How to get better at keyholes on the DAT
Updated October 29, 2026
Keyholes, officially called Apertures, opens the Perceptual Ability Test. You see a 3D object and five openings, and you pick the one opening the object could pass straight through.
Most students who struggle with keyholes are trying to rotate the whole object in their head for every option. That is slow and error-prone. The faster approach is to work out the object's three outlines once, then compare openings against them edge by edge.
- Questions
- 15, the first subtest of the PAT
- Answer choices
- 5 openings
- Time to aim for
- About 45 seconds each
- What it tests
- Turning a 3D object into its 2D outline
The method, step by step
- 1
Know the rules cold
The object can be turned any way before it goes in, and it can go in from a side you can't see. Once it starts through, it can't twist or turn, and it must pass all the way through. Object and openings are drawn to the same scale, the correct opening is the exact outline of the object, and hidden parts hold no surprises.
- 2
Picture the three outlines before you look at the options
Because the object has to go straight through without turning, the opening must match the object's outline seen along one of its main directions: from the top, from the front or from the side. Picture all three before reading the choices, so the options can't steer you.
- 3
Remember the outline includes everything behind
An outline is a silhouette. Looking from the front, a part sticking out at the back still widens the outline, even though it's farthest from you. Build each outline from the whole object, not just the face nearest you.
- 4
Compare edge by edge
Walk around each opening and count the steps, notches and slanted edges along every side. Check where each notch sits, not just whether it exists. One extra step or a notch in the wrong place rules an option out.
- 5
Check proportions last
Wrong openings are often the right shape stretched or squashed. If the object is about twice as long as it is tall, the opening must be too. Use the object's own features, such as a notch that is half the height, as your ruler.
Try one
A real medium-difficulty question from PAT Grind. Use the method above, then check the worked explanation.
Keyholes tips and tricks
Mirror images are fine
The object can enter from either side, and an outline seen from the back is the mirror image of the one seen from the front. So an opening that is the flip of your outline still works. Don't rule it out for being mirrored.
Start with the most distinctive feature
Find the one thing that makes the object unusual, like a slanted cut, an off-centre notch or an L-shaped step. Ask how it shows up in each of the three outlines. Usually only one or two openings show it correctly.
Slants versus steps
A slanted face looks like a diagonal edge in one outline and disappears into a straight edge in another. A square step stays a step. Distractors love swapping one for the other.
Use symmetry
If the object is symmetric from one direction, its outline from that direction is symmetric too. Any asymmetric opening can't be that outline.
Turn the opening, not the object
Openings are often drawn rotated. Rotating a flat outline in your head is much easier than rotating a solid, so turn the opening to line up with the outline you predicted.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
A two-week plan to improve
Days 1 to 3: learn the method, untimed
Do 15 to 20 keyholes practice questions a day. Before you look at the options, say out loud what the top, front and side outlines look like. Read every explanation, even when you're right.
Days 4 to 7: hunt your weak spot
Keep practicing in adaptive mode, so it moves you up to harder objects as you improve. Note which trap catches you most, like slants, proportions or features at the back, and check that feature first on every question.
Days 8 to 14: add the clock
Switch to sprint sessions, 10 questions at 40 seconds each. Aim for 85% or better at that pace before test day.
Measure it
Take a check-up at the start and again after two weeks, so you can see how much your keyholes score has actually moved.
Pacing on test day
Budget about 12 minutes for the 15 keyholes questions. If two openings still look right after 60 seconds, pick the one with the better proportions, mark it, and come back if you have time.
Questions
Can the object be rotated in keyholes?
Yes, before it enters. You can turn the object any way you like and start it through from any side, including one you can't see. Once it starts through, it can't twist or turn.
Is keyholes the hardest PAT section?
It depends on the student. Keyholes, top-front-end and pattern folding usually take the longest, while angle ranking is usually the fastest. A check-up shows which sections are hardest for you.
How long does it take to get better at keyholes?
It varies, but the biggest jump usually comes from switching to the three-outline method rather than from sheer volume. Take a check-up before and after a couple of weeks of practice to see your own rate.
The free 20-minute check-up scores all six PAT sections, estimates your PAT score, and builds a personalized plan around your weakest sections.
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PAT Grind is an independent study tool. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the American Dental Association, which administers the Dental Admission Test (DAT).