May 2019 - THE MEDIC BLOG

Complete Guide to Speed, Distance and Time in the Quantitative Subtest

May 31, 2019 THE MEDIC BLOG 0

Chances are you’ll get at least one speed, distance and time problem in the Quantitative Reasoning subtest. With enough practice and a good idea of what to look out for when reading a question, these problems become easier to solve. Often found in text format, this type of question-type is one many students become quickly familiar with, so don’t get nervous if you don’t know how to approach it. In this article, we will explore the key skills needed for dealing with speed, distance and time problems in the UCAT quantitative reasoning. These are all basic skills and should be used as a guide to help recognise weak areas and [Read More]

Read Faster in the UCAT Verbal Reasoning with this Technique

May 24, 2019 THE MEDIC BLOG 0

I used to think that speed reading wasn’t really possible and you were either born with the ability to read fast or not. However, I’ve come to realise that with the right technique you can improve your reading speed without compromising much comprehension. I began exploring speed reading during my preparation for the UCAT, I am a natural slow reader so it is no surprise that I found the UCAT verbal reasoning section the most difficult. I dedicated a lot of time working on my speed at reading passages and statements. However, I noticed that it came at the expense of comprehension and retention. Even though I was able to [Read More]

How to Evaluate your Process in answering a UCAT Question-type

May 19, 2019 Michael 0

If you’ve already enrolled on the UCAT Virtual Tutor or bought the UCAT Study Guide, thank you! If you stumbled upon this article without getting either resources, I highly recommend you enrol on the programme or grab the new UCAT Study Guide to make sense of the information provided. The key to improving in the UCAT is by being self-critical and understanding your intuitive approach to dealing with questions, then spotting areas of weakness to improve. On Day 13, we review your 2nd weakest subtest and look at how to improve your accuracy. There may be cases where you are not improving and a finding it difficult to pinpoint your weakness when dealing with [Read More]

Micro and Macro timing Issues in the UCAT (Examples)

May 18, 2019 Michael 0

If you’ve already enrolled on the UCAT Virtual Tutor or bought the UCAT Study Guide, thank you! If you stumbled upon this article without getting either resources, I highly recommend you enrol on the programme or grab the new UCAT Study Guide to make sense of the information provided. On Day 12 of the virtual tutor I introduced the concept of micro and macro timing issues to assess speed in your weakest subtest. This process is how you will evaluate your pace throughout the duration of your prep. In this article I provide some common examples, use it as a rough guide to help you identify the micro and macro issues you encounter during [Read More]

How to develop a UCAT game plan

May 18, 2019 THE MEDIC BLOG 0

If you’ve already picked up our study guide, thank you! If you stumbled upon this article without getting the book first, I highly recommend you click here to pick up a copy of the UCAT Study Guide to make sense of the information provided. Your UCAT Game plan is a list of techniques and strategies you intend to use on test day based on trial and error with a UCAT book or online UCAT Course. It should outline the techniques you intend to adopt based on what works in improving your error rate. Use the checklist below construct your game plan: Verbal Reasoning What technique will I use to attempt True/False/Cant tell [Read More]

5 top tips before starting timed UCAT practice

May 14, 2019 Kaplan Test Prep 0

Article from Siddhartha Matcha, a Kaplan UCAT Teacher & 3rd Year Medical School student at the University of Cambridge. The UCAT is considered difficult primarily due to the time constraint; remember, it’s not a content-based exam like many of you will have faced (e.g. A levels). Aptitude tests such as these were designed to assess your ability to work with speed and accuracy. You’d think practising for the UCAT under timed conditions would be greatly beneficial, right? While this is true LATER in your UCAT preparation, it’s probably a good idea to do a few things BEFORE you begin timed practice; 1 – Fully understand the timing of each section of [Read More]

How I achieved a UCAT score in the 90th Percentile

May 13, 2019 THE MEDIC BLOG 1

I took the UCAT, formerly known as the United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT), back in 2015. In this article, I dive into how I achieved a UCAT score in the 90th percentile. We will look at the TEN most helpful tips that were a game-changer for me. In case you don’t know already, my name is Michael, I’m one of the guys behind the medic blog. If you are reading this, then you have probably clicked on a tweet, Facebook post or link on my blog and want to find out how exactly I smashed the UCAT! The exam was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever had [Read More]

UCAT Registration Process: Step-by-Step Guide (with Pictures)

May 5, 2019 THE MEDIC BLOG 1

The UCAT Registration process might seem like the easiest part, but you want to avoid some common mistakes when booking your test. In this article, we’ll discuss step-by-step the UCAT registration process. We’ll also cover mistakes to avoid. Finally, we’ll give you some key tips on the best time to book your test. If you are applying for the UCAT, STJace or UCATSEN, then this article is for you. For those applying to Australia and New Zealand universities check out our article on the UCAT ANZ registration process. Let’s go through the ucat (UK) registration process together one step at a time. Step 1: Create an Online Account with Pearson Vue [Read More]

How to Register for the UCAT ANZ: Step-by-Step Guide (with Pictures)

May 4, 2019 THE MEDIC BLOG 1

UCAT ANZ is the Australian/New Zealand version of the UCAT test which takes place in July. Registering for the exam seems like the easiest part but you want to avoid some common registration and booking mistakes. In this article, we’ll discuss step by step the UCAT ANZ registration process. We’ll also cover mistakes to avoid. Finally, we’ll give you some key tips on the best time to book your test. If you are applying to the UCAT ANZ Consortium universities in Australia and New Zealand then this article is for you. Let’s go through the ucat anz registration process together one step at a time. Step 1: Create an Online [Read More]