You should start preparation for the UCAT exam between two and three months before your exam date. On average you should spend between four and six hours a week on your revision and this will naturally increase the closer you get to the exam. Here are some simple ways in which you can structure your preparation for the UCAT.
Understand the Structure
The UCAT exam is a two hour exam split into five sections. The first four of which give you a score out of 900. Each of these four sections are worth the same number of points and the average of these scores will become your final score. The last section, a Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is graded between bands 1-4 with 1 being the best and 4 being the worse. Each final score will therefore be a score out of 900 and a banding for section 5 (SJT). E.g. 759 – Band One.
Learn the Theory
One of the most challenging aspects of UCAT preparation is working out where to begin. Each section tests a different mental skill and it can be daunting trying to work out exactly what each question is asking. This is especially important for the SJT section. To ace this part of the UCAT you have to understand the rules and regulations that govern how doctors work and the ethical principles on which all medical decisions are based. This is where tutoring can be incredibly useful as our tutors can help you navigate this maze and make sense of each UCAT section. We can help you understand the variations on each question type.
Reflect on your Mistakes
One of the most challenging aspects of UCAT preparation is working out where to begin. Each section tests a different mental skill and it can be daunting trying to work out exactly what each question is asking. This is especially important for the SJT section. To ace this part of the UCAT you have to understand the rules and regulations that govern how doctors work and the ethical principles on which all medical decisions are based. This is where tutoring can be incredibly useful as our tutors can help you navigate this maze and make sense of each UCAT section. We can help you understand the variations on each question type.
Finesse your Exam Technique
The best advice I received before taking the UCAT exam was to practice under exam conditions. That meant, phone away, use the computer calculator and keep my timing strict. The more you practice under exam conditions, the fewer surprises you’ll get on the day. One of the easiest ways to drop points on the day is to run out of time on a section because you’re not used to doing questions under the right time pressure.
Take Mock Exams
A big challenge of the UCAT exam is sustaining focus for two hours straight. In the three weeks before your exam you should practice running through whole past papers under exam conditions. The more of these you do, the fewer surprises there will be on the day and the less mentally tiring the exam will be.
Contact Think Tutors
Overall, with the right planning and tailored practice you can shift the UCAT from being a source of anxiety and stress to being a huge asset for your medicine application. Having a UCAT tutor can go a long way to helping ease this burden and provide personalised support that is tailored to the unique way in which each student thinks. If you would like to learn more about how a UCAT tutor can help achieve your goals, please contact us.