How I Improved My PAT Score in 2 Weeks: Strategies That Actually Work

Aug 9

Written By DSD .

The Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) is one of the most intimidating sections of the DAT. With its abstract visuals, strict time limits, and no calculator or notes allowed, it’s no surprise that many students feel stuck or overwhelmed.

But here’s the truth: You can raise your PAT score significantly—and faster than you think.

At Dental School Declassified, we’ve seen hundreds of students boost their scores with the right tools, mindset, and strategy. In this post, I’m sharing how I personally improved my PAT score in just 2 weeks—and how you can too.

🧠 First: Why PAT Deserves More Respect

Too many pre-dental students treat the PAT like a throwaway section. But it matters—a lot. Not only is it factored into your Academic Average and Total Science scores by schools that care about well-rounded applicants, but it also signals:

Strong visual-spatial skills
Surgical hand-eye coordination
Mental flexibility under pressure

If you’re struggling with PAT practice, don’t ignore it—tackle it head-on. Here’s how I did just that in two weeks.

📅 Week 1: Diagnose, Drill, and Decode

✅ Step 1: Take a Full-Length PAT-Only Section Test

My first move was to simulate real test conditions with a timed, 90-minute PAT section. This helped me identify:

My baseline score
My slowest sections (Angle Ranking and Keyholes)
My most error-prone sections (Pattern Folding and TFE)

➡️ Result: I scored a 17—not great. But it gave me a starting point and a clear target.

✅ Step 2: Learn the Rules and Shortcuts for Each PAT Section

The PAT isn’t just about “natural talent”—it’s about recognizing patterns and applying techniques. I watched video tutorials and studied strategy breakdowns for each section:

Keyholes → focus on eliminating obvious wrong answers first
TFE → count edges and match line types instead of visualizing everything
Angle Ranking → use reference angles and scan, don’t stare
Hole Punching → build mental grids and count symmetry
Cube Counting → redraw the stack and label layers
Pattern Folding → track edges and test folds logically

💡 Using resources like DAT Bootcamp or PAT-specific apps helped me train smarter, not harder.

✅ Step 3: Drill With Timed Practice (Not Just Untimed)

A huge mistake I used to make: doing PAT questions untimed. In Week 1, I committed to:

3 sections per day under timed conditions
Reviewing every incorrect answer to spot my weak logic
Writing down why each wrong answer was tempting

➡️ By the end of Week 1, I had improved accuracy and shaved off about 10 minutes from my total PAT section time.

📅 Week 2: Fine-Tune, Simulate, and Focus

✅ Step 4: Switch to Full PAT Tests Every Other Day

Now that I knew the sections, I focused on stamina and pacing. Every other day, I did a full-length PAT section test, reviewing:

My time per section
My accuracy on "rushed" questions
Whether skipping and returning was effective for me

I also used a timing strategy like:

10 min – Keyholes
10 min – TFE
8 min – Angle Ranking
8 min – Hole Punching
8 min – Cube Counting
6 min – Pattern Folding

✅ Step 5: Focus Only on Weakest Sections Between Tests

On off-days, I honed in on my worst-performing sections (for me, Pattern Folding and TFE). I:

Reviewed video breakdowns of tricky problems
Practiced ~15 targeted questions each session
Revisited explanations even when I got questions right but wasn’t confident

✏️ Confidence in your logic matters as much as accuracy.

✅ Step 6: Do a Final Timed Test and Reflect

On Day 13, I took one last full-length PAT section under strict test-day conditions:

No pausing
No re-dos
Quiet room, computer-based test

Score: 21
Improvement: +4 points in 2 weeks

💬 Final Thoughts: What Actually Made the Difference

Here's what I believe helped the most:

Daily, timed practice—mimic real conditions
Reviewing why wrong answers were tempting, not just what the right answer was
Mastering one section at a time rather than spreading myself too thin
Using proven strategies instead of trying to “feel my way” through each problem

You don’t need to be naturally good at the PAT to succeed. You just need a system—and consistency.

🎓 Want to Speed Up Your PAT Progress?

At Dental School Declassified, our expert DAT tutors (licensed dentists who scored in the 98th percentile+) can help you:

Learn proven PAT shortcuts and strategies
Pinpoint exactly where you’re losing time or points
Build a targeted study plan that fits your timeline

Whether you need full prep or a focused 2-week PAT boost, we’ve got you covered.

👉 Book a session today and take the guesswork out of your prep.

DSD .