UKCAT books for preparation

[a-parsons]

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahah ahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

That made me feel so happy.

No, I'm standard A level student. XD

If you want help with the UKCAT, pm me/ email me/ add me on msn, and I'll be happy to help. That offer goes out to anyone who has yet to sit it.

[nikusm]

Oh, oh...hold your horses, boy!
You're like the first one who has these scores and isn't a GEP applicant.
My appreciations indeed. 10x for your offer too
Are you going to sit the BMAT too? If yes, what are your predictions?

[a-parsons]

Yeah, applying to Trinity Hall, Cambridge.

No idea about anything on the BMAT - haven't even looked at it yet. :L

Really should start revising, it's in like 16 days... :/ And I've been warned that I won't be able to just wing my way through it like I do with most exams... :L

[conorcd]

If you did well without any practice-good on you. Some schools practise UKCAT/IQ style tests and lots of people go on courses so I thought I should at least give myself a fair chance. Maybe I would have got the same score without the books, maybe not.... but they gave me the practise and confidence I needed. I didn't waste my money- I got most of them thru my careers/ school/ main council library (plus other IQ test books and books on each separate section). I bought 2 from amazon and sold them for almost the same price I paid.
There are lots of links on tsr with guidance on how to do each section. What harm will using the books do you? I also used books to help write my personal statement and am using them to help with interview technique. Preparing yourself just lets you start on an even playing field with those whose schools prepare them.

[IBSTUDENT]

Hi .I have just started my IB and need some help on how to start preparing for UKCAT/BMAT and UCAS applications.
When do I need to give my UKCAT/BMAT and how many times van I give it? I intend joining in 2011.

[conorcd]

look at The Student Room - Announcements in Forum : Medicine
don't worry about the tests- you can't do ukcat until july and bmat til nov next year. look at ideas for work experience and other stuff for your personal statement. sort that out first

[IBSTUDENT]

look at The Student Room - Announcements in Forum : Medicine
don't worry about the tests- you can't do ukcat until july and bmat til nov next year. look at ideas for work experience and other stuff for your personal statement. sort that out first

Thanks .
Is the personal statement common for all colleges? How do I get more info about it?

[a-parsons]

Personal Statement:

You write a single statement, and it is sent to all universities or colleges that you are applying to. Therefore, it can be a bit tricky to write, especially if you are applying to multiple courses, eg, medicine in one uni, and nursing in another. You should really make sure you know which of the courses you are applying to is the one for you (I'm guessing medicine), and tailor your statement to that one - the others will realise they are last resorts, and yes, you will be dissadvantaged because of it, but you really can't afford to do anything to jepordize the medical application, as application is so fierce.

Choices:

UCAS will allow you to apply to 5 courses, however (for a reason that I have yet to acertain), only 4 may be medicine courses. Many applicants leave their fifth choice empty, though I personally have put Biochemistry, a course which can lead to Post-Grad Medicine. Most importantly, when selecting your choice, make sure you have a reasonable chance of gaining a place in each of these universities before you submit the application. Which leads us to...

Entry Requirements:

Most universities will have a section in their entry requirements regarding the IB. However, if they don't, ring the admissions department, they will most likely be able to give you more specific requirements. The most important thing to know is that you will not be dissadvantaged for sitting the IB as opposed to the A level/ Scottish Highers qualifications that Home applicants will be sitting. The grades they ask of you will represent the same level of acheivement as the grades that the A level students will be expected to attain, even if it seems like you have more requirements to meet.

UKCAT:

It is possible to sit this exam outside of the UK, and will be required for application to many UK medical schools. You should find out as soon as possible where the nearest test centre for you is, as there may only be one or two locations in your country that are available for it. Use a search engine to find UKCAT, and you will be able to find your local centre on their website. For 2011 entry, you can (and must) sit the exam between July 2010 and October 2010. When you sit the exam, your questions are randomly chosen, and no two applicants will have the exact same test. Your score is given to you immediately after completion.

BMAT:

This is only required for a few medical schools - Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College (and one or two others that I can't remember). It is sat in the first week of November (for 2010 entry, it is Nov 4th 2009, for 2011 entry it will be Nov 2010). Every applicant sits the exam at the same time (with exceptions for time zone - you aren't expected to sit it at the exact time if you live in Australia, for instance - you will just be expected to remain under supervision between the time of the exam, and the time that you sit it). Every applicant recieves the exact same exam, and grading is done within the next 3 weeks.

Okay, I think that's about the extent of my knowledge, hope it has cleared up some of your issues.

[conorcd]

use the link I gave you and it will give you ideas about work experience. there are books about how to apply to med school with ideas about the experience to get but mostly it is common sense. chat to a careers advisor/ your tutor then search on here and on thestudentroom

[rex]

Regarding UKCAT prep, I would have to admit amount of preparation is not a direct indicator for a good score. However, practice of each subsection under time constraints was very handy in working out a strategy for the exam seeing as I didn't take to it to naturally for whatever reason that may be.

Also, for my own peace of mind I would rather practice and feel I could nothing more when I do the test if I have paid £75 for it. Which may I add seems slightly inflated for a compulsory exam.

The 600 questions book was a great way to panic myself into the exam seeing as lots of the questions were far trickier than anything on my particular test.