UMAT - Wednesday 25 July 2007

[sicilia]

Hi future-doctor,

Yes, it is all multi-choice.Now, i am soo glad u asked about the section 3 type questions. UMAt had the " hunting style"qns only until 2005.Such qns were not there in 2006 and they willl not be in this year. This is for sure and u can trust me on this. I dont really think its that useful doing those stacks of papers,as such qns are not going to be in the exam.But if u do them, they will improve ur spatial skills which is still good for u. So, if u have been doing them so far, i suggest u stop doing them. U are probably feeling quite perplexed and frustrated now, but as i told to stephvan, it would be useful to try googling" Non- verbal reasoning practice qns" or somethin like that. Esp at a time like this, with ur mocks around the corner, and all those in between class tests and essays that u have to do, its really hard to study for umat. But prioritise ur time and u will be fine.
So yes, section 3 is only patterns and sequences. No" hunting Style"

And i know u have ur class assignments and all that crap, but its ur last "holidays" b4 u enter what i call "the hell hole". So, make the best of it!!!! Well,try to at least.

Sicilia

[future-doctor]

thanks so much for the advice sicilia
I'm so glad those qu aren't in the exam

[Lostcause]

Ok honey,

Yes, all multi-choice... so the right answer is always there.

As far as I'm aware they've pretty much scrapped shape finding (thank God, it was horrible, headaches all round)...so if we're lucky we won't even see one. However, if you are unable to find concrete information in that respect practicing those god forsaken things can make a huge difference... first time round I was 27, with practice I got 63. Which all sounds really pathetic, but with 96 100 63, I did get an interview and I did get in... practice makes a difference.

First section is nice and fluffy, and luckily for you section 3 - pattern finding is one of the big guns in general IQ tests (which means that there are lot's of practice oppertunities online for free).

If you are trying for UWA they need you to get into the 90th percentile for either the 1st or 3rd section, otherwise they won't give you an interview, however other places interstate will give you extra credit for a good section 2. Section 2 is really tricky, you need to get your empathy on, just do your best to put yourself in their shoes.

[sicilia]

Hi LostCause,

Wow, i am now thinking that i would give anything to be you, i cant do section 1. I have done loads of practice on that and the highest score i got was 58. I am terrible with that section, but i am still doing my practice everyday until the umat. hopefully, all that practice will be put into good use. Section 2, yes, i completely agree with you, you have to understand the feelings and all, i am ok with it i suppose. Section 3, is actually my best. I think it is anyway. Last yr, in yr 12, i did the umat and i had a percentile of 20,45, and 80. How old are u, if u dont mind me asking this? Cuz i am applying everywhere i can as a non-standard applicant. So, i am just wondering if u did the same too?

Sicilia

[Lostcause]

Have you done any tertiary study since then? If you haven't you are probably a standard entrant anyway. Section 1 is about understanding information and what it logically implies, that's what you need to concentrate on. Sometimes it helps to read the 4 multi-choice first, as you know that the right answer is there, and you can dismiss completely irrelevant data straight away(not waste time reading/retaining it). Where have you found all these practice questions for section 1? I'm a little off my game(understatement of the century), and would appreciate any useful links/docs you have lying around.

I know it's all very scary, but this exam is nothing, getting in is the easy aspect of the course... it's surviving the rest of it that's the problem. Almost all the med schools have different criteria, they'll require the Umat, but they'll weight it differently, and they'll weight different sections differently. Not all require interviews, but for others these are equally important. Just apply everywhere...what do you have to lose?