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Reading Comprehension

DAT Reading Comprehension Strategies for Scientific Passages

Reading strategy should reduce search time without destroying comprehension. Build a light map of each passage, then return to exact evidence for detail and inference questions.

By BDALab Editorial TeamPublished June 14, 2026Updated June 14, 20268 min read
Editorial note

BDALab is independent and is not affiliated with Acuity Insights, the ADA, or the AAMC. Exam details are checked against official sources; strategy recommendations are educational guidance, not official policy.

Map the passage lightly

  • Write a few words for each paragraph's role.
  • Mark contrasts, hypotheses, findings, and author judgments.
  • Do not copy details that are easy to relocate.
  • Track the passage's purpose and structure.

Answer from evidence

For detail questions, locate the relevant sentence and read around it. For inference questions, choose the smallest claim supported by the text. Avoid answers that are scientifically plausible but not established by the passage.

Train pacing deliberately

  • Use checkpoints rather than watching the clock after every question.
  • Skip and return when a detail search becomes unproductive.
  • Practice passages individually before relying on full-section repetition.
  • Review where the evidence was located, not only which option was correct.
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Questions

Frequently asked questions

Should I read the questions before the DAT passage?

Either approach can work. Test both under timed conditions and choose the method that produces reliable comprehension and evidence retrieval.

Sources and review

Reviewed under the BDALab editorial policy. Always confirm current requirements with the official testing organization.

  • American Dental Association: Dental Admission Test
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