UK Clinical Aptitude Test

www.ukcat.ac.uk

UKCAT2014

In this session...

What is the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) and who uses it?

The UKCAT process Key Dates, Registration and Booking Costs and Bursaries Preparation and Candidate Toolkit Taking the Test, Marking and Results

Further information

What is the UKCAT?

A test used in the selection process by a consortium of 24 UK university medical and dental schools.

It helps universities to make more informed choices from amongst the many highly-qualified applicants who apply for their medical and dental degree programmes.

It is used in collaboration with other admissions processes such as the UCAS application, academic qualifications and interviews.

You sit the test in the same year that you apply through UCAS.

What is the UKCAT?

2 hour, multiple-choice, computer based test which you sit at a local Pearson VUE test centre.

It assesses a range of mental abilities across 5 separately timed subtests: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning, Decision Analysis and Situational Judgement.

There is no curriculum content as the test examines innate skills.

University of Aberdeen

Cardiff University

University of Central Lancashire

University of Dundee

Durham University

University of East Anglia

University of Edinburgh

University of Exeter

University of Glasgow

Hull York Medical School

Keele University

King's College London

University of Leicester

University of Manchester

University of Newcastle

University of Nottingham

Plymouth University

Queen Mary, University of London

Queen's University Belfast

University of Sheffield

University of Southampton

University of St Andrews

St George's, University of London

University of Warwick

UKCAT Universities

Key Dates 2014

1 May - Registration opens 1 July - Testing begins 19 September - Registration deadline 19 September - Bursary and Exemption application

deadline 2 October (midday) - Booking/rescheduling deadline 3 October - Last testing date 15 October - UCAS application deadline Results are delivered to universities in early November

Registration and Booking

Opens from 1 May 2014. Register and book early to ensure places are available

at a local centre. Create an online account then select a test centre and

book your test. Testing starts from 1 July and ends on 3 October. Booking/rescheduling closes at midday on 2 October.

Costs

Tests taken in the EU July-August: £65 Tests taken in the EU Sept-Oct: £80 Tests taken outside the EU: £100 The fee is payable online at the time of booking by major

credit card (Visa, MasterCard) or UK Visa debit card.

Bursaries

Bursaries that cover the full test fee are available to EU candidates from low-income households.

You may be eligible if you receive a 16-19 Bursary; Discretionary Learner Support; Educational Maintenance Allowance; Full Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant; Income Support; Job Seeker's Allowance; Employment & Support Allowance; Universal Credit.

You may also be eligible if your parent/guardian receives: Child Tax Credit; Income Support; Job Seeker's Allowance; Employment & Support Allowance; Universal Credit.

Check the website for more details about the criteria, how to apply and what evidence is required.

Candidates with Disabilities

The UKCATSEN is an extended version of the test (2 hours 30 mins) which can be booked if you are entitled to additional time for public examinations based upon a medical diagnosis or report from a specialist teacher.

Likely to relate to dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, dysorthographia, attention deficit disorder or working memory deficit but may apply to a range of other medical conditions. See the website for details.

Exemptions from the Test

Exemptions from the test are only offered on exceptional grounds and the vast majority of applicants are expected to sit the UKCAT during the test window.

Further details about exemptions are available from the website.

What is in the Test?

Verbal reasoning - assesses ability to critically evaluate information that is presented in a written form.

Quantitative reasoning - assesses ability to critically evaluate information presented in a numerical form.

Abstract reasoning - assesses the use of convergent and divergent thinking to infer relationships from information.

Decision analysis - assesses the ability to make sound decisions and judgements using complex information.

Situational judgement - measures capacity to understand real world situations and to identify critical factors and appropriate behaviour in dealing with them.

Test Format

Section Items UKCAT Standard Test(includes 1 minute

per subtest for instruction)

UKCAT Extended Test(includes 2 minutes

per subtest for instruction)

Verbal Reasoning 44 22 minutes 28 minutes

Quantitative Reasoning 36 25 minutes 31.5 minutes

Abstract Reasoning 55 14 minutes 17.5 minutes

Decision Analysis 28 32 minutes 39 minutes

Situational Judgement 67 27 minutes 34 minutes

Total time   120 minutes 150 minutes

Verbal Reasoning

The test assesses your ability to read and think carefully about information presented in passages and to determine whether specific conclusions can be drawn from information presented.  You are not expected to use prior knowledge to answer the questions.

21 minutes to answer 44 items , associated with 11 passages.

Some items assess critical reasoning skills, requiring candidates to make inferences and draw conclusions from information. 

For other items you decide whether the statement provided follows logically from the information in the passage.

Verbal Reasoning

Verbal Reasoning

Answer: C Rationale: This is supported by the information presented in the whole passage. Since rodents are a food source for foxes, it is common sense that when there are more rodents, there will be more foxes as their reproduction is dependent on food availability.

Quantitative Reasoning

The test assesses your ability to use numerical skills to

solve problems. 24 minutes to answer 36 items associated with tables,

charts, and/or graphs. It assumes familiarity with numbers to the standard of a

good pass at GCSE but focuses on problem solving. A basic calculator is available for use in this section.

Quantitative Reasoning

Quantitative Reasoning

Answer: B Rationale: Deposit for Type D motorboat on Sundays = 95 + 5 × 95/100 = 95 + 4.75 = £99.75.Total cost of renting a Type D motorboat for 6 hours on a Sunday = Deposit + Cost per hour × number of hours = £99.75 + £100 × 6 = £99.75 + £600 = £699.75.

Abstract Reasoning

The test assesses your ability to identify patterns amongst abstract shapes where irrelevant and distracting material may lead to incorrect conclusions.

The test therefore measures your ability to change track, critically evaluate and generate hypotheses and requires you to query judgements as you go along.

There are 4 different item types in this test and you may see one or two of them.

13 minutes to answer 55 items associated with sets of shapes.

Abstract Reasoning

Abstract Reasoning

Answer: A – Set ARationale: 3 black and 3 white but only 3 shaded so cannot satisfy rules for set B. 3 shaded and 3 black (= 6 shapes) which is more than the total number of white shapes so must be A.

Set A Rule: Regardless of the nature of the shapes themselves there must be an equal number of black and shaded shapes but the combined total is always at least one more than the total number of white shapesSet B Rule: Regardless of the nature of the shapes themselves there must be an equal number of black and white shapes but the combined total is always at least one fewer than the total number of shaded shapes.

Decision Analysis

The test assesses the ability to make decisions in situations

of uncertainty, where information may be incomplete,

complex and ambiguous. Using a deciphering scenario, the test requires a move from

logical reasoning to decisions requiring increasing degrees

of judgement. The associated confidence rating measures your

awareness of your own decision making. 31 minutes to answer 28 items associated with one

scenario, each with a related confidence rating.

Decision Analysis

Decision Analysis

Answer: E - Today I am moving houseRationale:A) Today I feel personally moved (does not refer to dwelling)B) Today it is hard for me to move house (introduces hard)C) I don’t want to dwell on today (introduces a negative)D) Today is the day to move on (does not refer to dwelling)E) Today I am moving house (correct)

Situational Judgement

The test measures your capacity to understand real world

situations and to identify critical factors and appropriate

behaviour in dealing with them. It assesses the key traits of integrity, perspective taking and

team involvement.  SJTs are used widely in medical selection, including

selection of Foundation Doctors, GPs and other medical

specialties.  26 minutes to answer 71 items associated with 17

scenarios (consisting of between 3 and 6 response

options).

Situational Judgement

Situational Judgement

Answer: B - Appropriate, but not idealRationale: The General Medical Council requires students to work “…within the limits of their competence, training and status as medical students.” A medical student is not qualified to discuss the possible outcomes of the patient’s blood test nor what the future may hold for the patient. However, it is correct for a student to explain his role to the patient, so that the patient understands the student’s position. In this situation, where a patient is concerned or worried about their health, the medical student should acknowledge the patient’s concerns and advise the patient to address their concerns with a more appropriate member of staff.

Preparation for the UKCAT

Familiarise yourself with the requirements and question styles in each subtest. It is important to understand the time limitations in each section and to develop strategies to approach each subtest with this in mind.

Make full use of the free preparation material on the website, including the fully timed practice tests.

Go to www.thestudentroom.co.uk where there is advice available from current/past candidates.  This includes links to free practice resources which can be found on the internet.

Spend around 21-30 hours in preparation for the UKCAT.  This is the amount of preparation done by the highest scoring respondents to our recent survey.

Candidate Preparation Toolkit

Freely available from the UKCAT website Includes 2 fully timed Practice Tests and an additional

questions from each subtest UKCAT Official Guide containing over 100 practice items Free UKCAT Practice App for iPhone / Android Video of high-scoring past candidates sharing best

practice Lots more hints, tips and advice There are many companies offering UKCAT preparation

material; be careful as they may not necessarily be of a high standard and may not be up to date enough to mirror the actual test.

Hints and Tips

Candidates who take the test early do better! If you have not studied maths beyond GCSE level (or

recently), revisit and practice these skills as this will impact on the Quantitative Reasoning section in particular.

If you are not well, reschedule your test to a later date – even if you lose your test fee. In presenting yourself for testing, you are declaring yourself fit. UKCAT do not consider health issues as extenuating circumstances.

Try and answer all the questions. Practise the test timings and remember that no points are deducted for wrong answers so if you’re stuck use your best guess.

Taking the Test

Arrive at the Test Centre at least 15 minutes before you are due to start. If you are late you may not be allowed to test and will have to pay again!

Very important! Make sure you take the right ID or you will not be allowed to sit the test. 

Make sure they give you a notebook and pen Other people will be testing in the same room as you so

ask for ear plugs or headphones to limit disturbance.

Marking

For each of the cognitive subtests (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning and Decision Analysis) you get a score of between 300-900

Total mean average score in 2013 was 2643 In 2013 mean average scores for each cognitive subtest

were: Verbal Reasoning 557, Quantitative Reasoning 655, Abstract Reasoning 661, Decision Analysis 771

For the Situational Judgement test you are given one of 4 bands

Results

You get a copy of your test result when you leave the test centre.

Before you submit your UCAS application check how universities use the test or you might be wasting an application.

UKCAT passes your results to your university choices directly in early November and they will use it alongside a number of factors which could include academic performance, UCAS personal statement, references etc.

Further information

Your main source of information should be the UKCAT website www.ukcat.ac.uk

www.thestudentroom.co.uk has lots of information dedicated to entry into medicine or dentistry.

See also: General Medical Council gmc-uk.org British Medical Association bma.org.uk NHS Medical Careers medicalcareers.nhs.uk Get into Medicine getintomedicine.co.uk

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