DAT and AADSAS

Dental Admissions Testing Program

Participation in the Dental Admission Test (DAT) of the American Dental Association (ADA) is required. It is recommended that this test be taken the year before the intended matriculation year. Candidates are encouraged to take the examination once, but if necessary, retake the DAT since the best exam is used as the official set.

The Dental Admissions Test (DAT) is conducted by the ADA and has been in operation on a national basis since 1950. The DAT is administered electronically through private testing centers located in most major cities and college towns throughout the United States. The test can be taken most anytime throughout the year and can be retaken with a minimum of 90 days between tests. The ADA has limited to three (3) the number of times the test can be attempted.

The DAT is designed to measure general academic ability, comprehension of scientific information, and perceptual ability. While all dental schools require candidates to take the DAT, test results are only one factor considered in evaluating the admissions potential of a candidate.

The examinations are comprised exclusively of multiple choice test questions presented in the English language. There are four examination sections included in the DAT test; the test requires just over one half-day for administration. The four sections are Science, Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning. The Science section consists of three subsections -- Biology, General Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry.

Test scores are based on the number of correct answers; thus, the candidate is not penalized for guessing. Scores used in the testing program range from 1 to 30. While there are no strict passing or failing scores, the standard score of 18 represents the average performance on a national basis and the standard score of 19 represents the average performance for VCU. The candidate receives the official DAT score after completing the computerized test. The dental schools receive the scores approximately three weeks after the testing date.

Additionally, the VCU School of Dentistry recommends that candidates fax the score results to the Office of Admissions immediately after the candidate receives the official DAT scores. The fax number is (804) 828-5288. To receive an application to take the DAT, please contact the American Dental Association at the following:

ADA Department of Testing Services
211 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 600
Chicago, Illinois 60611
(800) 232-1694

More information on the DAT can be found through the web site of the American Dental Association at www.ada.org in their "Education and Testing" link.

AADSAS Application Service

The American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) is a centralized application service for students who wish to apply to dental school. Candidates may apply to participating dental schools nationwide through this service. AADSAS saves the candidate time and effort by eliminating the need to complete multiple applications. Since AADSAS is essentially an information clearinghouse, it has no influence on a school’s appraisal or selection of candidates. The service also does not have any information about the criteria used by dental schools to select candidates for admissions.

Students can apply through AADSAS and complete their application electronically via the web at https://portal.aadsasweb.org.

AADSAS enters information into a database and distributes that information in a standardized application form to each school selected. A candidate will receive a confirmation copy of his or her application for review and correction, if necessary. Candidates and potential candidates may visit the web site at www.adea.org for answers to frequently asked questions about the AADSAS application process.