Rant about the BMAT

**waiting_for** · 15-03-2008, 05:33 PM

I applied for UCL this year, originally as my first choice but recently i realised my application was successful because my BMAT score was 17.1 and you have to obtain at least 19.0 to be guaranteed an interview. I am only writing this because I am wondering myself can a test with some mental arithmetic and reasoning etc really test how good a doctor you are going to be? In hindsight I am beginning to think that the BMAT may just be like many of the other medical admissions protocols which are used to gain more money through books, courses to do well in the BMAT etc. Also, in my AS levels i gained 299/300 and 290/300, which in my opinion are quite high scores that I have maintained so far this year. Nevertheless, the BMAT seems to be used over my actual UMS scores as a selection criterion. Fair enough, thousands of applications are received and some form of selection needs to be made which is less time consuming but why not something such as UMS scores or UCAS tariff points? Many will probably say I am bitter and yes, I probably am because I could really see myself going to UCL since I really liked the place when visiting however what I am trying to say is that should such a test as the BMAT really be used as a "cut-off" point? I would however like to thank UCL for their consideration with my application and the letter they provided stating how they did value my application and to perhaps try again next year. Even though I didn't get in I also really liked bristol university and am extremely glad to have a place as I realise how competetive admissions for medicine is. I would also like to say to all those applying for medicine, do a lot of BMAT practice because it seems to me that's how the system works. any thoughts?

**Spencer Wells** · 15-03-2008, 05:51 PM

The BMAT forms only a small part of an application, and while those who score over 19 are guaranteed an interview, scoring less than this does not lead to an automatic rejection. Your application was considered as a whole, but this time there were applicants to UCL that were stronger than you which means that you missed out on a place.

**waiting_for** · 15-03-2008, 07:41 PM

it must be my misunderstanding then because i got the impression the likelihood of you being able to get into a bmat university with a score over 19.0 was increased compared to that of below 19.0.

**Spencer Wells** · 15-03-2008, 08:53 PM

The lower your BMAT the harder it will be for you to get in, yes. The BMAT is used as a measure of scientific aptitude and and ability to think critically, as well as your ability to construct a well reasoned scientific argument. These are qualities that BMAT using universities place emphesis on. It's not enough these days to simply get 3A grades at A2 level, as almost everyone applying for medicine will get those grades. The BMAT serves as an additional filter to separate the excellent from the good. However, it is not the sole factor, and the most important thing is your personal statement and the work experience that you spoke about on it.

**grindlo** · 16-03-2008, 01:20 AM

i had 17.9 on bmat so only a bit higher than you, but i had an interview (all went downhill from there tho... :-( )

tbh i reckon to get an interview the most important factor would be to do a hell of a lotta work experience and make a good personal statement out of it (aswell as getting exam results obv.)

**Liyah** · 16-03-2008, 07:31 PM

Waiting_for, I can relate to what you're saying and it does seem a bit frustrating when you feel that the only thing that is stopping you from doing medicine is an admissions test. However I can understand why uni's are having to resort to this because a lot of people are getting great results and there is less criteria to distinquish applicants. I have no real qualms about the BMAT, at least it's consistent. It's the UKCAT that get's to me, as far as I'm aware the UKCAT has absolutely no relavance to medicine, but if any uni's were to provide me with some proof I would happily acknowledge it. I mean imagine if OCR were to say that this year none of the section 2 results would be counted because too many people were getting the high results? Firstly this would NEVER happen because they have a procedure whereby the most common scores are in the middle of the scale. And mind you, the ukcat was £60 and the bmat was less than half of this, like £28. I have to agree with you completely about working hard for the bmat, even though it says that it's to test knowledge you should already know and that no formal revision needs to be done, IGNORE THIS. Look back on all the science gcse work and do as much practice as possible, especially if your not doing physics or maths for a level. It makes a lot of difference. Also from my experience I would have to say that people should do more work for section 1 & 2 (especially 2) and just see section 3 as something which will help you get the 19 to guarantee an interview (but don't completely flunk it, I believe at UCL they use it as an assessment at interview). I have to disagree with grindlo, even though work experience and ps are important I'd say the most important factor is the bmat, because at least you know that you are definitely going to be interviewed. If your PS is not amazing at least you will have the chance to justify/prove yourself, a lot of ppl will never get the chance to do this, even if their application is otherwise excellent and have lots of w/e. I'm going to predict that in a couple of years time more and more applicants will be doing so well in these admissions tests that the uni's will be in the same dilema again. UCL had to raise the bmat criteria from 4.5 to 5.0 in the first two sections because so many applicants were getting the guaranteed interview, and ukcat cancelled a whole entire section because too many people were getting really high marks for abstract reasoning. Also, I think that they're introducing a new A* grade for A levels; anyone else sensing a pattern here?

**-Petrie-** · 16-03-2008, 07:50 PM

I got an interview with a BMAT score of less than 19, and I know plenty of people in the same position as me.

As long as you the rest of your application is strong, it's not the be-all-and-all that you seem to make it out to be.

**Liyah** · 16-03-2008, 08:13 PM

^ Getting an interview is such a big step in the whole admissions process and if there was something an applicant could do in order to guarantee it then I would encourage it. Getting all A's at A-level, doing great work experience and having a good personal statement doesn't guarantee an interview. BMAT does. Of course it's not the be all and end all but it certainly is an important factor. I'm sure if you ask anyone who got the guaranteed interview, they would tell you how much of a relief it was. Even if you don't get the guaranteed interview getting decent bmat scores can be the difference between getting a place and getting rejected, especially with a lot of applicants who look very similar on paper. Even if you get less than 19, they look at how well you did in the sub-sections, especially the first two. I'm not someone who's just scaremongering, I'm talking from personal experience.

**waiting_for** · 16-03-2008, 08:16 PM

i entirely agree with liyah on this point, it is purely another factor to strengthen your application along side other factors.

**angelic** · 16-03-2008, 09:10 PM

more and more it seems that you have to ensure you tick all the boxes and be strong in all aspects of your application - this is fair enough as long as all applicants are aware of what is involved - give ucl it's due - it is made very clear what their expectations are in the prospectus and on the open day - I guess the real issue is that as competition gets greater the risk of including one or more bmat unis in your choices before you know your score becomes of greater 'risk'. with only 4 choices picking oxbridge and say ucl and then finding you crashed and burned in the bmat could mean that you would be left with just 2 others. I guess you have to be pretty sure of your ability to produce excellent results - if you do then you are on a role!