Additional Admission Tests

2017 Entry

What are additional admissions tests?

• National tests, i.e. LNAT/BMAT/UKCAT

• Used for competitive/vocational courses

• Required in addition to predicted grades

• Taken into account when making offers

• Scores passed on to universities on your behalf

www.lnat.ac.uk | www.bmat.org.uk | www.ukcat.ac.uk

University specific tests

Some universities have their own tests

– Physics Admissions Test (PAT)

– Mathematics Admissions test (MAT)

– Plus many more….

– Sixth Term Examination paper (STEP) - Cambridge

– Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) - Oxford,

Cambridge, UCL

University

of Oxford

UKCAT

UKCAT – participating universities 2017

• University of Aberdeen

• University of Birmingham

• Cardiff University

• University of Central Lancashire

• University of Dundee

• Durham University

• University of East Anglia

• University of Edinburgh

• University of Exeter

• University of Glasgow

• Hull York Medical School

• Keele University

• King’s College London

• University of Leicester

• University of Liverpool

• University of Manchester

• University of Newcastle

• University of Nottingham

• Plymouth University

• Queen Mary, University of London

• Queens University, Belfast

• University of Sheffield

• University of Southampton

• University of St Andrews

• St George’s, University of London

• University of Warwick

UKCAT – Medicine and Dentistry

• Register - 3 May 2016 – 21 September 2016

• Sit the Test - 1 July 2016 – 5 Oct 2016

• Registration fee (bursaries available)

– £65 if sat by 31 August 2016

– £80 if sat 1 September – 6 October 2016

• Register with Pearson Test Centre

• Results are communicated to universities around

November

UKCAT – the structure

• It is a computer based test that

takes two hours

• Designed to be a test of aptitude

rather than strictly academic

achievement

• Assessing a wide range of mental abilities and

behavioural attributes identified by university medical &

dental schools as important e.g. your ability to be logical

UKCAT – the structureComputer based test in 5 parts (2 hours)

1. Verbal reasoning (22 minutes)

Assesses logical thinking and reasoning about

written information2. Decision making (32 minutes)

3. Quantitative reasoning (25 minutes)

Assesses the ability to make sound decisions

and judgements using complex information

INCLUDES CONFIDENCE RATING SCALE

Assesses the ability to process numerical data

UKCAT – the structureComputer based test in 5 parts (2 hours)

4. Abstract reasoning (14 minutes)

Abstract reasoning assesses your ability to

identify patterns amongst abstract shapes

where irrelevant and distracting material may

lead to incorrect conclusions.

5. Situational Judgement (27 minutes)

Assesses judgement regarding situations

encountered in the workplace

Marking of the test

• Results received on the day

• There is no negative marking for incorrect answers

• Cognitive sections:

Raw scores are converted to a scale, so the score for

each section will be out of 900 (2700 total)

• Situational judgement:

Raw scores are converted into bands – band 1 being the

highest

• For more information visit the website

UKCAT – students with additional

requirements

• Any Special Educational Needs or access

requirements MUST be specified when

registration

• 25% extra time for dyslexic students which

makes the test 2 and a half hours long

• Go to the website for further information

UKCAT – summary

• UKCAT is to test your child's potential for a

Medicine and Dentistry courses – not their

knowledge

• Practice by doing sample tests on the UKCAT

website

• Results received on the day and are

communicated to universities on their behalf

BMAT

BMAT – participating universities

• Brighton and Sussex Medical

School

• Imperial College London

• Lancaster University

• Royal Veterinary College

• University College London

• University of Cambridge

• University of Leeds

• University of Oxford

BMAT

• www.admissionstestingservice.org

• Registration Dates 1st September– 1st October 2016

• Late Applicant Closing Date – 15th October 2016

• Test date – 2th November 2016

• Results date – 25th November 2016

• Costs £45 (late additional registration fee £32)

• No bursaries, but fee may be reimbursed

BMAT – the structure

• It is a 2 hour paper based test, sat in three

sections

• Sat at local exam centre ie school/college

• Everyone sits the test on the same date

• Results won’t be known before UCAS application is

submitted

• Some of the test is subject specific

BMAT – the structure

– Problem solving, understanding arguments, data

analysis, inference abilities

– 35 multiple choice or short answer questions

– 60 minutes to complete this section

1. Aptitude and skills (60 minutes)

2. Scientific Knowledge and Application (30 minutes)

– Curriculum based questions, science and maths

(high GCSE level – recommended to use AS level

revision guides)

– 27 multiple choice or short answer questions

– 30 minutes to complete this section

BMAT – the structure

– Four short essay questions – pick one

– Select, develop and organise ideas and

communicate them in writing in a concise and

effective way

– 30 minutes to complete this section

– Strictly limited to one side of A4

3. Writing Task (30 minutes)

BMAT – results

• Results released 25th November 2016

– Download from BMAT website

– Automatically sent to university choices

• Section 1 and 2 graded from 1 (low) to 9 (high).

Typical score = 5.0, best candidates above 6.0

• Section 3 is given two scores – one for quality of

content (on a scale of 0–5), and one for quality of

written English (on the scale A, C, E).Two

examiners mark the essay and combine the scores

BMAT – summary

• BMAT tests potential and

knowledge

• Practice by doing sample

tests on the BMAT website

• Take the test on a set date

AFTER they have applied

through UCAS

LNAT

LNAT – participating universities

• University of Birmingham

• University of Bristol

• Durham University

• University of Glasgow

• King’s College London

• University of Nottingham

• University of Oxford

• University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies)

• University College London

LNAT – dates for 2015 (2016 entry)

• Register:

– 1st August – 15th January

• Sit the test:

– At a Pearson test centre between 1st September –

20th January

– According to the university’s deadlines eg early for

Oxford

• Results emailed in either February or July, depending on

when you sit the exam

NO DATES SET FOR 2016 (2017 entry) as yet

LNAT

• Tests are sat at Pearson Testing Centre

– Nottingham, Mansfield, Derby, Leicester, Grantham

• Register as early as possible to get the test

centre and date you prefer

• Cost: £50 (2015/16 cost)

• Bursaries are available

– see LNAT website for further details

LNAT – students with additional requirements

• If you have any Special Educational Needs or access

requirements must register but not book their test

online

• Provide additional evidence BEFORE booking the

test

• eg 25% extra time for dyslexic students

• Go to the website for further information

LNAT – the structure

• Computer based test

• Two parts in total (135 minutes)

1. Multiple Choice (95 minutes)

2. Essay (40 minutes)

• 12 argumentative passages, could include

newspaper articles, editorials or sections from

books.

• Each passage has 3-4 multiple choice questions

designed to test verbal reasoning skills.

• Answers are limited to the information contained

within or inferred from the passage

1. Multiple Choice (95 minutes)

1. Multiple Choice (95 minutes)

• Designed to test powers of comprehension,

interpretation, analysis, synthesis, induction,

and deduction, all essential skills for a career in

law

• 12 passages, each with 3 or 4 multiple choice

questions (95 minutes)

• Marked out of a maximum of 42 points

• The essay is considered to give

the best indication of your

potential for Law courses

• Ability to argue a point in a

coherent, logical and

comprehensive way

• Three titles – choose ONE

– Note – there used to be a

choice of five, and all practice

tests have a choice of five

• Maximum length of essay – 750

words – ideal is 500-600

2. Essay (40 minutes)

• Needs to be well-organised

• Take time to plan

• Have a well structured argument

• You will be provided with a whiteboard and pen for

rough working and planning

• The essays are sent directly to the university and

NOT marked by the test centre

2. Essay (40 minutes)

Sample essay questions

1. In a Western society arranged marriages should no longer

be tolerated. Discuss.

2. ‘Modern society is too dependent on debt: we should all

pay our way.’ Do you agree?

3. The Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed should

never have been published. Do you agree?

4. The internet and instant communication technologies are

profoundly changing our world for the better. Do you

agree?

5. What is your response to the view that the purpose of

education is to prepare young people for the world of work?

Top Tips

• Read a quality daily newspaper every day

• Don’t just read the news, read the comments

as well

• Practice!

• Gain an interest in the world around you

• Practice writing essays on unfamiliar

subjects.

LNAT – summary

• LNAT is to test potential

for a Law course – not

knowledge

• Practice by doing sample

tests on the LNAT website

• Prepare – compare the

same argument in two

different quality

newspapers