Why take the BMAT when you have already taken the UCAT
The BMAT and the UCAT are both university-level standardized exams taken by students who seek a career in the medical field and want to pursue medical studies in the United Kingdom. While UCAT is accepted by more schools compared to BMAT, most applicants still prefer taking both tests to keep multiple options open for them.
Basic difference between UCAT and BMAT
| MODE OF THE TEST | MODULES | DURATION |
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UCAT | The UCAT is a computer-based test organized at authorized test centers. | The test comprises 5 modules. | 120 minutes |
BMAT | The BMAT is a pen-paper based test that needs to be taken at an authorized test center. | The test comprises 3 modules. | 120 minutes |
Types of questions
MODULES | UCAT | MODULES | BMAT |
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Verbal Reasoning | This section evaluates your ability to analyze written text passages and derive specific conclusions based on the information. | Thinking Skills | Your capacity to use critical thinking to address complicated issues is tested in this section. You will have a total of 60 minutes to complete it, which consists of 32 multiple-choice questions. |
Decision Making | This part evaluates your capacity for problem-solving as well as your capacity for rational decision-making in the situation that is uncertain. You get 31 minutes to respond to a total of 29 questions. | Scientific Questions | This section evaluates how well you can use your understanding of science and math. You have 30 minutes to finish this section, which consists of 27 multiple-choice questions. |
Quantitative Aptitude | Your capacity to apply your knowledge of mathematics and data interpretation to new situations is evaluated in this part. You will have 24 minutes to answer 36 multiple-choice questions. | Essay-based paper | Your ability to write an effective, concise, and clear essay is tested in part 3. You will have three questions to pick from, and you must respond to one of them. You have 30 minutes to write your response. |
Abstract Reasoning | This portion tests your capacity for logic, critical thought, and the recognition of patterns and relations. You must also determine whether some information is accurate and relevant. There are 50 MCQs in this section. |
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Situational Judgment | This section evaluates your capacity to comprehend real-world events and effectively respond, adapt, and prioritize tasks. This section is based on the clinical exams that doctors take during their careers in medicine. This portion of the exam will last for 26 minutes. There are 69 questions total, including 22 different scenario-related questions. |
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Cost of the tests
Cost | UCAT | BMAT |
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INSIDE THE UK | £70 | Applicants from the EU and the UK must pay £61. |
OUTSIDE THE UK | £115 | £92 outside the EU. |
Results
UCAT | BMAT |
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It is advised that you take the UCAT as well if you are applying to a BMAT university for the following reasons:
- Universities that require the BMAT are frequently very selective with low acceptance rates. The UCAT is accepted by a larger number of colleges, thus taking it opens more doors and may boost your chances of receiving an offer to study medicine, even though some UCAT universities are also equally competitive.
- You can only sit the BMAT after you have submitted your application, although you can take the UCAT in the summer before applying. You'll receive your UCAT test results right away after you finish the exam, so you can use them to not only estimate how you might score on the BMAT but also to identify which institutions you have the best chance of being accepted to.
- The BMAT demands subject-specific knowledge, it could be more difficult for some students to perform well on it. You have a better chance of getting into a prestigious university if you perform better on the UCAT and take UCAT preparation classes.
The candidates are encouraged to take appropriate classes, which can be obtained from GoToUniversity’s standardized test preparation services, having both online and offline medium as well as student preference, in order to perform on one or both tests. Contact GoToUniversity today and get yourself registered in the UCAT/BMAT preparation classes.