How/are you preparing for the BMAT (or UKCAT)?

Is it just me or do you get wayyyy too little time for each section in the ukcat (20 mins for 40)

The UKCAT should really be scrapped... I feel sorry for you guys.

It is a filter, that's it.

I prefer it to them all going bham GCSE nazi

I don't get why they can't just all ask for AAA instead of AAB. That would work as an effective (and arguably more fair) filter.

Birmingham's GCSE thing isn't something I like either, but I still feel it's more fair than the UKCAT - which is some completely random and pointless test, which relies hugely on luck and doesn't even test aptitude.

I don't think hugely on luck, very few people will get very high scores just by guess in all sections.
But the lack of transparency with the marking of it does make it look dodgey.

But then if everyone asks for AAA it could be argued you are cutting out otherwise excellent candidates.

Every filter will give advantage to some and disadvantage to another, I don't think the UKCAT is too bad though, depends on how it is used

Well, I think the UKCAT also cuts out some excellent applicants. A few from my school definitely, IMO.

And if they don't tell us how it's marked, it's pretty pointless isn't it... because you don't really know how to go about doing it.

I don't get why they can't just all ask for AAA instead of AAB. That would work as an effective (and arguably more fair) filter.

with the number of applicants who exploit the predictions system, i can't see that being a very effective policy. if they raise it to AAA schools are just going to predict people AAA. as far as the school is concerned, they just want to send as many people off to uni as possible, to make themselves look good, improve rankings etc.

i'm not a fan of the ukcat either tbh...but i don't think there's any way around it.

Everyone sit the devil test of the BMAT?

It may be an evil horrible test and the worst exam I have ever done, but atleast people feel they got the mark they deserved

But I agree AAA just means people will be predicted higher and the people which will lose out will be those at schools which predict fairly/use AS marks

could do, but if every university does that then it's going to make medschool admissions even tougher because you sit the bmat after applying. so a screw up on one test could essentially wipe out all your choices for that year. i guess they could shift the test date back before the ucas deadline....why don't they do that anyway?! surely from a business point of view they'd want as many people as possible doing the test so they can extract the maximum amount of money. setting the test after the ucas deadline just puts people off from doing it...

tbh i can't see why all universities can't follow Bristol's policies. they get by fine without using the ukcat...

with the number of applicants who exploit the predictions system, i can't see that being a very effective policy. if they raise it to AAA schools are just going to predict people AAA. as far as the school is concerned, they just want to send as many people off to uni as possible, to make themselves look good, improve rankings etc.

i'm not a fan of the ukcat either tbh...but i don't think there's any way around it.

How about... make people state what AS grades they actually got alongside their A2 predictions?

How about... make people state what AS grades they actually got alongside their A2 predictions?

I think that would be a good idea, but would be very unpopular with a large number of people who, 'didn't take AS seriously'

yeh could do. they can put it as pending on their ucas, but make it a requirement to state what AS scores the applicant obtained on their first attempt, in their reference. or just follow Bristol. they can get by without using the ukcat and without placing huge emphasis on one particular area of the application *hint hint birmingham*

could do, but if every university does that then it's going to make medschool admissions even tougher because you sit the bmat after applying. so a screw up on one test could essentially wipe out all your choices for that year. i guess they could shift the test date back before the ucas deadline....why don't they do that anyway?! surely from a business point of view they'd want as many people as possible doing the test so they can extract the maximum amount of money. setting the test after the ucas deadline just puts people off from doing it...

tbh i can't see why all universities can't follow Bristol's policies. they get by fine without using the ukcat...

I see you've got 3 warning points for general derailing and being a lemon

Anywho, I think A levels need a major overhaul. The number of times you can resit a module already takes the micky out of the system. They could limit the number of resits to like 1 - after all, you're unlikely to have a bad day twice... or they can do what some exams do and allow resits but up the requirements to get the grade for resits e.g. A being at 85% instead of 80% for resitters... or something of the sort.

And really, if you have like BCCD or something and get predicted AAAA, something is seriously ****** up. Showing the unis what you got for AS will stop ridiculous predictions and limit the impact of massive discrepancies in grade predictions between schools.