Article #02

How ADAT Knockout can improve your ADAT exam score

Advanced Dental Admission Test Knockout

How ADAT Knockout can improve your ADAT exam score

Preparing for the ADAT exam can be a daunting experience, but proper preparation is paramount to ensure that you perform your best. With many study resources available, sometimes it can be overwhelming to know what to study, or which concepts are the most important. You may find yourself looking through multiple textbooks, websites, and videos, only to feel even more lost and discouraged by the amount of subject matter presented. This is because the ADAT exam is designed to test your knowledge on a wide range of topics. While it is nearly impossible to know everything that may be tested on the exam, it is extremely important to use your study time wisely, focusing on highyield information. Splitting your attention between too many study materials can be distracting, so it is best to choose one or two key resources to prioritize. 

While there are many programs available to help you prepare for the ADAT exam, what makes ADAT Knockout stand out is its emphasis on active learning. In order to truly gauge your knowledge of the material, ADAT Knockout provides 1300+ study questions. If you are unsure about a concept, you can use the explanations to review important background information associated with that question. As you progress through the practice exams, you will find yourself building a stronger foundation of knowledge and gaining confidence in each subject area. While sometimes you may be tempted to focus on your practice exam scores, this should not be your priority. Instead, try to ensure that you are spending time reading each explanation, even for questions you answered correctly. Consider writing additional notes or making flashcards for concepts that you have a hard time remembering. For some of the explanations, ADAT Knockout will provide you with helpful mnemonics to remember the information, and you can even try creating some of your own. ADAT Knockout also allows you to take timed practice tests, which will also allow you to simulate the experience of taking the actual exam. If you are intimidated by the practice exams at first, you may consider starting with the bonus questions, which are just extra questions and explanations to develop your knowledge of the material. 

In terms of the clinical sciences section, ADAT Knockout provides a mix of both application-based and fact-based questions, which resemble the real exam. Questions range from the properties of a specific dental material to the applications of that product in clinical practice. Meanwhile, for the biomedical sciences, you can expect to have questions range from more general information (i.e. identifying the muscles of mastication) to more detailed mechanistic questions (i.e. understanding the role of calcium ions in muscle contraction). Finally, for the biostatistics section, while you may not have calculation-based questions on the real exam, ADAT Knockout utilizes these questions to help you build a strong conceptual understanding of biostatistics. By actually applying the formulas in a practice problem, you will develop a stronger understanding of key concepts, such as positive predictive value or number needed to treat. 

Overall, when preparing to study, try to focus primarily on one or two resources that allow you to actively engage with the subject matter. Reading and rereading pages from a textbook is a passive form of studying, while actively answering questions and learning from your mistakes will help the material stick with you better. Instead of stressing about your score, see each question as a learning opportunity. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time with the material, as going through the questions more than once can help you measure what you have learned and refine problem areas. Fortunately, the ADAT Knockout subscription provides you with 90 days of access to practice questions, so you have plenty of time for repetition. While studying for this exam can be overwhelming at first, orienting your studies to concentrate on key concepts will help you be successful.