For 26 of 31 medical schools in the United Kingdom, a prospective medical/dental student will be required to sit the UKCAT, taken during the summer before they apply. The test phase runs from July to October; if you intend to apply then you will submit your application to medical/dental schools by 15th October. There are many different types of courses ranging from the more common undergraduate course, to the highly competitive graduate courses. Please be aware that some of medical schools require the UKCAT for their graduate courses but not their undergraduate courses (e.g. Imperial Medical School requires the BMAT for their undergraduate courses but UKCAT for their graduate entry).
The UKCAT is essentially an aptitude computer test designed to pick out very able students from the large pool of applicants that apply to medical school (and dental school) each year. The reason for such an addition to the admissions process is due to last decade’s marked increase in the number of applicants, and the need to arrive at an equitable solution. Some medical schools (i.e. Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and UCL) have opted to use the BMAT as a form of assessment, which as well as assessing general ability also requires a GCSE-level scientific knowledge. However, the majority of medical schools have adopted the UKCAT as an admissions test.
Team MEDIFY have updated our 50 Top UKCAT Tips for 2013. This list of tips encompasses surface-level nuggets of advice including general preparation, and specific tips on each individual section/subtest: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning, decision analysis and situational judgement tests.
There are still a range of issues that this admissions test has raised, especially in the long-term:
Widening access to UK medical education for under-represented socioeconomic groups: modelling the impact of the UKCAT in the 2009 cohort BMJ 2012;344:e1805 Paul A Tiffin, Jonathan S Dowell, John C McLachlan.
The UKCAT is essentially an aptitude computer test designed to pick out very able students from the large pool of applicants that apply to medical school (and dental school) each year. The reason for such an addition to the admissions process is due to last decade’s marked increase in the number of applicants, and the need to arrive at an equitable solution. Some medical schools (i.e. Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and UCL) have opted to use the BMAT as a form of assessment, which as well as assessing general ability also requires a GCSE-level scientific knowledge. However, the majority of medical schools have adopted the UKCAT as an admissions test.
Team MEDIFY have updated our 50 Top UKCAT Tips for 2013. This list of tips encompasses surface-level nuggets of advice including general preparation, and specific tips on each individual section/subtest: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning, decision analysis and situational judgement tests.
Controversies surrounding the efficacy of the UKCAT
Numerous studies have been carried out to test the efficacy of the UKCAT, which has shown that the jury is still out on whether the UKCAT can be useful. After time, it is envisioned that more research will shed more light on the effectivness of the UKCAT. The main problem that the UKCAT sought to mitigate was the underrepresentation of certain socio-economic classes in the UK medical profession. Current research concluded:… the use of the UKCAT may lead to more equitable provision of offers to those applying to medical school from under-represented sociodemographic groups. This may translate into higher numbers of some, but not all, relatively disadvantaged students entering the UK medical profession.This study took 8459 applicants details on their qualifications and socioeconomic background. It found that a stronger use of the test score as a threshold was associated with significant increased odds of entrants from a low socio-economic background.
There are still a range of issues that this admissions test has raised, especially in the long-term:
- Whether there is a prohibitive effect of imposing such a test to begin with (e.g. due to apparent cost)
- Whether the test effectively assesses the abilities required for entrance into medical school
- Whether the test predicts medical school and post-graduate performance
A few words of advice: The student who focuses on forgoing the means to meet the ends will benefit the most. What that means is critiquing the validity of the UKCAT to test the suitability for medical school should be reserved for medical education academics. There is simply no time for a prospective student to mull whether the test is fair or not. A pragmatic attitude is advisable. If you want to study medicine at university, then do what is required of you. You can debate the fairness, once you’ve been admitted into medical school.
Widening access to UK medical education for under-represented socioeconomic groups: modelling the impact of the UKCAT in the 2009 cohort BMJ 2012;344:e1805 Paul A Tiffin, Jonathan S Dowell, John C McLachlan.
General Tips
UKCAT Registration – Book UKCAT Now!!!
If you can, take the UKCAT test one year earlier.
Your UKCAT test day should not be the first time you locate the Pearson Vue UKCAT test centre
Try not to book the UKCAT test day during school/university term-time
Do not put off the UKCAT test
Take the UKCAT test in the afternoon, not the morning
Register for UKCAT Bursary early
UKCAT test only lasts one medical school application cycle
Prepare your materials the night before your UKCAT test day
Pre-UKCAT test jitters
Admittance to medical school is not solely based on this UKCAT test
Eat breakfast on UKCAT test day
The Pearson Vue UKCAT test room
Not allowed to eat or drink in the UKCAT test room
Rest yourself between UKCAT subtests
That two-sided sheet of paper is all you've got (sort of)
Every question is equally weighted
There is one (and only one) correct answer. Accept it
The UKCAT is not a race
Just because you didn't answer one or two questions does not mean you will get a poor score
Plan each day for the two weeks prior to your UKCAT test
Incorporate exercise into your UKCAT routine
Keep focused
Practise regularly at the time of the day that you will be take the UKCAT test
Do not peak in your UKCAT practice too soon
Why UKCAT Practice is Important
Verbal Reasoning UKCAT Tips
Attempt shorter passages first, flag longer passages
Put simply, a 'true' statement can co-exist inside the passage
Put simply, a 'false' statement contradicts the passage
Put simply, a 'cannot tell' statement requires more information than the passage
Look out for extreme qualifiers
Words in the Passage does not mean Cannot Tell
Practise by reading broadsheets
Quantitative Reasoning UKCAT Tips
Practise your simple mathematics - quick and accurately
Practise your speed with the simple calculator - not scientific
Know your GCSE Maths
Beware of percentages
Abstract Reasoning UKCAT Tips
Learn the simple/advanced mnemonics
Practise the patterns
First order and second order rules
Beware of common distractors
Decision Analysis UKCAT Tips
Diligence in Decision Analysis
Shorthand shortcuts in Decision Analysis
Only three types of questions
Miscellaneous UKCAT Tips
Moving on from UKCAT Results
What does my UKCAT score mean?
50 TOP UKCAT TIPS
by MEDIFY
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We've compiled the best 50 UKCAT Tips that will equip you with an arsenal of useful advice and guidance. Some are quick and easy, others are long and detailed, but all serve as a comprehensive FAQ (frequently asked questions) that we have answered over the years - this is why we created this resource. If you still need help, please don't hesitate to email us, or tweet us!
The tips range from the basic to the advanced. They are divided up into General, and then a set of tips for each subtest: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning and finally the Decision Analysis.
As well as our tips, we've also curated a more detailed set of advice: our Advanced UKCAT Advice for those you who want to delve more into what the test is about. Our aim is to get the best out of you on the day; by reading our advanced advice you'll be well on your way!
The tips range from the basic to the advanced. They are divided up into General, and then a set of tips for each subtest: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning and finally the Decision Analysis.
As well as our tips, we've also curated a more detailed set of advice: our Advanced UKCAT Advice for those you who want to delve more into what the test is about. Our aim is to get the best out of you on the day; by reading our advanced advice you'll be well on your way!
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