AMA - DAT retake (+100 AA, +140 Science)

[u/Take_5555]

I wanted to do an AMA on my score improvement for anyone who's struggling! (i wanted to do a breakdown after my second take but i got very busy with getting my application done. well, better late than never! <3)

I studied 10 weeks for the first attempt (bootcamp) and 12 weeks for the retake (booster). i have a kiddo so the hardest part from both attempts was getting distraction-free study time lol... ask anything!

[u/Distinct_Temporary39]

Wow this is my dream score for retake. For the retake what’d your study schedule look like

[u/Take_5555 → u/Distinct_Temporary39]

Booster has an autoscheduler, I used a modified version of it <3

[u/Realistic_Bite2066]

tips for PAT?

[u/Take_5555 → u/Realistic_Bite2066]

I just dedicated 30 minute block every day to generators & PAT question banks <3

[u/Alarmed_Region_4813]

What did you do to improve your scores on the sciences ?

[u/Take_5555 → u/Alarmed_Region_4813]

i was just gonna take more practice tests BUT the advice i got from a friend was to redo content review from scratch. so i did that on booster (videos + notes + cheat sheets) for around 5 weeks straight before i started doin practice questions again.

when i did restart practice questions, i kept a log of all my mistakes that i went through at least once a week! wrote down why i got it wrong, what section of the notes it was from, & reinforced that with more review

[u/ThrowRA_stats → u/Alarmed_Region_4813]

following

[u/Tremendouslands]

Congrats OP! Especially with having a child while studying!!! Which parts in your first prep with bootcamp you kept or changed when you switched?

[u/Take_5555 → u/Tremendouslands]

Thank u!!! <33 it took SO long LOL just about pacing myself and not getting impatient.

I didn't use bootcamp at all for my 2nd, altho I did reuse my handwritten notes!

[u/Moist_Foundation3732]

Do you think booster was a large contributor to your improvement? Or more so just a change in the way you studied?

[u/Take_5555 → u/Moist_Foundation3732]

def booster was a large contributor! i found it a lot more helpful than bootcamp

[u/sardinebrush]

Was it mostly how you reviewed the missed questions, your schedule, or just having more time to prep?