The Big Medicine BMAT 2012 Entry Megathread: Discussion and Questions

BMAT 2nd November 2011

Introduction

The BMAT is an admissions test, introduced in November 2003, for students applying to Oxford and Cambridge Medical Schools, the Royal Free and University College London Medical School, Imperial College Medical School, Royal Veterinary College, the Cambridge Veterinary School and the Oxford Physiological Sciences course as part of the admissions procedure. This test provides a predictive assessment of candidates' potential for medicine, veterinary medicine and other biomedical sciences courses. It is a 2 hour pen and paper test consisting of 3 separate sections. The BMAT does not require a great amount of extra study as it relies on skills and knowledge that candidates should already have, however it is different to the UKCAT as it does actually test knowledge and so has a syllabus. Many medicine applicants will be taking this test this year, so this thread is to ask questions, gather information about the test, practise material and discuss any concerns, etc.

BMAT Threads in previous years

BMAT Megathread 2010 entry thanks to vas876.
BMAT Megathread 2011 entry thanks to Hippysnake.

Test Format

The test consists of the following three sections, and separate answer sheets will be provided for each section:

Section 1: Aptitude and Skills
Section 2: Scientific Knowledge and Application
Section 3: Writing Task

Calculators may not be used in the BMAT.

Each section is designed to measure a specific construct as detailed below, although more detailed information can be found on the TSR Medicine Wiki BMAT page.

BMAT Dates 2011

30th September 2011 - Standard entry closing date
14th October 2011 - Last date for BMAT Entries.
2nd November 2011 - The BMAT test takes place.
23rd November 2011- BMAT results released to centres.

BMAT Practice Material

COMA Sample Questions (Answers)
Test Prep BMAT Questions
TSA Cambridge (Section 1 Style)
UCL BMAT Practise

User Generated Section 3 Essay Questions - Full Set

Download here.

User Generated Section 3 Essay Questions

3 2008 BMAT Section Questions from Passing the UKCAT and Edition

Books Recommendations

Firstly, there is the official BMAT book written by Cambridge Assessment. It costs roughly a tenner and is worth the price.

Secondly, there is the Kaplan BMAT book. It's not in print anymore and they are really damn hard to find. It was only by pure chance I managed to get mine of a member of TSR. This book normally goes for upwards of 40 quid on Ebay, so I recommend you look around some forums such as TSR and New Media Medicine for any 2009 BMAT entrants who are selling there copies on. It's quite a hefty book, upward of around 500 pages I think.

All other books are generally unknown and I cannot recommend them.

Information for candidates that do not study three/four sciences

If you're not doing Physics at AS/A2 - don't worry. You may have covered some material in M1 if you're doing Maths.
If you've not covered anything, I recommend buying a cheapish GCSE Physics book for the pre-2000 spec as they seem to be more comprehensive than the newer ones. I didn't do Physics and I used this textbook.

If you're not doing Biology at AS/A2 - worry. Worry alot. Both Imperial and UCL require Biology to AS if not beyond, and I assume Cambridge and Oxford wouldn't be too keen on applicants with no Biology at AS/A2.

If you're not doing Chemistry at AS/A2 - you're an idiot.

If you're not doing Maths at AS/A2 - A simple GCSE revision guide should suffice. BBC bitesize and other online resource sites such as MEI OR SAM learning may make for good prep.

BMAT FAQ

Where does the BMAT candidate number have to be entered?
BMAT candidate numbers begin with a “B” followed by five numbers. Candidate numbers must be entered on all examinations scripts on the day of the test. Candidates will be provided on a Statement of Entry on the day of the test.

Candidates applying to the University of Cambridge entering their candidate number onto their Cambridge Application Form should only enter the five numbers from their candidate number.

UCAS advise that candidates should enter their candidate number onto their UCAS form, more information can be found on the UCAS website.

What about access arrangements?
Access arrangements is the term given to any pre-examination adjustments based on history of need and provision. That is to say that a candidate may have dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, dysorthographia, or working memory deficit and require extra time, the use of a laptop or some other physical requirement.

It is important for candidates to consult with their centre notifying them of any access arrangements the candidate may have and the candidate should be prepared to provide clinical evidence as requested.

EVIDENCE: Examinations Officers do not need to submit any evidence to Cambridge Assessment but candidates may be asked to provide evidence of any need for access arrangements at interview.

In the past, the following have been accepted as evidence, but candidates should contact the Support Team to confirm if any additional information is required should the candidate be asked to provide evidence.

• Statement of Special Educational Needs relating to secondary education and which has reached the stage where an assessment has been carried out by the LEA educational psychologist

• Psychological Assessment carried out by a qualified psychologist confirming learning disability during the secondary school period

• An assessment confirming learning disability during the secondary school period carried out by a specialist teacher

• Privately commissioned reports which must give a clear indication that there is evidence of need. The head of centre must be satisfied that there is a history of need and provision.

Would extra time be given to candidates without English as their first language?
Extra time is not allowed for candidates without English as their first language. A decision was taken by the BMAT universities that candidates applying to courses requiring the BMAT are expected to have a good command of English. The level of English required for courses can be found on each institution's website.

Special Consideration
Special consideration is the term used for post-examination adjustments to reflect temporary illness, injury or indisposition at the time of assessment. All special considerations will be passed onto any BMAT university to which the candidate has applied. The University will be asked to take the special consideration into account when considering applications. No adjustment will be made to candidates' results.

Requests for special considerations should be sent on school headed notepaper to:

The BMAT Support Team
1 Hills Road
Cambridge
CB1 2EU
United Kingdom

Are dictionaries and calculators allowed into the exam?
Dictionaries and/or bi-lingual dictionaries may not be used for BMAT.

Can BMAT fees be reimbursed?
The Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, University College London, The Royal Veterinary College, and Imperial College London are concerned that the entry fee should not be viewed as a barrier to access and widening participation. Applicants may apply for a reimbursement if they meet the following criteria:

Candidates from the U.K. in receipt of full Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), Job Seeker’s Allowance or Income Support may apply for their BMAT fees to be reimbursed. Candidates from within the E.U. in receipt of full Educational Maintenance Allowance, or the equivalent, may apply for their BMAT fees to be reimbursed.

Candidates registered at a closed centre, should speak to their Exams Officer, Head of Sixth Form or Careers Officer and ask them to contact us. Candidates registered through an open centre may contact us directly by writing to:

The BMAT Support Team
1 Hills Road
Cambridge
CB1 2EU
United Kingdom

Only standard entry fees will be reimbursed to candidates who have taken BMAT and applied to a BMAT university. Late entry fees and administration fees will not be reimbursed.

A copy of a candidate’s entitlement for benefits should be enclosed with the request for reimbursement of fees.

All requests for reimbursement of fees should reach the BMAT Support Team by Tuesday, 1st December 2009.

Can previous BMAT results be used as part of a new application?
BMAT results are only accepted by universities in the year candidates apply for university. Candidates should sit the BMAT in November 2011 if they are applying to start university in 2012 or for a deferred place in 2013.

Further Information

Please check out the TSR Medicine Wiki BMAT page for further information, or post your questions and concerns in this thread.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 1

rapidresponse

Hi guys

New on here. Applying to UCL this year and bought the official BMAT guide. Very disappointed at the poor number of questions in it for the price. Has anyone tried other books which offer more?

Thanks

Reply 2

Ienjoylife

2

Try the 400Q BMAT book by ISC Medical, Picard and co. (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Practice-Questions-contributions-examiners-candidates/dp/190581206X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309781550&sr=8-1). If it's as good as their 600Q UKCAT book then you should do well with it.

Reply 3

Lorem_ipsum

Man I am really not looking foward to the BMAT, from what ive heard its not a very nice i.e a calmer way of saying its HORRIBLE. But i guess the only way is practice. Yea the official book is alright to start you off but its not great. ^ hadnt heard of that book (shows how much ive been trying) but hopefully if can help

Reply 4

Someone123123

11

Isn't BMAT more about knowledge than practise, whereas something like UKCAT is more about practise?

Reply 5

Lorem_ipsum

Well the science section is about knowledge but the 1st section i would say is about practice. The essay is definitely not that much about knowledge in my opinion, the essay section is mainly about practice and common sense. Well thats what I think, i may be wrong

Reply 6

GH

13

Original post by Lorem_ipsum

Well the science section is about knowledge but the 1st section i would say is about practice. The essay is definitely not that much about knowledge in my opinion, the essay section is mainly about practice and common sense. Well thats what I think, i may be wrong

I'd say you are wrong.

Common sense may get you to a solid 3/5. But practise of common topics (and hence acquireing knowledge) will get you to a solid 5/5 for Section 3. After all, like mathematics, proving a theorem for a first time is hard, but being showed how to do it and memorising it is much easier!

I remember in my college in Cambridge, the DOS actually weighed Section 3 (then out of 15) heavily. So much so that he pretty much accepted people getting 15/15 automatically irregardless of their interview performance (because Section 3 would have dominated the BMAT scores).

That of course was 6 years ago, so things may have changed slightly.

Reply 7

Lorem_ipsum

I see what you're saying but from advice i've been given from current med students, the people had lots of knowledge but were rubbish at writing essays so didnt get a very good mark and would have got even worse marks if they didnt practice. The people I know who got the best marks in the essay during their time were those doing essay writing subjects. For example i had friends in older years one doing history and one doing english and both told me the advantage they got from practising writing strong coherent essays from those respective subjects helped them greatly with BMAT essay. and they both got 15/15 (the old system). So you need a certain level of knowledge for the BMAT essay but what really helps is practicing. and generally thats the advice i have gotten from people at University atm. but again i need a little more help hence why i am attending the PotMed course

Reply 8

Wannabemedic93

Original post by Lorem_ipsum

I see what you're saying but from advice i've been given from current med students, the people had lots of knowledge but were rubbish at writing essays so didnt get a very good mark and would have got even worse marks if they didnt practice. The people I know who got the best marks in the essay during their time were those doing essay writing subjects. For example i had friends in older years one doing history and one doing english and both told me the advantage they got from practising writing strong coherent essays from those respective subjects helped them greatly with BMAT essay. and they both got 15/15 (the old system). So you need a certain level of knowledge for the BMAT essay but what really helps is practicing. and generally thats the advice i have gotten from people at University atm. but again i need a little more help hence why i am attending the PotMed course

Are they taking bookings for PotMed yet?

Reply 9

Lorem_ipsum

well i dont think im allowed to post a link but if you search "PotMed 2011" into google and i think its the 4th option down it has all the information there about tickets/application packs, dates etc.

if you cant find the stuff, private message me and ill give you the link

Reply 10

Wannabemedic93

Original post by Lorem_ipsum

well i dont think im allowed to post a link but if you search "PotMed 2011" into google and i think its the 4th option down it has all the information there about tickets/application packs, dates etc.

if you cant find the stuff, private message me and ill give you the link

Thanks-- found it, should be attending although I will have sent in my personal statement by then because my school has a very early deadline !

Reply 11

Lorem_ipsum

Original post by Wannabemedic93

Thanks-- found it, should be attending although I will have sent in my personal statement by then because my school has a very early deadline !

Yea I thought that aswell but they have mock interviews which im looking forward too and i think they have stuff about ethics etc which again will be useful for interviews

Reply 12

gozatron

16

First post.

Just sayin'

Reply 13

Beska

OP

21

Original post by gozatron

First post.

Just sayin'

Not anymore. :colone:

Reply 14

Penguinsaysquack

16

Original post by AspiringGenius

Penguin is watching :ninja:

Reply 15

GH

13

Original post by Lorem_ipsum

Yea I thought that aswell but they have mock interviews which im looking forward too and i think they have stuff about ethics etc which again will be useful for interviews

Probably the best resource I have seen for medical school revision/interview practise use is:

MinistryofEthics.co.uk

Goty all the notes you need to know, got videos show casing common exam/interview scenarios (HIV and needlestick injury, organ donation etc etc).

No need to go out and do a course nor buy a book.

Reply 16

DNA helicase

Tis Scared =/

How many hours did you guys put into this? I'm spending most of my time doing practice questions, I don't know if I should be doing that or other revision??

I walked into a wall doing questions the other day. :cool:

It seems obsessive.

Reply 17

GH

13

Original post by DNA helicase

Tis Scared =/

How many hours did you guys put into this? I'm spending most of my time doing practice questions, I don't know if I should be doing that or other revision??

I walked into a wall doing questions the other day. :cool:

It seems obsessive.

You need to put in as many hours as you feel is required to get you a place in medical school.

You can never do enough practise.

Reply 18

gozatron

16

While i'm here.

Don't neglect S3.

I purposely thought "it'll be alright on the day" as i'm usually pretty good at debating in an essay. I spent all my time on S1 and S2, score above average in both those section but below average in S3. The feedback i got from Imperial and Oxford told me that my S3 score stopped me getting interviews.