The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is one of the many hurdles a successful medical school applicant must overcome. It is an incredibly stressful experience as you have only one shot, and any slip-ups can quickly derail your application. These are some of the tips that helped me achieve a score in the top 20% of my cohort.
- Book your test date
A common mistake I often see is students preparing for their UCAT without a test date. The UCAT can be taken any time between July and September which makes it difficult to structure a study plan. It can be easy to procrastinate or take your preparation lightly with the mindset of booking the test when you “feel ready”. I recommend booking the test 1-2 months after beginning your preparation. This introduces a sense of urgency and allows you to evaluate your progress. If you find yourself feeling unprepared as the exam date approaches, there is always the option to reschedule.
- Don’t start too early
The UCAT is an incredibly unique exam in the sense that you can’t really study for it. Preparation doesn’t involve learning any real content; instead, it is about conditioning your brain to work unsustainably fast and precise. The intense nature of studying for your UCAT leaves you vulnerable to burning out before your exam date. The UCAT website suggests 6 weeks of preparation is the sweet spot. Any less can result in being under-prepared however any longer leads you at the risk of you turning up to the exam demotivated and fatigued.
- Medify
There are plenty of websites out there that claim to help you prepare for your UCAT however, from those I’ve spoken to, the consensus is that Medify stands out as the top choice. I personally used this website so I can vouch, from experience, that it serves as a comprehensive resource with everything you’ll need to ace your exam. It offers an endless array of practice questions, numerous mock exams, and a substantial collection of tips and tricks tailored to improve your performance in each section. In my opinion, investing in a Medify subscription is essential if you’re aiming for success in your UCAT.
- Get familiar with the calculator and shortcuts
Time is your greatest enemy when sitting the UCAT and it’s not an exaggeration to say that saving seconds can make all the difference. That being said, a simple way to shave off these precious seconds is by making use of the keyboard shortcuts. Being capable of using shortcuts when navigating between questions and flagging will save you more time than you could imagine. It is also important to get comfortable with the infamous UCAT calculator, despite its slow and outdated nature. While practicing with a more responsive physical calculator may be tempting, familiarizing yourself with the online calculator provided in the exam is essential to prevent any unwelcome surprises on test day.
- It’s all about practice
Now this is the most important tip on my list. As I mentioned before, success in the UCAT is all about getting your brain in tune for the test. Unfortunately, there are no magic tricks to get you there; it’s all about putting in hours and hours of solid practice. I know, it can be mundane and boring, but you gotta stick with it, stay disciplined, and keep grinding. The best scores come from students who do the most questions and have a go at all of the mocks. If you stay focused and make the most of what you’ve got, you’ll give yourself the best shot at nailing your UCAT.
Share your thoughts!