How the hell do they use the UKCAT?

[anton]

Just wondering, what is the point in the UKCAT? Does anyone actually know how the Unis use it? It seems like there are lots of grey areas with the test, what with sections being taken out? Also, why do the admissions officers always give a shady response when you ask them about the UKCAT, like they cant give yiou a score to aim at? From what I've heard, an average score in it is usually sufficient?

Anyone got any views/answers? Its just I've got to take it AGAIN so I might aswell try and make a better go of it than last time!!

[Rosebot]

some unis (like southampton and some london ones i think) have a minimum cut off score.. im not sure if this is average, total or total for each section but i know it makes a difference. others which focus more on gcse results - cardiff and b'ham focus on it less i believe. (this is just what ive picked up it is not fact)

[Sephie]

I think its a fundraiser.

Seriously though I think they just use it to cut out more people as Rosebot said. They use it for cut off points and what not.

[Singh.Simran]

...Badly?

[Mistymaple]

The other day I found this very interesting article in the Student BMJ about it.
http://student.bmj.com/issues/08/04/life/146.php

It also notes that Nottingham use it more than others but at the open day they stated that the score you get for the test is added to grades, PS etc etc. I also applied to Cardiff this year and they said that although they require it, they don't score it yet because they're waiting to see if those who get great UKCAT scores do better during the course.

The irony is that my Firm and Insurance are those who didn't require it in the first place

[dreaming_princess]

It depends where - Bham don't ask for it and don't see it.
Edinburgh uses it to differentiate between the borderline people. ie they score you on other things, if you get a high score - your in, if you get a low one - your out.
If you get the cutoff score - those with the best UKCAT are in...

[terpineol]

Here apparently is ignoring it for a few years but requiring people sit it in order to see if its a good predictor of performance.

Leeds said they were doing the same last year aswell.

[agneishd]

they'll check how the scores correlate with 3rd year performances at med school, and depending on that and other similar tests i'd imagine, its future will be decided

hard to say how they used it this year with all the problems the test had...

[Xenitic]

i think the ukcat is just some random ****. most of the people dont have enough time for the questions anyway, so they just guess.
im quite good at maths, but i finished like 1/5 of the maths questions and the time was already over...
i think ukcat is used to get some money. it costs so much. -.-

[ruridh17]

Edinburgh also used it.

They added it to everything else to give an overall score and whether or not you got over the cut off score determined whether you got in or not.

seems odd, after they amended one of the parts then decided to remove another. As everyone else is saying i think it is just a scam to get more money.