What to Expect on the Day of the DAT

I. Checklist for Test Day

1. An official form of ID with your photo and signature (passport or driver’s license)
2. A secondary identifier that also has your signature and full name (credit card, debit card, library card, etc.)
3. A planned breakfast plus snacks for test day
4. Earplugs (the wireless, soft, airplane earplugs). Most testing centers will provide you with the option for either noise cancelling headphones or soft ear plugs, but coming with a pair that you feel comfortable in can eliminate any surprises. I would opt for the earplugs given the option as the headphones are known to be very tight and painful.
5. Have an idea of where your test center is and how long it will take to get there (taking into account traffic). Map out your route and plan to arrive 30-60 minutes before your start time. 
6. Bring a light jacket or hoodie to potentially wear in the testing center. The temperature within the testing center can vary, so being able to remove layers is key to feeling comfortable during the test.
7. Bring a positive mindset. You have studied so hard for this test and stressing out on the day before and the day of will only make you feel worse. The most important thing is for you to try your best! If you want to read more on what to do the day before, click here.

II. Test Day

It’s finally test day and you hopefully just got a solid 8+ hours of rest. At this point, you should be aware of your test time. Make sure you are up at a time where you can be ready to leave and arrive 30-60 minutes prior to your assigned test time. My DAT was at 9:30 a.m., so I woke up at around 7:00 a.m. to get ready and left at 8:30 a.m. to get there well before my test started.

When getting ready in the morning, I highly recommend going through the checklist one more time to make sure you have everything ready to go. Try to avoid any new foods or eat out of your regular routine to ensure that you do not get an upset stomach during your exam.

If possible, have a relative or friend take you to your exam. This can give you extra time to relax, calm your nerves, and do some light review before the test.

The reason you want to arrive around 30-60 minutes before your exam is so you can find the testing center room and get a feel for the layout. My testing center was in a three-story building and it took me a few minutes to find the entrance. Use that extra time to locate the restrooms, break room and check-in/testing area. Before heading into check-in, use the restroom if you need to (the next time you can use the bathroom is in 2.5 hours).

III. Check In

After entering the check-in area, they should guide you through every step of the check-in process, but here is a brief rundown of what it will be like:

1. They will first check your name and IDs for verification.
2. You will be assigned a locker where you can place your personal belongings. Put everything in (make sure your phone is off) except your ID and earplugs (you can put your secondary ID in the locker). It has its own removable lock and key. Make sure to keep the key! Keep it with your ID and earplugs so you do not lose it. For size reference, the locker was a cube that fit both my Adidas crossbody and 22 oz. blender bottle.
3. Next is a security check. They ask you to remove glasses, roll up sleeves, invert all pockets and then use a metal detector to scan your person.
4. Afterwards, they take your fingerprint and picture.
5. They will then give you two laminated sheets with two fine-tip expo markers and explain the rules.
6. You are sent into the test room and assigned to a desk.

IV. What to Do/Expect on the Test

Now that you have finished your check-in and are at your desk, in front of you should be your computer and a tutorial screen. Once you begin the tutorial, you are allotted 15 minutes to complete it. 

Prior to starting the DAT

1. Put in your earplugs/headphones and make sure they are in your ears correctly.
2. Start your tutorial. As you go through the tutorial, test out everything you can (including the calculator, periodic table, etc.) so you can get a feel for the actual test format. Take this time to mentally prepare, and when you feel ready, end the tutorial and begin the test. Also note that you can’t highlight passages for the RC section in the tutorial, only on the real exam.

During the first half of the exam

1. Take a deep breath and begin answering the questions. If you are spending more than 30 seconds on a question, mark it and move on. You will have time to come back to it later.
2. You will notice the computers are very slow and there is a 2-second delay as you proceed to the next question. This can be very frustrating, but it will not take away from your time on the exam. This is why marking questions you want to review is extremely important, as it can take a long time to review every question within a section. Instead, you want to go to the review section and jump directly to your marked question. 
3. You will begin with the Biology section followed by the General Chemistry (GC) and Organic Chemistry  sections. If you find that you could use a calculator on a question within Biology or Organic Chemistry, you can skip to a question within the General Chemistry section and use the calculator there. 
4. Once you have completed the questions for both the Survey of Natural Sciences or Perceptual Ability Test, you will see a series of “review” buttons. These will allow you to review all questions, unanswered questions, or marked questions, so you can quickly jump to whichever subset you want. If you’d like to experience the same format, DATBooster practice tests are made to mimic the real test.

30-minute Break

1. You get one 30-minute break between after the PAT section and before the Reading Comprehension section. When you finish the PAT section, it will automatically start a timer for 30 minutes. Once you see that, get up from your desk, head out of the testing room, and let the supervisor know that you have started your 30-minute break. There should be a clock in the testing room before you leave so you can plan when you need to return. Keep in mind that the test will immediately proceed to the next section once your break is over.
2. Use this break to your fullest! You just finished the hardest parts of the test and are free to do anything you would like. I ate some snacks, drank some water, and called my significant other to release some stress. I also went outside and did some walking around to get my blood pumping. Do not drink a lot of water as you may find yourself needing to use the restroom in the middle of the Reading Comprehension or QR section. Try to go to the bathroom one more time before your break ends. Remind yourself that you are almost done!

Second-half of the DAT

1. When reentering the testing check-in area, you must do another security check and fingerprint scan so make sure you give around 5 minutes for that. Also, make sure to ask for a brand-new set of laminated sheets and markers just to be safe.
2. Tips for scratch paper: You get double-sided laminated paper and it is dry erase, but you are not allowed to erase what you have written. However, you are allowed to get new sheets at any time by simply raising your sheets in the air and waiting. In my personal experience, hold your hand up for more scratch paper before you run out. This allows you to continue with the test as the proctor replaces your scratch paper. 
3. Once you are done with your exam, you will fill out a survey (15 questions) and you will see a screen that states that your results will be posted in three to four weeks. 
4. Go up to the front and they will sign you out as well as print your official record of completion for you. Collect your belongings and secure the locker, leaving the key in the lock.

V. Conclusion

You are finally finished! No matter what the result is, you have worked so hard. Go relax and celebrate!

In case you are wondering whether you did well or if you should retake, I would recommend checking out some other useful articles on DATBooster, such as What Is a Good DAT Score? or How to Prep for a DAT Retake?

That said, I know when I took the DAT, I did not really know what to expect at all. I had to scour the forums for advice on what to do/expect on test day. With the help of my own experience, I hope that I was able to give a clear and complete idea of what to expect on the day of the DAT!