UKCAT or BMAT that is the question.

[TMG]

Freak -this is going off the subject but was wondering if you could help with another question (or anybody else that has sat the UKCAt recently).Yesterday I got the results of a psycometric test that all the 6th formers did at my school.I did very very well in the verbal reasoning,very well in the maths but not so good (well,in the top 40% but not sure if that was of the people in my 6th form or 16-18 yr olds generally) of the 3rd section - can't remember what it was called (my minds gone blank!) - it was codes eg.'aa bb ab ba ? What comes next?'
Does that look like anything that occurs on the UKCAT or BMAT tests?If so I had better start practising pronto!

[-Petrie-]

last section that you're talking about sounds like decision analysis, and yep all three are sections of the UKCAT.

HOWEVER, psychometric tests are by their nature very very variable. Just 'cus you got a lot mark in this one, doesn't mean if you sat the UKCAT now you'd get a rubbish mark. Obviously do some practice, but unless it's the UKCAT Official practice test, I wouldn't let any other mark that you get in any other psychometric test scare you/put you at ease.

[-Petrie-]

and even then, I should point out, if you get a crappy/fantastic mark in the UKCAT practice test, that shouldn't really change your mindset, 'cus it still could go a completely different way on UKCAT Test day.

[TMG]

I am sooooo looking foward to sitting the UKCAT - not!!

I posted another thread asking if it is worth purchasing the Kaplan or Medicas prep material.Any views?

Congrats on your offers by the way!Which is your firm?I was interested in both Manc and Sheff but sadly my GCSE grades don't meet their admission criteria ( even tho I am on target to meet the AS/A level criteria - it's so annoying that they place an emphasis on GCSEs when other unis don't.)Probably going to look at Leeds (and research others) now as think I want to go to a uni 'up North' and don't fancy out and out PBL.

[Rich' Trash]

BMAT is only for 4 universities.. only 3 of which you can apply for at once (because you cant apply for both cambridge and oxford). So, if i was going to choose either BMAT or UKCAT.. it would definately be UKCAT.

Although I'm alittle biased because I dont actually meet the requirements for any of the 4 BMAT schools - GCSEs are crappy and I dont have a 4th AS level.

[-Petrie-]

For the love of God, don't waste your money. I got 700 on the UKCAT (which is quite a decent score, and that's with the AR section not counted) and didn't pay anything for any books/prep material etc. etc.

There's tons of info on this site and around the web for advice/practice etc etc, so you shouldn't need to waste your money

And no idea what my firm is! I have an interview next Wed at St.Andrews that I think might possibly be my first choice if I'm lucky enough to get an offer

[TMG]

St Andrews would probably be a good idea for you,Petrie in the sense that you could transfer to Manchester for the 2nd phase and so having the best of both worlds.
Ta v much for advice.

Have you asked (on another thread) re working in another country for a gap year?

[>Freak<]

Sorry for this late reply.

Yes, i would agree with what petrie said, it sounds like decision analysis to me, where you have to decipher all the codes or vice versa.

UKCAT doesn't really play a CRITICAL role in the admissions process as far as i know of. It's still a very young entrance exam and time is needed for them to decide how much emphasis should be placed on it.

However, BMAT is sort of more established, therefore it might be quite safe for me to say it could be one of the deciding factors in the admissions process(equivalent to grades, interviews etc, perhaps)