Terrified about UKCAT

[Drakethesnake]

Hey, I'm totally new to this site; so firstly, HI EVERYONE! But more importantly, I am utterly petrified about doing my UKCAT next week because my practice tests having not been coming out too well - I've been getting an average of 450 which is awful. The only thing that I'm scared about is that my application will be overlooked: purely because this test hasn't turned out very well. I am in desperate need of tips, hints and any advice on how to get up to scratch. If anyone has any I'd be very grateful. Cheers.

[waveygravey]

I know it may sound like a cheap plug, but have u tried this book?:
Amazon.co.uk: Passing the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) and BMAT 2008 (Student Guides to University Entrance) (Student Guides to University Entrance): Felicity Taylor, Rosalie Hutton, Glenn Hutton: Books

i found it quite helpful.
Saying that i felt i was terrible at them and still managed a 550 score. But dont worry 450 is NOT terrible.
Practice will help you!

Also have you tried the UKCAT website?
UKCAT Details

Calm down.
Remember u still have plenty of time to practice!
Everyone will be in the same boat as you when u do it!

Hope I helped,

Wavey G.

[Hughman]

I heard the 'practice' exams are by and large harder than the real thing -you don't have the 'exam adrenaline' to help you out at home. Just keep your cool and hope for the best.

[Drakethesnake]

Thanks man. I just hate how much hype it gets when it proves nothing yet a whole application can depend on it. I have that book but I'm still not too great with it. I'll try the practice questions a few more times online and in the book. Congratulations on your offer by the way. Hope it all goes well for you.

[Drakethesnake]

Cheers Hughman. I need to hear this stuff because I'll do better if I think less of it. Man I wish I wanted to be a plumber or something so I can flaunt my arse for no reason, instead I want to cut people open and rearrange their insides. The human mind is a strange thing.

[agneishd]

each test is bery different - i remmeber getting below half marks on practise tests and thinking i needed a miracle, but te actual test will hopefully be easier, and, I dunno, you may perform better with adrenaline and pressure...

not the end of the world even of things don't go to plan - many unis won't put too much weight on it seeing as it is a relatively new test, and not yet proven to be correlated with academic performance at degree level

[Rosebot]

just dont panic
in the real test there will probably be more questions than you have time for
dont let the fact you didnt answer all of one section affect how you answer another section! just keep your cool and itll all be fine

[agneishd]

just dont panic
in the real test there will probably be more questions than you have time for
dont let the fact you didnt answer all of one section affect how you answer another section! just keep your cool and itll all be fine

do attempt them all though(!)

[Rosebot]

well yeh but arguably its better to work through as many as possible and then guess the ones you cant... i dunno what the best approach is
like... go thrugh and guess for each on before starting the questions
lol
DONT DO THAT
its probably an awful idea!

[Edeldee]

Well I remember feeling like my head had been fried after coming out of the UKCAT... So I dont envy those of you who have to go through it all this year!

Ditto to whats been said re: chill out and do your best.
As for strategy, I read, re-read, and read again the VR sections to make sure I really got what it was they were asking, you know look at different aspects etc, as for the others, I took the do the ones you can and then go back approach.

To be honest though, I cant really remember much about it, whether thats because it seems so long ago, or because it was such a horrible experience Im not sure! lol.

All The Best!