Highlights on the DAT (Dental Admission Test)

The Dental Admission Test (abbreviated DAT) is a computer based multiple-choice standardized exam taken as an important part of admissions process by the dental schools in the United States. The test has been designed with an objective to provide dental education programs with a means to assess applicants’ potential for success. Hence, all dental schools require applicants to take the DAT as a crucial component of their admission process. The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is accepted by all U.S. dental schools and selective dental schools in Canada. The total administration time is five hours and 15 minutes. 

The DAT measures-Academic ability, Scientific understanding and Perceptual ability, and includes a battery of four tests:

• Survey of the Natural Sciences (100 items)– (biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry)
• Perceptual Ability (90 items)– (two- and three-dimensional problem solving)
• Reading Comprehension (50 items)– (dental and basic sciences)
• Quantitative Reasoning (40 items)– (mathematical problems in algebra, numerical calculations, conversions, etc.)

The DAT can be administered almost any day of the year and are taken at Prometric testing centers throughout the United States after the completion of preliminary application through the American Dental Association (ADA). Each applicant may only take the test a total of three times before having to ask special permission to take the exams again. One can only take the test once every 90 days. Hence, after taking the exam, applicants must wait 90 days before repeating it. The costs of exam is $560 and is non-refundable.