UKCAT/BMAT book - Low Score? Don't worry ok

**Arch_Angel** · 25-09-2007, 04:13 AM

Probably the most posted thing on this website at the moment is people who are about to take the UKCAT worrying about their scores in the official book (UKCAT + BMAT).

This thread is an attempt to catch people who have just tried the test in the book and have come onto this forum worried about their terrible scores.

Let me start by quoting that ever so popular Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy: Don't Panic

The book is a liability as far as it's practice tests go. It isn't without it's own merits, but it needs a little disclaimer to stop people using it wrong. I fully suspect that there are some people out there that bought the book, did the test then gave up on medicine because of their terrible score. If I can stop one person from being worried by posting this then I'm happy. Also, the forum is swamped by people starting new threads asking why they got 4/30 on the practice test and that they are worried and upset etc. So hopefully I can stop a few of those too.

Ok, the tests in the book are pretty awful. On the verbal reasoning subtest I got 790 in the real test while only getting 11/30 in the book. There are some questions that just take too long to read and understand and others that violate the rules of the test. Now, something that is often asked is "Is the test easier than the book". Well.....no, but it does conform to a format that the book first explains to you, then violates.

For example, there is a question about the leader of the opposition party (or something) that requires you to use critical thinking. The question goes something like this:

Quote from the opposition party leader: The deputy prime minister needs to focus on his own job and not spend too much time looking with greedy eyes at the prime ministers. His own department is failing due to his greedy aspirations.

Q: Is the deputy prime minister failing to do his job?
A: Not ness. This quote comes from the leader of the opposition and is therefore suspect.

Now this is all well and good, but this is critical thinking, a concept that the UKCAT outright forbids. You need to understand the text and relay what the text says without any judgement on it yourself.

There are many other examples. Try finding some... It'll help you figure out how you need to answer.

Anyway, basically, there is no need to panic, the book needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. Remember, what you should be focusing on is knowing how the tests work, once you know that you'll be able to easily spot why you're getting so many questions wrong in the book. Don't try to get them right thought if it means violating the premise of the test.

Good luck peoples

Nik

**Singingdoc** · 28-09-2007, 10:06 PM

Hi, thanks for this post it really cheered me up - I began practising on Monday for my test next Friday and was so totally put off by the book that I decided to take two days rest to get my confidence back. I was beginning to think I was going mad, how could I have gotten through the GAMSAT S1 ok and then struggle so badly with UKCAT book, it didn't make sense at all!

Anyway, thanks for the heads up - going to start preparation again this week.

**-Petrie-** · 03-10-2007, 05:15 AM

Is this a potential sticky I see?

Thanks for this

**KateBiomed** · 03-10-2007, 11:33 AM

Be warned though- I had a couple of verbal reasoning questions that were of a completely different format to that of the book- but providing you use your common sense and stick to the principles that it teaches you in the book it is all ok!

**haruka_kimochi** · 03-10-2007, 02:18 PM

I'm a bit confused with the verbal section. Should I just practise a question to get a feel for the format, or should I practise the questions and analyse how the reach the answers aswel.

sorry I am a bit slow >.<

**drbang** · 03-10-2007, 02:29 PM

awesome ! needed some reassurance about this ! Quantitive reasoning and divergent was ok, but slightly sucking at the other sub sections VR especially ! test in 24 hours !! Fingers crossed

**Arch_Angel** · 03-10-2007, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by haruka_kimochi

I'm a bit confused with the verbal section. Should I just practise a question to get a feel for the format, or should I practise the questions and analyse how the reach the answers aswel.

Both. The focus of your preparation (revision is the wrong word) should be on knowing what to expect on the day and how to deal with the questions. They're not allowed to surprise you, so take advantage of that. Although they can throw in some unfamiliar formats the premise will still be the same. Do the questions, then go back over them afterwards and see either where you went wrong and how to rectify your thinking, or why you were right and the book told you that you were wrong. The second way is really useful because it lets you sit and think about why you were right and further lets you know the format of the test. The book sucks, but use it in a different way, learn from it's rubbishness and don't make the same mistakes the people who wrote it did

Nik