UKCAT
Encyclopedia
The UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) is a test that is beginning to be used in the selection process by a consortium of UK university Medical and Dental Schools. It is run by the UKCAT Consortium in partnership with Pearson VUE
. It was first introduced in 2006, and will remain in test mode for some years beyond this date.
The test is designed to give information on the candidates' mental abilities, as well as attitudes and possible professional behaviour. The test is expected to start helping universities make more informed choices between medical and dental applicants in the years to come, once the test has been fully validated.
The UKCAT is designed to be a test of aptitude and attitude, not academic achievement. The latter is already demonstrated by GCSEs, A-Levels, Scottish Highers or undergraduate degree
s. It attempts to assess a certain range of mental abilities and behavioural attributes identified as useful. These mental abilities include critical thinking as well as logical reasoning and inference.
For candidates sitting the examination in summer 2011, the UKCAT consists of four subtests:
Prior to 2011, the UKCAT tested an additional domain:
The entire test is delivered by computer. Candidates are not allowed to bring external materials in to the exam. A basic calculator used to be provided in the past years of 2011, along with a white board and a marker pen or paper with a pencil, for taking notes, however in 2012 there will only be a simple digital calculator on the screen. The equipment and conditions vary slightly between different test centers.
Including warm-up time (time allocated to reading the instructions), the test lasts a maximum of two hours. Each of the UKCAT subtests is in a multiple choice format and is separately timed.
Past papers are not available. There are however specimen questions on the UKCAT website. All candidates are urged to read this attentively. However the UKCAT Consortium specifies "The UKCAT does not contain any curriculum or science content; nor can it be revised for".
So UKCAT Preparation is not necessary, desirable or advantageous". Indeed the Consortium says that for the 2007 edition it has placed questions such that it can cross check whether candidates are replying honestly or are giving prepared answers.
Contrary to the above statement, several companies and websites offer various forms of preparation for the UKCAT. Websites offer free practice questions and support, companies claim that psychometric tests can and should be practiced for, and since UKCAT is mainly a psychometric test, practice can improve one's chances immensely. This is apparently quite obvious to the students themselves considering the fact that thousands of students prepare months in advance for the test, as can be seen in student forums across the web.
"Every university uses the UKCAT result as part of a well-rounded admissions policy in which several other factors also carry considerable weight."
That said, the universities in at least several instances (University of Leeds
, Cardiff University
) (University of East Anglia
) have indicated that for now, UKCAT will play a very small role in selection, until it has been properly validated. Universities such as University of Sheffield
highly rate the UKCAT scores and often have a high cut-off mark a candidate has to achieve before they will be considered for an interview. Concerns also exist over the high price of the test (£65 - £80) and the profit making nature of Pearson Vue. In addition, reapplicant candidates on average get a significantly higher score - throwing further doubt on its relevance as an 'aptitude' test.
The usefulness of non-cognitive tests remains hotly disputed. The use of such tests in the USA SAT, GRE and so on for university selection has for a long time been very controversial.
Pearson VUE
Pearson VUE is an electronic testing company owned by British media company Pearson PLC. Founded in 1994 by E. Clarke Porter as Virtual University Enterprises, the company now operates in 165 countries with more than 5,000 authorized test centres ....
. It was first introduced in 2006, and will remain in test mode for some years beyond this date.
The test is designed to give information on the candidates' mental abilities, as well as attitudes and possible professional behaviour. The test is expected to start helping universities make more informed choices between medical and dental applicants in the years to come, once the test has been fully validated.
Format
Undergraduate degree
An undergraduate degree is a colloquial term for an academic degree taken by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. It is usually offered at an institution of higher education, such as a university...
s. It attempts to assess a certain range of mental abilities and behavioural attributes identified as useful. These mental abilities include critical thinking as well as logical reasoning and inference.
For candidates sitting the examination in summer 2011, the UKCAT consists of four subtests:
- Verbal reasoning - assesses candidates' ability to think logically about written information and arrive at a reasoned conclusion.
- Quantitative reasoning - assesses candidates' ability to solve numerical problems.
- Abstract reasoning - assesses candidates' ability to infer relationships from information by convergent and divergent thinking.
- Decision Analysis - assesses candidates' ability to deal with various forms of information to infer relationships, to make informed judgements, and to decide on an appropriate response.
Prior to 2011, the UKCAT tested an additional domain:
- Non-cognitive Analysis - identified aspects of each candidate's personality and character in order to determine their suitability for a career in medicine or dentistry.
The entire test is delivered by computer. Candidates are not allowed to bring external materials in to the exam. A basic calculator used to be provided in the past years of 2011, along with a white board and a marker pen or paper with a pencil, for taking notes, however in 2012 there will only be a simple digital calculator on the screen. The equipment and conditions vary slightly between different test centers.
Including warm-up time (time allocated to reading the instructions), the test lasts a maximum of two hours. Each of the UKCAT subtests is in a multiple choice format and is separately timed.
Content and preparation
There is no curriculum content, as the test is designed to probe innate skills. These include basic arithmetic, reading and writing ability, along with character, and personal and social attitudes.Past papers are not available. There are however specimen questions on the UKCAT website. All candidates are urged to read this attentively. However the UKCAT Consortium specifies "The UKCAT does not contain any curriculum or science content; nor can it be revised for".
So UKCAT Preparation is not necessary, desirable or advantageous". Indeed the Consortium says that for the 2007 edition it has placed questions such that it can cross check whether candidates are replying honestly or are giving prepared answers.
Contrary to the above statement, several companies and websites offer various forms of preparation for the UKCAT. Websites offer free practice questions and support, companies claim that psychometric tests can and should be practiced for, and since UKCAT is mainly a psychometric test, practice can improve one's chances immensely. This is apparently quite obvious to the students themselves considering the fact that thousands of students prepare months in advance for the test, as can be seen in student forums across the web.
Usefulness and controversies
The UKCAT Consortium specifies"Every university uses the UKCAT result as part of a well-rounded admissions policy in which several other factors also carry considerable weight."
That said, the universities in at least several instances (University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
) (University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
) have indicated that for now, UKCAT will play a very small role in selection, until it has been properly validated. Universities such as University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
highly rate the UKCAT scores and often have a high cut-off mark a candidate has to achieve before they will be considered for an interview. Concerns also exist over the high price of the test (£65 - £80) and the profit making nature of Pearson Vue. In addition, reapplicant candidates on average get a significantly higher score - throwing further doubt on its relevance as an 'aptitude' test.
The usefulness of non-cognitive tests remains hotly disputed. The use of such tests in the USA SAT, GRE and so on for university selection has for a long time been very controversial.
Participating universities
For 2009 entry, the UKCAT must be taken by all applicants (except for some accelerated, graduate-entry courses) applying to study medicine or dentistry at the following university Medical and Dental Schools:- University of AberdeenUniversity of AberdeenThe University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
- Brighton and Sussex Medical SchoolBrighton and Sussex Medical SchoolBrighton and Sussex Medical School is a medical school formed as a partnership of the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex. Like other UK medical schools it is based on the principles and standards of 'Tomorrow's Doctor', an initiative by the General Medical Council outlining the...
- Cardiff UniversityCardiff UniversityCardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
- University of DundeeUniversity of DundeeThe University of Dundee is a university based in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee on eastern coast of the central Lowlands of Scotland and with a small number of institutions elsewhere....
- Durham UniversityDurham UniversityThe University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
- University of East AngliaUniversity of East AngliaThe University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
- University of EdinburghUniversity of EdinburghThe University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
- University of GlasgowUniversity of GlasgowThe University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
- Hull York Medical SchoolHull York Medical SchoolThe Hull York Medical School , is a medical school in England which took its first intake of students in 2003. The school was opened as a part of the British Government's attempts to train more doctors, which also saw Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Peninsula Medical School and University of...
- Imperial College LondonImperial College LondonImperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
- Graduate Entry Programme only - Keele UniversityKeele UniversityKeele University is a campus university near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. Founded in 1949 as an experimental college dedicated to a broad curriculum and interdisciplinary study, Keele is most notable for pioneering the dual honours degree in Britain...
- King's College LondonKing's College LondonKing's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
- University of LeedsUniversity of LeedsThe University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
- not for Dentistry Undergraduates - University of LeicesterUniversity of LeicesterThe University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
- University of ManchesterUniversity of ManchesterThe University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
- Newcastle University
- University of NottinghamUniversity of NottinghamThe University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
- University of OxfordUniversity of OxfordThe University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
Graduate Entry Medical Degree - Peninsula Medical School
- University of SheffieldUniversity of SheffieldThe University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
- University of SouthamptonUniversity of SouthamptonThe University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
- University of St AndrewsUniversity of St AndrewsThe University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
- St George's, University of LondonSt George's, University of LondonSt George's, University of London is a medical school located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
- Queen's University Belfast
- University of WarwickUniversity of WarwickThe University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
Graduate Entry Medical Degree
See also
- BMAT - the Biomedical Admissions Test. This is similar to the UKCAT, and is required as part of the applications process to Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and Imperial College medical schools.
- GAMSATGAMSATThe Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test is a test used to select candidates applying to study medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary science at Australian, British, and Irish universities for admission to their Graduate Entry Programmes The Graduate Australian Medical School...
- the Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admissions Test. This has a similar selection function to the UKCAT, but has in part a curriculum basis and is required as part of the applications process to the graduate entry programmes at Keele, Nottingham, Swansea and St. George's University of London medical schools.