The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is all about science and math. Since undoubtedly you have taken myriad science and mathematics courses throughout your college career, you should be up-to-date on the material that will be covered on the DAT. You will already have acquired the appropriate textbooks and review books for the subjects.
The DAT also includes the Reading Comprehension Test and the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT). There are six sections to the PAT, which require visual and mental dexterity. The PAT measures your ability to work with two- and three-dimensional objects, and be able to manipulate them visually and analyze them in different formats. The six sections are aperture passing, orthographic projection, angle discrimination, paper folding, cubes, and form development.
Survey of the Natural Sciences
Biology
Cell and Molecular Biology: origin of life, cell metabolism (including photosynthesis) and enzymology, cellular processes, thermodynamics, organelle structure and function, mitosis/meiosis, cell structure, and experimental cell biology
Diversity of Life: Biological Organization and Relationship of Major Taxa (monera, plantae, animalia, protista, fungi, etc.) — using the five-kingdom system
Vertebrate Anatomy and Physiology: Structure and Function of Systems — integumentary, skeletal, muscular, circulatory, immunological, digestive, respiratory, urinary, nervous/ senses, endocrine, and reproductive
Developmental Biology: fertilization, descriptive embryology, developmental mechanisms, and experimental embryology
Genetics: molecular genetics, human genetics, classical genetics, chromosomal genetics, and genetic technology
Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior: natural selection, population, genetics/speciation, cladistics, population and community ecology, ecosystems, and animal behavior (including social behavior)
General Chemistry
Stoichiometry and General Concepts: percent composition, empirical formulae, balancing equations, moles and molecular formulas, molar mass, density, and calculations from balanced equations
Gases: kinetic molecular theory of gases, Dalton's, Boyle's, Charles', and ideal gas laws
Liquids and Solids: intermolecular forces, phase changes, vapor pressure, structures, polarity, and properties
Solutions: polarity, properties (colligative, noncolligative), forces, and concentration calculations
Acids and Bases: pH, strength, Bronsted-Lowry reactions, and calculations
Chemical Equilibria: molecular, acid/base, precipitation, calculations, and Le Chatelier's principle
Thermodynamics and Thermochemistry: laws of thermodynamics, Hess' law, spontaneity, enthalpies and entropies, and heat transfer
Chemical Kinetics: rate laws, activation energy, and half life
Oxidation-Reduction Reactions: balancing equations, determination of oxidation numbers, electrochemical calculations, and electrochemical concepts and terminology
Atomic and Molecular Structure: electron configuration, orbital types, Lewis-Dot diagrams, atomic theory, quantum theory, molecular geometry, bond types, and sub-atomic particles
Periodic Properties: representative elements, transition elements, periodic trends, and descriptive chemistry
Nuclear Reactions: balancing equations, binding energy, decay processes, particles, and terminology
Laboratory: basic techniques, equipment, error analysis, safety, and data analysis
Organic Chemistry
Mechanisms (Energetics, Structure, and Stability of Intermediates): SN1, SN2, elimination; addition, free radical, and substitution mechanisms
Chemical and Physical Properties of Molecules and Organic Analysis: inter- and intra-molecular forces, separation, introductory infrared spectroscopy, lHNMR spectroscopy, 13CNMR, chemical identification, stability, solubility, and polarity
Stereochemistry: conformational analysis, geometric isomers, stereoisomers (enantiomers, diastereomers, meso compounds), and optical activity (planes of symmetry)
Nomenclature: IUPAC rules and functional groups in molecules
Individual Reactions of the Major Functional Groups and Combinations of Reactions to Synthesize Compounds: carbon-to-carbon bond formation, functional groups conversions, multi-step synthesis, redox reactions, name reactions, grignard, witting, deiels-adlet, aldol reaction
Acid-Base Chemistry: resonance effects, inductive effects, and prediction of products and equilibria
Aromatics Arid Bonding: concept of aromaticity, resonance, atomic/molecular orbitals, hybridization, and bond angles/lengths
Survey of Quantitative Reasoning
Mathematical Problems: Algebra — equations and expressions, inequalities, exponential notation, absolute value, ratios and proportions, and graphical analysis
Numerical calculations: fractions and decimals, percentages, approximations, and scientific notation
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Conversions: temperature, time, weight, and distance
Probability and Statistics, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Applied Mathematics (Word) Problems
