Honing in on your exam-technique for the UCAT and BMAT

Before you start, learn as much as you can about the UCAT and the BMAT:

‍
When is it? How long is it? What is the nature of the exam? Is it multiple choice questions or written, paper-based or computer-based? How important is this exam for the course you’re applying for? 

Knowing all the answers to these questions will contextualise all of the subsequent bits of the exam preparation. ‍

Work out how much you already know about the content of the UCAT and the BMAT:

This heavily depends on the nature of the exam. However, it is always a good idea to test yourself right from the beginning. We recommend that you try and get your hands-on a past paper and go for it.

You're not meant to do well in a practice test. Instead, it will serve as a baseline for you testing yourself later down the line when you've practised more. Also, it will help you understand and feel what the real UCAT or BMAT is really like.

Knowing this from the beginning will help you understand how you are going to be assessed.

‍Gather your resources together and make a UCAT and/or BMAT study plan:

So, you now know the basics of the UCAT and/or the BMAT, it is time to prepare for your learning.

Gather all of the best resources you can such as an online UCAT and/or BMAT course. Then, it is time to make a study plan that will prepare you up to your exam. This study plan should have time allocated for your learning, but, most importantly, time for plenty of practice.

Keep to a routine when you’re studying for the UCAT and/or BMAT:

One of the significant problems that people often find is that they don't stick to a routine. Getting a routine gives you regularity, and it means that you know what you're doing from day-to-day.

This way, it is much easier to get all the hours you need to get done in an orderly fashion. 

Summarise any keynotes about what you have learned as you go along:

You'll often find yourself coming across things that you've not seen before. This is a great learning opportunity that you should make sure that you have written down. Otherwise, you may find that these fleeting opportunities go by, and you may miss something meaningful for the exam. Post-it notes are perfect for this.

Make sure you are mixing up how you are revising for the UCAT/BMAT:

While it is essential to keep a regular schedule, this does not mean that you need to be doing the same thing every day. You must mix it up so that you are not bored.

If you find yourself becoming distracted, or that you are not soaking in the information as you would like to, try and mix it up. Do past papers instead of reading your textbook. Try tackling some exercises in the textbook if you’re sick of past papers. Look online for any further resources or types of learning material.

‍When practising or simulating the UCAT/BMAT, be strict on yourself:

Taking practice questions and mock tests under the same conditions as the actual test will make sure you feel comfortable in the real thing. Medify has a large number of timed practice questions and mocks that can prepare for the real thing and help you improve your scores.

Reflect on your UCAT/BMAT performance continuously:

Work out if you are happy with the results you are getting while revising and establish where to improve. Remember, you have the option of revisiting your study plan that you have made so that you can work on what you are generally not so good at. 

‍

On the day, relax:

Make sure you get a good breakfast in and try not to deviate too much from the typical routine that you have been doing. Relax. Good luck.  

If you're planning on sitting the UCAT this year, check out Medify's UCAT 2020 Online Course here.

We have a bank of over 10,000 questions, a decision-making section, and 8 full mock exams and 18 mini-mock exams; we even give you performance feedback too.

Or, if you're planning on sitting the BMAT, check out our BMAT 2020 Online Course here.

We have over 1300 Practice Questions, Section 1-3 Tutorials and Essay Plans, Questions, a Past Paper Grader and it works on your phone.

We’ve been lending a successful helping hand since 2009. Medify is here to support you, just reach out to us.