Yes, both run a little harder than the real DAT, and Bootcamp says so openly. But the bigger story for 2026 is that most score-conversion advice online is now out of date. The DAT moved to a new 200–600 scale on March 1, 2025, so any "add a point to your Bootcamp AA" rule written for the old 1–30 scale no longer translates cleanly. Here's what we know, what we don't, and how to read your practice scores today.

What changed in 2025

Tests taken on or after March 1, 2025 are reported on a 3-digit scale from 200 to 600, in steps of 10, replacing the old 1–30 scale (ADEA). Content and section structure did not change. Two practical effects:

What Bootcamp says about its own tests

Bootcamp is unusually candid. It says its practice tests include fewer easy questions than the real DAT and slightly more medium and hard ones, which makes them a bit harder overall, though no single question is harder than something the real DAT could ask (DAT Bootcamp). It also says each of its tests is scaled to its own difficulty, and that its estimates should be treated as a study tool first and a score estimator second (DAT Bootcamp).

In plain terms: if your Bootcamp estimates are slightly below your target, that's expected. If they're well below, it's a real gap.

What about DAT Booster?

Booster markets its tests as highly representative, and many student testimonials on its site describe Booster as closer to the real DAT than other tools. Testimonials on a provider's own site aren't evidence, though, and we haven't found published, verified data comparing Booster estimates to official scores on the new scale. Until that exists, treat Booster's estimates the way Bootcamp recommends treating its own: as a progress tracker, not a forecast.

The official ADA test can't give you a score

The ADA's practice test is written by the people who write the real DAT, but it reports only how many questions you got right. There's no scaled score, no Academic Average and no percentile. It costs $20 per module or $100 for the full set, and its "full" test has 25 Reading Comprehension items instead of 50 and 30 PAT items instead of 90 (TestPrepPal; DAT Bootcamp). Booster also reports that students often find it noticeably easier than the real exam (DAT Booster).

Use it for question style in your final week. Don't use it to predict your AA.

How to read your practice scores in 2026

  1. Trust the trend, not the number. Five rising estimates from the same provider say more than any single test.
  2. Compare tests from the same provider only. A Booster 450 and a Bootcamp 450 aren't the same thing, because each company scales its own tests.
  3. Ignore conversion charts made before March 2025. Check the date on any "practice vs real" chart before you use it.
  4. Watch repeat exposure. Retaking a section you've seen inflates the estimate, because you remember the questions.
  5. Set a cushion. If your practice estimates sit at or slightly below your target, you're likely on track. If they're more than a few score bands below with two weeks left, consider rescheduling. See the fees in our DAT registration guide.

Booster or Bootcamp for practice tests?

Both are strong. We cover the full comparison, including pricing and question banks, in DAT Booster vs DAT Bootcamp. For score prediction specifically, neither publishes verified accuracy data on the new scale yet, so treat both as directional.

Help us measure this

Took the DAT after March 2025 with Booster or Bootcamp practice tests? Send us a direct message on Instagram with your practice estimates and a screenshot of your official score report. Once we have enough verified reports, this page will show real numbers instead of rules of thumb.

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