Skip to content

DAT - Dental Admission Test

Introduction

The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is a standardized, multiple-choice test, required for admission to all U.S. dental schools.  It is a computer-based test administered by Prometric on behalf of the American Dental Association (ADA).

The test is about five hours long and is divided into four sections.  The following table provides the name of each of these sections, the amount of time allotted, the topics covered, and the number of questions:


Survey of the Natural Sciences 90 minutes
  Biology 40 questions
  General Chemistry 30 questions
  Organic Chemistry 30 questions

Perceptual Ability Test (P.A.T.) 60 minutes
  Angle Discrimination 15 questions
  Hole Punching 15 questions
  Cubes 15 questions
  Paper Folding 15 questions
  Aperture Matching 15 questions
  Orthographic Projections 15 questions

Break 15 minutes

Reading Comprehension 50 minutes
  Three passages 50 minutes

Quantitative Reasoning Test 45 minutes
  Applied Mathematics problems:  40 questions
  Algebra, some Trigonometry, and Math reasoning word-problems. 
(no Calculus) 

Advising

Academic advising may be obtained on campus from:

Pre-Professional Advising Office
University of Utah
Building 44, Room 206

Phone:  801-581-5744

www.premed.utah.edu

Registering

Registering for the DAT may be done at:

The Prometric Center
University of Utah
Student Services Building, Room 490

Phone:  801-581-7310

www.prometric.com

Preparing

The test covers Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, first year College Algebra and Trigonometry (no Calculus).

The computer-based DAT is in Windows format. The test starts with an optional 30 minute tutorial.  This tutorial can be ordered in advance, however, from the Dental Admissions Testing Program for use on a personal home computer. 

Taking the Test

The DAT should be taken in the Spring of your junior year up to the fall of your senior year.  Taken on a computer at the time of your choice.

Links to More Information

Last Updated: 10/29/24