Old DAT to New DAT: Score Conversion and Explanation
/The DAT is changing to a new scoring system. Learn what that means for your admissions odds and review our old to new DAT score conversion tables
learn everything you need to know about dat scoring changes
----
----
Part 1: Introduction
The path to dental school is a long and arduous one, requiring careful planning and strategizing. Nowhere is this more apparent than in your preparation for the Dental Admission Test or DAT, the most consequential exam to determine your chances for entry into dental school.
First developed in 1945, the DAT was originally conceived to help mitigate the high numbers of student withdrawals from dental programs before graduation. It was also intended to compare the academic aptitudes of current students with veterans returning from World War II, whose records were already a few years old.
Since then, the DAT has gone through multiple changes and refinements but remained relatively consistent. In 1972, a section testing knowledge of organic chemistry was added and the Chalk Carving Test was replaced by the Perceptual-motor Ability Test. During the 1980s, the test went through a few formatting and scoring changes, finally settling into its current form in 1989. These changes included removing a verbal reasoning test, altering the reading comprehension portion of the exam, and consolidating the two perceptual ability tests into one.
In addition to the content of the exam, the scoring scale changed in 1988 from its original -1 to 9 scale to the current 1 to 30 scale. Starting in March 2025, the ADA has announced that the scoring of the DAT will change once again, this time to a three-digit score ranging from 200 – 600 and reported in 10-point increments.
(Suggested reading: What DAT Score Do You Need to Get Into Dental School?)
----
Part 2: What is changing with the DAT?
According to the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), only the scoring is changing. Nothing regarding the format or content of the exam is being altered in any way, so you can rest assured that your studying up to this point has been worthwhile.
One minor difference, however, is that the new scoring system will require additional time to process each test and arrive at a final score. Until now, examinees were able to learn of their DAT scores the day they took the test, though these initial reports were unofficial. Due to the additional processing time with the new scoring system, unofficial scores will no longer be available at the testing site.
----
Part 3: Why is DAT scoring changing?
The ADEA notes that the new scoring model is meant to provide a more accurate reflection of your skills and “level of preparedness for the rigors of dental school.” They claim this new model is more sophisticated and gives dental schools a better idea of how you will fare in their programs.
What will happen to my old two-digit score?
Absolutely nothing. Your old two-digit DAT score will still be completely valid and will not be converted to the new three-digit scale at any time. Furthermore, if you plan to take the DAT before or on February 22, 2025, you will receive a two-digit score.
Whether your score is reported to dental schools on the two-digit scale or the new three-digit scale will not affect your odds of acceptance in any way. Schools will continue to accept the two-digit scores and evaluate your application accordingly. This means there’s no reason to wait until the new scoring model has been implemented to take the exam. When scheduling your exam, the most important factor is to make sure you are fully prepared to achieve the highest score you can—regardless of the scoring model.
(Suggested reading: How to Get a 26+ DAT Score: Strategies from Top Scorers)
Looking for premium DAT content resources to ace the exam? Click here to access our full suite of comprehensive DAT guides.
Gain instant access to the most digestible and comprehensive DAT content resources available. Subscribe today to lock in the current investments, which will be increasing in the future for new subscribers.
Does the new scoring mean I should retake the DAT?
There’s no need to retake the DAT to be in line with the new scoring model. You should only consider retaking the DAT if you’re unhappy with your previous attempt and are sure you can raise your score in time for your planned matriculation. Keep in mind that retakes are allowed but you must wait 60 days between attempts.
If you’re planning to apply to dental school but it’s been a few years since you’ve taken the DAT, you don’t need to retake the test simply to obtain a new three-digit score. However, remember that most dental schools will only accept test results taken within the last three years. You’ll need to retake the exam if more than three years have elapsed. We recommend checking with the individual schools you’re considering to be sure.
(Suggested reading: Should I retake the DAT?)
----
Part 4: Old DAT to new DAT score conversion tables
Here, you’ll find conversion tables for old DAT scores to new DAT scores. We’ve listed score conversions based on their respective tests for ease of comparison. This means conversions for the science subtests are in one table, with the other major sections, such as Perceptual Ability and Quantitative Reasoning listed in separate tables.
Note that these conversions are not final. The official conversion table will be released by the ADA before the scoring change goes into effect on March 1, 2025.
----
Old DAT to new DAT: Science subtests scores
| New DAT Score | Old DAT Biology Score | Old DAT General Chemistry Score | Old DAT Organic Chemistry Score |
|---|---|---|---|
----
Old DAT to New DAT: Survey of the Natural Sciences (SNS) and Academic Average (AA) scores
| New DAT Score | Old Survey of the Natural Sciences (SNS) Score | Old Academic Average (AA) Score |
|---|---|---|
----
Old DAT to new DAT: Perceptual Ability scores
| New DAT Score | Old DAT Perceptual Ability Score |
|---|---|
----
Old DAT to new DAT: Quantitative Reasoning scores
| New DAT Score | Old DAT Quantitative Reasoning Score |
|---|---|
----
Old DAT to new DAT: Reading Comprehension scores
| New DAT Score | Old DAT Reading Comprehension Score |
|---|---|
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.
