The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is used by Med School admissions teams to help shortlist candidates for interview.
The UCAT test is designed to help Medical Schools gauge whether a candidate has the attitude, mental ability and professionalism needed to thrive on a Medicine or Dentistry course. It’s considered a key entry requirement alongside your grades, work experience and Personal Statement by a number of UCAT Universities.
With school exams in doubt again this year, it looks like your UCAT performance could be even more important, as it could be the only thing that sets you apart from other candidates.
You’ll need to take the UCAT if you’re applying to a UK UCAT university. It’s not possible to exempt yourself from the test, which means that if it’s a requirement for your chosen Medical School(s), you’ll have to sit it. It’s important to know that you can only take the UCAT once per application cycle.
The UCAT is a two-hour, computerised test. You’ll take it at a designated testing centre. The exam consists of five sections. These must be attempted in the order presented.
- Verbal Reasoning
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Abstract Reasoning
- Decision Making
- Situational Judgement
In combination, these UCAT sections are designed to assess different skills required by Doctors. These include problem-solving, communication, numerical skills, spatial awareness, integrity, empathy and teamwork.
There are two elements to your UCAT result. You’ll get between 300 and 900 points for each of the first four sections, and your UCAT result will be this sum combined. You may see also UCAT scores referred to as a three-digit number, which reflects the average of your section performance.
The second part is your situational judgement score, for which you’ll be given a band between one and four.
How to register for UCAT
UCAT registration is very simple: you create an account and register for the test, then book it before the deadline. For the UK, registration opens at the start of June and testing will begin in late July. You’ll have until mid-September to register, and the last test will happen at the end of that month.
Course Overview
Duration: 1 Day
- Introduction to UCAT: Get familiar with the test!
- Verbal Reasoning: Learn how to spot key words, identify common tricks, and tackle things like juxtaposition, dispersion through text and mitigating or contradictory terms. Put this into practise with some example VR questions.
- Decision Making: Discover how to spot assumptions and strong or weak arguments, identify syllogisms and draw conclusions from them, tackle venn diagrams, take on single parameter and multi-parameter puzzles and spot the maths behind the questions. Test your understanding with example DM questions.
- Abstract Reasoning: Master our four-step process and how to identify the shape, look at the simplest box, spot the pattern, and match to a test shape. Make sure you've understood by practising AR questions.
- Quantitative Reasoning: Grasp the level of maths needed and how to use the UCAT calculator. Learn the common pitfalls, how to avoid them, and when to flag a question and move on. Use practice QR questions to cement your knowledge.
- Situational Judgement: Understand what’s being tested, what attributes are being looked for, and what that means in relation to example situations. Work through SJT questions to strengthen your learning.
- Questions: Ask the experts
This course can also be delivered by Axiom staff at your school, college or as part of any careers related course. Contact us, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
Class Sizes & Staff
At Axiom we have very small class sizes, typically just 4 to 6. Patient dedicated and enthusiastic teachers ensure your child gets the most out of their time spent with us. All staff are dynamic career specialists, with a good degree in a relevant subject and a post-graduate teaching qualification backed up with years of operational experience!
Cost
UCAT 1 Day Course: £199
Days & Times
August 2022
Contact Us
Telephone: 01422 736 136
Mobile: 07527 787 787
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