DAT

Format,Timing,Scoring,Andpolicies

The Dental Admission Test is a computer-based, multiple-choice examination administered by the American Dental Association at Prometric test centers. It assesses general academic ability, comprehension of scientific information, and perceptual ability. Dental schools use DAT results with your academic record and the rest of your application to evaluate your readiness for the demands of dental education.

Exam Structure

The four test components are always given in the order below. The optional tutorial, break, and post-test survey are included in the total appointment time.

Component	Items	Time	Pace
Optionaltutorial	—	15minutes	Practicewiththetestinginterface
SurveyoftheNaturalSciences	100	90minutes	About54secondsperitem
PerceptualAbility	90	60minutes	About40secondsperitem
Optionalscheduledbreak	—	30minutes	Restandreset
ReadingComprehension	50	60minutes	About20minutesperpassage
QuantitativeReasoning	40	45minutes	About68secondsperitem
Optional post-test survey	—	15minutes	—

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Biology 40 · General

Six subtests of 15 items

Optional, 30 minutes

Three scientific

On-screen calculator

Chemistry 30 · Organic

passages

provided

Chemistry 30

What Each Component Measures

Scoring

DAT results are reported on a 200–600 scale in 10-point increments. Scale scores are neither raw scores nor percentiles: they are produced through psychometric equating so that scores from different test forms have the same meaning. Only correct answers count toward your score, and there is no penalty for guessing.

Score	BasedOn
Sectionscores	Biology GeneralChemistry OrganicChemistry PerceptualAbility Reading , , , ,
	Comprehension andQuantitativeReasoning ,
TotalScience	All100SurveyoftheNaturalSciencesitems
AcademicAverage	Biology GeneralChemistry OrganicChemistry ReadingComprehension and , , , ,
	QuantitativeReasoning(PerceptualAbilityisnotincluded)

Official results are released electronically to the dental schools you designate and to your DENTPIN account within about three to four weeks of your test date. Dental schools publish the average scores of their admitted classes; research the programs you plan to apply to and set a target for each section.

The ADA publishes a concordance table relating the 200–600 scale to the earlier 1–30 scale, so admissions committees can compare scores reported on either scale.

Registration, Fees, and Retest Rules

Keypolicies

Topic	Details
Registration	ObtainaDENTPIN(DentalPersonalIdentifierNumber) applythroughtheADA thenschedule , ,
	anappointmentwithPrometric
Examinationfee	$580 whichincludesscorereportstotheschoolsselectedatapplication ,
Otherfees	Additional score reports $55 each; score audit $105; 45 -day eligibility extension $150

Keypolicies(Continued)

Topic	Details
Rescheduling	$50 (30 or more business days before) $70 (5–29 days) $150 (1–4 days) , ,
Retestwaitingperiod	Atleast60daysbetweenattempts
Attemptlimits	Up to four attempts in a 12 -month period; candidates with three or more attempts must apply
	forpermissionandshowproofofadentalschoolapplication;afterfiveattempts oneretest ,
	per 12 -month period
Accommodations	AvailablefordocumenteddisabilitiesthroughtheADA'stestingaccommodationsprocess

Materials at the Test Center

The test center provides two note boards without grid lines and two fine-tip markers. An on-screen calculator is available for the Quantitative Reasoning section only, and a periodic table is available during the general chemistry items. Personal items, including phones, bags, and notes, are stored in a locker outside the testing room.

Take the official tutorial and practice items on ADA.org/DAT before test day so the interface, the mark-for-review feature, and the on-screen calculator feel familiar.

Eligibility and Preparation

Successful candidates typically have completed at least one year of college, including courses in biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry; advanced biology and physics are not required. Because the exam covers a broad range of content and rewards speed as well as knowledge, plan several months of structured review with timed practice before your test date.