UK Clinical Aptitude Test www.ukcat.ac.uk

In this session… What is the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) and who uses it? The UKCAT process Key Dates, Registration and Booking Costs and Bursaries What’s in the test? How should I prepare for the Test? Taking the Test, Marking and Results More information

What is the UKCAT? An admissions test used in the selection process by a consortium of UK university medical and dental schools Introduced in 2006 by a consortium of universities to help assess other ‘skills and attitudes’ needed by future doctors and dentists for successful clinical practice There is no curriculum content; the test examines innate skills It helps universities to make more informed choices from amongst the many highly-qualified applicants who apply for their medical and dental degree programmes It is used in collaboration with other admissions processes such as the UCAS application, academic qualifications, references and interviews

What is the UKCAT? You sit the test in the same year that you apply through UCAS You can only sit the test once each year 2 hour, multiple-choice, computer based test which you sit at a local Pearson VUE test centre It assesses a range of mental abilities across 5 separately timed subtests: Verbal Reasoning Decision Making Quantitative Reasoning Abstract Reasoning Situational Judgement

UKCAT Universities University of Aberdeen Anglia Ruskin University Aston University University of Birmingham University of Bristol Cardiff University University of Dundee University of East Anglia University of Edinburgh University of Exeter University of Glasgow Hull York Medical School Keele University King's College London University of Leicester University of Liverpool University of Manchester University of Newcastle University of Nottingham Plymouth University Queen Mary, University of London Queen's University Belfast University of Sheffield University of Southampton University of St Andrews St George's, University of London University of Warwick

Key Dates 2018 1 May 2018 - Registration and booking opens 2 July 2018 - Testing begins 18 September 2018 (5pm) - Registration and online booking closes - Bursary deadline 1 October 2018 (midday) - Final booking deadline 2 October 2018 - Last testing date 15 October 2018 - UCAS application deadline Early November 2018 - Results delivered to universities

Registration & Booking Register and create an online account so you can book your test Book early to ensure places are available at a local centre You can book your test online until 18th Sept 2018 After that period you must contact the Pearson VUE Customer Services Team by phone

Test Fees Tests taken in the EU July-August: £65 Tests taken in the EU September-October: £87 Tests taken outside the EU: £115 There is no difference in content between the UKCAT sat during the Summer or Autumn period. The increased price reflects demand on resources at particular times of the year. We recommend candidates sit the test during the Summer period and pay the lower test fee.

Bursaries Bursaries that cover the full test fee are available to EU candidates from low-income households You may be eligible if you receive: 16-19 Bursary; Free School Meals; Discretionary Learner Support; EMA; Full Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant; Income Support; Job Seeker's Allowance; Employment & Support Allowance; Universal Credit You may also be eligible if your parent/guardian receives: Child Tax Credit; Income Support; Job Seeker's Allowance; Employment & Support Allowance; Universal Credit Check the website for more details about the criteria, how to apply and what evidence is required Bursaries cover the full cost of the test. By ‘low income household’ we mean less than £35,000 if evidenced by a child tax credit award (though some other criteria are means tested on a lesser amount).

Access Arrangements If you are entitled to extra time and/or rest breaks for public examinations based upon a medical diagnosis or report from a specialist teacher we offer a number of versions of the UKCAT which should meet your needs (UKCATSEN, Extra time 25%, 50%, rest breaks) Likely to relate to dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, dysorthographia, attention deficit disorder or working memory deficit but may apply to a range of other medical conditions. See the website for details For the UKCASTSEN which provides eligible candidates with 25% extra time - you do not need to supply the UKCAT Office or Pearson VUE with evidence of your medical condition to book and sit the UKCATSEN. Your evidence will be requested by your chosen Universities during their admissions cycle. This version of the test can be booked online directly by candidates. For alternative versions of the test, such as 50% extra time or rest breaks, evidence must be provided in advance of sitting the test.

What is in the Test? Verbal reasoning - assesses ability to critically evaluate information that is presented in a written form Decision making - assesses ability to apply logic to reach a decision or conclusion, evaluate arguments & analyse statistical information Quantitative reasoning - assesses ability to critically evaluate information presented in a numerical form Abstract reasoning - assesses the use of convergent and divergent thinking to infer relationships from information Situational judgement - measures capacity to understand real world situations and to identify critical factors & appropriate behaviour in dealing with them

(includes 1 min per subtest Test Format Subtest Items UKCAT (includes 1 min per subtest for instruction) Verbal Reasoning 44 22 minutes Decision Making 29 32 minutes Quantitative Reasoning 36 25 minutes Abstract Reasoning 55 14 minutes Situational Judgement 69 27 minutes Total time   120 minutes This is based on the standard UKCAT, obviously timings for the different test versions such as the SEN and SEN50 differ accordingly.

Verbal Reasoning The test assesses your ability to read and think carefully about information presented in passages and to determine whether specific conclusions can be drawn from information presented.  You are not expected to use prior knowledge to answer the questions 21 minutes to answer 44 items, associated with 11 passages Some items assess critical reasoning skills, requiring candidates to make inferences and draw conclusions from information For other items you decide whether the statement provided follows logically from the information in the passage

Verbal Reasoning

Verbal Reasoning

Decision Making This subtest assesses the ability to apply logic to reach a decision or conclusion, evaluate arguments and analyse statistical information 31 minutes to answer 29 items, associated with diagrams, text, charts or graphs There are a number of different question types including logical puzzles, syllogisms and Venn diagrams All questions are standalone and do not share data

Decision Making

Decision Making

Quantitative Reasoning The test assesses your ability to use numerical skills to solve problems 24 minutes to answer 36 items associated with tables, charts, and/or graphs It assumes familiarity with numbers to the standard of a good pass at GCSE but focuses on problem solving A basic calculator is available for use in this section

Quantitative Reasoning

Quantitative Reasoning

Abstract Reasoning The test assesses your ability to identify patterns amongst abstract shapes where irrelevant and distracting material may lead to incorrect conclusions The test therefore measures your ability to change track, critically evaluate and generate hypotheses and requires you to query judgements as you go along There are 4 different item types in this test 13 minutes to answer 55 items associated with sets of shapes

Abstract Reasoning

Abstract Reasoning

Situational Judgement The test measures your capacity to understand real world situations and to identify critical factors and appropriate behaviour in dealing with them It assesses the key traits of integrity, perspective taking and team involvement SJTs are used widely in medical selection, including selection of Foundation Doctors, GPs and other medical specialties 26 minutes to answer 69 items associated with 21 scenarios (consisting of between 2 and 6 response items)

Situational Judgement

Situational Judgement

How should I prepare? Although it is a test of aptitude rather than academic knowledge, you should still allow time to prepare thoroughly for the UKCAT We recommend you spend around 25-30 hours preparing for the test Start at least 4-6 weeks before your test date Use the FREE resources available on the UKCAT website (we have over 1,000 example questions) www.ukcat.ac.uk/ukcat-test/ukcat-preparation

Candidate Preparation Toolkit Official Guide Question Banks Everything you need to know about the UKCAT, out in early May 2018 Hundreds of FREE example questions for each sub-test which are of equivalent standard to the real test Tour Tutorial OfficialUKCAT App Online tutorial which illustrations the functions of the computer based test, including how to Flag & Review questions Handy to use as a support to your revision as provides extra questions not available on the website, you can practice on the go when you have a few minutes spare Question Tutorial Practice Tests Interactive guide on how to approach each subtest, includes strategies for approaching the different question types within each section as well as handy hints and tips Essential to your UKCAT preparation, 3 x fully times practice tests which mimic the live test environment, important to understand time constraints

Tips & Advice If you have not studied maths beyond GCSE level (or recently), revisit and practice these skills (QR and DM subtests) Brush up on your mental maths (QR) Practice your speed reading skills (VR) Don’t be phased by Abstract Reasoning, although this may be new you’ll soon start to recognise patterns (colour, shape, size, rotation, symmetry) Read the GMC Guidelines and / or Tomorrow’s Doctors is you are struggling with SJT

Tips & Advice Practise the test timings, try to answer all the questions, don’t leave blanks Remember that no points are deducted for wrong answers so if you’re stuck use your best guess Use the Flag and Review functions of the test effectively to manage your time If you are not well, reschedule your test to a later date – even if you lose your test fee. In presenting yourself for testing, you are declaring yourself fit, we won’t consider this as a mitigating circumstance

Taking the Test Arrive at the Test Centre at least 15 minutes before you are due to start. If you are late you may not be allowed to test and will have to pay again Very important! Make sure you take the right ID or you will not be allowed to sit the test Make sure they give you a booklet and pen Other people will be testing in the same room as you so you can ask for ear plugs or headphones to limit disturbance – this is not like a school exam If you experience any issues during your test you must notify the invigilator immediately

Marking Your UKCAT result will comprise of: A score of between 1200 to 3600 A banding for Situational Judgement Verbal Reasoning – 300 to 900 Decision Making – 300 to 900 Quantitative Reasoning – 300 to 900 Abstract Reasoning – 300 to 900 Situational Judgement – Band 1 to 4 (1 the highest) Total mean average score in 2017 was 2540

Results Results are available on the day of your test Before you submit your UCAS application check how universities use the test or you might be wasting an application We liaise with UCAS to confirm your university choices and pass your results to your university choices directly in early November You do not need to do anything

More Information Follow UKCAT on Twitter or Facebook to see reminders of deadlines, FREE example questions, revision tips, and get 2018 scores as soon as they are released @UKCATest @UKClinicalAptitudeTest OfficialUKCAT OfficialUKCAT