To calculate your DAT percentile, enter your scores for each section (Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and PAT). The calculator will compute your Academic Average, convert it to the 200–600 ADA scale, and show your percentile rank compared to other U.S. DAT test-takers.
Enter Your DAT Section Scores
Results
Academic Average (old scale)
—New DAT Academic Average (200‑600)
—Estimated Percentile (AA)
—%Total Science Score Percentile
—%Explore More Academic Tools
The Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores are reported on a scale of 1 to 30 for individual sections. The Academic Average (AA) and Total Science (TS) scores are also derived from these. Since 2015, the American Dental Association (ADA) also provides a new 200-600 scaled score, which is a conversion of the old 1-30 scale.
Old Scale (1-30) to New Scale (200-600) Conversion:
This table shows approximate conversions based on ADA concordance data. Scores are typically rounded to the nearest whole number before conversion.
| Old Scale (1-30) | New Scale (200-600) |
|---|---|
| 19 | 410 |
| 20 | 420 |
| 21 | 440 |
| 22 | 460 |
| 23 | 470 |
| 24 | 490 |
| 25 | 510 |
| 26 | 520 |
| 27 | 540 |
Estimated Percentiles for Academic Average (AA) and Total Science (TS):
Percentiles indicate how your score compares to other test-takers nationally. For example, a 90th percentile means you scored better than 90% of test-takers.
| New Scale Score | AA Percentile (%) | TS Percentile (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 410 | 62 | 61 |
| 420 | 69 | 67 |
| 440 | 81 | 78 |
| 460 | 88 | 85 |
| 470 | 91 | 88 |
| 490 | 96 | 92 |
| 510 | 98 | 96 |
| 520 | 99 | 97 |
| 540 | 100 | 100 |
Note: These conversions and percentiles are estimates and may vary slightly from official ADA reports. Always refer to official DAT score reports for precise figures.
Our **DAT Score Calculator & Percentile Estimator** simplifies understanding your Dental Admission Test performance. Here's a detailed guide on how to use this tool:
-
Enter Your Section Scores (1-30 Scale):
Input your scores for the following required sections. Each score should be between 1 and 30:
- Biology: Your score from the Biology section.
- General Chemistry: Your score from the General Chemistry section.
- Organic Chemistry: Your score from the Organic Chemistry section.
- Quantitative Reasoning: Your score from the Quantitative Reasoning section.
- Reading Comprehension: Your score from the Reading Comprehension section.
You can also optionally enter your **PAT (Perceptual Ability Test)** score. While PAT is crucial for admissions, it is not included in the Academic Average calculation.
-
Calculate Your Scores:
Once you've entered your scores, click the **"Calculate DAT Score & Percentile"** button. The calculator will instantly process your inputs and display the results.
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Understand Your Results:
The calculator provides several key metrics to help you assess your performance:
- Academic Average (old scale): This is the average of your Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Quantitative Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension scores.
- New DAT Academic Average (200-600): Your Academic Average converted to the newer 200-600 scale, as adopted by the ADA.
- Estimated Percentile (AA): Your estimated national percentile rank for your Academic Average, indicating how you compare to other test-takers.
- Total Science Score Percentile: Your estimated national percentile rank for your Total Science score (Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry combined).
A visual bar chart will also be generated, providing a quick graphical representation of your Academic Average (new scale) and Total Science percentile.
Understanding the Formulas:
The calculator uses straightforward formulas to derive your scores:
Academic Average (AA) Calculation:
AA = (Biology + Gen Chem + Org Chem + Quantitative Reasoning + Reading Comprehension) / 5
This average is then rounded to the nearest whole number before being converted to the new 200-600 scale using concordance tables.
Total Science (TS) Calculation:
TS = (Biology + Gen Chem + Org Chem) / 3
Similar to AA, this average is rounded to the nearest whole number and then converted to the new 200-600 scale for percentile estimation.
The percentile estimations are derived from official ADA data, providing a reliable benchmark for your performance against thousands of DAT takers nationwide.
- What is the Academic Average (AA)? The Academic Average (AA) is the mean score of your Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Quantitative Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension sections. It does NOT include your PAT score.
- What is the difference between the old (1-30) and new (200-600) scales? The old scale reports scores from 1 to 30. The new 200-600 scale was introduced by the ADA to provide a different numerical representation of performance, with 400 being the approximate average. This calculator helps you convert between them.
- How are percentiles calculated? Percentile ranks indicate the percentage of test-takers who scored at or below your score. For example, if you score in the 90th percentile, it means you performed better than 90% of other DAT test-takers.
- What is considered a good DAT score? A competitive DAT score generally depends on the dental schools you are applying to. An Academic Average (AA) around 20-21 (old scale) or 420-440 (new scale) is often considered strong, placing you in a good percentile for many programs. Top-tier programs may look for even higher scores.
- Is the PAT score included in Academic Average? No, the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) score is reported separately and is not factored into the Academic Average (AA) calculation. However, it is a very important section for dental school admissions.
- Are these percentiles official? The percentiles provided are estimates based on publicly available data and concordance tables from the American Dental Association (ADA). For your official percentile ranks, always refer to your official DAT score report.
This tool is unofficial and provided for academic planning only. Always refer to official DAT score reports and dental school admissions guidelines for precise information.