(to view the original announcement from the DAT Newsletter, click here)
Several policy changes related to the DAT have been approved. These changes will become effective January 1, 2012.
- Shorter Application Eligibility Period
Currently the application eligibility period for the DAT is 12 months but effective January 1, 2012 the application eligibility period will change to six months.
An examinee will be eligible to schedule a testing appointment for a six month period. If an examinee does not schedule a testing appointment and take the examination within six months, a new application and fee must be submitted.
An examinee who registers for the DAT before January 1, 2012 will still have a 12 month time period to test.
- Information About Examination Irregularities May Accompany Score Reports
If it is determined that an examinee engaged in irregular behavior, information regarding this determination becomes a part of the examinee's DAT record. In its sole discretion, the ADA may elect to send a summary report documenting the incident, with a brief statement provided by the examinee, to legitimately interested parties, including all persons or agencies to which the examinee has instructed that scores be sent both presently and in the future.
DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU: Violations of Testing Regulations
The Examination Regulations in the DAT Guide detail behaviors that are prohibited during the examination. Examinees that violate the regulations or participate in any prohibited conduct face serious consequences that can significantly impact admission to dental school. Consider the following example from a real life case.
Action: An examinee used a marker to write on the computer monitor.
Consequence: Score was voided and examinee must wait one year to retest.
Regulations Violated: Examinees may not use the dry erase markers on any surface other than the erasable note board.
Appropriate Action: Use dry erase markers only on the erasable note board.
Questions for the DAT are written by subject matter experts, most often individuals who teach pre-dental courses.
On the left side of the main DAT web page (click here) is a link to the Test Construction page (click here ). Here you can find information on selection criteria, the application process and an orientation manual that describes the role of a test constructor.
Test construction committee meetings for all subjects except the Reading comprehension and PAT are held in Chicago and travel related expenses are reimbursed. Test constructors also receive an honorarium. If you know anyone who teaches biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry or quantitative reasoning and might be interest it writing items for the DAT, please forward this e-mail and encourage them to apply.
Dental Admission Test Validity Study, 2007-2008
The 2010 DAT Validity Study has been completed. The data were collected on students who were in their first or second year of dental school during 2007-2008. Because of differences in curriculum, not all schools were able to provide grades in every subject area requested.
The outcomes of statistical analyses showed that DAT science scores (scores from biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry), two DAT composite scores (total science and academic average), and reading comprehension score are significant predictors (at the 0.05 level of significance) of dental school performance except for pre-clinical dental technique grades.
The predictive power of the perceptual ability score, however, is significant relative to first-year and second-year pre-clinical dental technique grades. The complete report can be found on the DAT website here.
Reminders
- Previous editions of this newsletter can be found online here at the top of the page.
- If there is additional information you would like to see covered in these newsletters, please let us know. Your comments and suggestions are encouraged and welcome. Please feel free to share this newsletter with your colleagues. Send any e-mail comments regarding the newsletter to [Brian Kennedy].
