Our first quantitative reasoning tip is to revise GCSE maths, particularly things like ratio and portions, formulas for area and volume, and percentage calculations. In our UCAT course , we start by showing you the level of maths you need, so you can immediately tell if you need to brush up on those skills. Depending on the question, it may be worth working on your estimation skills as rounding numbers up or down makes it easier to do the maths mentally.
The actual answer should be near enough what your estimated answer is. The best way to go about maths questions is to read the question first and then look at any data that may be provided. Make sure you scan this information — it is usually essential to answering at least one of the questions. The examiners are sneaky. It is not uncommon for them to provide the details in a scenario using one unit, and expect the answer in another unit.
To confuse things even more, they may have the correct answer dressed up in different units. All the quantitative reasoning questions carry the same marks and therefore there is no need to spend extra time on one question that requires three or four steps in order to reach the correct answer. A common trap people fall into is spending too much time on these questions which mean they do not finish the QR subsection and this results in a low score.
This will mostly include figures and values and the goal of the question. This way, if you need to refer back to the question for information it will prevent you from having to read it again. This will leave you more time to do the question.
This can throw you off your game for the rest of the section. This will avoid panic, as it will allow you to pick up more marks in future questions, instead of wasting time. And if you have time at the end, you can always come back to it and work it out or change your answer.
Try our free QR questions or practice every section in our Question Bank. This will allow you to see how it will work practically by giving you a chance to use the on-screen calculator. I would also recommend using the keyboard to operate the calculator as this will save time, but you should always use what you are most comfortable with.
Online tests give you a direct insight into how you are doing progress wise and it will get you used to the on-screen timer and the calculator which may all prove important factors on the day. Make sure you learn how to use the UCAT calculator and its shortcuts, too.
However, the more mental maths you can do the better, as it takes time to tap numbers into the calculator or scribble on the board, so try to minimise this as much as possible. To save time using your mouse, consider using your computer keyboard both to open and operate the calculator, as well as move between questions. You can use the following shortcuts:. Try to arrive at the answer within 30 seconds — and use an online question bank to help. Available in-person or live online in our virtual classrooms.
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The cost varies according to when and where you will be sitting the test. Full price details can be found here. If you try to sit it twice in the same test cycle, they will just carry on using the first results you got. The results are only valid for one year, if you don't get in and need to reapply you also have to re-sit the UKCAT. Lots of people worry when they find that they run out of time on the practice tests but the time restriction is the mechanism that the UKCAT uses to make the material beyond the capability of most people.
This varies from university to university, some use an absolute cut-off score below which they will not interview and others just use it to decide between candidates where all else is equal.
Where a university uses a cut-off score for the UKCAT, this will usually be set once the testing cycle is finished for that year and is likely to vary from year to year. It may be possible to estimate a range for a particular university based on previous years but this should be done with caution as it is possible for cut-off scores to go down as well as up and there is no real way to predict which way they will go.
Each round of admissions is self contained and applicants are only competing against other applicants in the same cycle, so cut-off scores from previous cycles are irrelevant as soon as that round of applications are over. The UKCAT is marked on a normal distribution curve so the "average" score on it can vary from year to year. By becoming familiar with these essential tools, you can save yourself valuable time on your test day. You may wish to take notes or do workings out during your test, particularly in the Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning subtests.
If you are sitting your test at a test centre, you will be given a set of laminated noteboards A4 in size and a pen. If you require an additional set, raise your hand and request one from the invigilator. The invigilator will have checked the pen is working before giving it out. You may wish to check this before you start to avoid the need to seek assistance during testing.
If you are not given a set of noteboards and a pen when you enter the test room, you should request them by raising your hand. Not requesting these items will not be considered a mitigating circumstance.
A simple on-screen calculator will be available for the decision making and quantitative reasoning subtests. To access this click on the icon in the top left hand side of the screen. The calculator will look similar to this:. Note that the calculator can only store one value at a time, which means that saving another number will overwrite the previous number saved.
So, make sure to jot down any numbers that you think you may need for later calculations. This is probably a convenient function as most questions will not require values from previous questions. However, when there are multiple questions linked together, you will need to remind yourself to write down any relevant values on your laminated whiteboard to avoid redoing the calculation for later questions.
Using the mouse to click the buttons on the on-screen calculator can be quite fiddly and time-consuming, so we recommend that you utilise the number pad on the right-hand side of your keyboard. Not only can you enter numbers via the number pad, but you can also use specific keys for mathematical operations. This means that you should try to be accurate when you type, as all previous entries will all need to be cleared if you make a mistake.
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