DAT changes tracker
The biggest recent DAT change is the score scale: since March 1, 2025, scores run from 200 to 600 instead of 1 to 30. The ADA also announced clearer organic chemistry specifications, anticipated from April 2026, and the 2026 exam fee is $580.
Source: ADA, DAT 2026 Candidate Guide (updated August 4, 2026). The ADA posts changes on ADA.org/DAT and in its Recent and Forthcoming Updates to Examinations document. Checked October 12, 2026.
| Change | When | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| New 200-600 score scale | March 1, 2025 | Scores are three digits in 10-point steps. Use the ADA’s concordance table to compare with old 1-30 scores. |
| Updated organic chemistry specifications | Anticipated April 2026; check the DAT website for the date | Simpler topic names and a fuller list of subtopics, not major content changes. Study from the specification in force on your test date. |
| 2026 fees | 2026 testing year | Exam fee $580; later score reports $55; extension $150; score audit $105. |
| Retake rules | Current policy | 60 days between attempts, four a year at most; permission needed from your third attempt. |
From the ADA’s DAT Candidate Guide and scoring update.
What hasn’t changed
- The four sections: Survey of the Natural Sciences (100 questions), Perceptual Ability (90), Reading Comprehension (50) and Quantitative Reasoning (40).
- The timing: 5 hours 15 minutes in total, with one optional 30-minute break.
- No passing score: each school decides what it accepts.
Common questions
Does the organic chemistry update change what I study?
The ADA says the update renames topics and lists subtopics more fully rather than changing the content in a major way. Check which specification applies on your test date at ADA.org/DAT.
Official source & community discussion
ADA: DAT (official) →
See related questions on Quora →