UCAT Preparation Tips: 15 Ways to Ace the UCAT

ByZoe Barnes
MMI Question Bank | Blackstone Tutors

1. The University Clinical Aptitude Test, or UCAT, is a challenging and time-pressured test that measures students’ aptitude for Medicine. With the UCAT playing such a vital role in determining admission, it’s essential to prepare thoroughly for the exam.

Here are 15 UCAT preparation tips that can help you ace the test. We will also consider the impact of UCAT Preparation Courses, the best UCAT prep course, and UCAT exam tutors. 

Understand the Format:

2. The UCAT consists of five sections, namely Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning, and Situational Judgement. Knowing the format of the test is vital, and it helps you prepare accordingly. Each section has a unique set of challenges, so understanding what to expect in each section will help you prepare better.

Practise as much as you can:

3. The UCAT is a test of aptitude and not knowledge. The more you practise, the better you become at identifying patterns, analysing data, and making informed decisions. 

Manage Your Time:

4. The UCAT is a time-pressured exam, and you must complete each section within the allotted time. Time management is crucial, and it’s essential to practise working quickly and efficiently under time constraints. Time management skills are also helpful in deciding which questions to answer first and which to leave for later. Through practising, you can understand exactly how long to spend on each question – and when you need to move on to the next. 

Develop a Strategy:

5. Having a strategy for each section of the UCAT can help you save time, avoid mistakes, and maximise your score. For instance, in Verbal Reasoning, you can learn how to quickly identify keywords in passages, while in Decision Making, you can learn how to analyse data systematically. You should make use of a UCAT preparation course to highlight the best methods for each section. 

Take Breaks:

6. Studying for the UCAT can be exhausting, and taking breaks is essential to avoid burnout. Taking regular breaks can help you retain information better, stay focused, and improve your productivity. Don’t burnout – the last thing you want is to feel fatigued come test day. 

Familiarise yourself with the Test Interface:

7. The UCAT is computer-based, and it’s essential to become familiar with the test interface before taking the exam. Familiarising yourself with the interface can help you navigate through the test quickly and easily. Using a UCAT Question Bank that accurately replicates the test – like that offered by BlackStone Tutors – will ensure that you are confident and efficient in the test itself. 

Improve your Reading Speed:

8. The UCAT has several sections that test your reading speed and comprehension. Improving your reading speed can help you save time, and you can do this by practising reading passages quickly and effectively. Work to pick up on keywords and understand them in context. 

Stay Calm and Focused:

9. The UCAT is a challenging exam, and it’s natural to feel anxious or nervous. However, remember that you won’t be able to get every question right – so work through those that you can do, and flag those that you struggle with. 

Use the Calculator:

10. The Quantitative Reasoning section of the UCAT allows the use of an in-built calculator. Learning how to use the calculator efficiently can help you solve problems quickly and accurately.

Learn from your Mistakes:

11. After taking practice tests, it’s essential to review your mistakes and learn from them. Understanding your mistakes can help you identify your weaknesses, improve your performance, and develop better strategies for tackling similar questions. You should be able to recognise set types of questions that you find to be more or less difficult. 

Work on your Weaknesses:

12. Identifying your weaknesses and working on them is vital to improving your score. As stated, using a question bank will ensure that you know where your strengths and weaknesses lie – and where to dedicate your prep. 

Use a Question Bank:

13. A good question bank will ensure that are used to the exact layout of the test. We recommend the Blackstone Tutors offering, as it is designed by doctors with years of experience in tutoring students in the test. 

Use a UCAT exam tutor: 

14. Likewise, making use of a tutor can add the finishing touches to your revision – they will be able to provide you with tips and tricks that will make your approaches far more efficient, and thus save time – and gain you valuable marks. 

Consider an in-person UCAT Course:

15. An in-person UCAT preparation course is the most efficient way of preparing – the best course for the UCAT in 2023 is likely the BlackStone Tutors offering – and all students who use it should also receive access to their online course and question bank.