Dental Admission Test
AcronymDAT
TypeComputer-based standardized test
Developer / administratorAmerican Dental Association
Knowledge / skills testedBiology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning
PurposeAdmissions to dental colleges (mostly in United States and Canada).
Year started1950 (1950)
Score / grade range1 to 30 (in 1-point increments) for each of the 8 sections (Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning, Total Science, and Academic Average ).
Score / grade validityUsually 2 to 3 years (depends on dental college being applied to).
OfferedYear-round.
Restrictions on attemptsCan be taken maximum 3 times. Additional retesting requires authorization by the ADA.
Countries / regionsUnited States, Canada, Guam, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
LanguagesEnglish
Prerequisites / eligibility criteriaCandidate must be preparing to apply to a dental school. Fluency in English assumed.
FeeUS$ 475
("Fee Assistance Program" available to U.S. citizens, permanent residents or refugees, demonstrating financial need.)
Scores / grades used byDental colleges (mostly in United States and Canada).
Websitewww.ada.org/en/education-careers/dental-admission-test/