📘 Top 10 Math Questions on the DAT — And How to Tackle Them
If you’ve been putting off studying for the math section of the DAT — you’re not alone. Many students find Quantitative Reasoning (QR) to be one of the most intimidating sections of the exam, especially if they haven’t taken math recently or feel rushed for time.
The good news? Most DAT QR questions fall into familiar categories. Once you know what to expect and practice efficiently, your confidence (and score) can skyrocket.
Here are the top 10 math question types that appear again and again on the DAT — along with a few tips from our team at DAT Destroyer.
🔢 1. Word Problems
These are classic “read and translate” problems where you turn words into math. Expect questions involving rates, proportions, mixture problems, work problems, and more.
✅ Tip: Practice identifying keywords and setting up equations before doing any solving.
📈 2. Probability & Combinatorics
Think: dice rolls, card draws, and seating arrangements. Many students struggle here due to tricky wording or unfamiliar formulas.
✅ Tip: Master basic rules of counting (permutations vs. combinations) and simplify the situation step-by-step.
📏 3. Geometry
The DAT loves geometry — especially circles, triangles, and polygons. Expect questions about angles, areas, perimeters, and volumes.
✅ Tip: Memorize common geometry formulas cold. A reference sheet won’t be provided!
🧮 4. Algebra
These problems may involve simplifying expressions, solving linear equations, or working with inequalities.
✅ Tip: Don’t overcomplicate. Eliminate answer choices that clearly don’t work and watch for sign errors.
💱 5. Conversions & Units
Watch out for unit conversions and dimensional analysis problems. For example: converting miles per hour to feet per second.
✅ Tip: Always check the final units the question is asking for — that’s where many careless mistakes happen.
📊 6. Data Analysis
You may see graphs, charts, or tables. Questions might ask you to interpret trends, averages, or percent changes.
✅ Tip: Take 5 seconds to scan the entire graph or table before diving into the question.
📐 7. Trigonometry
Yes — Trig is still tested! The official 2025 ADA DAT Guide confirms it. You can expect right triangle identities, basic sine/cosine/tangent values, and SOHCAHTOA-based problems.
✅ Tip: Focus on triangles and unit circle basics. You don’t need calculus-level trig, but you do need to know your angles and ratios.
📎 Go here to see the ADA’s exact wording about Trigonometry being tested:
📖 2025 ADA DAT Guide (PDF)
(Scroll to page 15 under “Quantitative Reasoning Content”)
🕰 8. Time-Saving Strategy Questions
Some problems are designed to be solved quickly if you know the shortcut — like estimation, plugging in answer choices, or using ratios.
✅ Tip: Learn when to skip formal solving and try strategic guessing or answer elimination.
🧠 9. Pattern Recognition
Occasionally, you’ll face logic-based questions that rely more on recognizing number patterns or sequences.
✅ Tip: Write out a few terms if needed — and trust your instincts once you see a pattern forming.
🔄 10. Applied Math
This category includes real-world applications like finance (interest), growth/decay, and interpreting wordy setups.
✅ Tip: Translate carefully. Sometimes the math is easy, but the setup is where students go wrong.
💬 Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be a math genius to score well on the DAT Quantitative Reasoning section. You just need the right strategies, consistent practice, and a strong foundation in the types of questions you’ll face.
If you’re looking for a place to start, the Math Destroyer is built for this exact reason — to help students recognize, tackle, and master all 10 of these question types under timed conditions.