How I got 3000 in my UCAT: tips for medical and dental students.

Posted byTonyPosted inUCATTags:,

Timing

Rough timings are :

VR- 21mins, 30s per Q

DM- 31mins, 64s per Q

QR- 24mins, 40s per Q

AR- 13mins, 15s per Q

SJ- You have more than enough time to do the questions and check several times.

Learn keyboard shortcuts- these will safe you loads of time.

  • ALT+V→ Takes you back to flagged questions
  • Alt+P/N→ Previous/ Next question
  • Alt+ F→ Flag
  • Alt+ C → calculator

Verbal Reasoning

Skip a lot: the harder questions, longer passages etc.

Watch out if the question is asking for whether something is true or false; or if something can vs cannot x.

Don’t be cynical- if you see something that looks like the right answer use it. Don’t second guess yourself, there’s no time.

First read the passage very roughly in order to get to know roughly what each paragraph/section is about then read the questions and go back to the passage.

Look for keywords by skimming over the passage but ensure you actually internalise the bits you skim over. I found I was too focused on looking for keywords so if a later question came up about the bit I skimmed over I’d have to reread that section. You want to reduce rereading as much as possible.

In true/false/can’t tell questions, if you can’t find the answer, answer with can’t tell.

Answer false only if there is a contradiction, otherwise answer can’t tell.

Perhaps skip questions requiring inference, these take a while.

Watch out for modal verbs- may, might, could

  • These are not the same as ‘will’
  • Questions may ask whether x will happen for sure

Look out for qualifiers- some, many, sometimes, always never

  • Not the same as most/all

For questions about the entire text, it may be easier to eliminate options rather than look for answers.

Distinguish between false and cannot tell

  • Answer false if definitely false

Decision Making

Learn to use the number pad quickly. I used the website TouchType.co.

  • Spend longer on the questions with lots of statements and you have to say whether the statement follows or not.
  • It’s a very good idea to draw out the information.
  • Some-=more than 1 but not all
  • Not all= some
  • Some were not= Some were
  • For the questions where you add shapes together, assign a letter to each shape and do algebra.

Evaluating arguments questions:

  • More in number does not equal more being done
  • Ie make more money available to government so they can sort climate change
  • Money might not be used to sort out climate change
  • Ergo bad argument
  • ‘No’ answers usually have to offer an alternative solution
  • Always be specific and relate directly back to the stem
  • Conclusions need to contain key words from the argument
  • Practice doing probability questions.

Quantitative Reasoning

  • Learn to touch type with the onscreen calculator
  • Skip – if it looks like a longer question, skip it.
  • Read the question properly- they like to catch you out on this section.
  • Also look carefully at units
    • For example they may ask for litres but you are given data as gallons
  • Also look carefully at answers
    • There may be one answer of 2m^2 but another as 2m^3
  • Learn suvat formulae
  • Remember to divide circle formulae by 2 for semi circles
  • +/- function is quite useful on the calculator
  • THis converts positive numbers to negative and vice versa
  • For example if you need to do x-y but you have y in the calculator. Turn that into -y and add x.
  • Look out for what they want you to round to
  • The memory function is quite useful- search this up
  • %change= (final number-initial number)x100/initial number
  • Learn how taxation and tax brackets work
  • 1:25000 means 1cm=25000cm

Abstract Reasoning

You should also develop certain algorithms, ie if the pattern is like x then the rule is y. Examples below:

  • If shapes are arranged randomly
    • Look at no. of sides
    • Multiples of something
    • Colours
  • Arrow questions
    • Direction
    • Number
    • Number in a certain direction
    • Dictates rotation
    • What is it pointing at?
    • Conditional questions
  • A single shape
    • Rotational symmetry
    • Reflection symmetry
    • Corners touching edge of box

General tips:

  • Look at the 2 simplest boxes and see how they are similar/different
  • Some shapes are distractors- ignore them
  • Look for common shapes/ common positions
  • Be specific when counting sides on shapes
  • Not ‘white has more sides than black’
  • But white has 4 more sides than black
  • Remember:
    • Stars have 10 sides
    • Arrows have 7 corner
    • Fat crosses have 12
    • Arrow heads have 6
    • Lightning has 11
    • This will help you count faster
  • Also be aware of n+1 patterns and periodic sequences

Situational Judgement

General tips:

  • First figure out if the situation is net positive or net negative and then look for nuance
  • Note this is about what you should do rather than what you would do

Leave a comment