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UKCAT Score Needed for Dentistry

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Original post by AspiringMedic8
Just found that Sheffield's cut off was 650, Newcastle's cut off was 695, KCL advise an applicant to have a score of 730 or above, Dundee's average accepted student got 680, don't know about Glasgow.

It's fair to say KCL looks off the cards for me :tongue:


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Dentistry and Medicine are very different.... for dentistry at Sheffield

"In the past this was true [that Sheffield required a very high UKCAT score] but we have now decided that we were using UKCAT in the wrong way. We have therefore decided that for 2013 entry we will be asking for a score of 2400 or above (the national average) to meet our requirement."

That was a quote on the student room. I have even read on their web site that they don't operate a cut off....


This is on their website:


UKCAT: All applicants applying to study Dentistry at the University of Sheffield will need to undertake the UKCAT in order to be eligible for admission. We do not have a cut-off score for the UKCAT and no applicants are excluded from the selection procedure due to a low score. The test result is used in combination with the other academic criteria and a high score may compensate for weaker GCSE grades. The score may also be used at the end of the selection procedure to differentiate between applicants who are equal in all other criteria. The test must be taken prior to your application, please note that test results are only valid for the current admissions cycle, if you re-apply to this Dental School you will need to sit the test again. Details of test dates and how to register for the test can be found on the UKCAT website http://www.ukcat.ac.uk/ click here

Original post by Dentist95
Dentistry and Medicine are very different.... for dentistry at Sheffield

"In the past this was true [that Sheffield required a very high UKCAT score] but we have now decided that we were using UKCAT in the wrong way. We have therefore decided that for 2013 entry we will be asking for a score of 2400 or above (the national average) to meet our requirement."

That was a quote on the student room. I have even read on their web site that they don't operate a cut off....


This is on their website:


UKCAT: All applicants applying to study Dentistry at the University of Sheffield will need to undertake the UKCAT in order to be eligible for admission. We do not have a cut-off score for the UKCAT and no applicants are excluded from the selection procedure due to a low score. The test result is used in combination with the other academic criteria and a high score may compensate for weaker GCSE grades. The score may also be used at the end of the selection procedure to differentiate between applicants who are equal in all other criteria. The test must be taken prior to your application, please note that test results are only valid for the current admissions cycle, if you re-apply to this Dental School you will need to sit the test again. Details of test dates and how to register for the test can be found on the UKCAT website http://www.ukcat.ac.uk/ click here




Their cut off will definitely be 650, or higher. Don't apply to Sheffield, for your own sake! Apply to QMUL, Bristol, Leeds and other places that don't care too much or don't use the UKCAT. You're wasting a space on your application otherwise. Not trying to be mean here by the way; I'm just warning you.

"For 2013 ENTRY a score of 2600 or above (the national average) was required to meet the minimum requirement."

Source:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/UKCAT
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by AspiringMedic8
Their cut off will definitely be 650, or higher. Don't apply to Sheffield, for your own sake! Apply to QMUL, Bristol, Leeds and other places that don't care too much or don't use the UKCAT. You're wasting a space on your application otherwise. Not trying to be mean here by the way; I'm just warning you.

"For 2013 ENTRY a score of 2600 or above (the national average) was required to meet the minimum requirement."

Source:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/UKCAT


Just so you know, it is very different for Dentistry than it is for Medicine... I know your just giving me advice, I appreciate your concern :smile:

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/The_UKCAT_for_Dentistry
Original post by Dentist95
Just so you know, it is very different for Dentistry than it is for Medicine... I know your just giving me advice, I appreciate your concern :smile:

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/The_UKCAT_for_Dentistry


Great news! :smile:

So it seems Glasgow, KCL, Newcastle and Barts all rank us according to UKCAT before interview? :/


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Original post by AspiringMedic8
Great news! :smile:

So it seems Glasgow, KCL, Newcastle and Barts all rank us according to UKCAT before interview? :/


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I presume so. I have rang sheffield and they said that they may use the UKCAT if there are too many candidates who would be selected for interview. However Sheffield do not have a cut off...... 'officially'
Sat the UKCAT today and got 643 which I'm not overly happy about, but it could have been worse.

VR: 700
QR: 720
AR: 560
DA: 590
Band 1.

Where can I apply from Glasgow, Dundee, Newcastle, KCL, Sheffield and Bart's? :/


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Original post by AspiringMedic8
Sat the UKCAT today and got 643 which I'm not overly happy about, but it could have been worse.

VR: 700
QR: 720
AR: 560
DA: 590
Band 1.

Where can I apply from Glasgow, Dundee, Newcastle, KCL, Sheffield and Bart's? :/


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Its dependant on how everyone else did this year. Dont take last year's as an example, they were much higher than normal.
BTW, Barts use your UKCAT and UCAS tariff as a 50/50 weighting for interview.
Barts and KCL will be the most strict on UKCAT.
Original post by alevelzzz
Its dependant on how everyone else did this year. Dont take last year's as an example, they were much higher than normal.
BTW, Barts use your UKCAT and UCAS tariff as a 50/50 weighting for interview.
Barts and KCL will be the most strict on UKCAT.


I think Glasgow's the most strict on UKCAT from the list. If I get straight As in my Highers and have good predictions for Advanced Highers then my UKCAT score will be fine for Bart's. Don't know about KCL!


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Original post by AspiringMedic8
Hi everyone!

I'm a Scottish applicant, and thinking of applying to Glasgow, Dundee, Newcastle and KCL.

I have eight 1s in my Standard Grades and will hopefully get five As in my Highers, but we'll just have to wait until the 5th of August to find if I do!



My UKCAT scores are fluctuating a lot in practice tests:

In my diagnostic test, I got 670 for VR, 770 for QR, 600 for DA, 570 for AR, so 653 overall with a band 2 in SJ.

I worked through the Kaplan BOOK and just sat the mock test and got a 613, which I'm so disappointed with. I did the online test A and found the QR and AR really difficult and got a similar bad score.

For VR, my highest has been 670 and lowest 600.
For QR, my highest has been 800 and lowest 470 (!)
For DA, my highest has been 750 and lowest 500
For AR, my highest has been 570 and lowest 550.

Most of the high scores have been earlier on in my revision.



My question is, what minimum score would I need to get interviews for my desired choices? I know the universities I have mentioned use the UKCAT a lot in their admissions processes. I don't really want to apply elsewhere as these places have achievable academic conditions whereas other dental schools ask for grades that I would have a hard time getting.


I got 630 last year, and got an interview at KCL for Dentistry. I think 700+ is a bit over the top considering my score. But what do I know, things might have changed a lot in one year.
Original post by iAre Teh Lejend
I got 630 last year, and got an interview at KCL for Dentistry. I think 700+ is a bit over the top considering my score. But what do I know, things might have changed a lot in one year.


Is dentistry a hard degree? Do you know anyone who failed etc etc? What advice would you give to someone starting dentistry?
Original post by alevelzzz
Is dentistry a hard degree? Do you know anyone who failed etc etc? What advice would you give to someone starting dentistry?


Dentistry has an extremely low failure rate because of the academic caliber of its students. In addition, the university wants you to pass and will do everything they can to ensure this! However, there's a lot of development that's required in those five years, so in a way, it is a hard degree, and in a way it isn't. :smile:


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Original post by alevelzzz
Is dentistry a hard degree? Do you know anyone who failed etc etc? What advice would you give to someone starting dentistry?


Out of 64 students in year 1 in my course, as far as I know, less than 4 failed the year. I found the year easy though. I guess some people are meant for it and some aren't ?
Original post by iAre Teh Lejend
Out of 64 students in year 1 in my course, as far as I know, less than 4 failed the year. I found the year easy though. I guess some people are meant for it and some aren't ?


Would you say its just a big workload and not actually conceptually difficult? Also, do you get ranked in your year group? Also, do you think you made the right decision doing dentistry?
Original post by alevelzzz
Would you say its just a big workload and not actually conceptually difficult? Also, do you get ranked in your year group? Also, do you think you made the right decision doing dentistry?


Big workload ? Hmm, no. I pretty much didn't go to any lectures. I only attended practical sessions where we learn how to do clinical things. (fillings, root canal etc.). I started studying for exams only a couple weeks before and scored well. It's pretty much A-level biology all over again, but you're learning different things, and all anatomy, no statistics like A-level bio had.

You get a personal ranking which no one else sees unless you tell them. Rank doesn't matter. In Dentistry, it's either you pass or fail, and you have to pass everything. (you are given chances to resit though)

I think I made the right decision in doing dentistry.

By the way, I speak from experience at Plymouth university, other uni may be very different.
Original post by iAre Teh Lejend
Big workload ? Hmm, no. I pretty much didn't go to any lectures. I only attended practical sessions where we learn how to do clinical things. (fillings, root canal etc.). I started studying for exams only a couple weeks before and scored well. It's pretty much A-level biology all over again, but you're learning different things, and all anatomy, no statistics like A-level bio had.

You get a personal ranking which no one else sees unless you tell them. Rank doesn't matter. In Dentistry, it's either you pass or fail, and you have to pass everything. (you are given chances to resit though)

I think I made the right decision in doing dentistry.

By the way, I speak from experience at Plymouth university, other uni may be very different.


So are the students who failed getting kicked out or not then?
Im pretty sure rank does matter in terms of where you het a VT place and if you want to do specialist training? At least thats what my dentist told me
Original post by alevelzzz
So are the students who failed getting kicked out or not then?
Im pretty sure rank does matter in terms of where you het a VT place and if you want to do specialist training? At least thats what my dentist told me


you get a chance to retake.

and im pretty sure rank doesnt matter.
Original post by iAre Teh Lejend
you get a chance to retake.

and im pretty sure rank doesnt matter.


So how do they decide if somebody gets a place for specialisation?
Original post by alevelzzz
So how do they decide if somebody gets a place for specialisation?


What are you talking about ?

They don't decide, you decide if you want to specialise. How can someone tell you, you can't be an orthodontist LOL. You're the one who applies and pays for it all.
Original post by iAre Teh Lejend
What are you talking about ?

They don't decide, you decide if you want to specialise. How can someone tell you, you can't be an orthodontist LOL. You're the one who applies and pays for it all.


No, I know that but how would they differentiate between candidates is what I mean.
Original post by alevelzzz
No, I know that but how would they differentiate between candidates is what I mean.


What is there to differentiate between ? It's either you are capable of practicing Dentistry or not. That is my point.

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