Official practice tests - opinions / scores

**Priyanka00** · 27-06-2012, 03:42 AM

Btw jcak, what sources have you been using for prep?

Priyanka

**jcak** · 27-06-2012, 03:51 AM

Do you feel you could be over practiced for it? As in you might hit a wall with your revision if you spend more time doing it and subsequently get slightly worse in the actual exam?

I was going to book mine for the end of August but realised I just want to get it out off the way now so it's 25th of July.

**jcak** · 27-06-2012, 03:52 AM

Mainly the UKCAT website's practice tests, and "How to master the UKCAT, 700+ practice questions" which I've found only to have 4/5 mistakes and pretty useful. There was also a list of useful links on the forums here somewhere I can no longer find which were useful. How about you?

**Priyanka00** · 27-06-2012, 08:59 PM

I never thought there was such a thing as being over practiced for a test, but now, I think it could be true. If I sat this exam a month ago, I would of been fine. It's my own fault for starting so early, but I knew I needed to put the extra time and work in.

I've used Emedica which has been helpful in parts, particularly for QR and AR. Apart from that just the 600Q book and the online practice papers. Hmm I was going to sign up to Medify for some extra practice papers, but I'm still questioning whether to...

**cptKernow** · 27-06-2012, 09:32 PM

It's as much about building up confidence as anything else. Go into the test without having practised and there is a chance you will come unstuck. If you know you can do these tests and in the time required you should be OK.

I'm not doing much VR or DA practice. However, my GCSE maths is seriously rusty and I rarely work anything slightly complicated out in my head. If you are straight out of school fine, I'm not!
AR I think is worth doing as much practice as possible. Apparently there is empirical evidence that the more of this kind of stuff you do the better you get - I seem to be getting better at it so will keep plugin away...

**Priyanka00** · 28-06-2012, 12:05 AM

Yes, finding patterns in AR definitely improves with practice! I am most worried about QR, but going over GCSE Maths has helped me quite a bit. I just hope that on the day, there won't be too many long-winded QR questions!

**jcak** · 28-06-2012, 02:43 AM

It's the long QR questions that get me down on time, the shorter ones I can boss out pretty quickly. A level maths was a long couple of years ago but a month of practice should get my head back in the game. Are you lot finding GCSE papers helpful? I hadn't even thought of looking at those!

**mcespi** · 28-06-2012, 05:28 AM

Originally Posted by cptKernow

Have the test booked for Aug 4th. Thought that seemed not to soon, but soon enough not to hang over me for the entire summer!

hiya, i just rescheduled my examfrom the 10th of july to the 23rd of Aug...i justfeel like am not ready even though 've been stdying for a year...am really rubbish in QR and dont know what more i can do to improve.i just feel so much better that i dont have to sit it next week as i feel like i knew i was going to fail...any tips please...Thank you

**mcespi** · 28-06-2012, 05:33 AM

i was hoping to sit GAMSAT but i am so pissed that i cant cos i've got my final exam for my Nursing degree on the same day...

...i know i was gonna fail if i sat but just wanted to have a go and practice.shame really, hopefully i will pass my UKCAT...

**cptKernow** · 28-06-2012, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by mcespi

hiya, i just rescheduled my examfrom the 10th of july to the 23rd of Aug...i justfeel like am not ready even though 've been stdying for a year...am really rubbish in QR and dont know what more i can do to improve.i just feel so much better that i dont have to sit it next week as i feel like i knew i was going to fail...any tips please...Thank you

If you are one of the vast majority then you will need to practise. How much depends on your maths and AR.

Firstly get one of the recommended books - do the questions and brush up on the QR that you felt worst on. Now try one of the Pearson online tests under timed conditions. You'll probably do terribly so start doing all the questions you can find against the clock. After a week or so try another timed test - and repeat.

Once you can scrape through a timed test you are ready. Most will be harder than the actual UKCAT and it is the confidence you need more than anything else - let's face it, the questions themselves aren't rocket science.