DAT Natural Sciences

Four multiple-choice tests delivered in English: Survey of the Natural Sciences (100 items), Perceptual Ability (90 items), Reading Comprehension (50 items), and Quantitative Reasoning (40 items). Total administration time is five hours and 15 minutes. All items are multiple choice, so there is no essay or practical component to prepare for.

The ADA recommends taking it after you have completed the subjects it covers, especially organic chemistry, and suggests the spring of your junior year or the summer immediately after. Submit your application six to eight weeks before your desired test date, and book a Prometric appointment 60 to 90 days ahead because schedules fill up.

You must wait 60 days between attempts, with a maximum of four administrations in any 12-month period. With three or more attempts you must apply for permission to test again and provide proof of recent dental school application. After your fifth attempt, you may retest only once per 12-month period. The retest policy is not subject to appeal.

The DAT is offered year round at Prometric test centers throughout the U.S., its territories including Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, and select locations in Canada. It is no longer offered in the province of Quebec. Once your eligibility letter confirms your application was accepted, contact Prometric directly to schedule.

Contact the administration vendor in advance; the local test center cannot schedule, reschedule, or cancel your appointment. Additional fees apply and are paid directly to the vendor. Appointments must be canceled or rescheduled by the business day before the test, at least 24 hours ahead. Keep the confirmation notification you receive.

Beginning March 1, 2025, the ADA implemented a new scoring system for the DAT. The ADA publishes a scoring update and a guide to understanding the new score reporting scale, both available from its DAT pages. Because the scale changed, do not compare your results directly against older score reports or advice written before that date.

Yes. In April 2026, updates to the DAT Organic Chemistry Test Specifications are expected to occur. The ADA encourages students planning to take the DAT in May 2026 or beyond to review the new Organic Chemistry Examination Specifications and to check back regularly, since the ADA also maintains a Recent and Forthcoming Updates document.

Partial fee waivers cover 50% of the DAT fee and are granted first-come, first-served to eligible candidates. All partial fee waivers available for 2026 have been granted; additional waivers become available again January 1, 2027. Eligibility requires being a first-time examinee who has not previously received a waiver, U.S. citizen or resident alien status, demonstrated financial hardship, and school financial aid.

Sitting the exam before finishing organic chemistry. The ADA explicitly advises taking the DAT only after completing the subjects it covers, especially organic chemistry, and warns that specifications there are being updated for 2026. Build your timeline around your coursework, then use the candidate guide and the DENTPIN-accessed online sample test.