Your FREE DAT Flashcards 2026 – 250+ Cards

The mitochondria — site of aerobic respiration, making most of the cell's ATP.

Left = Bicuspid (mitral), Right = Tricuspid. The two atrioventricular heart valves.

The left ventricle — it pumps oxygenated blood out the aorta to the whole body.

Vena cava → right atrium → tricuspid → right ventricle → pulmonary artery → lungs → pulmonary vein → left atrium → mitral → left ventricle → aorta.

The ribosome (free in the cytoplasm or bound to rough ER).

Packages, modifies, and ships proteins and lipids — the cell's 'post office.'

Digest waste, debris, and worn-out organelles using hydrolytic enzymes.

Rough ER (with ribosomes) processes proteins; smooth ER makes lipids and detoxifies.

Mitosis → 2 identical diploid cells (growth/repair). Meiosis → 4 unique haploid gametes (reproduction).

DNA → RNA → protein: transcription makes RNA, translation makes protein.

Glycolysis (cytoplasm) → Krebs cycle (matrix) → electron transport chain (inner membrane).

In the cytoplasm; it splits glucose into 2 pyruvate, net +2 ATP and 2 NADH, no oxygen needed.

Oxygen — it combines with H⁺ and electrons to form water.

Roughly 30–32 ATP per glucose (most from the electron transport chain).

6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6 O₂. Light reactions (thylakoid) + Calvin cycle (stroma).

Diffusion is passive (high → low concentration, no ATP); active transport moves against the gradient and needs ATP.

The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane, from high to low water concentration.

A cell in a hypotonic solution swells (water in); in a hypertonic solution it shrinks (water out).

p + q = 1 and p² + 2pq + q² = 1; 2pq is the heterozygote frequency.

No mutation, no migration, no natural selection, random mating, and a large population.

3:1 (dominant : recessive) for a single trait with complete dominance.

Genotype is the genetic makeup (e.g., Bb); phenotype is the observable trait (e.g., brown eyes).

Homozygous = two identical alleles (BB or bb); heterozygous = two different alleles (Bb).

Prokaryotes (bacteria) lack a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles; eukaryotes have both.

Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia.

A biological catalyst (usually a protein) that lowers activation energy and speeds a reaction without being consumed.

The maintenance of a stable internal environment (temperature, pH, glucose), usually by negative feedback.

Negative feedback reverses a change to restore balance (insulin); positive feedback amplifies it (childbirth).

Insulin lowers blood glucose (storage); glucagon raises it (release). Both from the pancreas.

In the alveoli of the lungs — oxygen in, carbon dioxide out, across a thin moist membrane.

Kidney (nephron filters blood) → ureter → bladder → urethra.

Central nervous system = brain + spinal cord; peripheral nervous system = all nerves outside it.

Carries electrical signals; structure: dendrites (receive) → cell body → axon → synapse (transmit).

Heritable traits that improve survival and reproduction become more common over generations.

A protein made by the immune system (B cells) that binds a specific antigen to neutralize a pathogen.

DNA is double-stranded with deoxyribose and thymine; RNA is single-stranded with ribose and uracil.

mRNA (carries the code), tRNA (brings amino acids), and rRNA (builds the ribosome).

Making an mRNA copy of a DNA gene in the nucleus; catalyzed by RNA polymerase.

Reading mRNA codons at the ribosome to assemble a protein from amino acids.

A 3-nucleotide unit of mRNA that codes for one amino acid (or a start/stop signal).

Start = AUG (also codes methionine); stop = UAA, UAG, UGA (no amino acid).

Interphase (G₁, S, G₂) then mitosis (M) and cytokinesis. DNA is copied during S phase.

Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase (PMAT), then cytokinesis.

Prophase I of meiosis — homologous chromosomes swap segments, boosting genetic diversity.

Diploid (2n) has paired chromosomes (body cells, 46 in humans); haploid (n) has one set (gametes, 23).

One of the alternative versions of a gene at a given locus (e.g., B vs b).

A dominant allele is expressed with just one copy; a recessive needs two copies to show.

Bb × Bb gives a 3:1 phenotype ratio and a 1:2:1 genotype ratio.

Crosses an unknown dominant phenotype with a homozygous recessive to reveal the genotype.

Males — they have one X, so a single recessive X-linked allele (e.g., colorblindness) shows.

Filter blood to make urine, removing waste and balancing water, ions, and pH.

Detoxifies blood, makes bile, stores glycogen, and regulates blood glucose.

Biceps and triceps — one contracts while the other relaxes to move a joint.

Arteries carry blood away from the heart (high pressure); veins return it (low pressure, valves).

Red cells carry oxygen (hemoglobin); white cells fight infection (immunity).

Innate is fast and nonspecific (skin, phagocytes); adaptive is specific and remembers (antibodies, T/B cells).

The region where substrate binds; its shape gives the enzyme substrate specificity (lock-and-key).

Rate rises with temperature to an optimum, then falls as the enzyme denatures and loses shape.

A molecule that competes with substrate for the active site; more substrate can overcome it.

Adenosine triphosphate, the cell's energy currency; energy is released when its phosphate bond breaks to ADP.

2 pyruvate, a net 2 ATP, and 2 NADH per glucose — in the cytoplasm, no oxygen needed.

Fermentation converts pyruvate to lactic acid, regenerating NAD⁺ for glycolysis without oxygen.

Autotrophs make their own food (plants, via photosynthesis); heterotrophs consume others for energy.

A feeding level — producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers — with ~10% energy passed up each step.

Bacteria are living prokaryotic cells; viruses are non-living particles that must hijack a host cell to replicate.

Gram-positive have thick peptidoglycan (stain purple); gram-negative have thin walls plus an outer membrane (stain pink).

PV = nRT. Use kelvin and R = 0.0821 L·atm/(mol·K).

6.02 × 10²³ particles per mole.

pH = −log[H⁺], and pH + pOH = 14. Below 7 acidic, 7 neutral, above 7 basic.

Oxidation Is Loss (of electrons), Reduction Is Gain. The redox mnemonic.

A disturbed equilibrium shifts to partly offset the change and restore balance.

At constant temperature, P ∝ 1/V — pressure and volume are inversely related.

At constant pressure, V ∝ T — volume rises with absolute temperature.

The reactant that runs out first and caps how much product can form.

Balance the equation → grams to moles (÷ molar mass) → apply mole ratio → moles to grams.

A strong acid (HCl) fully dissociates; a weak acid (CH₃COOH) only partly dissociates.

An acid is a proton (H⁺) donor; a base is a proton acceptor.

Endothermic absorbs heat (+ΔH); exothermic releases heat (−ΔH).

Ionic = electron transfer (metal + nonmetal, e.g. NaCl); covalent = electron sharing (nonmetals, e.g. H₂O).

Its atomic number — the number of protons in the nucleus.

The outer-shell electrons that drive chemical bonding and reactivity.

Decreases across a period (left → right) and increases down a group.

Increases across a period and decreases down a group; fluorine is highest.

Change coefficients only, never subscripts — to conserve mass (and atoms of each element).

Molarity (M) = moles of solute ÷ liters of solution.

The minimum energy needed to start a reaction; a catalyst lowers it.

Energy is conserved — it can change form but is neither created nor destroyed.

The time for half of a radioactive sample to decay; constant for a given isotope.

Boiling-point elevation / freezing-point depression — depends on the number of solute particles, not their identity.

6.02 × 10²³ particles per mole; converts between moles and individual atoms or molecules.

Empirical is the simplest whole-number ratio (CH₂O); molecular is the actual count (C₆H₁₂O₆).

The principal quantum number n gives the energy level (shell) and roughly the size of an orbital.

Aufbau: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d… (lowest energy first).

Electrons fill degenerate orbitals singly with parallel spins before pairing up.

No two electrons in an atom share all four quantum numbers; an orbital holds at most 2 electrons (opposite spins).

Increases up and to the right — it's harder to remove an electron from small, electronegative atoms.

A sigma bond is end-to-end overlap (single bond); pi bonds are side-to-side (in double/triple bonds).

Tetrahedral, ~109.5° bond angles (e.g., CH₄).

Polar has an uneven charge distribution (net dipole, e.g., H₂O); nonpolar is symmetric (e.g., CO₂).

Ion-dipole > hydrogen bonding > dipole-dipole > London dispersion (weakest).

H bonded to N, O, or F interacting with a lone pair on N, O, or F of another molecule.

0 °C (273 K) and 1 atm; 1 mole of an ideal gas occupies 22.4 L.

Total pressure of a gas mixture equals the sum of the partial pressures of each gas.

The ion product of water, Kw = [H⁺][OH⁻] = 1.0 × 10⁻¹⁴.

pH = −log(0.01) = 2, since a strong acid fully dissociates.

A weak acid/base pair that resists pH change when small amounts of acid or base are added.

Keq = [products]/[reactants] at equilibrium; large Keq favors products, small favors reactants.

Lowers activation energy and speeds both directions equally — it does NOT shift equilibrium.

ΔH is positive (heat absorbed); exothermic ΔH is negative (heat released).

More disorder: solid → liquid → gas, dissolving, more moles of gas, higher temperature.

ΔG = ΔH − TΔS; reaction is spontaneous when ΔG < 0.

Oxygen is usually −2, hydrogen +1 (H is −1 in metal hydrides).

The oxidizing agent is reduced (gains electrons); the reducing agent is oxidized (loses electrons).

Oxidation at the anode (−), reduction at the cathode (+); 'AN OX, RED CAT'.

Concentration, temperature, surface area, and catalysts (collision theory).

SN1: 2 steps via carbocation, 3° carbons, racemization. SN2: 1 concerted step, 1° carbons, inversion.

SN1 is first order (rate = k[substrate]); SN2 is second order (rate = k[substrate][nucleophile]).

Primary (1°) or methyl carbons — low steric hindrance lets the nucleophile attack from the back.

Tertiary (3°) carbons — they form the most stable carbocation intermediate.

E1 is stepwise via a carbocation; E2 is concerted and needs a strong base (anti-periplanar H).

A carbon bonded to four different groups; its mirror image is non-superimposable.

Non-superimposable mirror-image molecules; they rotate plane-polarized light in opposite directions.

In addition to an alkene, H adds to the carbon with more hydrogens (forming the more stable carbocation).

A cyclic, planar, fully conjugated ring is aromatic if it has 4n + 2 π electrons (2, 6, 10…).

Six (n = 1 in 4n + 2) — fully delocalized around the ring.

Hydroxyl — the functional group of alcohols.

Carbonyl — found in aldehydes (end) and ketones (middle).

Carboxyl — the functional group of carboxylic acids.

Amino — the functional group of amines.

Both have C=O; aldehydes have it at the end of the chain (−CHO), ketones in the middle.

Functional groups — e.g., a broad ~3300 cm⁻¹ peak signals an O−H, ~1700 cm⁻¹ a C=O.

The number, type, and neighbors of hydrogens — mapping the carbon-hydrogen skeleton.

sp³ = 4 single bonds (tetrahedral, 109.5°); sp² = double bond (trigonal, 120°); sp = triple bond (linear, 180°).

Delocalization of electrons across multiple valid Lewis structures; the real molecule is a hybrid and more stable.

Constitutional isomers differ in connectivity; stereoisomers have the same connectivity but differ in 3D arrangement.

Enantiomers are mirror images; diastereomers are stereoisomers that are NOT mirror images.

A nucleophile donates an electron pair (electron-rich); an electrophile accepts one (electron-poor).

An equal (50:50) mix of two enantiomers; it is optically inactive (no net rotation of light).

Double-headed arrows = movement of an electron PAIR; single/fishhook arrows = movement of ONE electron.

Markovnikov: H adds to the carbon with more H's (acid). Anti-Markovnikov: opposite, via radicals/HBr + peroxide or hydroboration.

Anti-Markovnikov alcohol with syn addition — OH on the less-substituted carbon.

Racemization — the planar carbocation is attacked from both faces, giving both enantiomers.

Polar aprotic (acetone, DMSO) favors SN2; polar protic (water, alcohols) favors SN1.

Elimination favors the more substituted (more stable) alkene as the major product.

Anti-periplanar — the H and leaving group 180° apart so the orbitals align in one concerted step.

3° > 2° > 1° > methyl — more alkyl groups donate electron density and stabilize the positive charge.

Geometric isomers across a double bond/ring: cis = same side, trans = opposite sides.

Rank the 4 groups by priority (CIP); lowest in back, 1→2→3 clockwise = R, counterclockwise = S.

A molecule with stereocenters but an internal mirror plane — it is achiral overall (optically inactive).

Chiral molecules rotate plane-polarized light; a racemic mix or meso compound does not.

Alternating single/double bonds delocalize electrons, lowering energy (stability) and shifting absorption.

Benzene reacts with electrophiles (e.g., nitration, halogenation) by substituting an H, keeping aromaticity.

Activating groups (−OH, −NH₂, alkyl) direct ortho/para; deactivating (−NO₂, −COOH) direct meta.

1° → aldehyde → carboxylic acid; 2° → ketone; 3° alcohols resist oxidation.

Acid chloride > anhydride > ester > amide (best to worst leaving group).

R–MgX acts as a carbon nucleophile, adding to carbonyls to form (after workup) alcohols.

O–H stretch (alcohol or carboxylic acid).

C=O carbonyl stretch (aldehyde, ketone, acid, ester).

The number of unique carbon environments in a molecule.

Rings plus pi bonds; each ring or double bond = 1 degree of unsaturation.

Alkane = single bonds (CₙH₂ₙ₊₂); alkene = one C=C; alkyne = one C≡C.

Hydroxyl is −OH (alcohols); carbonyl is C=O (aldehydes, ketones).

Ester links a carbonyl to −OR; amide links a carbonyl to −NR₂ (the peptide bond).

Saturated = all single C–C bonds (max H); unsaturated = has double/triple bonds (fewer H).

Rapid isomer interconversion by moving a proton + double bond, e.g., keto ⇌ enol.

Six, 15 items each (90 total): Apertures, View Recognition, Angle Ranking, Paper Folding, Cube Counting, 3D Form Development.

Pick the single opening a 3D object can pass straight through in any orientation.

Given two of the top, front, and end views, choose the correct missing view.

Rank four angles from smallest to largest.

Predict the hole pattern after a folded, hole-punched paper is unfolded.

Count how many faces of each cube in a stack are painted/exposed.

Identify the 3D shape a flat pattern produces when folded a specific way.

No — the Perceptual Ability score is reported separately and is NOT part of the Academic Average.

Each fold doubles the layers, so one punch can make 2, 4, 8… holes depending on the number of folds.

Bottom and back faces touching the surface or other cubes are unpainted — don't count them.

Hidden edges (behind the visible surface) in an orthographic top/front/end view.

Yes — it's among the most improvable DAT sections; review the official PAT instructions before test day.

90 items in 60 minutes — about 40 seconds per item, so it is a speed test.

No — it may be turned before insertion, but it must pass straight through without rotating.

Compare angles in pairs and lock in the obvious smallest and largest first, then place the middle two.

The hidden bottom faces and any faces touching another cube — only exposed outer faces are painted.

Fold a flat 2D pattern into a 3D figure; track which edges meet using distinctive markings.

Up to 4 holes — each fold doubles the layers (1→2→4), so one punch makes 4 holes.

Orthographic projections; in View Recognition you're given two and pick the missing third.

Keyholes (apertures), hole punching (paper folding), and cube counting respond fastest to practice.

It measures 3D spatial visualization — the skill behind reading radiographs and shaping restorations.

No — it is pure spatial reasoning; only object manipulation and visualization skills are tested.

Match the object's most distinctive silhouette; eliminate openings of the wrong size or shape.

Yes — reconstruct the full solid (including hidden cubes) before tallying painted faces.

None — answer every item; the DAT has no penalty for wrong answers.

Use a unique mark or notch — if a folded choice puts it on the wrong face, eliminate it.

Do it — knowing the instructions cold saves time you'd otherwise lose decoding them on test day.

Hidden edges that are behind the visible surface in that orthographic view.

Three passages on scientific topics; 50 items in 60 minutes total.

Answer ONLY from the passage; no outside knowledge is needed and bringing it in is the #1 trap.

The main idea covers the WHOLE passage; a supporting detail covers just one part.

A conclusion the passage supports but doesn't state outright — stay one short step from the text.

Find the three options the passage DOES support; the odd one out is the answer.

Use the surrounding sentence's clue and charge — not the word's most common dictionary meaning.

Skimming for structure and noting where key facts live, so you can locate answers fast.

To inform, persuade, describe, or instruct; most DAT science passages are written to inform.

A fact can be verified true/false; an opinion is a judgment, often flagged by 'best,' 'should,' or 'unfortunately.'

Extreme/absolute wording is often a wrong-answer trap unless the passage is equally absolute.

About 72 seconds (50 items in 60 minutes), so most high scorers map rather than read every word.

Skim for structure, note where major facts live, then jump to the exact lines a question asks about.

Find the exact line in the passage; never answer a stated-fact question from memory.

Usually neutral and informational — beware reading them as persuasive or emotional.

The right choice traces to a specific line; if you can't point to it, reject it.

Strengthen = adds support for the claim; weaken = introduces evidence against it.

Absolute language is rarely supported by a passage's hedged claims — often a trap.

The surrounding sentence and its positive/negative charge, not the word's most common meaning.

No — the passages are self-contained; every answer comes from the text alone.

Why the author wrote the passage overall — inform, describe, argue — covering the whole text.

Apply the passage's idea to a new situation; stay consistent with what the text established.

Don't memorize it — note where each term is defined so you can relocate it for a question.

(new − old) ÷ old × 100. Always divide by the ORIGINAL value.

a² + b² = c² for a right triangle (c is the hypotenuse).

x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) ÷ 2a.

Area = πr²; circumference = 2πr.

sin = opposite/hypotenuse, cos = adjacent/hypotenuse, tan = opposite/adjacent.

P(event) = favorable outcomes ÷ total outcomes, a value from 0 to 1.

Independent AND → multiply the probabilities; mutually exclusive OR → add them.

Set two ratios equal (a/b = c/d) and cross-multiply: ad = bc, then solve for the unknown.

Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply/Divide (left→right), Add/Subtract (left→right).

Mean = average; median = middle value when ordered; mode = most frequent value.

Slope = rise/run = (y₂ − y₁) ÷ (x₂ − x₁); the m in y = mx + b.

½ × base × height.

1 : √3 : 2 (opposite the 30°, 60°, 90° angles, respectively).

1 : 1 : √2 (the legs are equal; the hypotenuse is √2 times a leg).

Add the exponents: xᵃ × xᵇ = xᵃ⁺ᵇ.

Only on Quantitative Reasoning — a basic on-screen four-function calculator. None on the science sections.

Simple: I = Prt. Compound: A = P(1 + r/n)ⁿᵗ — interest earns interest.

distance = rate × time (d = rt); rearrange to find rate or time.

Add individual rates (1/a + 1/b); time together = 1 ÷ (sum of rates).

Sum of values ÷ number of values.

Largest value minus smallest value.

Multiply: 20% of 80 = 0.20 × 80 = 16.

Add the ratio parts for the total share count, then multiply each part by (total ÷ part-sum).

Rectangle = length × width; triangle = ½ × base × height.

Cube = s³; box = length × width × height.

V = πr²h (base area times height).

6s² — six square faces, each s by s.

(n − 2) × 180°, where n is the number of sides.

They always sum to 180°.

A common Pythagorean triple — legs 3 and 4 give hypotenuse 5 (also 5-12-13).

1 : √3 : 2 (short leg : long leg : hypotenuse).

1 : 1 : √2 (legs equal; hypotenuse is leg × √2).

y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.

m = (y₂ − y₁) ÷ (x₂ − x₁), the rise over the run.

Multiplying two binomials: (a+b)(c+d) = ac + ad + bc + bd.

Multiply the exponents: (xᵃ)ᵇ = xᵃᵇ.

Subtract the exponents: xᵃ⁻ᵇ.

x⁰ = 1 (x ≠ 0); x⁻ⁿ = 1 ÷ xⁿ.

log_b(x) = y means bʸ = x; logs convert exponential relationships to linear ones.

The product of all positive integers up to n: 5! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120.

Permutation counts ordered arrangements (nPr); combination counts unordered selections (nCr).

Multiply the probabilities: P(A and B) = P(A) × P(B).

Add them: P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B).

P(not A) = 1 − P(A).

Divide and multiply by 100: 3/4 = 0.75 = 75%.

a/b = c/d means ad = bc; solve for the unknown.

They differ when data is skewed; the median resists outliers, the mean is pulled toward them.

Circumference = 2πr (the distance around); area = πr² (the space inside).

Right triangles only: a² + b² = c², where c is the hypotenuse.

s√2 — from the Pythagorean theorem on the two equal legs.

|x| is the distance from zero; always nonnegative (|−7| = 7).

Two solutions: x = a or x = −a (when a > 0).

Sign of the discriminant gives the number of real roots: positive = 2, zero = 1, negative = 0.