How to Study for DAT Biology: Complete Guide to Mastering the Section

The Biology section of the Dental Admission Test (DAT) is often considered the most intimidating part of the exam. With 40 questions covering everything from cellular processes to developmental biology, this section requires an understanding of both broad concepts and small details. Due to this, the sheer volume of material can feel overwhelming. How do you know where to start, what to prioritize, and how to review effectively?

The good news is that you don’t need to memorize every fact from your college biology lectures. Success on the DAT Biology section comes from smart studying: focusing on high-yield topics, organizing your study with DAT biology notes, and consistently testing yourself under exam-like conditions.

This complete guide will walk you through what to expect on test day, how the section is structured, which topics show up the most, and a step-by-step plan to optimize your studying. We’ll also highlight practice techniques, common mistakes to avoid, and the best resources available so you can feel confident on test day.

I. What to Expect on the DAT Biology Section

The DAT Biology section is the first part of the Survey of the Natural Sciences, and it sets the tone for the rest of the exam. Here’s a quick overview:

• Content: Covers a wide range of topics, including biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, biological systems, developmental biology, ecology, and animal behavior.
• Question Types: 
  • Direct Recall: Test your ability to remember facts, definitions and basic processes correctly. These make up the majority of the questions and are usually the most straightforward.
  • Conceptual: Test your ability to apply biological concepts to new scenarios. These are the second most common question type and require a deeper understanding.
  • Inference: Test your ability to draw to interpret results and draw conclusions from experimental situations. These are the least common, but often trip up students the most.
  • Comparison: Test your ability to compare two related biological concepts. Also less common than direct recall and conceptual questions.
• Purpose: Evaluate your ability to retain and apply a large amount of biological information. As a dental student, the amount of information you will be required to learn will increase substantially, so much so you may have heard that starting dental school is like “trying to drink from a fire hose”. The biology portion of the DAT is designed to simulate a dental school exam to ensure you have the ability to be successful in the classroom portion of your training. 

Beyond dental school, as a practicing dentist you will need to utilize a comprehensive understanding of biological systems in order to treat and help your patients. This is why your ability to learn and understand the material for the DAT biology section will not only help you score well on the DAT, but set you up for success in dental school and beyond. 

For a breakdown of the full exam, check out our article: What Is on the DAT?

II. How the DAT Biology Section Is Structured

The DAT biology section is part of a larger set of questions that also includes general chemistry and organic chemistry. Here’s the structure:

• Number of Questions: 40 biology questions out of 100 total in the natural sciences (30 for both General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry respectively).
• Time Limits: 90 minutes for the full block (biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry). You should aim to spend about 25–30 minutes on biology.
• Format: All multiple-choice, with four answer choices.

On test day, biology questions will not be grouped by topic. You might see a molecular biology question followed immediately by one on plant physiology, then a developmental biology scenario. This is why the biology section on the actual DAT can feel overwhelming and chaotic.

Like the other parts of the DAT, the biology section is designed to test reasoning. As such, many questions will require you to look beyond what you initially think and apply your understanding of processes and relationships. This is why you will see multiple answer choices that may seem right, but have to identify the subtle differences to make the correct choice.

Remember, your performance in biology contributes to your Survey of the Natural Sciences (SNS) score, which admissions committees look at closely. Scoring high in biology gives you a strong foundation for this composite score, but you’ll want balance your preparation across all three sciences to achieve the highest score.

III. Most Tested Biology Topics on the DAT

While the DAT Biology section covers a wide range of content, some areas are tested more frequently than others. Focusing your preparation on these high-yield topics will help you maximize your score.

• Molecular Biology – DNA replication, transcription, translation, enzymes, and regulation of gene expression.
• Developmental Biology – Fertilization, embryogenesis, and key stages of early development.
• Biological Systems – Circulatory, respiratory, digestive, excretory, nervous, and endocrine systems.
• Organic Chemistry – Certain molecular structures, functional groups, and biochemical pathways overlap between organic chemistry and biology.
• General Chemistry – Thermodynamics, chemical equilibrium, and bonding concepts that appear in biological processes.

By prioritizing these high-yield topics, you can focus on what you’ll almost certainly see on the actual DAT.

IV. Step-by-Step Plan to Study for DAT Biology

Studying for DAT biology doesn’t have to feel like wading through endless biology facts and figures. Instead, you can follow this framework to maximize your efficiency and put yourself in the best position for a high score. 

For broader timing strategies, see our guide: How Long Should You Study for the DAT?

Learn the Fundamentals First

Start with the basics. Refresh yourself on general biology concepts like cell structure, photosynthesis, genetics, and biological systems. A solid grasp of the fundamentals will make diving into the advanced material much easier.

Use Detailed Notes and High-Yield Summaries

Use detailed notes that cover all of the topics to structure your study. Comprehensive resources like Booster’s biology notes should be used for your initial study in order to cover all of the information that could show up on the test. Next, use more focused, high yield notes called cheat sheets which only contain the need to know information for the exam. This way you will be very comfortable with the most commonly tested material. As you go through the notes, makse to make annotations and highlight weak areas to improve retention.

Combine Video Lessons with Practice Questions

Video lessons are essential for visualizing processes like molecular biology pathways or developmental biology stages. Use them to gain a more complete understanding of biological pathways so you’re ready for conceptual and inference questions. Make sure to follow up video lessons with biology questions from the question bank that cement your understanding of concepts and give you the chance to apply what you learned.

Repetition and Spaced Review

Biology is the most dense portion of the DAT, with hundreds of small details, so repetition is the key to remembering them all. Use spaced repetition systems or flashcards like Anki to review material regularly. We have pre-made Anki decks that can help you do just that. This will ensure you commit important details to long-term memory, which is essential for conquering the bio section. 

Identify Mistakes and Analyze Patterns

Every time you miss a question, figure out why. Were you confused by terminology? Did you misread the question stem? Was it a fundamental lack of understanding? Once you find out the issue, immediately work to fix it. Learning from and not repeating mistakes is the key to continued progress. Review the pattern of mistakes you have been making before each practice test to apply your improvements.

V. Practice Techniques That Actually Work

Effective practice is about more than drilling random questions. The right strategies will train your brain to think like the actual DAT.

• Question-Based Learning: Center your study around practice tests and question banks. Practicing concepts in the actual test format will help you get comfortable with DAT style questions.
• Focus on Correct Answer Explanations: Don’t just check if you were right or wrong, read the explanations for each question carefully. Understanding why the correct answer is correct and why others are wrong reinforces your reasoning skills and ability to answer tricky questions.
• Simulate Complex Interactions: Many biology questions ask you to interpret how multiple processes interact, such as how enzyme activity changes with pH or temperature. Practicing mentally visualizing these scenarios builds critical thinking.
• Timed Practice: Simulate test day conditions by taking full-length sections under time constraints. This ensures you can answer questions quickly and accurately under the the stress of testing conditions.

VI. Tips to Improve Your DAT Bio Score

Raising your DAT Biology score is about working smarter, not harder. Here are some strategies that make a real difference:

• Use Active Recall: Constantly test yourself as you review content to solidify ideas. Pause every few concepts to ensure you can recall what you learned.
• Mix Subjects: Alternate between biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry in study sessions. This trains your brain to switch gears quickly, just like on the actual exam.
• Review Regularly: Don’t cram. Short, repeated reviews of biology notes are much more effective than marathon sessions.
• Stay Organized: Create a study calendar with specific goals for each week. Checking off topics will help you build momentum.

VII. Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing for Biology

It’s just as important to know what not to do as it is to know what to do. Avoid these common mistakes:

• Passive Reading: Simply rereading textbooks or biology notes doesn’t build recall. Always employ active learning strategies such as testing yourself and creating flash cards.
• Only Using Flashcards: Flashcards are great, but can’t replace full practice tests.
• Skipping Hard Topics: Don’t avoid subjects like molecular biology or developmental biology because they are difficult. These are high-yield and will almost certainly show up on your exam.
• Underestimating Timing: Practicing without time limits can leave you unprepared for the pace and pressure of test day.

VIII. Best Resources to Master DAT Biology

The right resources can make all the difference. Here are the best options for mastering biology:

• DATBooster Cheat Sheets – Unique to DATBooster. Concise, high-yield content built around the actual DAT.
• DATBooster Video Lessons – Visual explanations that make complex interactions easier to understand.
• DATBooster Practice Tests – Regarded as the most representative practice questions providing challenging material that mimics the difficulty of the real exam.
• Question Banks & Flashcards – Reinforce learning through repetition and active recall.

Start with Booster’s biology resources which are designed specifically to exam level prep material while aligning with the test blueprint.

IX. FAQ

Q: How many questions are in the DAT Biology section?

A: There are 40 biology questions, making it the largest single subject in the Survey of the Natural Sciences.

Q: Is biochemistry part of the DAT Biology section?

A: Yes. Many molecular biology and cellular metabolism questions require basic biochemistry knowledge.

Q: Can I skip general chemistry topics?

A: No. While general chemistry has its own section, chemistry concepts often overlap with biology. Ignoring them could cost you points.

Q: What’s the best order to review DAT biology topics?

A: Most students benefit from starting with fundamentals (cell biology, genetics) before moving into molecular biology, developmental biology, and finally biological systems.

For details on how the exam is scored, check out our guide: How Is the DAT Scored?

X. Final Thoughts

The DAT Biology section can feel overwhelming, but with the right approach, it can become one of the most straightforward. Focus on high-yield topics like molecular biology, developmental biology, and biological systems, organize your study with detailed notes, combine videos with practice questions, and review material until it sticks.

Most importantly, practice under realistic conditions. Reviewing not just the correct answer but the reasoning behind it is the key to success. By using DATBooster’s resources, which are carefully designed to provide challenging prep material and mimic the actual DAT, you’ll build the confidence and skills needed to excel.

Mastering biology isn’t just about getting a high score; it’s about preparing yourself for the rigors of dental school exams and to practice as a competent dentist. With smart study strategies and consistent effort, you’ll walk into test day ready to conquer DAT Biology.