Just finished my UKCAT! Score and experiences

**Priyanka00** · 06-07-2012, 09:04 PM

Congrats Annasue and Foinavon!

Foinavon- compared to the practice tests, how did the actual exam compare? Well done, and I think those scores are good enough for most GEPs!

**foinavon** · 06-07-2012, 09:42 PM

QR definitely seemed easier than the official practice tests, there just weren't as many of those long questions with multiple calculations. VR, AR, DA seemed about the same. I have been performing poorly in the practice tests all week though so today was definitely a pleasant surprise. It was probably the adrenaline of the day that helped me to be honest.

**scottydoc** · 06-07-2012, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by foinavon

the GEP programs at Barts and Newcastle i mean.

Well done on your score!

Couldn't say about Barts, I didn't apply there, but that UKCAT score is borderline for Newcastle GEP. As far as I know, the lowest for this years intake was 700. But it really depends on the applicants for 2013 entry.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

**foinavon** · 06-07-2012, 11:39 PM

Thanks scottydoc!

I heard a rumour that Newcastle considers GAMSAT scores as well as UKCAT scores if the applicant believes that they will strengthen their application. Do you know anything about this? I've got a pretty good gamsat from last year so it may still make an application to newcastle worthwhile for me still.

I suppose I've got ages to find out and make up my mind though.

Cheers!

**scottydoc** · 07-07-2012, 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by foinavon

Thanks scottydoc!

I heard a rumour that Newcastle considers GAMSAT scores as well as UKCAT scores if the applicant believes that they will strengthen their application. Do you know anything about this? I've got a pretty good gamsat from last year so it may still make an application to newcastle worthwhile for me still.

I suppose I've got ages to find out and make up my mind though.

Cheers!

Newcastle don't look at GAMSAT scores, however they want you to have studied in the last five years and they will use GAMSAT as proof of recent study, but no, they won't look at the score.

**TheMedicBarbie** · 07-07-2012, 06:53 AM

Anyone that sat it last year what's your opinion on the test is it getting easier or is it the same. Personally I sat it in 2010 and found the 2011 one a lot easier (still screwed up AR) wondering if its the same this year

**xadmin** · 07-07-2012, 09:51 AM

Just as hard

**annasue** · 09-07-2012, 04:50 PM

Hi and thanks for the congraulations!

I am not actually taking the UKCAT as an aspiring medic - but because I work for UKCATprep.com and we always send staff members to take the test to make sure our service is as close to reality as possible. Thus - I have mainlyused our own service for my preparation. Because I was familiar with the questions I tended to do pretty well on Verbal and DA.

I was pleasantly surprised my my score in every section though - better than I was expecting - especially in AR and QR. I did guess (or use my intuition!) in a lot of the AR and I found the QR a lot more straightforward.

As for the wipe clean sheet - it is A4 sized but the top quarter or so is printed on. It is squared. When you nearly run out put your hand up and they'll replace it BUT they take away the old one so if you're halfway through a question they'll take away all of your notes so far. After I'd asked for my third the man gave me a stack of four of them which helped as I was getting paranoid about using too much space. I was writing small.

**xadmin** · 09-07-2012, 05:32 PM

Annasue, your VR score is awesome, what is your VR strategy?

1. Do you read the questions first and then scan over the passage for keywords that pertain to the questions for answers?
2. Do you actually read the full passage to understand it to answer the questions?

Originally Posted by annasue

Hi and thanks for the congraulations!

I am not actually taking the UKCAT as an aspiring medic - but because I work for UKCATprep.com and we always send staff members to take the test to make sure our service is as close to reality as possible. Thus - I have mainlyused our own service for my preparation. Because I was familiar with the questions I tended to do pretty well on Verbal and DA.

I was pleasantly surprised my my score in every section though - better than I was expecting - especially in AR and QR. I did guess (or use my intuition!) in a lot of the AR and I found the QR a lot more straightforward.

As for the wipe clean sheet - it is A4 sized but the top quarter or so is printed on. It is squared. When you nearly run out put your hand up and they'll replace it BUT they take away the old one so if you're halfway through a question they'll take away all of your notes so far. After I'd asked for my third the man gave me a stack of four of them which helped as I was getting paranoid about using too much space. I was writing small.

**annasue** · 10-07-2012, 02:51 AM

Hi xadmin

I do a skim thorough read! (I know this isn't that helpful!). If the subject matter is something I basically understand I will skim read it first and just look for key words / phrases to answer the questions. This isn't so easy when the passage is about something you really don't know anything about, or understand. Then I do are slower more careful read through.

At work I write practice VR questions, and also proof read and check those written by other authors so I am familiar with some of the 'tricks' used! I guess the same benefit can be gained by lots of practice.

It is the one area where I didn't run out of time as well so I must have managed my time well on it. Long passages obviously take longer to read, and the new style questions require more reading and time.