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The DAT is administered on Saturday at the test centres listed in this section. Test centre seating is reserved in real time during registration.
Notice to applicants:
As there are a limited number of DAT test centres and seats available, applicants are advised to register as early as possible for their preferred test location and date for the DAT and well in advance of the registration deadline. Seats fill up very quickly at certain test centres and CDA cannot guarantee that seats will still be available at the end of the registration period.
Codes
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ALBERTA |
5610 |
University of Calgary, Calgary |
5611 |
University of Alberta, Edmonton |
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BRITISH COLUMBIA |
5709 |
University of British Columbia, Vancouver |
5710 |
University of Victoria, Victoria |
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MANITOBA |
5808 |
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg |
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NEW BRUNSWICK |
5910 |
University of Moncton, Moncton (Bilingual) |
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NEWFOUNDLAND |
6001 |
Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's |
6002 |
Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, Corner Brook |
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NOVA SCOTIA |
6103 |
Dalhousie University, Halifax |
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ONTARIO |
6205 |
University of Ottawa, Ottawa (Bilingual) |
6220 |
Laurentian University, Sudbury (Bilingual) |
6222 |
Lakehead University, Thunder Bay |
6260 |
University of Toronto, Toronto |
6263 |
University of Western Ontario, London |
6264 |
University of Windsor, Windsor |
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PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND |
6303 |
University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown |
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QUEBEC |
6407 |
McGill University, Montreal |
6413 |
Université Laval, Quebec (French) |
6414 |
Université de Montréal, Montréal (French) |
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SASKATCHEWAN |
6513 |
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon |
The following rules will be observed at all test centres administering the DAT.
Note: Once DAT applicants enter the examination room, they become DAT candidates.
Test Results
All inquiries concerning the utilization of the DAT test results in the admissions process should be directed to the individual faculties of dentistry. The DAT Office cannot supply you with this information.
It takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks from the testing date for the examination results to be processed and available for dental school distribution. In general, because of the significant number of applicants applying to dental schools, candidates are encouraged to participate in the November test session of the year preceding application to dental school(s).
The DAT Office will forward a student copy of the official transcript of test results directly to the candidate. This transcript is the candidate's personal copy and is not to be sent or taken to dental schools.
The results of the DAT are the property of CDA and may be used as part of a national validation study of the DAT. Individual test results will not be released without specific written authorization by the test subject. Test results are kept on file indefinitely.
Scoring of Examinations
DAT scores for the written portion of the test are based on the number of correct answers. There is no penalty for wrong answers.
The manual dexterity test is evaluated in 4 areas. Each carved pattern is evaluated for:
For each of the four areas, a criterion-referenced 4–point (0–3) scale is used to grade each carved pattern.
A carving must be two-thirds complete to be graded, and the design must be two-thirds correct to be graded. A carving that is incomplete or is an incorrect pattern will be penalized.
The results are reported to dental schools in terms of standard scores rather than raw scores. Through the use of standard scores, it is possible to compare the performance of one candidate with the performance of all candidates. The standard scores used in the testing program range from 1 to 30. While there are no strict passing or failing scores, the standard score of 15 signifies average performance on a national basis. The standard score is based on the underlying ability distribution and can be interpreted as norm referenced or criterion referenced.
A detailed explanation of the test scores is forwarded to all candidates with the student copy of the official transcript.
Verification of DAT Scores
All written portions of the DAT exam are computer-graded. A candidate who has concerns about the accuracy of the reporting process for the written portion of the DAT, despite all the control mechanisms implemented by the DAT Program, may submit a request for an administrative verification of his or her scores. A candidate who is concerned about the mechanical scoring process itself may also submit a request to have the written portion of the DAT re-graded manually to verify the accuracy of the computer-generated score.
The carving score will be manually verified for clerical and recording accuracy. A grading committee of dental faculty members evaluates all carvings. In light of the extensive reviews that have already been done during the grading of the carvings, requests to re-grade carvings will not be considered.
A request for a review and verification of test results must be accompanied by the administration fees which are set out in the DAT Fees section. A request for a verification of test scores must be provided in writing to the DAT Office within 6 months of the date on which the candidate wrote the DAT.
Rewriting the Test
Applicants are allowed to participate in the DAT Program an unlimited number of times. However, only the results of the last attempt and the total number of attempts will be reported on the official DAT transcript. Applicants who want the results of a previous DAT sent to one or more faculties of dentistry must make such a request online.
Suggestions to Applicants
Applicants are advised to practise to improve their carving skill. The information provided in the DAT Preparation Kit should allow adequate preparation for the test.
Applicants who are not accepted by a dental school are urged to review their ability and type of previous training in order to determine, to their satisfaction, whether they should continue planning on a career in dentistry, or whether they should consider making plans to enter a different profession or vocation.
Applicants are encouraged to consult with the counsellors and guidance officers in the university or college they are attending to gain counselling that may reveal more appropriate occupational areas for consideration.