses for both the Canadian DAT exam and the American DAT exam. The Canadian DAT exam is comprised of different sections and concepts in comparison to that of the American DAT exam. The Canadian DAT exam is accepted by all Canadian dental schools and select American dental schools. The American DAT exam is accepted by all American dental schools and select Canadian dental schools. The DAT evaluates the applicant's knowledge of natural science, analytical thinking, and reading comprehension, and in addition to problem solving and critical thinking skills. Admission officers, whom are the persons given the authority to decide whether an applicant gets matriculated into dental school or not, use the DAT as a predictor of the applicants success in dental school. The DAT exam has the reputation of being one of the most difficult standardized exams a person can attempt, of all the standardized tests that exist. Most dental schools, especially the ones in Canada and the US, set a minimum cut-off DAT score that the applicant must meet in order to be a considered prospect.
What sections are on the Canadian DAT and how long is the Canadian DAT?
The Canadian DAT consists of 3 sections:
1) Survey of Natural Sciences (Biology and General Chemistry)
- 70 questions total - 40 questions for Biology, 30 questions for General Chemistry
- Biology (40 questions) - Covers all of the concepts tested for in biology, including: cellular & molecular biology, vertebrate anatomy & physiology, developmental biology, evolution, ecology, animal behavior, diversity of life, and genetics.
- General Chemistry (30 questions) - Covers all of the concepts tested for in general chemistry, including: stoichiometry, chemical metric conversions, gas laws, liquid & solids, solutions, acid & bases, chemical equilibria, thermodynamics, thermochemistry, chemical kinetics, oxidation & reduction reactions, atomic & molecular structure, periodic trends & properties, laboratory rules & techniques, and nuclear reactions.
2) Reading Comprehension
- 50 questions total - the 50 questions are distributed unevenly and randomly amongst 3 reading passages.
- Covers three reading passages on various scientific topics, while testing the applicant's ability to read, organize, analyze, and remember new information in both the dental sciences and the basic sciences. The applicant's ability to comprehend thoroughly when studying scientific information will also be challenged. The reading material are typical of content encountered in the first year of dental school and require no prior knowledge of the topic other than a basic thorough understanding of undergraduate preparation in science.
3) Perceptual Ability Test
- 90 questions total - the 90 questions are distributed evenly amongst 6 perceptual ability subsets.
- Covers the techniques used to correctly answer questionnaires from six perceptual ability subsets, which are as follows: 1) apertures, 2) view recognition, 3) angle discrimination, 4) paper folding, 5) cube counting, and 6) 3D form development.
It should be noted that not all dental schools use the Manual Dexterity Test (MDT) as part of their admission requirements. The Manual Dexterity portion of the DAT exam involves cutting a bar of soap using a particular technique in order to achieve a specific shape. Most applicants opt out of this section on the Canadian DAT because the majority of dental schools do not require this section to be completed for consideration. Tutor STEM still offers preparation for the Manual Dexterity Test for students who plan on taking that section of the test.
Applicants however cannot opt out of the Survey of Natural Sciences, Reading Comprehension, and Perceptual Ability Test sections of the Canadian DAT exam. All Canadian DAT exam-takers are required to take those three sections.
How long is the Canadian DAT?
The Canadian DAT is a total of 3 hours and 20 minutes long, including breaks, if the student is opting out of the Manual Dexterity Test (MDT) portion of the exam (which statistically most students writing the Canadian DAT do).
The applicant writing the Canadian DAT (without the optional Manual Dexterity Test) spends 2 hours and 50 minutes long writing the actual examination. There are two 15 minute breaks. The first 15 minute break is held between the Survey of Natural Sciences (SNS) section and the Perceptual Ability Test section of the exam. The second 15 minute break is held between the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) section of the exam and the Reading Comprehension (RC) section of the exam.
The Canadian DAT is a total of 4 hours and 20 minutes long, including breaks, if the student is opting in for the Manual Dexterity Test (MDT) portion of the exam (which is a mandatory section for the consideration of select dental schools in Canada & the United States).
The applicant writing the Canadian DAT (with the optional Manual Dexterity Test) spends 3 hours and 20 minutes writing the actual examination. There are three breaks, one of which is a 30 minute break, and two of which are 15 minute breaks. The first 30 minute break is held between the Manual Dexterity Test (MDT) section and the Survey of Natural Sciences (SNS) section of the exam. The first 15 minute break follows the first 30 minute break and is held between the Survey of Natural Sciences (SNS) section of the exam and the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) section of the exam. The second 15 minute break follows the first 15 minute break and is held between the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) section of the exam and the Read Comprehension (RC) section of the exam.
The Survey of Natural Science (SNS) section of the exam is 60 minutes long.
The Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) section of the exam is 60 minutes long.
The Reading Comprehension (RC) section of the exam is 50 minutes long.
The Manual Dexterity Test (MDT) section of the exam is 30 minutes long (optional).
Is it possible to be granted more time on the Canadian DAT?
If an applicant has a learning disability or medical condition that requires an adjustment to standard testing conditions, they may apply for consideration of more time, where the time allotted may be more than the standard time. The reasoning behind this is to provide all individuals with an opportunity to demonstrate their proficiency on the Canadian DAT exam. This includes ensuring access to persons with disabilities in accordance to the relevant law.
If an applicant does not have a learning disability or medical condition, it is unlikely they will be allotted more than the standard time to write the Canadian DAT.
What sections are on the American DAT and how long is the American DAT?
The American DAT consists of 4 sections:
1) Survey of Natural Sciences (Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry)
- 100 questions total - 40 questions for Biology, 30 questions for General Chemistry, and 30 questions for Organic Chemistry.
- Biology (40 questions) - Covers all of the concepts tested for in biology, including: cellular & molecular biology, diversity of life, structure & function of systems, developmental biology, genetics, evolution, ecology, animal behavior.
- General Chemistry (30 questions) - Covers all of the concepts tested for in general chemistry, including: stoichiometry, general chemistry basics, gases, liquids & solids, solutions, acids & bases, chemical equilibria, thermodynamics, thermochemistry, chemical kinetics, oxidation-reduction reactions, atomic & molecular structure, periodic properties, laboratory rules & techniques, and clear reactions.
- Organic Chemistry (30 questions) - Covers all of the concepts tested for in organic chemistry, including: mechanisms, chemical & physical properties of molecules, stereochemistry, nomenclature, individual reactions of the major functional groups and combinations of reactions to synthesize compounds, aromatics & bonding, and acid base chemistry.
2) Reading Comprehension
- 50 questions total - the 50 questions are distributed unevenly and randomly amongst 3 reading passages.
- Covers three reading passages on various scientific topics. Prior understanding of relevant science topics is not a prerequisite to answering the test items, however it does offer a competitive advantage to students seeking to score as high as possible on this section. The reading passages require the ability to read, comprehend, and thoroughly analyze basic scientific information.
3) Perceptual Ability Test
- 90 questions total - the 90 questions are distributed evenly amongst 6 perceptual ability subsets.
- Covers the techniques used to correctly answer questionnaires from six perceptual ability subsets, which are as follows: 1) apertures, 2) view recognition, 3) angle discrimination, 4) paper folding, 5) cube counting, and 6) 3D form development.
4) Quantitative Reasoning
- 40 questions total - A basic four-function calculator is available on the computer screen during this section of the test.
- Covers mathematical problems, including algebra (equations & expressions, inequalities, exponential notation, absolute values, ratios & proportions, and graphical analysis), data analysis, interpretation of data, sufficiency related mathematic concepts, and applied mathematic word-based scenarios.
How long is the American DAT?
The American DAT is a total of 5 hours and 15 minutes long, including an optional break, an optional tutorial, and an optional survey.
The applicant writing the American DAT spends 4 hours and 15 minutes writing the actual exam.
The first and only break during the American DAT occurs between the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) section of the exam and the Reading Comprehension (RC) section of the exam. This break is a total of 30 minutes long. This break is optional. Applicants can choose whether to participate in the break or continue the exam without the break.
The optional tutorial will be held at the start of the examination. The optional tutorial is 15 minutes long. A representative from the testing center, most likely an invigilator, will discuss how the DAT format will be in regards to the amount of time allotted for the individual sections, in addition to the overall exam. Any relevant information about the exam format, seating arrangement, and exam submission will also be discussed during this time. This tutorial is optional, meaning the applicant can choose whether or not to participate in the tutorial.
The optional survey will be held at the end of the examination. The optional survey is 15 minutes long. The optional survey will simply inquire about your experience taking the examination. The survey is optional, meaning the applicant can choose to take it, or leave the test center after finishing the exam.
The Survey of Natural Science (SNS) section of the exam is 90 minutes long.
The Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) section of the exam is 60 minutes long.
The Reading Comprehension (RC) section of the exam is 60 minutes long.
The Quantitative Reasoning (QR) section of the exam is 45 minutes long.
Is it possible to be granted more time on the American DAT?
If an applicant has a learning disability or medical condition that requires an adjustment to standard testing conditions, they may apply for consideration of more time, where the time allotted may be more than the standard time. The reasoning behind this is to provide all individuals with an opportunity to demonstrate their proficiency on the American DAT exam. This includes ensuring access to persons with disabilities in accordance to the relevant law.
If an applicant does not have a learning disability or medical condition, it is unlikely they will be allotted more than the standard time to write the American DAT.
Tutor STEM's DAT Tutoring Program
What preparation and tutoring does Tutor STEM provide for the DAT?
Tutor STEM offers individualized tutoring sessions between carefully selected, highly qualified, high aptitude, experienced DAT instructors and students/applicants seeking to take the DAT examination. The academy exclusively offers private 1-on-1 tutoring sessions, as 1-on-1 style teaching is far more effective than group classes, because the DAT instructor is only focusing on one student during the class. The DAT preparation the academy offers is intended mainly for students & applicants in Canada and the US, however individuals from other countries may still enroll.
The academy offers in-person & virtual options for students & applicants taking the DAT Preparation Course. The in-person classes will either take place at our academy or at the student's/applicant's home (in-person classes at the academy follows the standard rate equivalent to the virtual rate; whereas, in-person classes at the student's/applicant's home is subjected to additional premiums due to the instructor's travel time & travel cost). The in-person tutoring sessions for the DAT will take place at our DAT Department which is located at our Markham Campus in Toronto, Canada. The academy also offers virtual tutoring which takes place online, using an online whiteboard software, where the student can see everything the teacher writes, draws, posts, explains, etc. and the teacher can see everything the student writes, draws, posts, explains, etc. This mode of tutoring is preferential to students who are not at a commutable distance to the academy hosting the DAT Preparation. Virtual tutoring is 100% as effective as in-person tutoring. Some students may prefer in-person tutoring over online tutoring, or vice versa. Both modes of tutoring are available and effective.
The DAT Preparation Course includes free materials and resources that are intended to heighten the students' understanding on concepts tested on the DAT.
How is the DAT Prep course structured?
1) Applicant registers for the DAT Preparation Course.
2) An assessment is held during the first tutoring session. The assessment is a condensed version of the DAT. Based on the results of the initial assessment, an individualized plan that is tailored towards the applicant's strengths & weaknesses will be created by the Tutor STEM administration and the applicant's assigned DAT instructor based on the questions and concepts incorrectly answered on the assessment.
3) The majority of the materials, including the video lecture materials, practice tests, mock exams, and online resource drills will be distributed during the first class after the assessment is completed. The DAT instructor will devise a study plan with the student, after considering the students' other commitments (i.e. school or work), in order to ensure the self-studying that occurs outside of the 1-on-1 tutoring sessions the student has with the DAT instructor is spent efficiently.
4) The basis of the 1-on-1 tutoring sessions the student will have with the DAT instructor from the second tutoring session and onwards is based on the individualized plan, which is formulated using the data from the initial assessment the student completed during the first session. Essentially, the concepts the student was found to not understand or comprehend will be the focus of the 1-on-1 tutoring sessions.
5) The tutoring sessions will begin with the student asking the DAT instructor any questions they may have relative to the DAT, whether it be from the video lectures assigned to them or from any other resource. Typically, the first 15 minutes of every session is used to answer the students' pre-existing questions. Once the student has finished asking their questions, or if the student does not have any questions during the start of class, the DAT instructor will commence with the pre-planned lesson.
6) As the tutoring sessions come to a finish, the remaining materials and resources will be distributed to the student. The Blueprint, which is a free resource that is complimentary to the DAT Preparation course, is the last material/resource that will be distributed to the student. The Blueprint is a condensed study guide that organizes all of the concepts the student is expected to be tested on during their exam. The DAT instructor will thoroughly go over the Blueprint with the student, and will answer any questions the student may have pertaining to the concepts on the Blueprint.
7) The last tutoring session will consist of the student completing a diagnostic test, which is similar to the initial assessment the student will write during the first tutoring session. The diagnostic test is a condensed version of the DAT. The student will complete the diagnostic. Based on the data of diagnostic results, the DAT instructor will be able to graphically and numerically show the student their improvement & progress throughout the DAT Preparation course. The DAT instructor will also give recommendations to the student on which concepts to prioritize self-studying based on the results of the final diagnostic.
8) During the final moments of the last tutoring session, the DAT instructor will devise a self-study plan with the student, for them to use and follow after the tutoring sessions have ended and before the date of their examination.
What resources & materials are included?
Resources and materials are included with the DAT Preparation Course for free. There is no additional cost for the resources and materials provided alongside the tutoring.
The resources and materials provided for the Canadian DAT are different from the resources and materials provided for the American DAT, as the two standardized tests are different.
For students enrolling into the Canadian DAT Prep Program:
The resources and materials that are distributed to students prior to their DAT examination include:
- 700 video lectures - 250 videos on Biology, 250 videos on General Chemistry, 100 videos on Perceptual Ability Test, and 100 videos on Reading Comprehension.
- A collection of Practice Tests and Mock Exams that resembles similarly structured questions on the Canadian DAT
- A collection of Multiple Drills and Question Sheets that resembles the same types of questions expected on the Canadian DAT
- Blueprint for the Canadian DAT- A concept sheet that is essentially a condensed study guide that organizes all of the concepts the student is expected to be tested on during their exam. The Blueprint is ordered from a third-party organization and is complimentary with the tutoring.
For students enrolling into the American DAT Prep Program:
The resources and materials that are distributed to students prior to their DAT examination include:
- 700 video lectures - 150 videos on Biology, 150 videos on General Chemistry, 150 videos on Organic Chemistry, 150 videos on Quantitative Reasoning, and 100 videos on Reading Comprehension.
- A collection of Practice Tests and Mock Exams that resembles similarly structured questions on the American DAT.
- A collection of Multiple Drills and Question Sheets that resembles the same types of questions expected on the American DAT.
- Blueprint for the American DAT - A concept sheet that is essentially a condensed study guide that organizes all of the concepts the student is expected to be tested on during their exam. The Blueprint is ordered from a third-party organization and is complimentary with the tutoring.