PAT Strategies and Tips

Pre-Dental Society at UC Irvine - Week 3

Announcements

Boba Fundraiser 4/16 @11am (Ring Road)

Boys and Girls Club Newport 4/16 @4PM?

CDA Cares Solano 4/25-4/26 (Friday/Saturday)

UOP Pre-Dental Clinical Simulation Course 4/26-4/27 (Saturday/Sunday)

ADEA Pre-Dental Student Virtual Fair 4/29-4/30

Western U Presentation 4/29 @5PM

UCLA Core Build Up Day 5/3 @8:30AM-4PM

CDA Presents Anaheim 5/15-5/17

ADEA Official Guide 2014 Digital is HERE

Dental Admissions Test (DAT)

Section Questions Time LimitOptional Tutorial 15 MinutesSurvey of Natural Sciences 100 90 Minutes-Biology 40-General Chemistry 30-Organic Chemistry 30Perceptual Ability Test 90 60 Minutes-Keyhole 15-Top/Front/End Visualization 15-Angle Ranking 15-Hole Punches 15-Cube Counting 15-Pattern Folding 15Optional Break 15 MinutesReading Comprehension Test 50 60 MinutesQuantitative Reasoning Test 40 45 Minutes-Mathematics 30-Applied Mathematics (Word Problems)

10

Optional Post-Test Survey 15 MinutesTotal 280 5:00 Hours

Perceptual Ability Test

High scores shown to correlate with dental school performanceIE ability to read radiographs

Key component of application90 questions in 60 minutes (40 seconds per

question)

Consistently getting harder

http://www.ada.org/sections/educationAndCareers/pdfs/dat_validity_study.pdf

Perceptual Ability Test

The Perceptual Ability Test includes various types of nonverbal visual acuity items. There are six sections to the Perceptual Ability Test. One section covers two-dimensional perception, while the other sections cover three-dimensional perception. It is important that you read and understand the instructions at the beginning of each section. You must pace yourself so that you complete all six sections of the Perceptual Ability Test within the given time frame. You are not permitted to use measuring devices (i.e., pencils and fingers) while taking the Perceptual Ability Test.

http://www.ada.org/sections/educationAndCareers/pdfs/dat_test_sampleitems.pdf

Dental Admissions Test Formality Simulation

Exact system used by the DATGo through all of the tutorial and instruction pagesFamiliarize yourself with the testing environment and pre-

read tutorial/instructions.https://www.prometric.com/ClientFiles/ada/DAT/index.htm

Barons DAT Book (Limited Page Views)

http://goo.gl/u4EijV

Keyhole (apertures) Rules

Prior to passing through the aperture, the irregular solid object may be turned in any direction. It may be started through the aperture on a side not shown.

Once the object is started through the aperture, it may not be twisted or turned. It must pass completely through the opening. The opening is always the exact shape of the appropriate external outline of the object.

Both objects and apertures are drawn to the same scale. Thus it is possible for an opening to be the correct shape but too small for the object. In all cases, however, differences are large enough to judge by eye.

There are no irregularities in any hidden portion of the object. However, if the figure has symmetric indentations, the hidden portion is symmetric with the part shown.

For each object there is only one correct aperture.

Keyhole Method

Top/Front/End Method

3 answers and their mirror reflections

Process of Elimination

Focus on a section to compare size, direction, slope, etc.

Guided Keyhole Examples

Top Front End (view recognition) Rules

The pictures that follow are top, front, and end views of various solid objects.

The views are without perspective. That is, the points in the viewed surface are viewed along parallel lines of vision.

The projection looking DOWN on it is shown in the upper left-hand corner (TOP VIEW). The projection looking at the object from the FRONT is shown in the lower-left corner (FRONT VIEW). The projection looking at the object from the END is shown in the lower-right-hand-corner (END VIEW).

These views are ALWAYS in the same position and are labeled accordingly.

Top Front End Methods

DO NOT USE Line Counting Method

Visualize the object and use process of elimination

Parallel Viewing Projections

Top Front End Guided Example

Top Front End Guided Example

Angle Ranking (angle discrimination) Rules

You are to example the four INTERIOR angles and rank each in terms of degrees from SMAL TO LARGE. Choose the alternative that has the correct ranking.

Angle Ranking Method

MacBook

Pacman

Hill

From a distance

Etc…. There are a LOT

If you have problems, try another

HILL Steeper/More Dangerous

Less Steep/Safer

Acute Angle Bigger Smaller

Obtuse Angle Smaller Bigger

Angle Ranking Process of Elimination

Go directly to answer choices

Determine largest and smallest angles

This results in two answers remaining (50/50)

Angle Ranking Examples

Hole Punching (paper folding) Rules

A flat square of paper is folded one or more times.

The broken lines indicate the original position of the paper. The solid lines indicate the position of the folded paper.

The paper is never turned or twisted. The folded paper always remains within the edges of the original square.

There may be from one to three folds in each item. After the last fold a hole is punched in the paper.

Your task is to mentally unfold the paper and determine the position of the holes on the original square. Chose the pattern of black circles that indicates the position of the holes on the original square. There is only one correct pattern for each item.

Hole Punching (paper folding) Method

Modified Grid Method aka Tick-Tak-To Method (Line of Symmetry) Fast, simple, accurate

Solves half holes & invisible holes

4 Rules1. Place X from last diagram onto grid2. Locate axis of symmetry & reflect

shapes over axis3. X’s already on axis are unchanged4. Any X’s present on other side of axis

of symmetry are invisible. Cross out or circle invisible X’s

Hole Punch Examples

Hole Punching: Invisible Hole(s)

Cube Counting Rules

Each figure has been made by cementing together cubes of the same size.

After being cemented each group was painted on all sides EXCEPT FOR THE BOTTOM ON WHICH IT IS RESTING.

The only hidden cubes are those required to support other cubes.

Cube Counting Method

Multiple questions per diagram

Number 0,1,2,3,4,5 on an upside down T chart

Learn all options for each shape for quick tallying

Total tallies = Total cubes. If not, REDO

Create a counting direction rule and ALWAYS FOLLOW IT

012345

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

19

Cube Counting Confusion

1 miscount results in:• 3 Cube Changes• 2 Questions Wrong*

Cube Counting Guided Example

In this figure, how many cubes have two of their exposed sides painted?

A. 1 cube

B. 2 cubes

C. 3 cubes

D. 4 cubes

E. 5 cubes

In this figure, how many cubes have four of their exposed sides painted?

A. 1 cube

B. 2 cubes

C. 3 cubes

D. 4 cubes

E. 5 cubes

Pattern Folding (3D form development) Rules

A flat pattern will be presented. This patter is to be folded into a three dimensional figure.

The correct figure is one of the four given at the right of the pattern. There is only one correct figure in each set.

The outside of the pattern is what is seen at the left.

Pattern Folding Method

Find distinguishing characteristics and the relationship to sidesShape matching method

Color matching method

Process of Elimination

Pattern Folding Guided Example

Pattern Folding Guided Example 2

Pattern Folding Examples

Recommended Resources

Kaplan (Medium) – Brian, Stephanie V.

Gold Standard DAT (Avg) – Kristine, Eli Written Methods

Crack DAT PAT (Hard) – Eli, Greg, Vina, Stephanie V. 5 or 10 test version

3D renders when reviewing mistakes

DAT Achiever (Harder) – Nobody… Great challenging questions. Similar to difficult questions on DAT

DAT Bootcamp (Hardest) - Greg Tutorials - https://www.youtube.com/user/DATBootcamp/videos

http://woodgears.ca/eyeball/