What is the UKCAT Exam?
The UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) is intended to assess a candidates suitability for entry to medical and dental schools in the UK. The full list of universities that use this assessment can be found here : universities using the test.
How are the Scores Used
The scores are used individually by the different institutions to determine your suitability for Medical School. Some institutions aggregate the scores and use a cut-off point above which candidates must score to be eligible. Others take the top few percent of scores and some require a minimum score in each of the domains. Either way, you must ensure that you obtain the highest score you can and the way to do this is with practice. For further details we would recommend you read our free UKCAT strategy guide. Or for further details about the test, read on.
What is the format of the UKCAT test?
The test is computerised and is run between July and September each year. As such computerised practice offers the most realistic simulation of the exam.
What does the UKCAT Exam contain?
The examination itself consists of five sections:
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Quantitative Reasoning
This tests your ability to interrogate charts, tables and other numerical data and derive conclusions from them. There are a total of 40 questions in this section for which you are given 22 minutes. A calculator is available and 1 minute is given for reading the instructions. Practising these questions will increase your speed and accuracy just as practising arithmetic would. Many of the same patterns and types of questions are used each year and simple techniques and "speed-ups" can be learnt to improve your score. Please see the Assessment Engine UKCAT Practice exam for examples.
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Abstract Reasoning
This tests your ability to formulate hypotheses, establish patterns and filter redundant or distracting information just as you would when formulating a diagnosis for a real patient. To that effect you are required to find the rules linking various groups of abstract shapes. There is a great deal of time pressure for this section as you will only be given 16 minutes to answer 65 questions (again 1 minute is given to read the instructions). As with the numerical aptitude section knowing what patterns to look for or those that are commonly employed can dramatically improve your speed and hence your score in this section of the test. Please see the UKCAT Abstract Reasoning section of the Assessment Engine practice exam for examples.
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Verbal Reasoning
This tests your ability to comprehend textual information and determine what conclusions may be drawn using only the information presented. Each passage of text contains around 300 words. There are 11 separate passages each of which has 4 questions. You will be given 22 minutes to answer the 44 questions (again including 1 minute to read the instructions). This really works out as 30 seconds per question or 1 minute to read the passage and 15 seconds per. statement. Again there is a significant time pressure in that regard. These questions can be awkward to practice but it can be helpful to get a feel for what conclusions may be drawn from a passage and how to go about filtering the text. Again, for example questions please see the UKCAT Verbal Reasoning section of the Assessment Engine practice exam.
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Decision Analysis
This tests your ability to make decisions given sparse coded information or to formulate a "best-fit" hypothesis. There are 26 questions and 30 minutes are given for this section of the test. See the practice exam Example Decision Analysis Questions.
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Non - cognitive Analysis
This section of the exam has been removed. Do not waste time on practising these questions or on services that promote them.
How to apply for the exam
If you have yet to register for your test you can do so here Pearson Vue registration. You will need to create a new account to register. We recommend that you start your revision and preparation as soon as possible to ensure you are successful. Good Luck!