How to Prepare for the UCAT alongside ATAR Studies?

The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is the younger, meaner version of the UMAT which is a computer-based test from the UK used by Universities as a standardised intelligence and aptitude test for Undergraduate Medical Degrees and Dentistry Degrees.

Table of Content:

• Who and What is the UCAT for?
• How to Prepare for the UCAT Test?
• My Top Tips
• FAQs

Who and What is the UCAT for?

Many undergraduate Medical and Dental Schools across the country require a UCAT result to be considered for an interview/entry, and often there will be a high cutoff depending on the university and the cohort of applicants.

So, if you want to do either medicine or dentistry, I highly recommend looking into the requirements for the Universities you’re looking to apply for. If you're interested in what it takes to get into Medicine, check out this comprehensive guide after this blog.

How to Prepare for the UCAT Test?

The UCAT isn’t exactly a test you can study for, it’s more something you prepare for. Taking the UCAT is a skill, and like all skills, people will be at all sorts of levels when they first start. But with targeted and focused practice, you'll be able to improve that skill.

1. Make a Detailed Plan

The best way to prepare for the UCAT is to make a detailed plan and do your best to stick with it as much as possible.

Year 11/12 can get busy and there are all sorts of other things you’d rather be doing with your time, but for every new episode of Love Island you watch, there's someone out there doing some UCAT practice. So, let your drive to get into medicine fuel you to make the necessary sacrifices and stick to your schedule.

2. Manage your Time well

The biggest thing that competes with UCAT preparation is your ATAR studies, which are equally – if not more – important, so how do you balance them?

• Start Preparations EARLY: I recommend starting to get serious with your UCAT Preparation 6 months before the test cycle begins. You want to give yourself as much time as possible.
• Stick to your Plan: Set a plan early, and stick to it. If you study little by little, day by day, you will ALWAYS beat the person who only does 4 hours one day a week.

Here's a plan I would recommend:

• For the first few weeks, aim for half an hour each school day, and then, maybe an hour each weekday. Use this time to get your head around the test, read about the question styles, and study some of the theories behind the test while doing some real practice.
• Once you feel you have got a handle on it, start practising the questions. Each section is different, with a few different styles of questions in each. These will all require different approach strategies and techniques, so it’s important to start practising the questions early.
• The biggest struggle of the UCAT is probably keeping that ultra-high level of concentration for the entirety of the test. So, I’d recommend aiming for one full practice test each weekend.
• Check which questions you got wrong, attempt them again, and take notes.

3. Take Care of Yourself

While you might have to make some sacrifices in year 12, this absolutely cannot come out of your sleep and self-care time. Scheduling in UCAT practice, work or ATAR study is no more important than scheduling in time to do the things you love, spend time with family and friends, and relax.

It’s all about balance; you’ll need to figure out how to balance your time between all your needs. It's good to be busy, but don't spread yourself too thin.

My Top Tips

1. Use your Class Time for Schoolwork

If you can use that hour of class for your assignment, rather than sitting on your phone or talking to your mates, you’ll have an extra hour to study for the UCAT when you get home, which is a lot of time.

2. Pick and Stick

Make a preparation schedule and stick with it. Consistency is KEY and you’ll thank yourself for this when you see your hard work pay off.

3. Scheduling your UCAT

I strongly recommend booking the test in your school holidays. This gives you all the time in the world to be calm and collected going into your exam. However, this tends to be towards the beginning of the cycle, so you should have started preparing 6 months before this.

Conclusion

Year 12 is super busy; you’ll have all sorts of commitments, obligations and hobbies that you don’t want to miss out on, and there’ll be things that come up last minute that will try and throw you off your schedule. That is why it’s super important to start with a really good plan, and do your best to stick with it. When things come up that you can't control, you are already in the best position to deal with it.

For more UCAT preparation tips, check out these KIS Academics articles:

FAQs

Written by KIS Academics Tutor Ned Woodgate. Ned is currently studying a Bachelor of Medicine/ Bachelor of sSurgeryat JCU and is well on his way to becoming a doctor. You can view Ned's profile here and request him as a tutor.

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