United States · Admission testWhat subjects are on the DAT?
| Section | What ADA lists |
|---|---|
| Biology (40 questions) | Cell and molecular biology, diversity of life, structure and function of systems, genetics, evolution and ecology |
| General chemistry (30) | Stoichiometry, gases, liquids and solids, solutions, acids and bases, equilibria, thermodynamics, kinetics, redox, atomic and molecular structure, periodic properties, nuclear reactions, lab |
| Organic chemistry (30) | Mechanisms, chemical synthesis, acid-base chemistry, chemical and physical properties of molecules, structural evaluation |
| Perceptual Ability (90) | Apertures, view recognition, angle discrimination, paper folding, cube counting, 3D form development |
| Reading Comprehension (50) | Three passages on science topics; you don’t need to know the topic beforehand |
| Quantitative Reasoning (40) | Algebra, data analysis and sufficiency, quantitative comparison, probability and statistics, word problems |
Biology topics in detail
- Cell and molecular biology: metabolism (including photosynthesis and enzymes), membrane transport and signaling, thermodynamics, mitosis and meiosis, cell structure, experimental cell biology and biomolecules.
- Diversity of life: viruses, archaebacteria, eubacteria, fungi, protists, plants and animals.
- Structure and function of systems: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, circulatory, lymphatic and immune, digestive, respiratory, urinary, nervous and sensory, endocrine and reproductive.
- Genetics: molecular, human, classical and chromosomal genetics, genetic technology, development, genomics, gene expression and epigenetics.
- Evolution and ecology: natural selection, population genetics and speciation, animal behavior, and population, community and ecosystem ecology.
Chemistry topics in detail
- General chemistry includes gas laws (Dalton, Boyle, Charles and the ideal gas law), colligative properties, pH and Brønsted-Lowry reactions, Le Chatelier’s principle, Hess’s law, rate laws and half-life, oxidation numbers and electrochemistry, and lab error analysis and safety. A periodic table is on screen for this part.
- Organic chemistry, under the specifications in place since April 2026: curved-arrow mechanisms and reaction coordinate diagrams; one-step, two-step and multi-step synthesis (SN1, SN2, E1, E2 and reactions of alkenes, alcohols, ethers, aromatics, carbonyls and more); ranking acidity and basicity; polarity, solubility and boiling points; chromatography, extraction, recrystallization and distillation; 1H NMR, 13C NMR and IR spectroscopy; and nomenclature, stereochemistry and bonding.
Perceptual ability, reading and math
Perceptual Ability is about picturing shapes in space, with no science or math. Reading Comprehension tests how well you read and analyze science writing, not what you already know. Quantitative Reasoning is first-year college math with a basic calculator. Each has its own page with more detail.
Sources: ADA and 1 more. Checked October 2026.
- ADA: Dental Admission Test (DAT) 2026 Candidate Guide (PDF), Scope of the Examination and Eligibility Requirements ↗
- ADA: Recent and Forthcoming Updates to Examinations (PDF) ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.