Should i sit the BMAT or apply to medical school with what i have?

Resit the Ukcat

Hi @molly.d,
Looks like you'll have to apply strategically so make sure you research thoroughly - my friend didn't and just applied where she fancied and didn't get in. Don't just rely on websites like medic portal - make sure you look directly at the universities websites.

Personally I wouldn't sit BMAT in October and apply not knowing whether you'd done well or not, although I understand your dilemma as your UCAT is not great. Your GCSEs are good enough though.

Cardiff may be worth applying to as they look favourably upon a Welsh applicant (guessing it's because there's more likelihood of you staying in NHS Wales).
Some med schools don't look at UCAT scores but just want you to sit them.
Some med schools have a minimum UCAT cut off score which is quite low (Plymouth)
Some med schools have a scoring system of which the UCAT score is only 1 of them (maybe QUB, Birmingham, Nottingham)
Those that were in Adjustment / Clearing this year may be less competitive again next year (I think these were Lancaster, Lincoln, St George's, possibly QUB). Look in the medicine clearing thread in TSR.

Good luck - you "only" need 1 offer!

I have done



Hi I’ve just got my UCAT result back and I scored a 625 which isn’t ‘amazing’. I was just wondering if you know if that’s enough for any universities in London or should I also do the BMAT?

I have done



Hi I’ve just got my UCAT result back and I scored a 625 which isn’t ‘amazing’. I was just wondering if you know if that’s enough for any universities in London or should I also do the BMAT?

Hi @molly.d,
Looks like you'll have to apply strategically so make sure you research thoroughly - my friend didn't and just applied where she fancied and didn't get in. Don't just rely on websites like medic portal - make sure you look directly at the universities websites.

Personally I wouldn't sit BMAT in October and apply not knowing whether you'd done well or not, although I understand your dilemma as your UCAT is not great. Your GCSEs are good enough though.

Cardiff may be worth applying to as they look favourably upon a Welsh applicant (guessing it's because there's more likelihood of you staying in NHS Wales).
Some med schools don't look at UCAT scores but just want you to sit them.
Some med schools have a minimum UCAT cut off score which is quite low (Plymouth)
Some med schools have a scoring system of which the UCAT score is only 1 of them (maybe QUB, Birmingham, Nottingham)
Those that were in Adjustment / Clearing this year may be less competitive again next year (I think these were Lancaster, Lincoln, St George's, possibly QUB). Look in the medicine clearing thread in TSR.

Good luck - you "only" need 1 offer!

Thankyou so much that was extremely useful! I've been doing research into all medical schools and am narrowing it down to wear i might actually have a chance of getting in but i really don't feel like i'm good enough for any medical school with what i have!

Those that were in Adjustment / Clearing this year may be less competitive again next year (I think these were Lancaster, Lincoln, St George's, possibly QUB). Look in the medicine clearing thread in TSR.

Hi @molly.d are you looking at Oct BMAT? If you are I think you don’t get your results before the Ucas application closing date. Others can confirm as I only did UKCAT. As your stats stand now, you should be able to get an interview if you apply carefully. Everyone is equal once you get to that stage.

Why do you think those unis were less competitive? Those unis were not in clearing because they didn't get enough good applicants - they were planned places saved specifically for clearing aimed at grabbing highly qualified candidates who missed out elsewhere. They still required interviews, and still scrutinised results including UCAT score.

The October BMAT is sat after the deadline, so yes.

I know a fair number of guys who had less than brilliant results & scores getting into these institutions, some through clearing. They may have aced their interviews, hard to say. The fact they got to interview stage would suggest an increased probability of getting an interview.
Have you evidence (soz I haven’t gone into the unis websites) that they deliberately withhold places for clearing as that’s an interesting tactic to attract the best candidates.

Here is an article talking about St George's planning to enter clearing after "success last year".
https://www.gponline.com/university-offer-50-places-study-medicine-clearing-week/article/1441983

If you can find up to date competition ratios for these unis, you'll also see they still get vastly (average 10 to 1 or more) applicants per place, so its not like you can argue they are not getting enough applicants.

Admittedly, i am not aware of specific sources for the other unis stating it was planned. In theory, they could have set their standards super super high so that even having 10 applicants per place didn't get them enough candidates. Either way: competition for those clearing places will have been fierce.

You can get into medical school with your UCAT score. Do feel free to sit the BMAT and apply to 1 or 2 BMAT universities. Make the other three Sunderland, Keele and King's EMDP (if you are eligible); you certainly aren't limited to these universities, there are many other gateway courses that would consider you, if you are able to meet the criteria.
Liverpool and SGUL are both less strict regarding UCAT requirements recently. I think you would be in with a chance at many medical schools.

Thank you so much that's really useful. I'm definitely considering Sunderland but can't seem to find much information about their admissions process, their website is very vague. Do you know where i can find any info on this?

Sunderland use the same process as Keele - a Roles and Responsibilities form which is their verson of the PS.
There is loads of info about it on Keele's website