This approach is used because:
* Score distributions vary. The average score can change from year to year depending on the difficulty of the test and the applicant pool.
* Percentile ranks are more informative. A percentile rank tells you your standing relative to other test-takers, which is more useful for assessing your competitiveness for dental school admissions.
Therefore, instead of looking for an average score, prospective dental students should focus on:
* Target percentile ranks: Dental schools often publish the average DAT scores of their matriculants, but even then, it's expressed in percentiles rather than raw scores.
* Individual section scores: The DAT has several sections (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Reading Comprehension). Focusing on improving your performance in each section is more practical than aiming for a specific overall average score.
In short, there's no readily available "average DAT score." Concentrate on achieving high percentile ranks in each section to maximize your chances of dental school admission.