DAT study schedule guide: how to prep in 1, 3, or 6 months

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Why A DAT Study Schedule Matters

We’ve all had anxiety from test preparation and feel overwhelmed. Those who dive straight into the study materials without first making a DAT plan are often setting themselves up for a dizzying cycle of procrastination followed by exhausting (and ineffective) cram sessions. 

Spending hours upon hours reviewing absolutely everything at once simply doesn’t work, as you’ll likely walk away retaining very little of the information you reviewed. It’s easy to start out with a lot of enthusiasm, but overdoing it early on or taking too many practice tests in a row can lead to test fatigue and burnout. Once you start feeling discouraged and defeated, it’s a lot harder to put in the kind of quality work it takes to get a great score on the DAT.

Planning Your Study Sessions

Scheduling out your study sessions and DAT practice tests in advance will ultimately reduce your stress, as you won’t have to worry about the work piling up or turning into a last-minute emergency later. We recommend structuring shorter study sessions where you can focus deeply on one core topic at a time, as this leads to better learning. While DAT study books are definitely a helpful resource, you’re ultimately better off choosing a structured study schedule.

The good news: making a good DAT study schedule doesn’t have to mean mapping out every topic on the DAT, then guessing how much time you’ll need to spend on each one. Bootcamp’s built-in structure tool lets you build a customizable study calendar that you can adjust as you go. By being smart about your resources you can focus on studying instead of winging it, burning out, procrastinating, or building an overcomplicated plan.

It’s also worth mentioning that Princeton Review’s live DAT course offers one, two, three, and four-month options, so there is a little flexibility if you’d like a slightly different timeline.

1 Month DAT Study Schedule

Is it possible to study for the DAT in one month? Technically, yes, but this option isn’t for most learners. We only recommend this intensive one-month prep plan for people who are both highly experienced testers and who are experiencing special circumstances that make a quick test date absolutely necessary. If in doubt, you’re better off putting off the test for a few months to increase your odds of passing the DAT the first time. 

If you’re wondering how to study for the DAT in 1 month, you should plan on spending 5-6 hours per day reviewing. That doesn’t have to be one long study session. It’s wiser to split your time up into three or four shorter sessions throughout the day, as taking brain breaks will help you avoid burnout, stay focused, and get the most out of each review period.

Pro tip: use Bootcamp’s daily planner to schedule drills and review efficiently so that a one-month study schedule becomes extremely doable. 

3 Month DAT Study Schedule

For most test takers, we recommend the 3-month DAT study schedule. This balanced timeframe gives you enough time to cover each topic in-depth without making you spend half a year or more preparing for the DAT.  A three-month DAT study plan is the most popular choice because it balances efficiency with depth, and it works best when paired with one of our recommended best DAT prep courses to keep you structured and accountable. Kaplan’s three-month option is also strong, with expert video lessons and thousands of practice questions, as covered in our full Kaplan DAT review

Here’s what a sample weekly subject breakdown might look like on the DAT 3-month study schedule:

Sample Weekly Subject Breakdown (3 Month DAT Schedule)

This sample weekly subject breakdown is based on Bootcamp’s study planner, which auto-generates day-by-day schedules to keep you on track.

Bootcamp’s calendar tool allows you to make a customized study plan so you know exactly how much time to spend on each topic. Their flexible modules are easy to adapt for your calendar and your learning needs, and the DAT Bootcamp Plus program offers five full-length tests to help you feel ready for exam day.

Kaplan also offers a 3-month study schedule that’s personalized to your needs. While the 3-month plan only gives you access to their on-demand course, which doesn’t include live lessons, you get a wealth of resources with any Kaplan program. In addition to seven full-length practice tests that mimic the actual exam, you can access expert video lessons, over 5,000 practice questions, an up-to-date prep book, and 12 full-color study sheets so you can review on the go.

6 Month DAT Study Schedule

If you have limited time available for studying, a more gradual approach may be more practical. For part-time students with a lot going on, six months is a nice time frame to keep you moving forward without losing momentum. A six-month DAT schedule gives you more breathing room, but consistency is key, and many students find success by following Bootcamp’s 6-month study plan or Kaplan’s longer-term programs to make sure the extra time doesn’t turn into procrastination. Bootcamp’s built-in performance tracking is especially useful on a six-month plan, and you can see how it compares with rivals in our Bootcamp vs Booster comparison.

If you’re concerned about how many hours a day to study for DAT testing, Bootcamp’s 6-month DAT study plan should take most learners about 1-2 hours a day. The extended DAT study schedule is the ideal fit for busy parents, working professionals, and anyone who’s juggling several roles while studying. Bootcamp’s spread-out review cycles help you stay fresh on content you covered a few months ago. They also offer performance tracking over time to give you an accurate understanding of where you still need to improve.

When it comes to test prep, consistency beats intensity. There’s nothing wrong with taking DAT prep one step at a time as long as you’re following a deliberate plan and using a streamlined tool like Bootcamp to keep you making progress. 

Kaplan also offers a 6-month plan for learners who prefer a more relaxed pace. You can choose between the on-demand video lesson course or the live class option, which includes the same video lessons, practice tests, and other resources, plus over 37 hours of live class sessions led by top 10% scoring DAT instructors.

Best Course To Match Your Schedule

Overall, we recommend Bootcamp as best in class for anyone studying for the DAT, regardless of your timeline. We’ve personally tested out all of the major DAT prep programs, evaluating their cost, features, usability, and scheduling options to see which course is best for keeping you on track in your learning. There are other, lesser known competitors like Booster who only offer a study schedule as a downloadable PDF separate from the interface, whereas Bootcamp seamlessly integrates scheduling directly into the portal so you don’t have to keep track of deadlines but can simply click through lessons each day.

Bootcamp’s integrated planner and smart analytics keep your study plan focused around areas where you need the most practice. With spaced repetition tools to prevent you from forgetting previous content you’ve mastered, plus 90+ hours of video that are a perfect fit for visual learners, Bootcamp is hands-down the best DAT prep tool out there.

Even better: you don’t have to break the bank to get started with Bootcamp, as we always have Bootcamp coupons and discounts you can use to save a little money. 

Why Bootcamp Suits 3-Month Planners

If you’re on the standard 3-month study plan, Bootcamp’s tools make it effortless to build a weekly block-style study plan. Their day-by-day planner removes decision fatigue so you can see at a glance which topics you need to cover next, without worrying about whether you’re on track. 

Bootcamp is built around providing users with a study schedule for the most common 3-month prep model. 

Bootcamp also offers frequent self-assessments that help you figure out exactly how you’re doing and if you need to course correct. They offer the best of both worlds: a tried-and-true system that has helped countless test takers achieve great scores, plus the ability to customize your DAT study schedule around your timeline and your learning needs.

How To Adapt Your DAT Stduy Routine Using Bootcamp Analytics

Customizing your DAT study plan is simple. Bootcamp’s intuitive interface allows you to easily track and compare your scores for each topic. From there, you can identify your weak areas and use these insights to personalize your content sequence: that’s it!

Even if you’re on the 1-month or 6-month study plan, you’ll benefit from DAT Bootcamp’s metrics measuring your ability level in each topic. You don’t want to waste time focusing on topics you’ve already mastered or move too quickly through complex concepts. Bootcamp’s smart analytics give users a data-driven approach to understanding their own capabilities, resulting in more focused and effective study time.

➜ Set yourself up for success: explore Bootcamp’s analytics dashboard for yourself!

Pros And Cons Of Different Schedules

Each DAT plan has its own benefits and drawbacks, so choosing the right timeline for you simply depends on your unique situation.

The main pro for the one-month plan, of course, is simply that it’s fast. The cons here are that it requires an intense focus level and a high number of hours per day that many students won’t be able to maintain, resulting in high burnout rates.

One benefit for the 3-month plan is that it offers a nice balance of pushing yourself without making you overdo it. The fact that this is the most popular option also makes it easier to find support from a community of learners going at your pace. Though not a huge drawback, one con is that the 3-month schedule requires routine so you don’t fall behind on the material.

What the 6-month plan has going for it is that it’s flexible and sustainable. At the same time, it may be too flexible, as the biggest con is that without an imminent test date, it can be easy to procrastinate or forget the material you’ve already studied.

Final Verdict

For most learners, the 3-month DAT study schedule is the safest and surest bet. Three months gives you enough time to master the content, without putting you at risk of burnout or forgetting material you’ve already covered. 

If, however, you don’t have much time before your test date, we think you may need to choose an intensive 1-month DAT plan. Only consider this option if you’re an experienced test taker who’s used to earning high scores on standardized tests. 

On the flip side, if you have a lot of pressing life demands that will limit your daily study time, you should choose a slower-paced 6-month study timeline. It’s better to be realistic about your availability upfront so you can set reasonable expectations for yourself.

Whichever DAT study schedule you choose, it’s important to make sure you’re using the right resources for effective studying. Kaplan is better for learners who want a wealth of study materials, while Bootcamp is the top choice for students who want a fully customizable study schedule that takes into account your timeline, your weekly schedule, and your learning needs. Bootcamp helps you maximize your time by telling you exactly what to study next—all you have to do is follow the plan and start conquering your study goals!

Choose a perfect DAT study schedule: make a plan you can follow with Bootcamp!