ClinSoc and MedSoc Guide to Entrance Exams

A Guide to Entrance Exams

By Cambridge ClinSoc and MedSoc

@clinsocaccess

access@clinsoc.co.uk

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UKCAT Universities

Key Points LENGTH? - 2 hours, 5 sections WHEN? - 3rd July-3rd October 2017 DEADLINE? - 19th September 2017 COST? - £65, bursary available

The UKCAT is a timed two hour (2.5 hour if SEN) test with five subsections taken on a computer at a local test facility (usually the same place you take your driving theory exams). You will need to book the test yourself online and you can choose any date you like. The dates vary each year, but usually run from July to October before you apply.

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Aberdeen Birmingham Bristol Cardiff Dundee East Anglia Edinburgh Exeter Glasgow Hull York Keele King’s Leicester Liverpool Manchester Newcastle Nottingham Plymouth Queen Mary Queen’s Belfast Sheffield Southampton St. Andrew’s St. George’s Warwick (grad)

FORMAT The test is split into five sections, and you have two hours (two and a half hours if you are entitled to additional time times in brackets).

The test is organised such that you can go between questions in the same section but cannot move onto the next section until your time is up, so it almost resembles five different short tests. An on-screen calculator is available for any calculations you need to do.

Each subsection has a one minute break after it before the next section begins.

The first four sections all give you a mark out of 900 each.

An average score is 600 but this varies from year to year and between different sections.

You are given a band as your result for situational judgment with band 1 being the highest. This section is given a different importance at different universities as well but as it is to do with judgment, excessive practice may not be as helpful as it would be for another section.

SECTIONS Verbal Reasoning - 44 questions in 21 (26.25) minutes Decision Making - 29 questions in 31 (38.75) minutes Quantitative Reasoning - 36 questions in 24 (30) minutes Abstract Reasoning - 55 questions in 13 (16.25) minutes Situational Judgment - 68 questions in 26 (32.5) minutes

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PREPARATION When it comes to UKCAT, practice makes perfect. The UKCAT does not test curriculum, but this doesn't mean you can't prepare!

It is worth getting used to the types of questions they will ask you. Avoid just practicing questions you are good at focus on the sections you struggle with. Practice questions can be found in many areas.

The official UKCAT website (www.ukcat.ac.uk) provides a multitude of resources including a preparation plan, a mobile app and a question tutorial to explain strategies and how to approach the exam.

Elsewhere online, look out for online subscription services, such as Medify, as these mimic the computer format.

Books can be useful and can be bought cheaply second hand in charity shops or found in libraries. However, take their advice and questions with a pinch of salt.

Decision Making is a relatively new section of the test so there is not much material or advice out there about these questions.

Leave at least a month to prepare for it so you can take your time practicing, but do not overwork yourself. You should peak near your exam date!

Treat the exam like any other, get a good night sleep and breakfast beforehand. The exam is long and quite intense, so try not to let a bad section dishearten you. You can use the one minute breaks to breathe and clear your mind before the next section.

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AFTERWARDS Thankfully, you will get your results immediately. However, remember that the significance of these results depends on what the rest of the country gets, and you can only find this out once the data is released in late October.

Above all remember that the UKCAT isn’t the end of the line and you can still become a doctor if it doesn’t go as well as you hoped!

TOP TIPS  Start practicing early - the more questions you do, the easier you’ll find the exam

 Book early to avoid the higher test fee  Try not to overthink your answer, especially in the verbal reasoning and situational judgement

 Try to practice using the online calculator  Improve your mental math - it can be quicker than using the calculator on the computer

 For abstract reasoning - go with your gut instinct

RESOURCES 

The official UKCAT website - ww.ukcat.ac.uk



Get Into Medical School 1000 UKCAT Practice Questions



Score Higher on the UKCAT: The Expert Guide from Kaplan



The Ultimate UKCAT Guide: 1200 Practice Questions

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BMAT The BMAT is a timed

Key Points LENGTH? - 2 hours, 3 sections WHEN? - 9th September or 2nd November 2017 DEADLINE? - 18th August or 1st October 2017 COST? - ÂŁ46, bursary available

two hour test taken as

part

of

application

the

process.

It is split into three separate

sections.

You need to apply via your the

college deadline.

before The

exam is taken in your college

in

either

September

or

November . Note that Oxford do not accept the September date.

FORMAT

Universities

The test is split into three sections, and you have two hours to complete it. Like the UKCAT, the test is similar to three different mini exams. There will be a small gap between each while the questions and answers are co lle cted. Cal cu lato rs an d dictionaries are not allowed.

Brighton & Sussex Cambridge Imperial Keele Lancaster Leeds Oxford UCL

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SECTIONS SECTION 1 - Aptitude and Skill This section will test your critical reasoning and problem solving skills. It is composed of 35 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 60 minutes.

SECTION 2 - Scientific Knowledge This section will test you on ‘GCSE’ knowledge of biology, chemistry, physics and maths. There is a specification available on the official BMAT website to give you an idea of what they expect you to know. The section is composed of 27 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 30 minutes.

SECTION 3 - Writing Task This section requires you to write one essay in 30 minutes, from a choice of three. You will be expected to answer questions relating to a quote or a statement in no more than one side of A4. You will be marked on your ability to present a balanced argument as well as your use of the English language.

SCORING For sections 1 and 2, the raw marks achieved are converted into a ’BMAT Score’. This ranges from 1 (low) to 9 (high). The typical BMAT student will receive a score of 5.0.

For section 3, you are given a score out of 5 for the content of your essay and given a grade from A (high) to E (low) for your use of English to give a score (e.g. 3A). Two examiners will mark the essay and you will get an average of the two marks.

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PREPARATION As with the UKCAT, the best way to prepare for BMAT is to do as much practice as possible. Practice questions can be found on the official BMAT website, which also includes guides for each of the sections, worked examples of questions and help with understanding the scientific knowledge required for section 2. Books can also be useful but as with the UKCAT, they should be followed with care.

Unlike the UKCAT, however, the BMAT does have a specification for section 2. Therefore, it is worth reading through this and making sure you understand what everything is. This is especially important if you didn’t take triple science at GCSE or if your GCSE course did not cover all of the material that the BMAT expects. Make sure you read through your old notes and revision guides to help prepare for the exam.

Another key point is to practice writing essays, and getting them marked. You can ask teachers at your school or, if other people at your school are applying, mark each others.

As well as writing them and getting them marked, it is worth discussing your essays with others. This will help you to further your ability to organise and communicate your ideas and arguments effectively, a key skill that is being assessed in the exam.

As with the UKCAT, try to leave as much time as possible for revision for the exam. The exam should be treated like any other. The exam is also long and quite intense, so stick to the time and move past questions you can’t answer - you will hopefully have time at the end of the section.

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AFTERWARDS Your results will be released online roughly three weeks after your exam. Don’t panic if you results aren’t what you expected! Just remember that the BMAT is just one aspect of your application and universities will put different weight on different sections. If you are worried about your results, there is an appeal process but this isn’t always successful.

TOP TIPS  Start practicing early - the more questions you do, the easier you’ll find the exam

 Stick to time and don’t get too hung up on a question if you don’t know the answer

 Read the specification - it will tell you exactly what you need to know

 Improve your mental math as you won’t have access to a calculator in the exam

 Be wary of courses - they can be very expensive and only provide you with information you could find for free or much cheaper online or in books

 Look back over your GCSE notes and old revision guides to help with section 2

RESOURCES 

The official BMAT website www.admissionstestingservice.org/for-test-takers/bmat/



Preparing for the BMAT

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