worried

**eldopol123** · 26-08-2006, 02:14 AM

im really worried about the UKCAT n dont really c its applications to choose candidates suitable for medicine. i booked it for the 7th, then i was stressed n worried so i postponed it again to the 27 th of sept! im counting the days down n hav got the book, just to do all i can to prepare!!!!!!!

**FutureMed** · 26-08-2006, 02:37 AM

Originally Posted by eldopol123

im really worried about the UKCAT n dont really c its applications to choose candidates suitable for medicine. i booked it for the 7th, then i was stressed n worried so i postponed it again to the 27 th of sept! im counting the days down n hav got the book, just to do all i can to prepare!!!!!!!

why are u delayin it? What is there to prepare? The book?

How is the additional time goin to help? just do it man!

**Wannabe-Doc** · 26-08-2006, 02:42 AM

Originally Posted by eldopol123

n dont really c its applications to choose candidates suitable for medicine.

I'm just curious, what do you think makes the UKCAT so pointless in aiding the admissions tutors in using it?

I'm sure the medical schools/universities/UKCAT Consortium/Pearson-Vue/admissions offices/medical admissions tutors/medical teaching staff/lecturers/professors etc etc would like to know of this obvious flaw in the whole test that they missed, and a year12-going-on-year13 student found so clearly?

(This isn't a personal attack on you, it's just that I'm getting fairly tired and annoyed with people complaining, and using that rubbish excuse against the UKCAT).

**electrophilic_addition** · 26-08-2006, 03:02 AM

For me, I'd say that I don't see it as a particularly good to select candidates for medicine because it seems like it is testing just general intelligence.

It is not necessarily specific to medicine, or science courses, unlike (as it is affectionately known in the UKCAT book as) its 'cousin' the BMAT. It can be seen with the BMAT that it is testing scientific aptitude and your ability to problem-solve.

The UKCAT could be used for any number of courses and a high score would not necessarily mean someone has high clinical aptitude or whatever. Someone wanting to study an English degree could take the test, do well, yet it would not mean they would be good at medicine.

In my opinion, this test has been agreed by the UKCAT consortium to try and say to people 'look - we're trying to make medical school admissions harder by introducing this new test to try and filter people out.' I think its just a front, presented to the media and others who all claim that A levels are easy (I wish they were). As well as this, it's a very good way of making money. Sixty pounds is a lot of money, especially since they do not need people to mark the answers and all the other administration that goes with tests. Everything is done online which streamlines things too.

But, as has been highlighted before, there really isn't any point in moaning because most unis will use their admissions processes that they have been using for years. Again, as has been said, there will be teething problems so there will be no need to worry (we hope).

Just what I reckon.

**Wannabe-Doc** · 26-08-2006, 03:22 AM

Originally Posted by electrophilic_addition

For me, I'd say that I don't see it as a particularly good to select candidates for medicine because it seems like it is testing just general intelligence.

It is not necessarily specific to medicine, or science courses, unlike (as it is affectionately known in the UKCAT book as) its 'cousin' the BMAT. It can be seen with the BMAT that it is testing scientific aptitude and your ability to problem-solve.

The UKCAT could be used for any number of courses and a high score would not necessarily mean someone has high clinical aptitude or whatever. Someone wanting to study an English degree could take the test, do well, yet it would not mean they would be good at medicine.

But that's the thing, it's an aptitude test. Okay, so it's being used for entry into medical (and dental) schools, but the point is - it's testing your aptitude. It ws never set out to test your scientic brain, or your compentancty at maths - these seem to be tested enough using A levels and the BMAT. An aptitude test test all those other things that you need to be a dare-I-say-it doctor - inherant ability, problem-solving, coping with sevre time-restirants, thinking quickly, thinking logically, making conclusions from different sources of information. I'm not saying that people who score badly will automatically become rubbish doctors, there are things that the UKCAT doesn't and can't test for - compassion and empathy being two important examples. Nobody makes this much of a fuss in America, where they use the SATs!

The fact is, the UKCAT is being used by medical schools to find out more about the candidte - if you were faced with thousands of equally qualified candidtates, who on paper all looked exactly the same (with personal statments that had been tweeked and trimmed by teachers, advisors etc) - what would you do? Find out more about them - that's why the UKCAT is being used, along with interviews and all the rest of them.

We make all the conspiracy theories we want about the UKCAT consoritum doing the test for the money, but what are we going to do about it? Hold a mass boycote of the test by the 19 157 applicants to medicine and 2771 applicants to dentstry (figured from 2005)?? Maybe in a couple of years!

Anyway, I'm starting to sound like I'm being paid by the UKCAT people, and I've ranted enough, so I'll shut up now.

**Wannabe-Doc** · 26-08-2006, 03:29 AM

double-post, sorry!

**electrophilic_addition** · 26-08-2006, 03:45 AM

I understand what you're saying, but I'm not saying what I'm saying in an angry bitter way. Of course there is nothing we can do about it but it does not mean that we cannot express our views. More opinions make things healthier and if people continue to raise concerns then the test will be preened until it's exactly what medschools want.

I understand what you're saying about the US and SATs, but the reason why there isn't much of a fuss is because (forgive me if I'm wrong) it is an inherent part of the admissions process to university. If someone fails to reach a certain standard then I believe it rules them out of applying for certain universities who have particular requirements. It has been around for a long time too. The UKCAT has just started so people are bound to question it. And, I feel, they should rightly do this.

In my opinion, if they were going to introduce an admissions test, they should go all-out and give people the BMAT. I would, of course, dread this like many others. At least it is not half-arsed and also tests similar things to what the UKCAT tests.

We can't do anything about it. We just have to lump it. But that doesn't mean we can't moan about it.

And wannabe, even if you were being paid by UKCAT people, they'd definitely have enough money to do that lol.

**Marwa** · 26-08-2006, 08:12 PM

No point arguing, won't change anything

Go with the flow n take it

**Huw** · 26-08-2006, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by kiya

My boss (who's a GP) says it's testing some of the skills you need for medicine. To be honest, I don't think an A grade A-level in Biology or Chemistry really shows whether a person will be a good doctor either. It shows you're academically good at science, but dealing with patients is completely different. You need a combination of skills and I just don't know what kind of a test would show all that...

interview perhaps?

**eldopol123** · 26-08-2006, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by electrophilic_addition

For me, I'd say that I don't see it as a particularly good to select candidates for medicine because it seems like it is testing just general intelligence.

It is not necessarily specific to medicine, or science courses, unlike (as it is affectionately known in the UKCAT book as) its 'cousin' the BMAT. It can be seen with the BMAT that it is testing scientific aptitude and your ability to problem-solve.

The UKCAT could be used for any number of courses and a high score would not necessarily mean someone has high clinical aptitude or whatever. Someone wanting to study an English degree could take the test, do well, yet it would not mean they would be good at medicine.

In my opinion, this test has been agreed by the UKCAT consortium to try and say to people 'look - we're trying to make medical school admissions harder by introducing this new test to try and filter people out.' I think its just a front, presented to the media and others who all claim that A levels are easy (I wish they were). As well as this, it's a very good way of making money. Sixty pounds is a lot of money, especially since they do not need people to mark the answers and all the other administration that goes with tests. Everything is done online which streamlines things too.

But, as has been highlighted before, there really isn't any point in moaning because most unis will use their admissions processes that they have been using for years. Again, as has been said, there will be teething problems so there will be no need to worry (we hope).

Just what I reckon.

wel said!!!!
hey wanna-be, im just probably mooning about nothing, cos i cant find anything else to do!! or cos im just so worried about the UKCAT! another test, u know, wel another headache! although i realise i am going to face a lot of tests in the future!!!! ah wel, im sori for annoying u!