For those looking to have a successful future in the field of medicine, you must first pass the UCAT test. Doing so will enable you to study at a recognised school of medicine. In this blog, we will answer the question ‘What is the UCAT out of?’
At The Future Medic, we provide many services in order to help you become the best possible medical student you can be, offering tutoring and mentoring and more with our expert staff ready to guide you.
Taking our UCAT online sessions is the best possible way to have the correct information, expertise and experience to help you have the edge when taking your UCAT test.
Studying medicine can open the door to a wide list of careers, all of which contain key skills that are tested by the UCAT test.
The benefits of studying medicine
A Medicine degree qualifies you for a role in healthcare, sciences, public health or research, but it also opens the door for alternative careers, whether that is in the UK or in Europe and beyond.
With a Medicine degree, you can:
- Work as a doctor in the Armed Forces
- Open your own private medical practice
- Become a medical manager
- Work in medical communications
- Become a higher education lecturer
- Join a public health team to keep the general population healthy and safe
- Become a research scientist
- Work in pharmaceutical sales
- Work as a forensic medical examiner
- Work as a medical writer or health journalist
- Work for a medical charity
- Work in sports and exercise medicine
- Work in medical relief work, to help people in emergencies and after natural disasters
- Become a medical advisor on television or for media outlets
- Become a medical-legal advisor
- Become a politician
The UCAT test
The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is one of the many forms of admissions tests that is used by a selection of Universities within the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
The test must be completed in addition to passing A-Levels for those who wish to study medicine. Over twenty seven thousand people took this test as of 2018.
The A-levels needed for medicine studies are just one part of a very complex application process to secure a spot for studying. With less than 16% of applications to study medicine in 2022 resulting in an offered place, the application process is very highly competitive.
The UCAT is designed to support a strong academic record by testing various situational and skill-based areas that a student would need to possess to make it in the world of medicine naturally.
What is the UCAT out of?
The scoring is split across five categories which all make up individual parts of the test. Collectively, getting the necessary marks on these categories will result in you passing your UCAT. The higher the grade, the higher the likelihood you can attend some of the best medicinal universities in the UK.
The five categories you will be marked on are:
- Verbal Reasoning
- Decision Making
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Abstract Reasoning
- Situational Judgement
Can I practice the UCAT?
Yes. You can access UCAT question banks on the UCAT website, which we have highlighted below:
- Verbal Reasoning Question Bank
- Decision Making Question Bank
- Quantitative Reasoning Question Bank
- Abstract Reasoning Question Bank
- Situational Judgement Question Bank
Click here to access the UCAT practice tests on the UCAT website. Want to know how to calculate your UCAT score from your practice test? Click here
Choose from anywhere between 1 hour of UCAT tutoring to 20 hours, to help you unlock your full potential.
It doesn’t matter how far along you are in your Medicine journey- whether you are applying during your A-Levels, or if you have previously been rejected for Medicine and you need a higher UCAT score– our UCAT online course is sure to help!
The UCAT categories explained
Below is a brief explanation of each category that will be marked on the UCAT, and why it is important.
Verbal reasoning
Verbal reasoning is the ability to solve a problem or spot an incongruity using the written information provided within the situation in question, this is a core skill we use within our lives.
In regards to verbal reasoning during your UCAT test, there are two key question types in the verbal reasoning section:
True/False/Can’t Tell: Based on the passage of text, you need to reason whether the statements are true, false or it cannot be told whether it is true or false.
Free Text: You may see questions or incomplete statements, and you need to select the free text answers that best apply.
Decision making
Decision-making is a critical factor that must be assessed when seeking to be a medical professional.
Poor decision-making can be facilitated by a lack of professionalism. If a patient offends you or speaks rudely to you, some people may be tempted to react out of spite, which in turn could affect a patient’s life.
Excellent decision-making is the foundation of a competent medical professional, they are able to see signs and act accordingly in order to treat their patient quickly and effectively.
Abstract reasoning
Abstract reasoning is a skill we all have to differing degrees, in its most base form abstract reasoning is essentially the ability to hypothesise, to find patterns or understandings beyond the words that are presented on a screen or paper.
In regards to your UCAT test, abstract thinking is applying your ability to recognise patterns in what appear to be a random arrangement of shapes. As opposed to a written question you need to decipher.
Quantitative reasoning
Quantitative reasoning is the ability to use mathematics (even if you don’t have the exact numbers) and acting upon the information in order to solve a real life situation.
Essentially the UCAT will assess your quantitative reasoning on a series of questions related to mathematics, that are not entirely centered on medically related situations.
Situational judgement
Situational judgement is the ability to make informed and clear decisions in relation to your current situation. This is a skill we carry out in almost all aspects of our lives.
Situational judgement is essentially the organisation of priorities in relation to any given situation, within the UCAT test you will be judged on your ability to understand the best course of action to take in the given scenarios.
The best preparation for studying medicine
The Future Medic prides itself on being an established and proven tutoring programme that helps with the large list of requirements necessary to not only being the best applicant for a medicine course, but the best possible medical professional you can be, before you step into any university.
Aside from UCAT guidance, we also help you with things such as communication skills, mentorship, your medical school interview, and more. Whether its your first time attempting to study medicine, or you’ve failed before, we provide all the guidance needed to pass and become a medical student.
Secure the best tutoring today
Our team at The Future Medic understand the responsibility to provide our country with the next generation of bright minds who will innovate, revolutionise and excel in the study of medicine.
That is why we have made it our mission to supply you with all the knowledge, skills and resources you could possibly need to enter this competitive yet rewarding field of expertise. We hope to have highlighted the need to have excellent skills which can be supplemented by our courses.
In this blog, we hope to have answered the question ‘What is the UCAT out of?’
So what are you waiting for? To access the very best in medical school interview tutoring, head to our website now. Alternatively, you can contact us directly, got a few more questions? Our blog page may be able to help.
