DAT Books

In Canada, each of the ten dental schools requires Dental Aptitude Test (Canadian DAT) scores as part of the admission process. Even though the test is required, the results are only one factor considered in evaluating the admission potential of an applicant. The relative importance of DAT scores in evaluating the admission potential of an applicant is determined by each dental school and is not regulated by the DAT Program.

Canadian DAT scores are accepted by some US dental schools but because the US DAT does not include a manual dexterity component, results of the US DAT cannot be used for admission to all Canadian dental schools. It is important to note that some Canadian dental programs no longer require the manual dexterity test so the latter is optional.

Dental Aptitude Test

American Dental Association

DAT Practice Tests  •  OAT Books  •  MCAT

DAT Scores and GPAs at Canada's Dental Schools

Summary of the Canadian DAT

For many years, the Canadian DAT was held twice per year at numerous test centers across Canada (November and February) using paper booklets and answer sheets. In 2022, for the first time ever, the Canadian DAT began to match its US counterpart by offering the exam 12 months per year as a computer-based test held at Prometric test centers from coast to coast in Canada. General academic ability, comprehension of science (Biology and General Chemistry), two and three dimensional visual perception as well as manual dexterity are being evaluated in this 1/2 day exam.

Components and Duration of the Canadian DAT
Manual (Carving) Dexterity Test 30 min. Optional
Survey of Natural Sciences Test 60 min. 40 Biology and 30 General Chemistry questions
Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) 60 min. 90 questions
Reading Comprehension (RC) 60 min. 50 questions (English DAT only)


What is the difference between the Canadian DAT and the US DAT?

The Canadian DAT has the optional Manual Dexterity Test. The US DAT has 2 additional sections: (1) 30 questions in Organic Chemistry added to the Natural Sciences Test; (2) 40 questions in a Quantitative Reasoning (QR) Test which covers math. Some Canadian students choose to take the US DAT because it is accepted as equal to the Canadian DAT by Canadian dental schools, and doing so has the added benefit of being able to apply to US dental schools.

DAT Scores and GPAs at Canada's Dental Schools

Source: 2021/2022 ADEA Official Guide to Dental School

Canadian Dental Schools Minimum GPA Average DAT Average GPA
School of Dentistry, University of Alberta 3.5 NR 3.85
Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia 2.8 on a 4.0 scale 22.3 NR
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Manitoba 3.6 20.6 4.06
Faculty of Dentistry, Dalhousie University 3.7 21 3.7
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto 3.6 on a 4.0 scale 23 NR
School of Dentistry, Western University 3.7 21 3.9
Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University 3.5 or higher on a scale of 4 N/A 3.82
College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan 2.75 on a 4.0 scale 19.9 87.14
Université de Montréal Faculté de Médecine Dentaire
Université Laval Faculté de Médecine Dentaire

Please keep in mind that the percentile rank indicates your test performance relative to all the students who did the same test on the same day. It records the percentage of students whose scores were lower than yours. Percentile ranks are not used as dental school admissions criteria and the following percentile ranks fluctuate significantly from year to year.

DAT Percentile Rank Chart with Quantitative and Qualitative DAT Score Estimates

DAT Score (Quantitatively) Percentile DAT Score (Qualitatively)
17-18 50th Average
19-20 75th Usually Good
22-23 98th Very High

For information about Canada's French language dental programs, please click here:

Faculté de médecine dentaire, Université de Montréal        

Faculté de médecine dentaire, Université Laval

For information about DAT scores at US dental schools, please click here:

DAT scores/GPAs for US dental schools

Disclaimer: Gold Standard has compiled the information on this page without warranty nor guarantee. We have done our best to verify the authenticity of the data. However, it is the student's individual responsibility to confirm information directly with the institution of interest, and depending on circumstances, via online, phone or in person.


Complete Canadian DAT Home Study Course with 2 Full-length Practice Tests (4 Paperback Books, Online NS Videos, MP3s, Apps, Software and Interview Online Video)

Canadian Masters Series DAT 4-book Set + Free DAT Noteboard with Markers

  • Paperback books shipped to your address
  • PRICE: $197
Purchasing from this website permits you free temporary online access on the next business day from your purchase to the content from your book(s) in eBook format while awaiting shipment, by email request. Shipping & handling to an address in Canada is $50 (tracked) with delivery within 7 days. Note that the shipping fee includes the shipping from the US to Canada, applicable border fees, and then reshipping from a Canadian address to your address so that you do not pay any border fees. Shipping to an address outside of the US and Canada is calculated based on the destination and weight, email shipping@dat-prep.com with the destination and number of books for pricing.
  • eBook access for 6 months
  • (instant online access after payment)
  • PRICE: $108

Gold Standard reviews all topics described on the CDA website. Finally, you don't have to pay $1500 for top quality. See below for sample pages.

Fully updated and comprehensive DAT test review! It's like a DAT course and tutor in your home at your own pace!

Product Details:
  • Total Number of Pages: 1392
  • Book Dimensions: 8.5 x 11
  • Author: Gold Standard DAT
Product Summary:
  • The Gold Standard DAT Complete 4-Book Set (Biology, General Chemistry, RC, PAT) with personal online access code which has the details of all sections you need for the DAT plus practice material and 2 full-length DAT practice tests with detailed solutions; works on PC and MAC (1392 pages; 2022-2023 Ed.; see below for table of contents).

    Includes: The best DAT PAT techniques and strategies in perceiving 3D objects in 2D views and vice versa, which are essential to ace the apertures (keyhole), orthographic projection (top-front-end/TFE), and 3D development (pattern folding) tests. Quick formulas such as the Gold Standard Paper Folding Quadrants (our hole punching/pattern folding trick) and the Gold Standard Cube Counting Formula will help you become more time-efficient. We also present helpful angle ranking tricks so, with practice problem sets, you can choose which works best for you. This study guide also comes with online access to PAT videos and over 1300 DAT PAT problem sets in the book and online for the original owner.

Can't I use MCAT books instead?

There are many important DAT topics that are either not on the MCAT or are so rare as MCAT questions that the topics are not properly covered in MCAT books. Here is a partial list: photosynthesis and plant biology, cladistics, genetic technology, animal behavior and learning, population and community ecology, ecosystems, social behaviors of animals, general chemistry laboratory techniques and glassware, etc. The 4 Gold Standard DAT books were designed specifically for the DAT so all CDA/ADA topics are presented in color followed by chapter review questions, answers and explanations.

Author Description:

The Gold Standard DAT team of authors and editors includes professionals with advanced academic degrees in dentistry, medicine and the arts as well as Ivy League dental students with exceptional DAT scores (AA: 27).

Package Details:

Gold Standard Dental Admission Test (DAT) Comprehensive Review, Practice Tests and Online Access Card, Complete 4-Book Set + DAT Noteboard

The Gold Standard DAT includes an ambitious and comprehensive review of all DAT subjects. Natural Science (NS) subjects are covered in remarkable detail with full-color illustrations (biology and general chemistry) plus a thorough preparation and innovative strategies for PAT and RC. On the cover of this 4-book set, we promised 2000 practice questions, now we have developed over 3000 practice questions covering all DAT subjects including strategy-type questions, chapter review questions and 2 full-length practice tests with explanations: 1 pull-out exam in the book plus 1 practice DAT online.The Gold Standard DAT also provides advice as to how to improve your grades, how to prepare for the dental school interview, Recipe for DAT Success and there is a presentation of learning objectives prior to chapters in Natural Sciences. This 4-book boxed set comes with a unique online access code for bonus chapter review questions with explanations; ten hours of online NS teaching videos; an interactive forum and more.

Gold Standard DAT Biology (Dental Admission Test) Gold Standard DAT Biology (Dental Admission Test) Gold Standard DAT Biology (Dental Admission Test) Gold Standard DAT Biology (Dental Admission Test)
Gold Standard DAT Biology (Dental Admission Test) Gold Standard DAT Biology (Dental Admission Test) Gold Standard DAT Biology (Dental Admission Test) Gold Standard DAT Biology (Dental Admission Test)

Table of Contents for General Chemistry
  • Stoichiometry
  • Electronic Structure and the Periodic Table
  • Bonding
  • Phases and Phase Equilibria
  • Solution Chemistry
  • Acids and Bases
  • Thermodynamics
  • 8. Enthalpy and Thermochemistry
  • 9. Rate Processes in Chemical Reactions
  • 10. Electrochemistry
  • 11. Nuclear Chemistry
  • 12. Laboratory
  • Chapter Review Solutions
    General Chemistry Equation List and Tables
DAT PAT Table of Contents

    Exam Summary

    Preface

    Dental School Admissions:

  • Improving Academic Standing
  • The Dental School Interview

    Understanding the DAT:

  • The Structure of the DAT
  • The Recipe for DAT Success

    Perceptual Ability (PAT):

  • The Relevance of the Perceptual Ability Test
  • Apertures (keyholes)
  • Orthographic Projection (TFE)
  • Angle Discrimination (angle ranking)
  • 5. Paper Folding (hole punching)
  • 6. Cube Counting
  • 7. 3D Form Development (pattern folding)

    Gold Standard DAT Exam (GS-1):

  • The Gold Standard DAT Exam
  • Practice Test GS-1
  • Natural Sciences
  • Perceptual Ability Test
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Quantitative Reasoning
  • Answer Keys
  • Solutions
  • Answer Documents
DAT Biology Table of Contents
  • 1. Generalized Eukaryotic Cell
  • 2. Microbiology
  • 3. Protein Synthesis
  • 4. Enzymes and Cellular Metabolism
  • 5. Specialized Eukaryotic Cells and Tissues
  • 6. Nervous and Endocrine Systems
  • 7. The Circulatory System
  • 8. The Immune System
  • 9. The Digestive System
  • 10. The Excretory System
  • 11. The Musculoskeletal System
  • 12. The Respiratory System
  • 13. The Skin As An Organ System
  • 14. Reproduction and Developmen
  • 15. Genetics
  • 16. Evolution
  • 17. Plants
  • 18. Animal Behavior
  • 19. Ecology
  • 20. Biochemistry
Chapter Review Solutions
Biology Index

Note that the 2022 ADA updates are included: Epigenetics, Genomics, and other topics recently added to the DAT syllabus by the ADA.
DAT Reading Comprehension Table of Contents

    1. Structure of the Reading Comprehension Section

    2. Improving your Reading Comprehension Skills for the DAT

    3. DAT Reading Comprehension Strategies

    4. Gold Standard DAT RC Mini Tests (4)

  • a. Reading Comprehension (RC) Mini Tests with Answer Key, Explanations and Strategies
  • b. RC Mini Test 1
  • c. RC Mini Test 1 Answer Key
  • d. RC Mini Test 1 Explanations and Strategies
  • e. RC Mini Test 2
  • f. RC Mini Test 2 Answer Key
  • g. RC Mini Test 2 Explanations and Strategies
  • h. RC Mini Test 3
  • i. RC Mini Test 3 Answer Key
  • j. RC Mini Test 3 Explanations and Strategies
  • k. RC Mini Test 4
  • l. RC Mini Test 4 Answer Key
  • m. RC Mini Test 4 Explanations and Strategies
  • 5. Gold Standard DAT RC Practice Test

  • a. Practice Test 1 Answer Key
  • b. Practice Test 1 Explanations and Strategies

Masters Series DAT 6-book Set for the American DAT

  • Paperback books shipped to your address
  • PAGES: 2102 pages
  • PRICE: $249.00
Purchasing from this website permits you free temporary online access on the next business day from your purchase to the content from your book(s) in eBook format while awaiting shipment, by email request. Shipping & handling to an address in Canada is $50 (tracked) with delivery within 7 days. Note that the shipping fee includes the shipping from the US to Canada, applicable border fees, and then reshipping from a Canadian address to your address so that you do not pay any border fees. Shipping to an address outside of the US and Canada is calculated based on the destination and weight, email shipping@dat-prep.com with the destination and number of books for pricing.
  • eBook access for 6 months
  • (instant online access after payment)
  • PRICE: $119.95