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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]

When preparing for the UCAT Situational Judgement section it is a good idea to pay close attention to the skills that you are being tested. I propose when analysing questions, look beyond the scenario and the character’s role. Try to pinpoint the skills being tested. You may find a recurring theme with difficult questions. On the situational judgement, the skills being tested usually fall under two categories. 1. Competency skills This can be tested in many ways, but usually include hypothetical life and work scenarios from different perspectives that focus on: Conflict resolution Resilience Honesty and integrity Pressure and prioritisation Teamwork and leadership skills Communication skills Adaptability 2. Ethical reasoning [Read More]

Niel Bohr,  Danish Physicist and Nobel prize winner in 1922 once said that ‘An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made, in a narrow field’. I took the exam THREE times before scoring in the top 10%. In this article, we will discuss the five mistakes I made when preparing for the exam. The UCAT was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever had to overcome. I failed to get an offer for medical school twice before finally succeeding on my third attempt. Part of my success was because I was able to significantly improve my UCAT average and score in the top [Read More]