4 Things You Should Know Before Sitting in UCAT Exam

 

UCAT stands for University Clinical Aptitude Test. UCAT exam is the major criteria used by most universities in the United Kingdom when selecting students for high demand health-related careers like medicine & dentistry. The UCAT exam is a two-hour computer-based test that assesses a variety of mental capabilities acknowledged by the universities in New Zealand and Australia. Thus, proper UCAT training is important if you want to get into the field of medicine & dentistry. This exam consists of five independently timed subtests and each of them contains a variety of questions in a multiple-choice question (MCQ) format. iCanMed offers extensive UCAT tutoring which helps you to ace the exam with confidence. Apart from UCAT coaching, you should follow these tips before sitting in the UCAT exam –

• It is important to practice UCAT questions online

There is a vast range of online UCAT prep courses that replicate the exact format & style of UCAT questions which you will face in real assessment! Practicing the mock UCAT test on the computer & under timed conditions is a better way of preparing for the UCAT exam as compared to solving UCAT question books. You can familiarize yourself with navigation between sets, format & layout of UCAT questions, so nothing will faze you on the actual day of your UCAT exam. At iCanMed, you will have access to a huge selection of online UCAT prep material which is far better and time-saving than flipping through physical question books.

• The time restrictions for Verbal Reasoning subtest makes UCAT exam the most difficult

During UCAT preparation, you should be focused on identifying patterns in the Abstract Reasoning subsection. Most of the students assume that this is the easiest section in the UCAT test. However, the Verbal Reasoning section is the most challenging and time-consuming. Students are pressed for time & find themselves having to re-read sections of passage when selecting the appropriate answers. It is vital that students practice to learn to scan each passage quickly to look for key information and make sure you practice the Verbal Reasoning questions under strictly timed conditions.

• Using guess & flag technique

In the UCAT exam, the level of difficulty varies from question to question in each section. Thus, it is vital that you are prepared for this & factor it into your question reading approach. For instance, some questions in the Quantitative Reasoning subsection will need more time & various steps to arrive at a particular answer. Some students will spend extra time on these types of questions at the cost of being unable to answer the simpler questions further down the line. You should remember all questions are worth the same mark, so if you identify the question that is multi-step; it is better to guesstimate & flag it up and then return to it if you have time. This same rule applies to all other sections as well.

Ultimately, the best way to improve your UCAT ranking is by acquiring the exact UCAT strategies, & practicing them. iCanMed’s UCAT courses are packed with effectual UCAT strategies, subtest mocks, drills, & full-length UCAT exams which simulate the actual UCAT exam. This is why you should enroll in iCanMed’s UCAT courses and get closer to your dream of making a career in medicine or dentistry!

Best Study Break Ideas for Effective UCAT Preparation

If you’ve started your journey through a UCAT preparation course, it’s normal to end the day feeling tired and slightly stressed. But, if you feel exhausted only after a couple of hours of study, chances you’re not taking enough breaks.

It’s important to take regular breaks, as your brain needs rest. During this time, your brain reboots and refreshes its abilities. According to various studies, taking short breaks of less than 10 minutes after every 90 minutes of going through your UCAT prep course can help improve concentration. It can also enhance your creativity and boost productivity, both of which are required for tackling different UCAT sections.

Are Your Breaks Doing More Harm Than Good?

Just like your efficiency may vary during different periods of study, all breaks are not the same. The quality of the break is an important consideration. While many students turn to social media during their breaks, this may not give you the require rejuvenation. In the contrary, it may actually add to the stress, rather than calming you down. Badly planned breaks can cost your UCAT preparation dearly. It can drain your mind and lead to extended hours of zero productivity. So, here are some ideas to make the most of your study breaks.

Ideas for Study Breaks that Rejuvenate You

Get Some Fresh Air

A brisk walk in the open can work wonders for your energy levels. Tear yourself away from your UCAT prep course and go out for a walk. You’ll come back feeling more relaxed and less stressed. Choose a green spot, since nature has an amazing effect on our minds and bodies.

Take a Power Nap

This is a short nap of 10 to 20 minutes. You will wake up feeling more cheerful and alert, which will increase your productivity through the rest of the day. Sleeping for longer than this may make you feel groggy and ruin your sleep at night. So, set an alarm and stick to the schedule!

Meditate

Meditating not only helps you relax better but also makes you more focused for an extended period of time. It’s a good way to clear your mind of unwanted thoughts like the UCAT cost and whether you have enough time to give it a good shot. Meditation can help lower stress and anxiety and keep you fight fatigue.

Breaks may help you focus better, but what you really need is the best UCAT preparation course, like the one offered by iCanMed. Such a course will take you systematically through all the UCAT sections, give you tips on preparing for the test and guidance on doing well in the interview.