DCAT Exam Flashcards

Q: What is the DCAT and who administers it?

The DCAT (De La Salle College Admission Test) is the multiple-choice entrance exam that De La Salle University, Manila uses to evaluate first-year college applicants. It is run by the DLSU Office of Admissions and Scholarships.

Q: What sections are on the DCAT?

The DCAT is all multiple-choice and covers Aptitude and Mental Ability (abstract, numerical, and logical reasoning), Mathematics, Science, English and Reading Comprehension, and General Information/Situational items.

Q: Is there a passing score for the DCAT?

DLSU does not publish a fixed numeric passing score. Admission is holistic and competitive: the DCAT result is combined with high school grades and, for some programs, interviews, so there is no single cutoff to memorize.

Q: How long is the DCAT and how many questions does it have?

The DCAT runs roughly 3 to 5 hours across all sections with about 100 multiple-choice items. DLSU sets the exact duration and item count for each testing cycle.

Q: What is the hardest section on the DCAT?

Examinees most often flag the Mathematics section (trigonometry, factoring, word problems) and the Science section (chemical formulas, physics, biology) as the most demanding, along with reading-comprehension passages that mix text with graphs and data.

Q: Can I retake the DCAT if I'm not admitted?

The DCAT is tied to a specific admission cycle rather than a professional licensing retake policy. If you are not admitted, you would need to reapply during a later DLSU application period; DLSU does not publish a fixed waiting period like a certification exam.

Question 1

Arithmetic Sequence Pattern

Accepted Answer

A sequence where each term differs from the next by a constant amount (common difference). Find it by subtracting consecutive terms; if the difference is constant, add it to the last term to get the next number.

Question 2

Growing-Gap (Quadratic) Sequence Pattern

Accepted Answer

A sequence whose first differences are not constant but themselves increase by a fixed amount (e.g., +3, +5, +7, +9...). Project the next difference following that pattern, then add it to the last term.

Question 3

Geometric Sequence Pattern

Accepted Answer

A sequence where each term is multiplied by a constant ratio to get the next term (e.g., 2, 6, 18, 54... ratio = 3). Find the ratio by dividing a term by the one before it.

Question 4

Figure/Pattern Analogy Strategy

Accepted Answer

Identify the single consistent transformation applied across the figures — rotation, reflection, added or removed elements, size change, or shading — then apply that same transformation to find the missing figure.

Question 5

Verbal Analogy: Function Relationship

Accepted Answer

Pairs like 'thermometer : temperature :: barometer : pressure' link a tool to the exact quantity it measures. Identify the relationship in the first pair, then find the answer pair with the same relationship.

Question 6

Verbal Analogy: Part-to-Whole Relationship

Accepted Answer

One word names a part or member of the category named by the other word (e.g., 'petal : flower' or 'chapter : book'). Match the direction of the relationship — part-to-whole, not whole-to-part — in your answer choice.

Question 7

Categorical Syllogism: 'All' Premises

Accepted Answer

'All A are B' means every A is inside B, but it does NOT mean all B are A. From 'All A are B' and 'All B are C,' you can validly conclude 'All A are C.'

Question 8

Categorical Syllogism: 'Some' Premises

Accepted Answer

'Some A are B' only guarantees overlap between A and B — it does not tell you about all A or all B. Conclusions using 'all' or 'no' cannot be drawn from 'some' premises alone; only a tentative 'some may be' conclusion is valid.

Question 9

Coding-Decoding: Letter-Shift Cipher

Accepted Answer

Each letter is shifted a fixed number of positions in the alphabet (e.g., A to D is a +3 shift). Find the shift amount from one known letter pair, then apply it consistently to decode or encode the rest.

Question 10

Clock Angle Between Hands

Accepted Answer

The angle between the hour and minute hands equals |30H - 5.5M| degrees, where H is the hour and M is minutes past the hour. Example: at 3:00, the angle is |30(3) - 5.5(0)| = 90 degrees.

Question 11

Quadratic Formula

Accepted Answer

For ax^2 + bx + c = 0, x = (-b +/- sqrt(b^2 - 4ac)) / 2a. Use it to solve any quadratic equation that doesn't factor easily.

Question 12

Factoring: Difference of Two Squares

Accepted Answer

a^2 - b^2 = (a + b)(a - b). Recognize perfect-square terms separated by subtraction to factor instantly (e.g., x^2 - 9 = (x + 3)(x - 3)).

Question 13

Slope-Intercept Form of a Line

Accepted Answer

y = mx + b, where m is the slope (rise/run) and b is the y-intercept. Two points give the slope: m = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1).

Question 14

Pythagorean Theorem

Accepted Answer

In a right triangle, a^2 + b^2 = c^2, where c is the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle). Used to find a missing side when the triangle has a 90-degree angle.

Question 15

Circle Formulas

Accepted Answer

Area = (pi)r^2; Circumference = 2(pi)r (or (pi)d), where r is the radius and d is the diameter. Remember d = 2r.

Question 16

Right-Triangle Trig Ratios (SOH-CAH-TOA)

Accepted Answer

sin(theta) = Opposite/Hypotenuse, cos(theta) = Adjacent/Hypotenuse, tan(theta) = Opposite/Adjacent. Use these to find a missing side or angle in a right triangle.

Question 17

Distance-Rate-Time Formula

Accepted Answer

Distance = Rate x Time (d = rt). Rearrange to solve for rate (r = d/t) or time (t = d/r) depending on what a word problem asks for.

Question 18

Combined Work-Rate Formula

Accepted Answer

If one worker finishes a job in 'a' hours and another in 'b' hours, working together they finish in t hours where 1/a + 1/b = 1/t. Adding more workers means the individual rates simply add.

Question 19

Percentage Change Formula

Accepted Answer

Percentage change = [(New Value - Original Value) / Original Value] x 100%. A positive result is an increase; a negative result is a decrease.

Question 20

Mean, Median, and Mode

Accepted Answer

Mean = sum of values divided by number of values. Median = the middle value when data is ordered (average the two middle values if the count is even). Mode = the value that appears most often.

Question 21

Atomic Structure

Accepted Answer

An atom's nucleus holds protons (positive charge) and neutrons (no charge); electrons (negative charge) orbit in shells outside the nucleus. Atomic number = number of protons; mass number = protons + neutrons.

Question 22

pH Scale: Acids vs. Bases

Accepted Answer

The pH scale runs 0-14. A pH below 7 is acidic, above 7 is basic (alkaline), and exactly 7 is neutral (pure water). A lower pH means a stronger acid.

Question 23

Naming Common Chemical Compounds

Accepted Answer

Match formula to name: NaCl = sodium chloride (table salt), H2O = water, CO2 = carbon dioxide, NaHCO3 = sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), CaCO3 = calcium carbonate. The DCAT frequently tests formula-to-name conversion.

Question 24

Newton's First Law of Motion

Accepted Answer

An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion at constant velocity, unless acted on by a net external force. Also called the law of inertia.

Question 25

Newton's Second Law of Motion

Accepted Answer

Force equals mass times acceleration: F = ma. A larger force produces greater acceleration; a larger mass requires more force for the same acceleration.

Question 26

Common SI Base Units

Accepted Answer

Length = meter (m), mass = kilogram (kg), time = second (s), temperature = kelvin (K), electric current = ampere (A). SI units standardize scientific measurement worldwide.

Question 27

Plant Cell vs. Animal Cell

Accepted Answer

Plant cells have a cell wall, chloroplasts, and a large central vacuole; animal cells lack these. Both have a nucleus, mitochondria, and cell membrane.

Question 28

Mendelian Genetics: Dominant and Recessive Alleles

Accepted Answer

A dominant allele (capital letter, e.g., B) masks a recessive allele (lowercase, e.g., b) in a heterozygous pair (Bb). Only a homozygous recessive genotype (bb) shows the recessive trait.

Question 29

Cellular Respiration Equation

Accepted Answer

C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy (ATP). Cells break down glucose with oxygen to release usable energy, carbon dioxide, and water.

Question 30

Rock Cycle: Three Rock Types

Accepted Answer

Igneous rock forms from cooled magma/lava; sedimentary rock forms from compacted and cemented sediment layers; metamorphic rock forms when heat and pressure transform existing rock. Each type can transform into another.

Question 31

Subject-Verb Agreement

Accepted Answer

A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb (e.g., 'The list of items is long' — 'list' is singular, so use 'is,' not 'are,' despite 'items' being nearby).

Question 32

Pronoun Case: Subjective vs. Objective

Accepted Answer

Use subjective pronouns (I, he, she, they, we) as the subject of a verb, and objective pronouns (me, him, her, them, us) as the object of a verb or preposition (e.g., 'Between you and me,' not 'Between you and I').

Question 33

Parallel Structure

Accepted Answer

Items joined in a series or comparison must share the same grammatical form (e.g., 'She likes reading, writing, and swimming' — not 'to read, writing, and swim'). Mismatched forms are a common DCAT error type.

Question 34

Comma Usage in a Series

Accepted Answer

Separate three or more items in a list with commas (e.g., 'red, white, and blue'). Also use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or) joining two independent clauses.

Question 35

Semicolon vs. Comma

Accepted Answer

A semicolon joins two complete, related independent clauses without a conjunction ('I studied hard; I passed the exam'). A comma alone cannot join two independent clauses — that error is called a comma splice.

Question 36

Commonly Confused Words: Affect vs. Effect

Accepted Answer

'Affect' is usually a verb meaning 'to influence' ('Stress can affect your score'). 'Effect' is usually a noun meaning 'a result' ('The effect was clear').

Question 37

Commonly Confused Words: Its vs. It's

Accepted Answer

'Its' (no apostrophe) is a possessive pronoun ('The dog wagged its tail'). 'It's' (with apostrophe) is a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has' ('It's raining today').

Question 38

Commonly Confused Words: Then vs. Than

Accepted Answer

'Then' refers to time or sequence ('Finish the essay, then review it'). 'Than' is used for comparisons ('Math is harder than English for me').

Question 39

Synonym Strategy

Accepted Answer

When asked for a word's synonym, look for the answer choice closest in both meaning and degree/connotation to the given word — not just a loosely related term (e.g., 'furious' is closer to 'enraged' than to 'annoyed').

Question 40

Antonym Strategy

Accepted Answer

For antonym items, first define the given word precisely, then find the choice that expresses the opposite meaning — watch for answer choices that are merely unrelated rather than truly opposite.

Question 41

Common Word Roots

Accepted Answer

Recognizing Greek/Latin roots unlocks unfamiliar vocabulary: 'bio-' = life, 'geo-' = earth, '-ology' = study of, 'chrono-' = time, 'phon-' = sound, 'micro-' = small. Break unknown words into roots to estimate meaning.

Question 42

Idioms and Figurative Meaning

Accepted Answer

An idiom's meaning cannot be worked out word-by-word (e.g., 'break the ice' means to ease initial social tension, not to literally break ice). Learn idioms as whole-phrase meanings.

Question 43

Finding the Main Idea of a Passage

Accepted Answer

The main idea is the central point the whole passage supports — usually stated or implied in the first or last paragraph. Eliminate answer choices that describe only one supporting detail rather than the passage as a whole.

Question 44

Making Inferences in Reading Passages

Accepted Answer

An inference is a conclusion drawn from clues in the text, not directly stated. The correct inference must be strongly supported by the passage — avoid choices that require outside knowledge or go beyond what the text implies.

Question 45

Philippine Independence Day

Accepted Answer

The Philippines declared independence from Spain on June 12, 1898, in Kawit, Cavite, under Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Independence Day is celebrated as a national holiday every June 12.

Question 46

EDSA People Power Revolution

Accepted Answer

A peaceful, mass civilian uprising in February 1986 (Feb. 22-25) that ousted President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and restored democratic government, installing Corazon Aquino as president.

Question 47

Philippine Geography: Largest Island

Accepted Answer

Luzon is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines, home to Metro Manila. The Philippine archipelago consists of roughly 7,600+ islands grouped into Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Question 48

Three Branches of Philippine Government

Accepted Answer

Executive (President, enforces laws), Legislative (Congress: Senate + House of Representatives, makes laws), and Judicial (Supreme Court and lower courts, interprets laws) — a system of checks and balances.

Question 49

National Hero: Jose Rizal

Accepted Answer

Jose Rizal is the Philippines' national hero, a writer and reformist executed by Spanish colonial authorities on December 30, 1896. His novels 'Noli Me Tangere' and 'El Filibusterismo' criticized Spanish rule.

Question 50

Situational-Judgment Item Strategy

Accepted Answer

For situational items on conduct, teamwork, or exam-day decisions, choose the response that follows official rules, prioritizes safety and honesty, and reflects cooperative, professional behavior — not the fastest or most convenient option.

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