Quantitative Reasoning is the last section of the DAT, and for many science-focused candidates it's the one they've practiced least. Here is what the American Dental Association's 2026 DAT Candidate Guide says about it.
The basics
- 40 questions in 45 minutes, so a little over a minute per question.
- It comes at the end of the test day, after the Survey of the Natural Sciences, the Perceptual Ability Test, the optional break and Reading Comprehension.
- Questions use both U.S. customary and metric units.
Related: What to Expect on the DAT: Format, Scoring, and How to Prepare
What it covers
The guide lists two groups of content:
- Mathematical problems: algebra (equations and expressions, inequalities, exponential notation, absolute value, ratios and proportions, and graphical analysis); data analysis, interpretation and sufficiency; quantitative comparison; and probability and statistics.
- Applied mathematics (word) problems.
Notice what's not on the list: there is no separate trigonometry or calculus category. The weight is on algebra, data, and turning word problems into math.
The calculator
You can't bring your own calculator. The testing center prohibits calculating devices in the secure testing area. Instead, a digital calculator is available on screen during the Quantitative Reasoning section. It's worth practicing with a simple on-screen calculator beforehand, since an on-screen calculator works differently from a handheld one.
How to prepare
- Rebuild speed on algebra fundamentals. Many candidates haven't done this kind of math since early college.
- Practice word problems specifically. The hard part is often setting up the equation, not solving it.
- Learn the question types, especially quantitative comparison and data sufficiency, which ask you to reason about values rather than compute an exact answer.
- Use the calculator selectively. Estimation and mental math are often faster than clicking through a long calculation.
- Practice at the end of a long session. This section comes last, so train yourself to stay sharp when you're tired.
Check before you test
The ADA reviews DAT content every year and posts any changes to its test specifications on ADA.org/DAT. Check the current guide before your test date.