UCAT/BMAT ENTRANCE EXAMS

UCAT

The UCAT, also called the University Clinical Aptitude Test, is a computerised, 2 hour exam consisting of five sections:

  • Verbal Reasoning (22 minutes)
  • Decision Making (32 minutes)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (25 minutes)
  • Abstract Reasoning (14 minutes)
  • Situation Judgement (27 minutes)

The score is used in combination with the other components of your application including work experience, grades and your personal statement. Universities which used the UCAT can be found on this website: https://www.ucat.ac.uk/ucat/universities/

  • Whilst the UCAT is an aptitude test, so there is no content to 'revise', it has been proven that your score can be significantly improved with practice and familiarising yourself with the questions/exam. A brief description of each section can be found below:
    • Verbal Reasoning - This consists of 11 passages, with 4 questions on each passage. This section is very time pressured, with only roughly 2 minutes per set. There are two types of questions - 'True/False/Can't tell', or free text questions where the correct answer must be selected.
    • Decision Making - This section tests your reasoning when answering visual data questions, but also textual questions. There are two types of question - in the form of multiple choice, where the correct answer must be selected, or 'Yes/No' statements.
    • Quantitative Reasoning - This section involves evaluating data and answering multiple choice questions. These calculations will test your ability to interpret data and your basic arithmetic. This section is 24 minutes long, with 36 questions to answer, allowing for approximately 40 seconds per section.
    • Abstract Reasoning - This section tests whether or not you can identify patterns amongst abstract shapes and select the most appropriate answer. It is the shortest section in the exam.
    • Situational Judgement - A series of questions which focus on ethical scenarios. There are two types of questions where you must select how 'appropriate' something is, or how 'important' it is. These questions focus on empathy, team-work, communication and ethics.

BMAT

  • The BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) is a 2 hour aptitude test used as part of admissions for Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Dentistry courses in some universities. The universities which used the BMAT in the UK include:
    • Brighton and Sussex Medical School
    • Imperial College London
    • Lancaster University
    • University College London
    • University of Manchester (International students only)
    • University of Leeds
    • University of Oxford (only accepts November exam sitting, not September exam)
    • Keele (International students only)

The paper is split into 3 sections. The first two sections are multiple choice, and the third is a writing task. The first two sections you will be given a score from 1 to 9, 9 being the highest. Section 3 is scored out of 5 for content (where 5 is the highest), and another score for your written English, from Band A to E, where Band A is the highest.

    • Section 1: Aptitude and Skills - This section checks your problem solving, data analysis techniques. This may be textual, statistical or graphical. Many of these questions will be mathematical and require the use of a calculator.
    • Section 2: Scientific Knowledge and Application - This sections includes 7 questions each on Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Maths. The specification of the content required can be found here: https://www.admissionstesting.org/for-test-takers/bmat/preparing-for-bmat/section-2-preparation/
    • Section 3: Written Communication - This section tests how well you can gather ideas and communicate them coherently and effectively in 'essay' form. From 2017 onwards, you have the choice of 3 writing tasks.

BMAT practice papers: https://www.admissionstesting.org/for-test-takers/bmat/preparing-for-bmat/practice-papers/