• Natural sciences (biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry)
• Perceptual ability (two- and three- dimensional problem-solving)
• Reading comprehension (dental and basic science)
• Quantitative reasoning (algebra, numerical calculations, conversions, etc.)

DAT results are reported as scale scores, which are neither raw scores nor percentiles but are instead calculated using psychometric equating procedures. 

You will receive eight scores, one each for the content areas including Perceptual Ability, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry. You will also receive a Total Science Score and an Academic Average. The Total Science score is a standard score on all the questions in the Biology, General Chemistry and Organic chemistry sections but is not an average of your overall scores in these sections. The Academic Average is the average of the five scores of Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry. If you took the test prior to March 1, 2025, the scores on each section ranged from 1-30 and were reported in one-point increments. The national average for each section was usually around 19.

If you take the test after March 1, 2025, a new scoring system will be used. The previous 2-digit score reporting scale (1 to 30) has been replaced by a 3-digit reporting scale (200 to 600). For more information on the new scoring system as well as a mechanism to compare new scores to those in the previous scoring system, please see the DAT scoring information website. 

The DAT requires content knowledge which you acquire in your courses and subsequent preparation for the exam itself. Test takers should complete all necessary courses and dedicate at least 2-3 months of intensive exam preparation before taking the DAT. We strongly recommend you use the ADA Official resources and practice exams to help you prepare. Only take the exam when you feel you are prepared and are scoring well on practice exams. All scores are permanent and will be visible to all dental schools where you apply.

The most important timing consideration is not to take the exam until you are ready. Be sure you are scoring well on practice exams before you take the actual exam. Many applicants take the DAT during the summer before their application year while other wait as long as the winter of their application year. The DAT is offered year round so you should not be limited by the DAT schedule. You will receive your scores approximately 4 weeks after the exam so be sure to consider that time in your overall plan.

While you can start the application process without a DAT, we recommend that you have a score by mid-May of the year when you will apply. This is the latest timeline that will still allow you to be an early applicant in that cycle. Please consult with an HCA advisor if you plan to take the DAT later in the spring of your application year.

If you have needed accommodations, such as additional time on exams and assignments while in college, you may benefit from accommodations on the DAT as well. More information can be found on the DAT testing accommodations request form. This process takes time, so be sure to start early to ensure your accommodations are determined before you take the DAT.

The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) has a Fee Assistance Program that can help to cover the costs of the application and the DAT. This process takes time for approval and has specific requirements to enroll so be sure to check it out early in the process.

When you are considering the score you earned on the DAT, it is important to think about it in the context of the schools to which you plan to apply. As a general reference, the mean DAT score of matriculants to dental schools is typically about 20 on the old scoring system, which translates to about  420 on the new system. This is true for the Academic Average, Perceptual Ability, and Total Science scores.

It is quite common to earn a score a few points lower than the scores you were getting on your practice test. This is often due to the stress that occurs when taking the test and knowing that the score will be recorded. If you earned significantly lower than your practice test, you may want to think about potentially retaking the exam. However, there are two very important factors to consider: the reason for the lower score and whether or not you are very confident your score will improve if you take the exam again. The HCA advising team can help you reflect on these questions and provide feedback on whether or not a retake is a good idea for you.

There are limits on the number of attempts allowed by the ADA for the DAT. You can only take the test once in every 90 days and you are limited to 3 lifetime attempts. There are some extenuating circumstances that will allow you to take it 4 times, but this requires special permission from the American Dental Association. It is important to ensure you are ready before you take the test the first time and if you are not ready, then delay the test rather than taking it too early. Some dental schools will use the average of your attempts, some use the latest score and some use the highest so these are also factors to consider.

Just as there is no one perfect way to study for an exam in a particular course, there is no one best way to study for the DAT. Some students prefer the written materials, while others like apps and electronic resources and yet others find formal courses more helpful. We encourage you to think about strategies that have helped you to be successful in your classes and apply this strategy to the DAT. Whichever method you choose, the most successful strategies involve at least a few months of consistent study and practice across all the disciplines covered in the exam.

Some medical schools will use the average of your attempts, some use the latest score and others use the highest score when considering your application.

We do NOT recommend this option. It is important to ensure you are ready before you take the test the first time and if you are not ready, then delay the test rather than taking it too early. Once you have taken the test, the score will be on your record when you apply. If you do not do well the first time and need to retake, you will then have multiple scores and some medical schools will use the average of your attempts which will not work in your favor if you take the DAT before you are ready and have a lower score that does not reflect your true abilities.

Yes, you can start the application process without a DAT score. However, you will need a score before any school will consider your application. It is also difficult to determine which dental schools you want to apply to without having the score for context.

You have a few options in this case. One option is to continue the application process with a school list that reflects this score. If you choose this option, be sure to only apply to schools that you really want to attend as there is no reason to apply to a school where you would turn down a seat if offered. Another option is to withdraw your application for this cycle. However, you can only do this if your application has not yet been verified. Once it is verified, you cannot withdraw your entire application. You also cannot delete a school from AADSAS once your application has been submitted, but you can contact the school directly to let them know. The final option would be to retake the DAT but we do not recommend this option. It takes months of study to see an improvement in DAT scores and this means that your application would not have the score until very late in the cycle.