Infomation on the new med admissions test UKCAT

[*em*]

I didnt know where to post this but I hope it is useful,

I was recently at Medlink and we had a "surprise" lecture from, i think, the chairman of deans. He was there to tell us about the new UKCAT. This is as much as I can remember:

UKCAT is a new clinical aptitude test made for medical admissions. Mainly for 2007 entry but a small scale test will be in place for 2006.

We were told it would test cognitive skills and non-cognitive skills. It would be done on screen so no writing will be involved, also it is NOT a science paper.

In spring there will be a website up and running for advice and practice questions.

At the moment nearly all med schools have signed up for it only Bristol and Birmingham havent I think.

The unis that do BMAT will continue to and will not do the UKCAT.

You have to register to sit the UKCAT in June 2006, it will cost between £50 and £60 and the tests will be in july and august.

If a med school asks for UKCAT you have to sit it, but each med school can do what they want with the results....

I hope this is helpful,
if u want to ask any more pm me and ill try my best to answer,

em xxx

[simac]

wow, thats really intresting that nearly ALL medical schools have signed up. Sounds great fun and all, but i hope i never do it!

[S Knights]

I must admit I dislike the idea of charging for a university admissions exam... Can only hope that payment will be met by colleges (probably won't be mind). If any more information becomes available it could be quite interesting to look through, though I'm not entirely sure how useful it will be in selecting applicants, presumably it'll just be used to narrow down the number of interviews or something.

Another day in which I'm thankful I applied before all this rubbish with BMAT's, UKCAT's, whatever they'll come up with next.

[*em*]

The talk we had was pretty vague, he basically said research it in the spring next year when the website is up and running.
He didnt, however, justify the use of the test at all but it seems to me medical admissions are just copying the general move to a more generalised admissions test. There is now one for history and I think ones are being written for Law and English!
When I apply I will have to take this test and probably have to travel quite a way to the nearest centre. This is cause I live in Cornwall people tend to forget about us!
It will be interesting to see how well planned this test will be for the 2006 entry.

em

[Will Watson]

http://www.medlink-uk.com/UKCAT/UKCA...iles/frame.htm

A copy of said lecture's slides (first hit on google). Note that the chap giving it was the chairman of the UKCAT consortium, so may have been slightly biased.

Suffice to say, if this cost of £50-£60 is to be met by the applicants, I shall be extremely angry.

[Bambi]

Peninsula is spelt wrong!

[crajee]

aaargh!! nooo they're ruining us!! im a lil confused tho...

it says gradual introduction into the system and yet it seems most unis have taken it up??

[kwatt26]

Fingers crossed, I'll slip into medical school without having to reapply and sit the UKCAT...
and I'll share in Will's outrage from the comfort of halls.

[simac]

I share that sentiment!

[pkchips]

rofl those test dates are stupid, what happens to potential gap year applicants who aren't sure yet if they are going to need to apply for 2007? Do they have to sit the test anyway and if they get in this year, just be gutted?