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UK Clinical Aptitude Test
www.ukcat.ac.uk
UKCAT2015
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 26 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
University of Birmingham
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 Liverpool
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 2015
1 May - Registration opens 1 July - Testing begins 22 September - Registration deadline 22 September - Bursary and Exemption application
deadline 5 October (midday) - Booking/rescheduling deadline 6 October - Last testing date 15 October - UCAS application deadline Results are delivered to universities in early November
Registration and Booking
Opens from 1 May 2015. 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 6 October. Booking/rescheduling closes at midday on 5 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; Free School Meals; 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 68 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 68 items associated with 19
scenarios (consisting of between 2 and 5 response items).
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.
Candidate Preparation Toolkit
Freely available from the UKCAT website Includes 3 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 Official UKCAT YouTube Channel with videos to support
your preparation 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.
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.
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 booklet and pen (test it!) 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 2014 was 2505 In 2014 mean average scores for each cognitive subtest
were: Verbal Reasoning 571, Quantitative Reasoning 684, Abstract Reasoning 636, Decision Analysis 614
For the Situational Judgement test you are given one of 4 bands (band 1 the highest)
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.
Once you have submitted your UCAS application in September, you need to tell us your UCAS PID and course choices that require the UKCAT. We will use this information to help deliver your results to your chosen Universities. You need to do this by 16 October 2015. Look out for an email reminder in September.
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
For the latest UKCAT news
@UKCATest
/UKClinicalAptitudeTest
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