Official practice tests - opinions / scores

**cptKernow** · 18-06-2012, 07:37 PM

Firstly how do people rate the Pearson-Vue practice compared to the actual UKCAT. Or failing that compared with the other practice material.

I've just done the short practice test and was surprised by a few things. Firstly it went OK!
But I found the AR section really tricky. I'm usually good on these, but I couldn't convincingly work out any of the 3 schemes.
On the plus side, I found the DA section very straightforward and was killing time at the end.

Scores were VR - 9/12: QR - 8/12: AR - 9/15: DA -10/11

Not sure how this rates relatively

**Priyanka00** · 19-06-2012, 12:00 AM

I have just completed the short test paper and my scores were similarly: VR- 9/12: QR-8/12: AR-11/15: DA-9/11.

From sitting the UKCAT last year, all of the sections are pretty spot on, except for DA. There were quite a few long codes in the actual exam.

When are you sitting your UKCAT?

Priyanka.

**cptKernow** · 19-06-2012, 12:19 AM

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!

**Priyanka00** · 21-06-2012, 11:59 PM

I just did part of the online UKCAT test part 1 and stopped halfway. It didn't go so great. Anyone else tried it yet?

**cptKernow** · 22-06-2012, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by Priyanka00

I just did part of the online UKCAT test part 1 and stopped halfway. It didn't go so great. Anyone else tried it yet?

I'm thinking of giving it a go on Sunday so will let you know how I get on.

I read one recommendation to just keep doing the practice tests until the timing becomes second nature. That's the difficult part, and that is something that can be practised.

**cptKernow** · 24-06-2012, 05:51 PM

Just did the official practice test 1 at test speed. Was horrendous! Just about managed on the timing but found the VR section difficult full-stop / regardless of time limit. The weirdest one was the AR, I thought I was getting all the patterns but still only got about half right - seems there were additional features I was missing (although I'd argue if you can satisfy with the simplest rule you are still right...)

Final score was:
VR 28/44 (16 wrong)
QR 12/36 (24 wrong) ouch!
AR 32/65 (33 wrong)
DA 17/26 (9 wrong)

**Priyanka00** · 24-06-2012, 09:33 PM

I calmed myself down and did Practice Test 1 properly and all went ok, except for QR which I went horrifically!

I found VR was tough because of the amount of text to skim through.

Oh well, let's keep trying!

**cptKernow** · 24-06-2012, 10:05 PM

I'm not convinced on the quality of some of the Qs in the VR. Have done fine elsewhere but could argue a few of these.

The QR I think is quite hard - data tables all have too much going on.

At the end of the day I'm satisfied with my performance at this stage except for the QR. 2 weeks of percentages and speed / distance should fix it.

**jcak** · 27-06-2012, 01:45 AM

The short exam I found a lot easier than my actual UKCAT 3 years ago, but I'm hoping that's just me getting more proficient at these sorts of exam. The practice exam one I got screwed by the QR but still did reasonably on the rest of them. I got 672.5 average in 2009, and I've booked another test for July 25th.
Just sat the short exam 5 minutes ago and these are my results:
VR: 11/12
QR: 10/12
AR: 11/15
DA: 11/11

Let's hope the actual exam goes this well!
When have you lot booked your test for?

**Priyanka00** · 27-06-2012, 03:40 AM

I've booked mine for the 7th July. Practice practice practice until then! I'm questioning putting it back, but I have been practicing for some time, and I'm not sure an extra few days/or a week would benefit me.

We shall see!