UK has always been a preferred destination for Medicine from across the world. Medical colleges in the UK have always been on the forefront of medical research. Many of the colleges are centuries old and are known for their path breaking discoveries and practices.
Entrance into the colleges in UK is governed by entrance exams - UCAT (University Clinical Admission Test) and BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test). More information about the same are provided below –
UCAT is an Entrance Exam which mandatory for students who wish to pursue medicaleducation in UK. It is a computer based test held twice in a year (July, September). Students should apply for UCAT a year before they plan to take admission into UK Universities.
UCAT has five sections with multiple choice questions with the total score of 3600.
Abstract reasoning | 900 marks |
Verbal reasoning | 900 marks |
Quantitative reasoning | 900 marks |
Decision making | 900 marks |
Situational judgment band | 1-4 |
The UCAT test consists of five separately timed subtests in multiple-choice format.There are four cognitive subtests (Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning and Abstract Reasoning) and a fifth non-cognitive subtest of Situational Judgment.
The standard test is for a duration of 2 hours. Once the test has started it cannot be paused but each subtest is preceded by a 1 minute instruction section.Eligible candidates can apply for Access Arrangements to sit an extended version of the test.
UCAT Subtests | Questions | Test Time | Score |
---|---|---|---|
Verbal ReasoningAssesses your ability to critically evaluate information presented in a written form. |
44 | 21 minutes | 300 - 900 |
Decision MakingAssesses your ability to make sound decisions and judgments using complex information. |
29 | 31 minutes | 300 - 900 |
Quantitative ReasoningAssesses your ability to critically evaluate information presented in a numerical form. |
36 | 25 minutes | 300 - 900 |
Abstract ReasoningAssesses your use of convergent and divergent thinking to infer relationships from information. |
50 | 12 minutes | 300 - 900 |
Situational JudgmentMeasures your capacity to understand real world situations and to identify critical factors and appropriate behavior in dealing with them. |
69 | 26 minutes | Bands 1 - 4 |
The information below provides an overview of the five subtests.
The UCAT is marked on the number of correct answers you give. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.Your performance on one question does not influence which other questions are presented.
As the number of questions varies between the four cognitive subtests it is not possible to make a direct comparison of the raw marks between these subtests. Raw marks are therefore converted to scaled scores that share a common range from 300 to 900.
A total scaled score is generated by summing the individual scale scores of Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning and Abstract Reasoning. The total scaled score ranges from 1200 to 3600.
Cognitive Subtests | Questions | Scale Score Range | Marking |
Verbal Reasoning | 44 | 300-900 | Questions are worth 1 mark each. |
Decision Making | 29 | 300-900 | Single answer questions are worth 1 mark. Multiple statement questions are worth 2 marks. 1 mark is awarded to partially correct responses on the multiple-statement questions. |
Quantitative Reasoning | 36 | 300-900 | Questions are worth 1 mark each. |
Abstract Reasoning | 50 | 300-900 | Questions are worth 1 mark each. |
Within the Situational Judgement Test, full marks are awarded for a question if ones response matches the correct answer and partial marks awarded if ones response is close to the correct answer.
Scores for the Situational Judgement Test are expressed in one of four bands, with band 1 being the highest.Alongside the band, one is given an interpretation of their performance:
Band 1 | Those in Band 1 demonstrated an excellent level of performance, showing similar judgement in most cases to the panel of experts. |
Band 2 | Those in Band 2 demonstrated a good, solid level of performance, showing appropriate judgement frequently, with many responses matching model answers. |
Band 3 | Those in Band 3 demonstrated a modest level of performance, with appropriate judgement shown for some questions and substantial differences from ideal responses for others. |
Band 4 | The performance of those in Band 4 was low, with judgement tending to differ substantially from ideal responses in many cases. |
As the Situational Judgement test is a measure of non-cognitiveattributes, it will be considered by universities in a different manner to the cognitive subtests. You are advised to refer to their websites for more details.
Allapplicants must check the entry requirements for each course with the relevant university before booking a test.
University | FEE | |
A20 | University of Aberdeen | £50,100 |
A60 | Anglia Ruskin University | |
A80 | Aston University | £44,550 |
B32 | University of Birmingham | £46,320 |
B78 | University of Bristol | |
B84 | Brunel University London | £44,905 |
C15 | Cardiff University | £39,700 |
C30 | University of Central Lancashire | £48,000 |
C55 | University of Chester | |
D65 | University of Dundee | £ 50,100 |
E14 | University of East Anglia | |
E42 | Edge Hill University | |
E56 | University of Edinburgh | £49,900 |
E84 | University of Exeter | |
G28 | University of Glasgow | |
H75 | Hull York Medical School | £39,900 |
K12 | Keele University | £41,000 |
K31 | Kent and Medway Medical School | |
K60 | King's College London | £45,420 |
L23 | University of Leeds | £39,750 |
L34 | University of Leicester | £23,900 |
L41 | University of Liverpool | £39,250 |
M20 | University of Manchester | £34,500 |
N21 | University of Newcastle | |
N84 | University of Nottingham | £28,700 |
P60 | Plymouth University | £41,100 |
Q50 | Queen Mary University of London | £44,250 |
Q75 | Queen's University Belfast | £34,450 |
S18 | University of Sheffield | £39,950 |
S27 | University of Southampton | |
S36 | University of St Andrews | |
S49 | St George's, University of London | £40,500 |
S84 | University of Sunderland | |
S85 | University of Surrey | |
W20 | University of Warwick | |
W80 | University of Worcester |
UCAT is also used in selection to the following courses:
University> | Course> |
American University of the Caribbean | Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program |
University of Kurdistan Hewlêr | Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) |
Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), Nanyang TechnologicalUniversity, Singapore | Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) |
Biomedical Admissions Test is used by universities around the world to help select applicants for Medical, Dental, Biomedical and Veterinary course.It tests students ability to apply scientific and mathematical knowledge as well as problem solving, critical thinking and written communication skill that essential for university level studies.
There are several BMAT session throughout the year and different universities accept different session. Depending on their admission cycle. Student need to select a right session.