Is the Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT) the Metric Needed to Assist with Postgraduate Admissions? Two Viewpoints: Viewpoint 1: The ADAT Provides a Viable Solution to Help Postgraduate Programs Differentiate Applicants and Viewpoint 2: The ADAT Has Questionable Utility and Value for Postgraduate Admissions

• Published in: Journal of dental education Vol. 81; no. 6; pp. 685 - 690
• Main Authors: Eidelman, Alec S, Whitmer, Thomas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.06.2017
• Subjects: Dentistry; Education, Dental, Graduate; Educational Measurement - standards; Humans; School Admission Criteria; United States; Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT); postgraduate education; admissions; advanced dental education; national boards; educational measurement
• ISSN: 0022-0337; 1930-7837
• DOI: 10.21815/JDE.016.031

In 2012, when the National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) was changed from a numerical scoring system to pass/fail, advanced dental education programs lost a metric widely used for differentiating applicants to those programs. The American Dental Association (ADA) has developed the Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT) to address this issue. Implementation of the ADAT began in 2016 with a pilot program, which has not yet been widely accepted in the overall admissions process. This Point/Counterpoint explores the benefits and challenges of using the ADAT for postgraduate admissions. Viewpoint 1 supports use of the ADAT, arguing that the test provides a viable, long-term solution to this immediate need. In contrast, Viewpoint 2 questions the need for and appropriateness of this additional academic measure for postgraduate admissions.