DAT Academic Average Calculation

The Academic Average is the most important component of your DAT score. Dental school admission committees particularly value it highly because it is a key indicator of how well you performed on the DAT.

I. How Do I Calculate the DAT Academic Average?

The Academic Average is the rounded average of a candidate’s scale test scores in Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Quantitative Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension. Note: The Academic Average does not include Perceptual Ability scores.

For example, if your DAT score in these subjects are:

II. What Is a Good Academic Average Score?

The higher your Academic Average DAT score is, the better. Ideally, we recommend students aim for a high DAT score or an Academic Average of at least 21+ to stay competitive in the admission process. However, if your DAT score is less than this, it’s not the end of the world. Lower DAT scores can still allow you to get into dental schools by improving other aspects of your application. Additionally, official scores and how you answer correctly in other sections can also play a role. Your total score across all sections contributes to the overall impression of your capabilities, including your strength in dental medicine.