BMAT preparation material?

**blackcat** · 24-06-2006, 01:41 PM

Hi

I've done the practice papers on the BMAT website and I've got the book (Preparing for the BMAT or something; the official one). Where else can I find such questions? I mostly want the mathy/sciency questions, like the data ones, but any will do.

Also, how much preparation did you do? How hard was the actual paper?

***Liana*** · 24-06-2006, 11:41 PM

LAPT, which is run by UCL, have a specimen paper that used to be available on the BMAT website - not sure if you'll have come across it or not. Click on 'Exercise Menu' and in the new window scroll down to the BMAT bit.

I had a bit of practice in school, though we seemed to spend that writing one of the group's personal statement (it was before the deadline). Basically we just looked at past papers. Revise GCSE Science and if you've still got your old revision guides check in those for things that weren't on your syllabus but could come up anyway. Aside from that I did AS Critical Thinking which really helped with Section 1 - you could try and get a book on this or look up some Critical Thinking-type multiple choice questions - OCR have an MCQ as part of the course, perhaps there's a practise paper on their site...

**blackcat** · 24-06-2006, 11:46 PM

It's exactly the same as the ones on the BMAT website

Thanks anyway.

**sdnet** · 04-07-2006, 06:26 PM

Anyone know where I can buy this BMAT prep book online?

I tried heinemann but they do not let me buy it off them

**Wannabe-Doc** · 04-07-2006, 06:44 PM

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0...lance&n=266239

there's quite a high demand at the moment though - they're being despatched withi 2-4 weeks, when I bought mine in April I got it 24 hours later.

**blackcat** · 05-07-2006, 12:24 AM

Thanks, but I already mentioned I had it..

**psyche87** · 05-07-2006, 06:54 PM

Can't help you with the first question, but as for the second... I prepared for the BMAT using just the practice papers I found online. Just so happened that the BMAT was a week before my A levels started, so it was either a blessing or a curse - blessing in that I already knew all my A level stuff by that time, and a curse in that I really didn't have much time to prepare for it...!

I found the first two sections fairly manageable, though it seems like some parts involve stuff I've never ever read about before! (I think because I didn't take GCSEs, I took O levels instead... international student here =)) A level stuff is, I think, actually fairly irrelevant. I hated the third section though, but I'm not an essay-writer...

**The Madness** · 08-07-2006, 06:56 PM

In answer to your first question, the company administering the BMAT (Cambridge Assessment or somesuch) doesn't ever release past papers and so you won't find and questions specifically from the BMAT other than those on the website and book. If you want practice with those kinds of questions, perhaps google 'verbal reasoning' or look on the Mensa website.

You need to know the core content (the things that must be taught, according to QCA) from GCSE Double Science and Maths. A-level material doesn't really come into it, though obviously doing an A-level in a subject means it's that bit more fresh in your mind. I looked over the Physics part of Double Science, as I don't do physics A-level - I dug out an old revision guide.

That's it from the knowledge side. For familiarisation with questions, I got the official book, which I'd really reccommend - it especially helped me prepare for the essay question. I am not the world's best timed essay writer, but I think looked at examples and explanations of mark schemes really helped. I also did some practice questons - those from the BMAT website.

As for the actual test (which I did last year), I didn't find it that bad. It's important to realise that you have a limited amount of time, and so work as fast as you can without rushing or panicking. The essay question, on the other hand, take your time over, as you have a small space and plenty of time to plan.