DAT Quantitative Reasoning

The DAT is a battery of four multiple-choice tests delivered in English: Survey of the Natural Sciences with 100 items, Perceptual Ability with 90 items, Reading Comprehension with 50 items, and Quantitative Reasoning with 40 items. Total administration time for the full battery is five hours and 15 minutes.

The ADA recommends taking the DAT after you have completed the subjects the test covers, especially organic chemistry. It suggests sitting for the exam during the spring of your junior year or the summer immediately after, and submitting your application six to eight weeks before your desired test date.

Apply for the DAT first. Once your eligibility letter confirms your application was accepted, contact Prometric to book a seat; the ADA recommends doing so at least 60 to 90 days before your target date because schedules fill up. On the Prometric site, select American Dental Association as the program to find a nearby center.

Contact the administration vendor (Prometric) in advance; the local test center cannot schedule, reschedule, or cancel your appointment. Cancellations and reschedules must be made by the business day before the test, at least 24 hours ahead, and additional fees apply, paid directly to the vendor. Keep the confirmation you receive.

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 with each subsequent request. After your fifth attempt, you may retest only once per 12-month period. The policy is not subject to appeal.

The test fee is published in the current DAT Candidate Guide, so check that document for the current amount. All partial fee waivers available for 2026 have already been granted; new waivers become available again January 1, 2027. A partial waiver covers 50 percent of the DAT fee and is granted first-come, first-served to eligible candidates.

You must be a first-time examinee who has not previously received a partial waiver, a U.S. citizen or resident alien, and able to demonstrate financial hardship, including having received financial aid from your school. When waivers reopen, request one by signing in with your DENTPIN, selecting Submit Request and then Waiver Request, and choosing DAT. Allow up to 10 business days for review.

Yes, at select locations in Canada, but it is no longer offered in the province of Quebec. The test is otherwise offered year round at Prometric test centers throughout the United States and its territories, including Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

Score reports are available through your account, along with guidance on interpreting results and requesting an audit. A new scoring system took effect March 1, 2025, and the ADA publishes a guide to understanding the new reporting scale. Separately, updates to the Organic Chemistry test specifications are expected in April 2026, so check the official updates document regularly.

Start with the DAT Candidate Guide, then use the DENTPIN-keyed online tutorial and practice tests. Candidates most often stumble by testing before finishing organic chemistry, booking a Prometric seat too late, and misjudging the five-hour-15-minute battery's pacing. Confirm policies in the official guide rather than relying on secondhand summaries.