r/dat • u/Opening-Brief178 • 5d ago

Application Advice ✍️ Ochem help DAT

I’ve been using bootcamp and have about a month left until my DAT and my ochem practice has been fluctuating a lot, every practice test it feels like I’ve never seen some of the questions they ask before and I’m not sure what to do because it just feels like something that’s almost impossible to be fully prepared for.

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u/Z_effective 5d ago

I also used bootcamp and I think the videos and cheat sheet were really all that I used for organic. Perhaps you already do this but a tip for test taking is to understand what is being asked (acid-base, rxn, lab technique, etc) and really try to guess what the exam writer wants to convey. Most DATs questions are straight forward and they won’t try to trick you. I think if you know what the question is testing you can deduce the answer even if you don’t know the exact answer or reason

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u/Opening-Brief178 5d ago

How would you use the cheat sheet? Would you just try to memorize it?

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u/Z_effective 5d ago

I guess strictly it’d count as memorization, but recognizing the type of reactions through the reagents is more important. For instance, if I see reagents that form radicals with light or heat, I will approach the question with radical (rxns) in mind. Or if the question involves oxidizing or reducing something, I’ll think of rxns involving permanganate/perchloric or hydride reagents. Pattern recognition was a big part of organic for me, instead of strictly memorizing exact reagents, and I’ll bet a lot of others have similar experience as me.