Programme of Support for Medicine
Applying to study medicine is a highly competitive process and requires applicants to not only focus on their academic grades but also acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and experiences that demonstrate they have the potential to become a doctor.
The King Edward’s Programme of Support for Medicine offers support and guidance to ensure that pupils fully understand are best prepared for this unique application process to UK universities.
While the King Edward’s Support Programme is guided, it is expected that pupils conduct a lot of their own degree course research, skills development and admission test prep for themselves as independent learning is an important skill to demonstrate in studying to become a doctor. 1:1 guidance and support with Mrs Davies is available if needed.
Resources
- BBC Health – wonderful resource on NHS and information on important current medical topics.
- The Medic Portal – Official partner with the Royal Society of Medicine. Offers incredible advice, resources and UCAT/BMAT prep and support for the medical application process.
- Medical Projects – Advice and support for medical work experiences , webinars and support for the medical application process including informative YouTube channel here.
UCAT Or BMAT?
These are two very different types of admission tests and you need to research and decide as soon as possible as to which UK universities you wish to apply to as universities vary in their admission test entry requirements. It is generally said that BMAT is easier to prep for than UCAT. The majority of UK universities require medical applicants to take the UCAT test.
- What is UCAT?
- UCAT (formerly UKCAT) is an admissions test used by many medical and dental schools to assess students’ suitability to study medicine. Its full name is the University Clinical Aptitude Test.
- What does it involve?
- UCAT is a two-hour computerised test, designed to assess aptitude rather than knowledge. The idea is that high UCAT scores indicate candidates with the best potential to successfully train as doctors. UCAT training forms part of the King Edward’s support programme in school using an external provider and the pupils write their UCAT from July 2021 to September 2021.
- What will be tested?
- The test consists of five sections, each designed to assess different skills required by doctors. These skills include
- Problem-solving, communication, numerical skills, spatial awareness, integrity, empathy and teamwork skills.
- Verbal Reasoning. This tests your ability to read and interpret passages of text
- Quantitative Reasoning. Tests your mathematical ability
- Abstract Reasoning. This tests your spatial awareness
- Decision Making. This tests your problem-solving skills
- Situational Judgement. This tests qualities needed to become a doctor, such as professionalism and teamwork
- The test consists of five sections, each designed to assess different skills required by doctors. These skills include
Registration usually happens on 2 June 2021 and tests start in July through to September 2021. For more information and practice tests please visit the UCAT website.
- What is the BMAT?
- This Biomedical Admission Test is the required admission test by certain UK universities which are listed on the BMAT page of the Cambridge Admissions test website here.
- The dates and costs for BMAT – September 2021 will be available later in 2021. Please check the website here for update to date information.
- The Biomedical Admission Test that must be taken by anyone applying to study Medicine/ Dentistry/ Veterinary at these universities and is a must for any Oxbridge Biomedical/ Medicine student.
- What does it involve?
- BMAT is a 2-hour test divided into three sections.
- Section 1: Thinking Skills
- Section 2: Scientific Knowledge and Applications
- Section 3: Writing Task
- BMAT is a 2-hour test divided into three sections.
- What is a good BMAT Score?
- The BMAT is scored on a scale of 1.0 to 9.0, with 9.0 being the highest. It’s not a pass or fail test. A good BMAT score is usually 6.0 and above – with 7.0 and above being exceptionally rare. The average student can expect to get a BMAT score of around 5.0.
