DAT

It is a battery of 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). That totals 280 items across one sitting, with a total administration time of five hours and 15 minutes.

The ADA suggests taking it during the spring of your junior year or the summer immediately after, and in any case after you have completed the subjects the test covers, especially organic chemistry. Submit your application six to eight weeks before your desired test date so eligibility and scheduling are not the bottleneck.

The main risk is timing and coverage rather than trick questions. Five hours and 15 minutes of administration across 280 items rewards pacing practice under real conditions. The other common failure is sitting the exam before finishing organic chemistry, or preparing from outdated specifications; the ADA has announced organic chemistry specification updates expected in April 2026.

You must wait 60 days between attempts, with a maximum of four administrations in any 12-month period. Candidates with three or more attempts must apply for permission to test again, providing proof of recent application to dental school. After a fifth attempt, retesting is limited to 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, 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; the ADA recommends booking at least 60 to 90 days ahead because schedules fill up.

Yes, but you must contact the testing vendor in advance, not the local test center, which cannot schedule, reschedule, or cancel appointments. Changes must be made by the business day before your test, at least 24 hours ahead, and additional fees apply and are paid directly to the vendor. Keep the confirmation you receive.

The ADA directs candidates to the current DAT Candidate Guide for the test fee rather than publishing a figure on its exam page. All partial fee waivers available for 2026 have already been granted; new waivers become available again on January 1, 2027 on a first-come, first-served basis for eligible first-time examinees.

Yes. Beginning March 1, 2025, the ADA implemented a new scoring system for the DAT. Score reports now follow the new reporting scale, so older score conversions and prep materials that reference the previous scale should be interpreted with care. The ADA publishes guidance on understanding the new score reporting scale.

The ADA offers an online sample test, accessible at any time using your DENTPIN for the keycode, along with practice tests and the DAT Candidate Guide covering scoring, fees, and official requirements. The ADA also publishes a perceptual ability instructions document and a recorded webinar with study tips and commonly asked questions.