If you're applying to dental school in North America, one of your first decisions is which DAT to take — and that depends entirely on which schools you're targeting. The American DAT and Canadian DAT are both rigorous standardized exams that test your readiness for dental school, but they differ in meaningful ways: format, content, availability, and even how you take the test. Here's a clear, side-by-side breakdown.
Quick comparison
| Feature | American DAT | Canadian DAT |
|---|---|---|
| Administered by | American Dental Association (ADA) | Canadian Dental Association (CDA) |
| Format | Computer-based | Online (was paper-based historically) |
| Availability | Year-round (most days) | Year-round |
| Total time | ~4 hrs 15 min | ~3 hrs 20 min (~200 min) |
| Manual Dexterity | Not included | Optional (soap carving) |
| Organic Chemistry | Yes (separate section) | Not included |
| Quantitative Reasoning | Yes (40 questions) | Not included |
| Scoring | 1–30 per section | 1–30 per section |
Section-by-section breakdown
Survey of Natural Sciences
American DAT: 100 questions over 90 minutes covering Biology (40), General Chemistry (30), and Organic Chemistry (30).
Canadian DAT: 70 questions over 60 minutes covering Biology (40) and General Chemistry (30). Organic Chemistry is not tested on the Canadian exam.
This is one of the biggest content differences. If you're preparing for the Canadian DAT, you can skip organic chemistry prep entirely and redirect that study time elsewhere.
The Canadian biology section does include topics not found on the American exam — particularly cladistics and ecosystems — while the American version tests experimental cell biology, embryology, and biomolecules that the Canadian exam omits. Check which topics your target school actually reviews during the admissions process.
Perceptual Ability Test (PAT)
Both exams include an identical PAT structure: 90 questions across six subsections — Keyholes, Top Front End (view recognition), Angle Ranking, Hole Punching, Cube Counting, and Pattern Folding. The time limit and difficulty level are comparable on both versions.
The PAT is equally challenging on both the American and Canadian DAT. Regardless of which exam you're taking, systematic PAT practice is non-negotiable — visuospatial skills don't develop from reading about them.
See how each PAT subtask works and why dedicated practice makes the biggest score difference.
Reading Comprehension
American DAT: 50 questions, 60 minutes, three science passages.
Canadian DAT: 50 questions, 50 minutes, three science passages.
The Canadian version gives you 10 fewer minutes for the same number of questions — a meaningful difference if reading under time pressure is a weakness. Both exams test comprehension and inference, not prior scientific knowledge.
Quantitative Reasoning (American DAT only)
The American DAT includes a 45-minute section with 40 math-based questions covering algebra, probability, statistics, data analysis, and applied math. A calculator is provided.
The Canadian DAT has no math section. This removes one significant area of preparation and shortens the overall exam by roughly 45 minutes.
Manual Dexterity Test (Canadian DAT only)
The Canadian exam has an optional Manual Dexterity component in which candidates carve a shape out of a soap bar within 30 minutes. Most Canadian dental schools no longer require this section, but a few — historically including the University of Toronto — have mandated it for recent application cycles.
Always check the specific requirements of each Canadian school you're applying to before deciding whether to complete this section.
Scoring
Both exams use a 1–30 scale for each section. The competitive benchmarks are similar:
- 17–18: Average range (50th percentile)
- 20: Competitive (approximately 75th percentile)
- 22+: Strong applicant at most programs
- 25+: Exceptional — very rare
Canadian dental schools combine Biology, Chemistry, and Reading Comprehension into an Academic Average score. Canadian programs may weigh sections differently from American schools, so review each school's published scoring preferences.
Which DAT should you take?
The answer is straightforward: take the exam accepted by the schools you're applying to.
- Applying only to Canadian schools → take the Canadian DAT
- Applying only to American schools → take the American DAT
- Applying to both → you may need to take both, or check whether any schools accept either exam (most don't cross-accept)
If you're genuinely undecided between American and Canadian programs, the Canadian DAT is slightly shorter and doesn't test organic chemistry or quantitative reasoning — which could favor students stronger in biology and reading comprehension. The American DAT's broader scope reflects the wider range of content covered in US dental curricula.
PAT preparation works for both
Because the PAT is structurally identical on both exams, your preparation carries over completely. A student drilling pattern folding for the American DAT is doing exactly the right work for the Canadian exam too.
Explore PATCrusher's practice tools — built to mirror the exact format, timing, and question styles of the PAT on both versions of the exam. Starting from $9.99, with a 100% higher-score guarantee.
Check out our complete DAT PAT study guide and build a study schedule that accounts for which exam you're targeting.