Hey there, future medical students! So, you're just a stone's throw away from kicking off your dream journey into the world of medicine. But wait, there's this little thing called the UCAT (previously known as the UKCAT) standing in your way, right? Trust me, I get it. It's that looming hurdle that seems both too easy to procrastinate preparing for and too anxiety-inducing to tackle head-on. But fear not! With the right game plan and some savvy strategies, acing the UCAT is totally doable.
As someone who's taken the UCAT not once, not twice, but thrice (yeah, even as a joke once – don't ask), I'm here to spill all the beans on what I've learned along the way. So let's dive right into it!
First things first: Procrastination is the archenemy of UCAT prep. It's that sneaky little monster lurking in the shadows, waiting to derail your study plans. Trust me, I've been there. Everyone asks, "When should I start UCAT prep?" It's like asking how long a piece of string is – the answer varies for each person. But here's the deal: the earlier you start, the sooner you'll gauge how much practice you'll need. Some suggest kicking off your prep at least five weeks before your test date to ensure you've got ample time to cover all the bases. Remember, laying the groundwork early sets the stage for success.
Now, about scheduling your test – hear me out. Summer holidays? Yeah, they're not just for binge-watching Netflix. Scheduling your UCAT during the summer offers some serious perks. Think about it: no pesky schoolwork or UCAS applications vying for your attention. Plus, taking the test when the sun's shining can help dial down the stress levels and ensure a smoother testing experience. Trust me, trying to tackle the UCAT in September or October? It's like trying to swim upstream against a raging current – harder, pricier, and way more nerve-wracking.
Understanding the test format is your golden ticket to UCAT success. I'm talking about knowing the ins and outs of each section – down to the very number of seconds you should spend on each question in each section, when you’re spending too long and need to just put an answer down (yes you still get points for wrong answers). Seriously, knowing the test well is crucial. Take full advantage of the tutorials on the UCAT site to get cozy with the latest test layout and navigation. Mastering those keyboard shortcuts and interface tricks? That's your secret weapon for shaving precious minutes off your exam time.
Alt + C: Calculator, at your service.
Alt + F: Flag a question for later review.
Alt + N: Next question, please!
Alt + P: Back to the previous question, no regrets.
Alt + V: Navigate.
Alright, so you're armed with the know-how. Now, let's talk about materials and, more importantly, time management.
Listen up: Panic-buying those pricey taught courses? Yeah, it's a trap. Don't fall for it. You can totally get by with budget-friendly options like Medify. And get this – they even offer bursaries for students in need. Some people pair that with the 1300 UCAT questions book for those tired-eye study sessions or lunch times or even commutes. I would say if you do one thing: please save the official UCAT practice resources and the GMC's Good Medical Practice (for securing band 1 in the SJT) for around two weeks before showtime. These resources are closest to your real exam and will give you the most insight into what Pearson Vue think is wrong or right; Medify SJT is a bit hit-and-miss.
Let's address the elephant in the room: timing. Even the most brain-bending maths problem? Given a few days, you might crack it. But the UCAT? It's like trying to sprint a marathon. You've got seconds – mere seconds – to churn out those answers. The silver lining: practice, practice, practice. Seriously, as someone with Generalised Anxiety Disorder, I can vouch for the anxiety-busting power of familiarity. The more you practise, the less daunting it becomes. And trust me, familiarity breeds confidence – and less panic come the exam day.
Let's talk about strategy - plan what you’re going to do, when you’ll do it and tick it off once it’s done (psychologically you’ll feel good about yourself with every tick). I've whipped up a simple UCAT prep timetable as a blueprint for success. Picture this: You, armed with a good plan, tackle your UCAT prep like a boss, and get a score you’re happy with on the big day. Feeling pumped? You should be. Go ahead, download it, tweak it, make it your own. Consider it your roadmap to UCAT domination.
Example simple UCAT prep timetable I made as if I was to sit my UCAT on 29th July 2024:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I8ucVRf2LWLHnGYQlBOIcZVgsczsYvT4BcYBnkFvqGg/edit?usp=sharing
A general simple blank downloadable calendar (there’s probably a tonne on Google): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ODCJ8rUhkxaBiz2TPWk3cB6Z8UVnWExcYQNVThpT5DU/edit?usp=sharing
Last but not least, time management. It's the holy grail of UCAT success. Each section comes with its own ticking time bomb, and trust me, defusing it requires precision. Practice answering questions under timed conditions – ideally in a silent space or with some earplugs to drown out distractions. Remember, pacing yourself is key. Slow and steady might win the race, but in the UCAT, it's all about finding that sweet spot between speed and accuracy. Most importantly, leave enough time in your schedule to review why you got questions wrong or right, make rough notes on questions you got wrong or anything else that you think could be useful to flick through when you don’t have a computer.
You need a tailored approach for each section!
Let's start with Verbal Reasoning. This is one of the most time-pressured sections. A hack that helped me a lot was using speed-reading or brain-training apps to better my processing time and reduce the time spent on each question.
You have to be adaptable - different question types need different techniques, but generally you can get away with reading the question first and then trying to find keywords/ synonyms that match in the text. Whether you're identifying main ideas, making inferences, or dissecting arguments, stay sharp. It's not just about skimming through a text; it's about decoding information because you might spot information related to the question but the next/ previous paragraph makes the statement mean something else. Overall, beware of traps lurking in the questions—distractors and sneaky shifts in meaning can trip you up. …And practice, practice, practice!
Decision Making, the newer addition to the UCAT, poses a formidable challenge—it’s basically trying to see if you can assess the weirdest pieces of information and make judgments under pressure. My biggest tip is: use paper and pen or a whiteboard and pen. You’ll have some equivalent to write with on the day of your exam (depending on what exam centre it’s at). These simple tools can be your lifeline, helping you break down convoluted questions into more digestible chunks. Whether it's sketching out logical diagrams or jotting down key points, having a tangible aid can make all the difference.
When it comes to those mind-bending logic puzzles or statement questions, simplicity is key. Start by drawing out the scenario with basic figures and labels, abbreviating where possible to keep things clear whilst saving you time. E.g. Q: “On a desk the blue pen is opposite the green cup and the purple phone is next to the cream, on mondays the croissant is opposite the cream and…”; you might draw a rectangle and start placing shapes/ simple circles with initials of each item and then try to find the answer. It is best to also read the question until the end and see the answer options before you start drawing (if you have time). And if a question feels like it's tying your brain in knots, don't hesitate to make an educated guess and move forward—dwelling on one question for too long can cost you precious time.
Same for the Decision Making questions with five statement box that you have to say are true or not, see if you can do a venn diagram/ E.g. Q: “Abbotsborough residents can get visas to Farmersbush and Famersbush citizens can freely travel to Yoncaster, which of the following are true or false?” A figure (venn diagram or not) could easily paint the picture. Another big tip for this type of question is that if something isn’t said directly, assume it is not true e.g. for this question there is no mention that Farmersbush residents can get visas/ travel to Abbotsborough so that type of statement should be labelled false in the answers.
Probability, with its intricate probability trees and shifting perspectives, can seem daunting at first glance. But fear not, for with a bit of practice and a shift in mindset, you'll soon find yourself navigating through probability questions with ease. Just remember to tread carefully should you be multiplying to get this particular answer or adding values together? If you have time, double-check your calculations. E.g. Q: “Ben wants to play football with Rupert two days in a row, it rained on Monday, if it rains in their city on a given day there is 90% chance there is no rain the next day but when it doesn’t rain there is 40% chance there is rain the next day. What is the probability that Ben and Rupert play football on Tuesday and Wednesday and it doesn’t rain both days?” The likelihood it doesn’t rain on Tuesday would be 90% and it doesn't rain on Wednesday would be 60% (1-0.4 or 100%-40%), then you would multiply the two 0.9x0.6 to get your answer.
As for those elusive strongest argument questions, think of it as a word matching game—how many words align with the original question's wording? It's a subtle dance of semantics, but with a keen eye and a steady hand, you'll soon find yourself mastering this aspect of Decision Making.
I cannot emphasise this point enough: in Decision Making, prior knowledge is your foe, not your friend. You must approach each question with fresh eyes, taking the information presented at face value! Flexibility is paramount—you must know when to seize the opportunity to tackle a question and when it's wiser to make an educated guess and move forward. It's a delicate balance, but with practice, you'll hone your instincts and navigate this section with confidence. Immerse yourself fully in each scenario, meticulously dissecting the nuances and constraints that shape the problem at hand, take notes and review them when you have fresh eyes on a different day. Stay on your toes, ready to adapt to the unique demands of each question. Your mindset is key, see each question as a puzzle waiting to be solved, and with persistence and practice, success will surely follow!
Quantitative reasoning is one of the most time-pressured sections and one of the sections that can bring down your average marks. Whilst ensuring the basics of stats, geometry, algebra and conversions are under your belt, there is also the new added difficulty of trying to work with a clunky on-screen calculator (remember Alt + C to pop it up). Honestly super useful if you minimise the number of calculations you do on this. Some people also learn shortcuts, like using the asterisk for times and know the layout of the right-hand-side number pad on by heart.
Every calculation, every estimation counts. It's about more than just getting the answer; it's about getting it right the first time and not having to recheck all your steps. So, sharpen your mental maths skills and learn to trust your instincts. And when in doubt, always remember the power of elimination—it can decrease your time and increase your chances of getting the right answer. Again, be clever with which questions you guess and which questions you spend time to do: strategise and prioritise, you only have half a minute per question roughly! If you struggle with processing/ are slow at maths, there are probably a lot of sites and apps that you can use to increase the speed of your basic mental arithmetic calculations.
I highly recommend taking thorough notes for the Abstract Reasoning section. Following the Decision Making section, the Abstract Reasoning, (and then the Situational Judgement section) were the ones that filled my UCAT notebook the most in terms of notes and scribbles. To be honest, it became clear to me why admissions teams use AR after delving into the complexities of histology, where deciphering shapes feels like mission impossible (literally a lot of cells look the same to me LOL).
The way I basically scored full marks for this section was I used a systematic approach for each AR question. I used an acronym I learnt from a KharmaMedic UCAT video: SCONES. S=Shape, C=Colour, O=Order/Orientation, N=Number, E= Everything Else, S=Symmetry, and I wrote it out on my scrap piece of paper/ board during the reading time every time I did timed AR practice and on the real day of the exam. This acronym is an oversimplification but is a gentle reminder for things you could be missing when looking for patterns. The "Shapes" aspect alone encompasses a LOT of considerations—corners, vertices, curves, parallels, enclosed spaces, angles, enlargements, and so on… Don’t forget, parts of what is presented to you can be distractors and you have to just ignore different elements until you find the true pattern. With only about 12 seconds per question in AR, one of the few techniques you can use is to guess within the first few seconds, put an answer and then move on and then when you get to the end, use the spare time to go back and spend time on the patterns that were absolutely mind boggling.
Alright, so when you reach the Situational Judgement section, it's time to hit the pause button. Take a moment to rest your eyes, catch your breath, and maybe even grab a sip of water. You've conquered the bulk of the exam, and now it's crucial to approach this section with a clear, focused mind. An insider tip from the high scorers: as your exam date draws near, dive into the UCAT official site's SJT question bank and re-do these an analyse these a few times. Spend some quality time with it. Also, make friends with the GMC's good practice guide (https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/good-medical-practice-2024---english-102607294.pdf). Read them over and over again until they're practically ingrained in your brain. And hey, here's a trick: when you do SJ questions, jot down your own rules. When it comes to answering WWYD scenarios, channel your inner saint. Think patient-first, always. That means putting their safety and well-being above everything else—even your own worries and commitments. Try to tackle problems at the local level first before you even think about reporting or escalating anything. And remember, seek more information before jumping to conclusions. Teamwork is key, so play nice and show some cultural sensitivity along the way.
One thing that really made a difference for me was having a support system in place on exam day. I brought along a person who was my personal cheerleader, offering words of encouragement, wisdom, and love before and after the test. Having someone there to celebrate the victories or lend a shoulder for a post-exam cry session was invaluable.
I came prepared with an arsenal of chocolate, a trusty bottle of honey (hey, it's a good energy booster), plenty of coffee for that extra kick, and of course, water to stay hydrated. And don't even get me started on the checklist I went through before pressing start on the exam—making sure my whiteboard pen was ready to roll, chair height was just right, and those earplugs were locked and loaded.
But beyond the snacks and pre-exam rituals, it's essential to prioritise self-care. Get a good night's sleep, fuel up with a nutritious breakfast, and keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. Stay calm, stay focused, and trust in the hard work you've put into preparing for this moment. You've got this!
Might be a little late when you’re reading this - set yourself up for success, make sure to register and book your exam well ahead of time. This ensures you can secure your preferred test date and location, avoiding any last-minute stress. When choosing your exam date, steer clear of scheduling it during September to sidestep conflicts with other academic commitments.
Crucial tip: please don't leave home without your UCAS-approved ID! Also, make sure to print out your booking confirmation or have it readily accessible on your phone. Trust me, you'll want to quadruple-check this to avoid any hiccups on exam day. You can only sit the UCAT once and can only reschedule your booking at certain points in time.
In conclusion, achieving success in the UCAT requires diligent preparation, effective strategies, and a positive mindset. While your UCAT score is undoubtedly important, it's essential to remember that it's just one piece of the puzzle in your medical school application journey. Strive to give it your best effort while also maintaining a healthy balance in your life.
It's worth noting that many medical schools prioritise candidates with the highest UCAT scores for interview offers. This really pushed me to do my absolute best on the day and not waste a single second; my reasoning was having my interview earlier in the admissions cycle would potentially increase my chances of getting in, as fewer offers may have been extended at that time. You can keep this in mind as you navigate your application process and make strategies and decisions that align with your goals and aspirations. Last reminder: you, your health, your mental health, your A-Levels/ other qualifications pre-medicine come first.
For further assistance with UCAT preparation, refer to the example UCAT timetable and downloadable calendars above. Additionally, explore other resources such as Medify, official UCAT question banks, GMC’s Good Medical Practice and Medic Portal question banks to supplement your study regimen.
Best of luck on your UCAT journey! You have the knowledge, skills, and determination to excel. Now, go out there and conquer the UCAT like the champion you are!
Sincerely,
Rin
