Pure Potential

BioMedical Admissions Test

The following information should be used as a guide only. Full information regarding the BMAT can be found at www.bmat.org.uk and for the UKCAT visit www.ukcat.ac.uk.

Applicants for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine or Dentistry will have to sit the BMAT BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) and/or the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT), depending on university choice. The BMAT is considered to be a more difficult assessment, and is only used by five of the most selective universities in the country. For all other universities, only the UKCAT is a required element of the application process. As such, if both BMAT and UKCAT universities make up your UCAS choices, you will need to sit both tests.

It should be noted that five UK universities do not require either the BMAT or the UKCAT. Whilst seemingly a positive element if one of these universities is your primary choice, such institutions are plagued by far higher applicant numbers - for example, Bristol has seen an increase of 35% in medical applications between 2005-2007*.

The UKCAT is required for applications to all non-BMAT medical schools, including veterinary sciences, except Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Queen's Belfast and The Royal Free in London. Always check on each university's own website to find out exact entrance requirements.

The BMAT has only one assessment date and for 2009 this is 4th^st November. The BMAT is only required for some institutions and courses, check the website for the most up-to-date information.

The structure of the test is as follows:

Section 1 tests aptitude and skills with a multiple choice or short answer test.

Section 2 tests scientific knowledge and application with a multiple choice or short answer test.

Section 3 is a writing task.

The website itself has specimen papers that you can download in order to practice as well as an accompanying book. Just so you can be fully prepared you can also take our timed assessment.

This test can be taken only once so please make sure:

• You are fully prepared to take the test and have practiced in advance
• You do so in exam conditions and ideally in a place free from distraction
• You allow yourself the full time to take the test
• You take the test in the morning in a similar way to the actual assessment
• You have eaten and are fully hydrated as this goes a long way to maximising your performance!

Remember, if you don't do as well in the sample test as you might have hoped don't be despondent. You have gained valuable experience of the testing process and you can go back, check your answers and make sure you address any problems before the real thing.

Good luck!