What Is the Dental Admission Test? An Essential Guide for Aspiring Dentists

Do you want to take admission in popular dental schools in the US? Then you must clear the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). What is the Dental Admission Test? The DAT is a dental examination for admission into dental schools like the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, the University of Michigan, and the San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry. The truth is, if you want to study at any dental school in the U.S., this exam is mandatory. Canadian universities also accept the test scores. Read this blog to learn about the importance of DAT, its structure, score, fees,  exam centres, universities accepting the score, and more.

DAT Full Form	Dental Admissions Test (DAT)
Exam Type	Multiple-choice and computer-based
When to Take	Anytime in a year
Duration	4 hours
Exam format	Quantitative reasoning, natural sciences, Perceptual Ability, and reading comprehension are tested.
Result time	3-4 weeks
Number of re-takes permitted	3 (with 90-day gap)

What is the Purpose of Dental Admissions Test? 

What is the dental admission test? The Dental Admissions Test (DAT) is an examination designed to assess your ability for success in the dental programs. The DAT test results are accepted by all the dental schools in the US. Moreover, selected Canadian universities also accept the test score.  However, you must remember the results are just one factor in determining the potential. Studies have shown that combining the DAT with the academic score is a good predictor of success in dental school. 

Securing a high score in the DAT exam increases your chances of admission to a program in the US. DAT provides a uniform comparison for all applicants.

What is the Format of the DAT Exam?

To understand what is the dental admission test, you need to know its format. The DAT exam structure is provided below. If you include the total exam time, including the optional breaks, and post-test survey period, it can take around 5 hours and 15 minutes to complete the exam. 

Section	Number of Questions	Time Allotted
Survey of Natural Sciences	100 (biology 40, general chemistry and organic chemistry 30 each)	90 minutes
Perceptual Ability Test (PAT)	90	60 minutes
Reading Comprehension Test	50	60 minutes
Quantitative Reasoning Test	40	45 minutes
Total	280	4 hours 15 minutes

What are the Sections of the DAT?

The DAT exam allows a total of 3 attempts for the test taker. Therefore, understanding what is the dental admission test sections is important. The exam consists of 4 main sections. The format of the DAT exam is as follows.

1. The survey of natural sciences- This section covers topics from biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. 
2. The PAT section covers 2D and 3D questions. For example, topics like Keyhole 3D test, angle Ranking, Cube Counting, Hole Punches, Pattern Folding, and Top/Front/End Visualization are asked. 
3. The reading comprehension test consists of 3 scientific reading passages, based on which questions are asked.
4.  The quantitative reasoning section tests your mathematical ability. Questions are asked on algebra, geometry, statistics, etc.

What is the Qualification for the DAT Exam?

Before sitting for the exam, it is important to know what is the dental admission test eligibility? The DAT exam, once taken, is valid in both the USA and Canada. The eligibility criteria you need to meet are as follows:

1. You must have completed at least 1 year of college studies. Your course must consist of general chemistry and biology subjects
2. Although 1 year is the minimum, most test takes complete 2 or 3 years of college before applying.
3. You want to study at a dental school in the US or Canada 
4. You have a valid government identification card to take the exam

How Are Dat Scores Calculated?

Now that you understand what is the dental admission test, let’s look at how scores are calculated. The  DAT test consists of 280 questions.. The scores are calculated based on the following-

1. There is no negative marking in the examination
2. Each correct answer contributed to your raw score 
3. However, each raw score is converted into a scaled score. The scaled scores range from 200 to 600. They are given in 10-point increments. For example, 100, 110, 120, etc.
4. You will receive scaled scores for each section. For example, your scaled score for the survey of natural sciences is calculated.
5. Thereafter, the academic average of your score is taken up. Your average score is rounded up to the nearest whole number. 
6. Your total science score reflects your overall performance in the science-related sections.

Just like any other exam, higher scores indicate better performance.

How Much is the DAT Exam?

The DAT examination is computer-based. To take this exam you need to pay a no- non-refundable fee. The exam fees are provided below:

Exam Name	Exam Fees
Dental Admissions Test	USD 525

You can only give 3 attempts for the exam. For each attempt, you need to pay this fee The ADA fee assistance is only available to US permanent residents or citizens.

When to Take the DAT Exam?

Now you understand what is the dental admission test. The next thing you need to know is when to take the examination. Ideally, you need to take the exam by taking into account the following things-

1. You must have completed at least 2 years of college, and have had enough time to prepare for the exam. 
2. It is advisable to take the exam one year before you want to enroll in the dental school. However, most people take the exam after completing their bachelor’s studies.
3. Plan you test date by taking into account the time need to submit application to dental schools. The deadlines vary.

How to Apply for the DAT Exam?

You must be wondering what is the dental admission test application process. The DAT exam can be applied by following the steps below:

1. Visit the official website of the American Dental Association.
2. Apply to take the DAT test, and pay the non-refundable fee.
3. Create a Dental Personal Identifier Number (DENTPIN) to complete the application as part of the registration process.
4. The ADA will issue you an eligibility letter. The eligibility letter will state whether you meet the eligibility requirements to take the exam or not.
5. Schedule an appointment to take the examination. For example, with Prometric testing.
6. Ensure that you have scheduled your examination at least 60 to 90 days in advance.
7. Request for special accommodations if you need one 
8. Finally, show up on the date of your scheduled examination.

Universities Accepting DAT Test Scores

You have understood what is the dental admission test, and how to apply for it. It is important to know which universities accept the DAT scores. Generally speaking, around 66 US universities in the US accept DAT scores. Almost 10 universities in Canada also require the DAT test results for admission into a dental school. Some of these universities are listed below:

US Universities Accepting DAT Test Results	Canadian Universities Accepting DAT Test Results
University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry	University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry
Harvard School of Dental Medicine	University of British Columbia Faculty of Dentistry
University of Michigan School of Dentistry	McGill University Faculty of Dentistry
New York University College of Dentistry	University of Alberta School of Dentistry
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine	University of Manitoba Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry	University of Saskatchewan College of Dentistry
Columbia University College of Dental Medicine	University of Western Ontario Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
University of Washington School of Dentistry	Université de Montréal Faculté de médecine dentaire
University of Southern California Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry	Université Laval Faculté de médecine dentaire
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine	Dalhousie University Faculty of Dentistry

How Long Is the DAT & When Can I Receive the DAT Test Results?

The DAT examination would take around 5 hours and 15 minutes to complete. This includes the time you take for the optional break, survey and tutorial. The exam results are given within 3 to 4 weeks of taking the exam. The results are sent to two places-

1. The results are directly sent to the Denalt schools.
2.  You can also view your test results by logging into your DENTPIN account.

What Is a Good Dental Admission Test Score?

What is the dental admission test good score? A good score is provided below. 

Score (200–600)	Percentile Rank	Description
360	50th	Average
400	75th	Above Average
440	88th	Competitive
480	98th	Excellent
520	99th	Outstanding

What are the DAT Exam Locations?

What is the dental admission test? The DAT exam is conducted year-round. The exam is held at the Prometric test centers across the US. Even territories like the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico,, and Guam are included. You can visit the official website of Prometric website and book a test centre. This examination can only be taken in the USA. However, if you want to take the DAT exam in Canada, the DAT administered by the Canadian Dental Association will provide you with the test centres in Canada.

Is the DAT a Hard Exam?

Yes. The DAT examination is a hard exam. The exam covers a lot of science topics for which extensive knowledge of the subject is required. It covers a lot of subjects like biology, verbal ability, chemistry, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning. However, the perceived difficulty of the exam depends on the individual. Whether you will clear the exam or not depends on your preparation level. The DAT exam is one of the most difficult standardized tests held in the USA.

How to Study for the DAT Exam?

What is the dental admission test preparation steps? You can prepare for the DAT exam by following the steps below:

1. Get to know the exam structure and the kind of questions asked, and the allotted time for each section.
2. Prepare a proper study plan that covers all the test sections 
3. Make use of the study materials like DAT prep books, practice tests and online courses 
4. Seek support from study groups and mentors who have successfully taken the exam.

To learn more about clearing the DAT exam, watch this video:

Also read:

• Best Dental Colleges In India
• Study in USA Without SAT Exam: Top Universities, Fee
• Cheap Universities in USA: Courses, Scholarships, and Cost of Living

FAQs about Dental Admission Test (DAT)

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