The Dental Admission Test (DAT®) is the standardized exam required for admission to dental schools in the United States. Administered by the American Dental Association (ADA), the DAT® evaluates your understanding of the natural sciences, your perceptual ability, and your reading comprehension skills. Most dental schools require a DAT® score as part of their application, and your performance on this exam plays a significant role in admissions decisions. This page covers the exam format, registration, scoring, study timelines, and the best free resources to start your preparation.
Exam Format and Structure
The DAT® is a computer-based exam consisting of four sections with a total testing time of approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes (including a 30-minute break). The exam contains 280 items divided across the following sections.
Survey of the Natural Sciences (SNS): 100 questions in 90 minutes. This section covers three sub-areas: biology (40 questions), general chemistry (30 questions), and organic chemistry (30 questions). Biology topics include cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, evolution, ecology, anatomy, and physiology. General chemistry covers stoichiometry, thermodynamics, equilibrium, acids and bases, electrochemistry, and nuclear chemistry. Organic chemistry emphasizes mechanisms, reactions, stereochemistry, and functional groups.
Perceptual Ability Test (PAT): 90 questions in 60 minutes. This section tests your spatial reasoning and visual perception through six sub-sections: apertures (keyhole), view recognition, angle discrimination, paper folding, cube counting, and three-dimensional form development. Many dental schools consider PAT scores especially carefully because spatial reasoning is directly relevant to clinical dentistry.
Reading Comprehension (RC): 50 questions in 60 minutes. Three passages on scientific topics, each followed by questions that test your ability to understand, analyze, and draw conclusions from dense academic writing. No prior knowledge of the passage topics is expected.
Quantitative Reasoning (QR): 40 questions in 45 minutes. Covers applied mathematics including algebra, conversions, probability, statistics, geometry, and trigonometry. A basic on-screen calculator is provided during this section only.
Registration and Scheduling
The DAT® is offered year-round at Prometric testing centers throughout the United States. You can schedule your exam through the ADA website after creating a DAT® account. The registration fee is approximately $475, which includes the score report sent to dental schools through the AADSAS® application system.
There is a 90-day waiting period between attempts. You may take the exam an unlimited number of times, but dental schools will see all scores. Most applicants take the DAT® once or twice. Plan to register at least 60 days before your preferred test date to ensure availability at your preferred location.
Scoring
Each section is scored on a scale of 1 to 30, with 17 as the national average. In addition to individual section scores, you receive two composite scores: an Academic Average (AA), which is the average of your SNS, PAT, RC, and QR scores, and a Total Science (TS) score, which averages biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry.
Competitive applicants typically score 20 or above on the Academic Average. The average DAT® AA for students admitted to dental schools is approximately 20 to 21, though this varies by program. Research specific school statistics through the ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools or individual program websites.
When to Take the DAT
Most applicants take the DAT® during the spring or summer before they plan to apply. If you intend to submit your AADSAS® application in early June, plan to have your score available by that time. We recommend completing general biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry before taking the exam. A biochemistry course, while not directly tested, provides useful background for the biology section.
How Long to Study
Most successful DAT® test-takers study for 2 to 4 months, dedicating 15 to 25 hours per week. Students who study during a dedicated summer period without other coursework often use a more compressed timeline of 8 to 12 weeks at higher intensity. Start by taking a practice exam to assess your baseline and identify weak areas.
Recommended Study Resources (Free First)
ADA Official DAT® Practice Tests (Paid, Official): The ADA offers official practice tests that are the most accurate representation of the real exam. These should be your primary benchmark. Purchase the official practice test from the ADA website and save it for the later stages of your preparation to simulate test-day conditions.
Khan Academy® (Free): Khan Academy® offers comprehensive, free video content covering biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and reading comprehension skills. While not DAT®-specific, the science content maps closely to the DAT® content outline. Start with Khan Academy® for content review before moving to DAT®-specific practice. See our Khan Academy® guide for usage tips.
OpenStax Textbooks (Free): If you need to review foundational content, OpenStax offers free textbooks in biology, chemistry, and anatomy and physiology. These provide thorough coverage of the underlying concepts tested on the DAT®. Visit our free textbooks page for direct links.
DAT Bootcamp and Other Paid Resources: Several paid platforms offer DAT®-specific question banks, practice exams, and PAT generators. If you choose to use a paid resource, evaluate it based on how closely its content matches the official ADA practice test in style and difficulty. We do not place affiliate links and do not recommend one paid provider over another.
Anki Flashcard Decks (Free): Community-created DAT® flashcard decks are available for free through the Anki spaced-repetition platform. These are especially useful for memorizing biology terms, organic chemistry reactions, and general chemistry constants. See our spaced repetition guide for effective flashcard strategies.
Study Strategies by Section
Biology: The biology section covers a wide range of topics. Prioritize high-yield areas including cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, anatomy (especially organ systems), ecology, and evolution. Create flashcards for key terms and processes. Our biology study guide breaks down the major topics.
General Chemistry: Focus on equilibrium, acids and bases, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, atomic structure, and gas laws. Practice solving quantitative problems quickly. Our general chemistry study guide covers these topics in detail.
Organic Chemistry: Learn the major reaction types and their mechanisms. Focus on substitution (SN1/SN2), elimination (E1/E2), addition reactions, carbonyl chemistry, and stereochemistry. Drawing mechanisms by hand improves retention. See our organic chemistry study guide.
PAT: The Perceptual Ability Test requires consistent practice. Dedicated PAT generators (available through various paid platforms) are the most effective preparation tool for this section. Practice at least 20 to 30 minutes daily for the final 4 to 6 weeks of your study period. Improvement on PAT is directly proportional to the volume of practice you complete.
Reading Comprehension: Practice reading dense, unfamiliar scientific passages under timed conditions. Focus on identifying the main argument, supporting evidence, and the author’s conclusions. The skills you develop here overlap significantly with the MCAT® CARS section and with general academic reading. Our reading scientific literature guide covers these techniques.
Quantitative Reasoning: Review algebra, probability, statistics, and basic geometry. Practice with timed problem sets. This section is typically the most straightforward for students who have completed college-level math, but time pressure is a factor. Work on speed and accuracy together.
Next Steps After the DAT
Your DAT® scores are automatically sent to dental schools through the AADSAS® application. If your score is lower than expected, you can retake the exam after the 90-day waiting period. Most dental schools consider your most recent or highest score, but all scores are visible. Before retaking, analyze your section-by-section performance and adjust your study plan accordingly. For guidance on the dental school application process, see our AADSAS® application guide and our dentist career profile.
References
American Dental Association (ADA). “Dental Admission Test (DAT).” ADA, 2025. https://www.ada.org/education/testing/dental-admission-test. Accessed March 2026.
American Dental Education Association (ADEA). “ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools.” ADEA, 2025. https://www.adea.org/. Accessed March 2026.
Khan Academy. “Science.” Khan Academy, 2025. https://www.khanacademy.org/science. Accessed March 2026.
OpenStax. “Free Textbooks.” Rice University, 2025. https://openstax.org/. Accessed March 2026.