Should I Retake the DAT?
/Learn the pros and cons of retaking the DAT to maximize your score and give yourself the best odds of getting into a top dental school
Determine whether retaking the DAT is in your best interest
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Part 1: Introduction
While dental schools love to emphasize the holistic nature of their admissions processes, you shouldn’t lose sight of the importance of a strong GPA and DAT score. These are the most quantifiable aspects of you application and they will likely determine whether your application moves beyond an initial, cursory review.
An excellent DAT score can set you up for acceptance to the top dental schools, while a mediocre score can severely compromise your application, no matter how impressive your other materials are.
Dental school admissions committees look at DAT scores alongside GPA in order to apply a standardized calculus to their applicants. While a 3.8 GPA from Harvard is not directly equivalent to a 3.8 GPA from Tulane, a DAT score of 22 will be the same across the board. So, if you had a rigorous undergrad experience that left you with a lower than anticipated GPA, a strong DAT will be able to buoy this impression. On the other hand, a low DAT score could, in the eyes of admissions committees, throw a high GPA into doubt.
With such major stakes resting on a single test, it can be extremely frustrating to find out that your DAT score is not as high as you had hoped. It could be the case that your DAT Academic Average (or overall) score isn’t quite competitive for the schools you are hoping to get into. It could also be the case that one of your section scores is significantly lower than the others. These scenarios will lead you to ask, “Should I retake the DAT?”
This guide will provide you with all the information you need to confidently make this decision and to give yourself the best odds of getting into your dream dental school.
(Suggested reading: What DAT Score Do You Need to Get into Dental School)
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Part 2: What you need to know about retaking the DAT
How many times can you retake the DAT?
This is the first question many students ask when they are looking to raise their DAT scores. According to the DAT retest policy, you may take the DAT a maximum four times within a twelve month period, waiting at least sixty days between retakes.
If you have already taken the DAT three or more times, you must apply for permission each time you wish to take the test again. This involves providing proof of a recent application to dental school. Following your fifth DAT attempt, you may retest only once per 12 month period.
So, while you may retake the DAT a significant number of times, as you can see from these guidelines, the American Dental Association (ADA) does their best to dissuade you from making excessive attempts. The testing fee of $540 is also important to keep in mind.
(Suggested reading: When Should You Take the DAT? The Ideal Timeline)
Does retaking the DAT look bad?
Generally speaking, it doesn’t look bad to retake the DAT. Admissions committees understand that a lot rides on 4.5 hours of testing and that sometimes things don’t work out as planned. That said, if you retake the DAT (especially multiple times) without improving your score this will be viewed negatively by admissions committees. They like to see that you are capable of buckling down and improving your score.
(Suggested reading: The Ideal DAT Study Schedule)
How are multiple DAT scores evaluated by admissions committees?
While dental schools will see each of your DAT scores, different schools will evaluate multiple scores in different ways. These ways include:
Considering your highest score only
Considering the average of every score
Considering all scores, but weighing your recent score most heavily
Considering your highest section scores across tests (your “superscore”)
Most schools do not describe how they evaluate multiple DAT scores on their websites, but you are welcome to contact admissions committees to ask.
What are the odds that retaking the DAT will result in a better score?
The ADA does not publish statistics that tell us how re-takers of the DAT fare on subsequent attempts compared to their first. There are a number of individual factors that will contribute to your odds of improving your DAT score. For instance, if you did not have adequate time to prepare for your first attempt and you will have more time to study for a second attempt you have good odds of increasing your score. Likewise, taking relevant coursework between DAT attempts could put you in a position to raise your score.
According to 2022 data from the ADA, re-takers scored, on average, 1.73 points lower than first time test takers. This decrease, however, is to be expected because applicants who do well on their first attempt are less likely to retake the exam. The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) lists the 2022 mean “Academic Average” score for dental school applicants at 19.6, as opposed to 20.8 for students who ended up enrolling in dental school. It’s a good idea to keep these averages in mind when calculating your odds.
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What are the risks of retaking the DAT?
Dental school applicants often assume that they will achieve a higher DAT score on their second, third or even fourth attempt simply due to increased familiarity with the exam. This is generally not the case, however, as the DAT is designed to provide reliable, consistent results. If you do not take concrete steps to improve your score, you are likely to receive an equivalent or even a lower score on subsequent attempts.
Receiving the same or a very similar score on your second DAT attempt will not necessarily come across negatively to admissions committees, though it will reinforce the accuracy of your original score. If you attempt the DAT a third or fourth time without improving your score, this could lead admissions committees to question your ability to succeed in dental school.
If your score decreases, however, on a second, third or fourth DAT attempt (which is not uncommon), this will negatively affect your application. The degree to which this affects your application will vary from school to school because, as mentioned above, different admissions committees evaluate multiple DAT scores in different ways. If a school weighs your most recent score most heavily, your odds of acceptance may be significantly hurt. So, there are clearly risks to consider when deciding whether you should retake the DAT. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. This decision will be dependent on your own particular circumstances.
In addition, there is also the opportunity cost that comes with retaking the DAT. Studying hard for the DAT will require a significant amount of time that could be used in other ways to bolster your dental school application. Depending on when you are thinking of retaking the test, the study time could take away from college coursework and extracurriculars or it could compromise the quality of your dental school personal statement or supplementary essays. It is important to consider all aspects of your dental school application when asking yourself, “should I retake the DAT?” Your time could be more impactful, for instance, if it allows you to prepare research for publication or organize a fundraiser related to one of your extracurriculars.
(Suggested reading: The Ideal Dental School Application Timeline and How Hard Is It to Get Into Dental School?)
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Part 3: How to determine if you should retake the DAT
You should consider retaking the DAT if…
Your highest “Academic Average” score is not competitive for your target schools. This would mean that your score is more than one point below the average scores of accepted students at your target schools. Additionally, your score should be more than one point above the average scores of your “undershoot” schools.
Your section scores are significantly imbalanced. Some schools may expect their students to achieve minimum section scores. Though your “Academic Average” may be sufficiently high, a lower section score could be viewed negatively by admissions committees.
You did not adequately prepare for your previous attempt(s). While the DAT is recognized as an extremely rigorous exam, students routinely underprepare. If you didn’t study hard enough, it is likely that you didn’t maximize your score. Look at our ideal study schedules to determine whether your preparation was sufficient.
You were ill or had to navigate other adverse circumstances on or around your test date. Sometimes unfortunate things occur at inconvenient times. If this was the case you may not have performed to the best of your ability, which would warrant retaking the DAT. This is also something that you can convey to admissions committees, assuming you manage to improve your score.
You scored significantly higher on practice tests, particularly official ADA practice tests, than on your actual exam. ADA practice tests do a good job of predicting DAT performance, so if you consistently score much higher on these exams it is likely that you will be able to raise your score.
You have a strong sense of what went wrong previously and have a clear plan to address it. This might mean, for instance, that you paced yourself poorly during your previous attempt and have come up with a solution to avoid doing this again. Or, perhaps, you may have underestimated one of the sections, studying less for it, and achieved a lower score than expected. Remember to be honest with yourself when it comes to understanding what led to your disappointing score.
(Suggested reading: How to Get a 26+ DAT Score: Strategies from Top Scorers)
You should not retake the DAT if…
Your scores are at or above the average scores of accepted students at your target schools. If this is the case your DAT score is likely “good enough” and your time will be better spent bolstering other areas of your application. This is assuming that your GPA is not significantly lower than your target schools’ averages.
You sufficiently prepared for the exam and your actual scores are very near or above your scores on official practice exams. Some dental school applicants believe that they will perform better on each subsequent DAT exam, despite evidence to the contrary. If this statement describes your situation then it is likely that you have already maximized your scores.
You do not have a clear plan nor adequate study time to address issues from your previous exam. If this is the case, then it is likely that you will not see an improvement in your DAT scores, and you may even score lower on your retake. If you plan to retake the DAT you must make a significant time commitment, and it is essential to understand the specific areas in which you can improve.
(Suggested reading: DAT Test Dates: A Complete Summary (Score Release Time Frame Included))
Final thoughts
If you find yourself asking, “Should I retake the DAT?,” remember to consider each side of this question and to make your decision based on solid evidence. Even if your score is not up to your own expectations it may be “good enough” depending on the schools you’re looking at. Retaking the DAT is potentially rewarding, but it is also risky. Making this decision requires you to be honest with yourself about your own particular situation.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on dental school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into dental school using his exclusive approach.
