Understanding what is a good DAT score is paramount for aspiring dental students who are navigating the path to dental school.
The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is an important part of the admissions process because it assesses an applicant’s academic aptitude and scientific understanding.
According to the ADA, top institution acceptance rates are startlingly low, with barely two to five percent of all applicants admitted.
Indeed, a significant trend rose between 2000 and 2014, when dental schools began to get a greater number of candidates than their medical and law school equivalents.
However, what precisely defines a good DAT score? This article seeks to answer this question by providing significant insights into the aspects that contribute to a strong DAT result and their consequences for dental school admissions.
Let’s quickly get into it.
What Is DAT?
The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is a standardized test that is required for admission to dental school in the United States.
The DAT serves as a standardized measure to evaluate the readiness and potential of applicants for dental school. It helps dental schools assess candidates’ academic abilities in areas relevant to the study of dentistry.
The DAT is administered by the American Dental Association (ADA).
It is divided into the following sections:
- Perceptual Ability (PAT)
- Reading Comprehension (RC)
- Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
- Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry.
You can register for the DAT online at the ADA website. The cost of the test is $525. You can take the DAT up to three times per year.
How Is DAT Scored?
The DAT is scored on a scale of 1 to 30, with 30 being the highest possible score.
The Average Academic score is the most important factor in dental school admissions. So it is important to focus on scoring well in this section. However, all of the sections are important, so you should not neglect any of them.
Each question on the DAT is worth one raw point. There is no penalty for incorrect answers. Your raw scores are then converted to scaled scores on a scale of 1 to 30.
The conversion process is designed to make the scores fair for everyone, regardless of the difficulty of the test form they took.
Your final DAT score will consist of your scaled scores in each section, as well as your AA and Total Science (TS) scores. Your TS score is calculated by averaging your scaled scores in the Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry sections.
What Is A Good DAT Score?
The DAT is scored on a scale ranging from 1 to 30, with 30 being the highest attainable score.
The exam consists of four sections: Survey of Natural Sciences, Perceptual Ability Test, Reading Comprehension Test, and Quantitative Reasoning Test.
Each section is scored individually, and the scores are then combined to calculate an Academic Average (AA) score.
On average, a competitive DAT score falls within the range of 19 to 22. However, it’s important to note that a good DAT score is not solely determined by the numeric value.
Dental schools consider a holistic view of applicants, taking into account factors such as undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, personal statements, and extracurricular activities.
Plus, along with the overall score, the dental schools also make sure to consider the percentile ranks of each section.
Percentile ranks indicate the percentage of test-takers who scored below a particular score.
For instance, a percentile rank of 80 means that you performed better than 80% of all test-takers. Higher percentile ranks demonstrate a stronger performance relative to other test-takers.
What Score Is Needed To Get Into A Good Dental School?
The score needed to get admission into a good dental school varies depending on many factors. It includes the specific dental school, competition among applicants, and the overall quality of the applicant pool.
However, in general, a good score on the Dental Admission Test (DAT) is considered to be 20 or higher. A score of 21 or higher is considered to be competitive for the most competitive dental schools.
While there is no fixed score that guarantees acceptance, aiming for a competitive DAT score is crucial for increasing your chances of securing a spot in a reputable dental school.
In addition to the actual score, dental schools also consider percentile ranks when evaluating DAT scores.
Percentile ranks indicate the percentage of test-takers who scored below a particular score.
For example, a percentile rank of 80 means that you performed better than 80% of all test-takers. Higher percentile ranks demonstrate a stronger performance relative to other test-takers.
DAT Score Trends Over The Years
It is important to have a look at the historical DAT score trends when setting goals for the DAT.
According to recent research, it is seen that DAT score has been increasing steadily over the years. When comparing average scores from 1988 and 2021, there is a huge increase seen in average DAT scores.
The score distribution has also become more competitive over the years.
In 1988, the majority of test takers scored between 15 and 20. In 2021, the majority of test takers scored between 18 and 22. This is an indication that more and more students are preparing for the DAT and scoring well.
Average DAT Score By Dental School: 2020
Here is an overview of the average DAT scores and GPA scores of students admitted to top US dental schools in 2020.
| Dental School | Average DAT Scores (AA) | Average GPA |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry | 20.7 | 3.77 |
| Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health | 19.5 | 3.42 |
| Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine – Arizona | 19.6 | 3.51 |
| Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California | 20.3 | 3.49 |
| Loma Linda University School of Dentistry | 20.0 | 3.45 |
| University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry | 22.8 | 3.75 |
| University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry | 21.8 | 3.57 |
| University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry | 21.9 | 3.55 |
| Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine | 19.6 | 3.25 |
| The University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine | 19.6 | 3.60 |
| University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine | 21.6 | 3.61 |
| Howard University College of Dentistry | 17.5 | 3.12 |
| Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Dental Medicine | 19.2 | 3.38 |
| Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine | 20.3 | 3.51 |
| University of Florida College of Dentistry | 20.8 | 3.67 |
| Georgia Regents University College of Dental Medicine | 19.8 | 3.57 |
| The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics | 20.3 | 3.74 |
| Midwestern University – Illinois College of Dental Medicine-Illinois | 18.8 | 3.45 |
| Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine | 19.6 | 3.58 |
| University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry | 20.7 | 3.62 |
| Indiana University School of Dentistry | 19.6 | 3.54 |
| University of Kentucky College of Dentistry | 19.1 | 3.50 |
| University of Louisville School of Dentistry | 19.8 | 3.54 |
| Louisiana State University Health New Orleans School of Dentistry | 20.3 | 3.66 |
| Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine | 19.8 | 3.41 |
| Harvard School of Dental Medicine | 23.5 | 3.85 |
| Tufts University School of Dental Medicine | 19.5 | 3.33 |
| University of Maryland School of Dentistry | 20.8 | 3.56 |
| University of New England College of Dental Medicine | 18.6 | 3.38 |
| University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry | 20.2 | 3.61 |
| University of Michigan School of Dentistry | 20.9 | 3.65 |
| University of Minnesota School of Dentistry | 20.4 | 3.58 |
| Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health | 19.4 | 3.49 |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry | 19.2 | 3.59 |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry | 19.3 | 3.54 |
| East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine | 19.5 | 3.43 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry | 20.9 | 3.56 |
| Creighton University School of Dentistry | 19.4 | 3.56 |
| University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry | 20.2 | 3.67 |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, School of Dental Medicine | 21.3 | 3.55 |
| University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine | 20.6 | 3.52 |
| Columbia University College of Dental Medicine | 22.8 | 3.62 |
| New York University College of Dentistry | 21.1 | 3.49 |
| Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine | 21.5 | 3.59 |
| Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College | 20.0 | 3.45 |
| University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine | 20.5 | 3.61 |
| Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine | 20.1 | 3.62 |
| The Ohio State University College of Dentistry | 20.3 | 3.62 |
| University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry | 19.7 | 3.64 |
| Oregon Health & Science University School of Dentistry | 19.8 | 3.63 |
| The Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University | 20.7 | 3.51 |
| University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine | 21.9 | 3.68 |
| University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine | 21.3 | 3.64 |
| University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine | 17.4 | 3.46 |
| Medical University of South Carolina James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine | 19.6 | 3.60 |
| Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry | 17.9 | 3.22 |
| University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry | 20.5 | 3.65 |
| Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry | 20.3 | 3.64 |
| University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School | 20.4 | 3.60 |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | 20.4 | 3.73 |
| Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine | 19.6 | 3.32 |
| University of Utah School of Dentistry | 20.8 | 3.63 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry | 20.1 | 3.53 |
| University of Washington School of Dentistry | 21.2 | 3.64 |
| Marquette University School of Dentistry | 20.2 | 3.64 |
| West Virginia University School of Dentistry | 18.6 | 3.58 |
(Source: dat-prep.com)
Strategies To Achieve A Good DAT Score?
Getting a top DAT score is no easy feat, but it is definitely possible with hard work and dedication. Here are some tips to help you achieve your goal:
Start preparing early: The DAT is a challenging test, so it is important to invest plenty of time to prepare. I would suggest to start studying at least 3 months before the test date.
Follow a study schedule: Once you know when you are taking the DAT, create a study schedule. This will allow you to cover all study material. Don’t forget to schedule breaks and time for review.
Take practice tests: Taking practice tests can help you master the complete test format and the types of questions that are asked. There are many practice tests available online and in books. Practicing these tests will also help you identify your weaknesses and focus your studying on those areas.
With such strategies, you can definitely increase your chances of achieving a top DAT score.
Related Read:
- How Hard Is The MCAT? How To Score Higher?
- MCAT vs DAT
- How Long Is SAT Score Valid
- What Is The Average LSAT Score Without Studying
Conclusion: What Is A Good DAT Score
Finally, establishing what defines a strong DAT score is important for determined dental students who are about to embark on their road to dental school.
A DAT score of 20 or higher is considered an excellent DAT score for dental school admissions.
However, the DAT score is not just one component that is considered in the overall application. Dental schools also consider other parameters like overall GPA, letters of recommendation, personal statements, and interviews.
In conclusion, a high DAT score demonstrates your outstanding academic aptitude and puts you ahead of other applicants.
So what are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comment section below.
