DAT Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield DAT facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A reader who notices the author repeatedly uses words like 'might,' 'possibly,' and 'suggests' should conclude the author's stance is: → Cautious or tentative
2. What is the pH of a solution where [H⁺] = 1 × 10⁻³ M? → 3
3. Which element has the highest electronegativity? → Fluorine
4. SF₄(g) + H₂O(1) → SO₂(g) + 4HF(g) ΔH = -828 kJ/mol Which of the following statements best captures the reaction described above? → The bond strength of the reactants exceeds that of the products
5. What is the origin of turmeric, according to the text? → India
6. Which of the following is achiral? → Glycine (aminoacetic acid)
7. A die is rolled. What is the probability of an odd number or a 6? → 2/3
8. A reliable strategy when two angles seem equal is to first identify which? → The clearly smallest and clearly largest angles
9. Which high-energy molecule is produced directly by substrate-level phosphorylation in the citric acid cycle? → GTP
10. Which of the following is a key difference between glycolysis and gluconeogenesis? → Glycolysis produces ATP, while gluconeogenesis consumes ATP.
11. Which of the following statements concerning Alzheimer's disease is incorrect? → Five percent of men around the world are affected by this disease.
12. On the DAT, there is no penalty for guessing, which means you should: → Answer every question even if unsure
13. When a question asks what a word means 'as used in the passage,' you should: → Use the surrounding context to determine the intended meaning
14. In the 3D Form Development (Pattern Folding) subtest, a flat pattern is folded to form what? → A three-dimensional solid object
15. A coin is flipped 3 times. What is the probability of exactly two heads? → 3/8
16. Because the passages are unfamiliar scientific topics, the best mindset is to: → Treat the passage as the sole source of truth for answers
17. Among the elements Li, Be, B, and Ne, which has the highest first ionization energy? → Ne
18. Once an object is started through the aperture in the Keyhole subtest, what is NOT permitted? → Turning or twisting it while passing through
19. If a shaded triangle on the net points toward a fold line, after folding it will most likely: → Meet the adjacent face along that edge
20. Which organelle is the primary site of ATP production in eukaryotic cells? → Mitochondria
21. What type of bond holds the two strands of DNA together? → Hydrogen bonds
22. The most efficient first step on each Angle Ranking item is to: → Scan all four angles quickly to spot the obvious extremes
23. If the passage presents data that contradicts an earlier-stated theory, the author is most likely: → Presenting evidence that weakens or revises the theory
24. Focusing on the vertex region rather than the ray ends helps because: → The opening is most accurately judged right at the vertex
25. What is the oxidation state of sulfur in sulfuric acid (H2SO4)? → +6
26. Which describes an optically inactive compound that can be separated into active forms? → Racemic mixture
27. Given that a card drawn is red, what is the probability it is a heart? → 1/2
28. If a face on the net is folded twice (90° each), its final plane is: → Parallel to the starting face
29. For an X-linked recessive trait, which parent passes the allele to an affected son? → Mother only
30. A carrier of an autosomal recessive disorder has which genotype? → Aa