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The Dental Admission Test

The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is a standardized exam required for admission to dental schools in the United States and Canada. Administered by the American Dental Association (ADA), the DAT is designed to assess a candidate’s readiness for dental education by evaluating their academic knowledge and perceptual ability.

Sections

Survey of Natural Sciences

(Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry)

Perceptual Ability

The Perceptual Ability Test is a unique section of the DAT that evaluates your spatial reasoning and visual perception skills

Reading & Math

Tests your ability to do Reading Comprehension and Quantitative Reasoning

Survey of Natural Sciences

The Survey of the Natural Sciences is the first section of the Dental Admission Test (DAT) and plays a critical role in evaluating your understanding of foundational science concepts necessary for dental school.

This section tests your knowledge in Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry, reflecting the core subjects taught in pre-dental undergraduate programs. It consists of 100 multiple-choice questions and must be completed in 90 minutes. 

                                                                   

                                                             Breakdown of the Survey of Natural Sciences

1. Biology (40 questions)

Covers a broad range of biological concepts, including:

  • Cell and molecular biology

  • Genetics

  • Evolution and diversity of life

  • Human anatomy and physiology

  • Developmental biology

  • Ecology

2.General Chemistry (30 questions)

Tests fundamental principles of inorganic chemistry, such as:

  • Atomic structure

  • Periodic properties

  • Chemical bonding

  • Stoichiometry

  • Thermodynamics

  • Equilibrium

  • Acids and bases

  • Electrochemistry

3. Organic Chemistry (30 questions)

Focuses on the structure, properties, and reactions of organic compounds:

  • Nomenclature

  • Functional groups

  • Reaction mechanisms

  • Stereochemistry

  • Aromaticity

  • Spectroscopy

  • Biomolecules (basic concepts)

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Quick Facts

  • Time: 90 minutes

  • Total Questions: 100

  • Order: Biology → General Chemistry → Organic Chemistry

  • Scoring: Each subject contributes to your overall Natural Sciences score

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We are currently working on creating a bank questions for biology, General Chemistry to better prepare you. Free!

Perceptual Ability Test (PAT)

The Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) is a distinctive part of the Dental Admission Test (DAT) that assesses your ability to understand and manipulate two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects. This skill is vital in dentistry, where professionals must work precisely in small, confined spaces without always relying on direct vision.

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The PAT consists of 90 questions, divided across six subtests, and must be completed in 60 minutes. No calculators, rulers, or measuring tools are allowed—success relies entirely on mental visualization and spatial reasoning.

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Breakdown of PAT Subtests

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Apertures (Keyholes) – 15 Questions

You are shown a 3D object and must choose the correct 2D hole (keyhole) it can pass through.
Skill tested: Spatial visualization and orientation.

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View Recognition (Top/Front/End) – 15 Questions

Given one view of a 3D object, you must identify how it looks from a different angle. Skill tested: Ability to mentally rotate objects.

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Angle Ranking – 15 Questions

You are presented with 4–5 angles and must rank them from smallest to largest. Skill tested: Acute visual judgment of subtle differences in angles.

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Hole Punching – 15 Questions

A square piece of paper is folded and has holes punched through it. You must determine the unfolded pattern.
Skill tested: Understanding of symmetry and visualization of transformations.

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Cube Counting – 15 Questions

A stack of cubes is partially painted. You must determine how many cubes have a specific number of painted sides.
Skill tested: 3D analysis and tracking of hidden surfaces.

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Pattern Folding – 15 Questions

You’re shown a 2D flat pattern and must identify the 3D object it would form when folded. Skill tested: Spatial reasoning and object assembly.

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Quick Facts:

  • Time: 60 minutes

  • Questions: 90 total (15 per subtest)

  • Calculator: Not allowed

  • Skills tested: Spatial reasoning, attention to detail, mental rotation, and visual acuity

Reading & Math

Reading Comprehension

The Reading Comprehension section of the DAT evaluates your ability to understand, analyze, and synthesize information from scientific passages. Strong reading skills are essential for dental school, where you'll need to process large volumes of technical material efficiently.

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Key Details:

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  • Total Questions: 50

  • Time Limit: 60 minutes

  • Passages: 3 scientific passages

  • Question Types:

    • Main idea identification

    • Inference and reasoning

    • Tone and author's intent

    • Detail recall

    • Reading between the lines

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Quantitative Reasoning

The Quantitative Reasoning section tests your mathematical problem-solving skills, particularly in areas relevant to science and data interpretation. It’s designed to assess how well you can apply mathematical concepts under time pressure.

 

Key Details:

  • Total Questions: 40

  • Time Limit: 45 minutes

  • On-screen Calculator: Provided (basic, no graphing functions)

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Topics Covered:

  • Basic Math Skills

    • Arithmetic

    • Fractions, decimals, percentages

    • Ratios and proportions

  • Algebra

    • Solving equations and inequalities

    • Word problems

    • Exponents and radicals

  • Geometry ( It is no longer there However, some students still encounter basic questions.)

    • Angles, triangles, circles

    • Perimeter, area, volume

    • Coordinate geometry

  • Data Analysis & Interpretation

    • Graphs and charts

    • Statistics and probability

    • Quantitative comparison

  • Word Problems

    • Applied reasoning in real-world contexts

How is it scored?

The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is scored based on your performance across four main sections. Each section is scored individually and contributes to composite scores that dental schools evaluate closely.

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As of March 1, 2025, the ADA is transitioning to a three-digit scoring scale (200–600). However, no changes to exam content are planned. Under the new system:

  • Unofficial scores will no longer be available immediately at the test center.

  • Official scores will be sent to ADEA AADSAS, but older 2-digit scale results may still be used/referenceable alongside newer scores

Why the Change?

  • The ADA adopted a 3-parameter logistic model (3PL), a more sophisticated psychometric approach, to ensure greater accuracy and fairness in score interpretation across different test forms.

  • This model offers finer differentiation between test-takers, especially at higher performance levels—a crucial improvement over the compressed 1–30 scale.

What’s Staying the Same?

  • Exam content, structure, and sections remain unchanged: Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning.

  • Composite scores—like Academic Average (AA) and Total Science (TS)—are calculated the same way, though now reported on the new scale.

  • Both 2‑digit and 3‑digit scores remain valid for applications. Applicants can self-report either, depending on exam date, and dental schools are equipped to interpret both via concordance tables

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Learn more through 2025 Candidate Guide by ADA. Learn more 

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