The Canadian DAT is a standardized 3-hour online exam administered by the Canadian Dental Association that can be taken all year round starting in 2022. The Canadian DAT is scored on a scale ranging from 1 to 30 with 30 being the highest score. To learn more about how the Canadian DAT is scored, check out our article on this topic by clicking here. With that said, the format of the Canadian DAT is different than the American DAT. Below we will discuss the Canadian DAT format, as well as topics covered on the Canadian DAT.
Please note the Canadian DAT format will now be a digital exam starting 2022.
Section | Number of Questions | Time allocated |
---|---|---|
Manual Dexterity Test (MDT) | 1 Soap Pattern | 30 minutes |
Survey of Natural Sciences (SNS) | 70 questions | 60 minutes |
Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) | 90 questions | 60 minutes |
Reading Comprehension Test (RCT) | 50 questions | 60 minutes |
1️⃣ Canadian DAT Section 1: Manual Dexterity Test (MDT) – Optional
The manual dexterity section is an optional section of the Canadian DAT. Students are given a cylindrical piece of soap that is about 8 cm in length and are required to carve a specific soap design with exact measurements within 30 minutes. During this carving process, you are given a paper ruler, a black sharpie, a carving knife, and a pencil to help you carve.
Although most Canadian dental schools do not require the soap carving section of the DAT, it is important to check which schools require it for admission. As of 2022, the CDA has yet to announce whether the MDT section will be offered.
2️⃣ Canadian DAT Section 2: Survey of Natural Sciences (SNS)
For the Survey of Natural Sciences (SNS) section of the Canadian DAT, you are given 60-minutes to complete a total of 70 questions (40 Biology and 30 General Chemistry). To prepare for this section, we highly recommend utilizing DATCrusher’s video series and detailed study notes, followed by completing all of DATCrusher’s Biology and General Chemistry practice tests as they are based on what’s appeared on the Canadian DAT in the past. Below is the full list of topics that can be tested in this section. If you would like to get some practice, feel free to take a look at the free Canadian DAT practice tests we offer.
Biology (40 Questions)
Chemistry (30 Questions)
3️⃣ Canadian DAT Section 3: Perceptual Ability Test (PAT)
The Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) of the Canadian DAT is a unique section, unlike anything you may have encountered so far. You are given 60 minutes to complete 90 perceptual ability questions, which are divided into 6 subcategories listed below. It’s important to note that starting 2022, the PAT section will be completely digital like the rest of the exam. Therefore, it’s crucial that you practice these questions online and develop strategies to give yourself an advantage.
Fortunately, our team at DATCrusher has developed a unique software called “online PAT generators“, which allows you to practice unlimited PAT questions like the real Canadian DAT. We highly recommend taking advantage of this software. Furthermore, if you would like to get some full-length PAT practice, feel free to take a look at the free Canadian DAT practice tests we offer.
4️⃣ Canadian DAT Section 4: Reading Comprehension (RCT)
The Reading Comprehension Test (RCT) is the final section based on the Canadian DAT format. During this section, you are given 60 minutes to read three passages that are approximately 12-16 paragraphs in length and answer 50 multiple-choice questions. Knowledge of the topics is not required to answer any of the questions since all answers can be inferred from the passages. The key to preparing for this section is practicing and finding a strategy that works best for you. Be sure to take advantage of DATCrusher’s Extra Reading Comprehension passages to prepare.