No BMAT from 2024/25 : Reforms to Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing from 2024

Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing is to withdraw from running a series of university admissions exams with effect from 2024-5. This includes BMAT (medicine), ENGAA (engineering), NSAA (natural sciences) and TMUA (mathematical skills) tests.

The bespoke tests are operationally unsustainable over the medium term, given their significant complexity and the need to deliver them affordably to students and higher education institutions.

For the academic year 2024/25 onwards, the seven UK medical schools that use BMAT tests as part of their admissions process (Brighton and Sussex, Imperial, Lancaster, UCL, Cambridge, Leeds and Oxford) as well as medical and healthcare schools in other countries will put alternative arrangements in place.

There will be no change for next academic year's entry system, as Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing services will continue for 2023. Similarly, this year’s admissions tests and results remain unaffected.

A spokesperson for Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing said:
“Our priority is to ensure no disruption to students and give higher education providers plenty of time to put alternate options in place. The bespoke and intensely manual delivery of these complex high-stakes tests is operationally and financially unsustainable in the medium to long-term.”

To minimise disruption, the University of Cambridge is considering alternatives. ENGAA (engineering), NSAA (natural sciences) and TMUA are currently used for pre-interview selection to some courses at the University.

A spokesperson for the University of Cambridge said:
"There will be no immediate change to students this year or in 2023, and all changes from 2024 onwards will be clearly communicated in advance. Our focus is on a smooth transition to an alternative arrangement. We are constantly working to ensure that admissions are fair and transparent and we will continue to strengthen our efforts to encourage students from all backgrounds to apply for and secure places at Cambridge."

https://www.admissionstesting.org/news/view/reforms-to-cambridge-assessment-admissions-testing-from-2024/

Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing is to withdraw from running a series of university admissions exams with effect from 2024-5. This includes BMAT (medicine), ENGAA (engineering), NSAA (natural sciences) and TMUA (mathematical skills) tests.

The bespoke tests are operationally unsustainable over the medium term, given their significant complexity and the need to deliver them affordably to students and higher education institutions.

For the academic year 2024/25 onwards, the seven UK medical schools that use BMAT tests as part of their admissions process (Brighton and Sussex, Imperial, Lancaster, UCL, Cambridge, Leeds and Oxford) as well as medical and healthcare schools in other countries will put alternative arrangements in place.

There will be no change for next academic year's entry system, as Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing services will continue for 2023. Similarly, this year’s admissions tests and results remain unaffected.

A spokesperson for Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing said:
“Our priority is to ensure no disruption to students and give higher education providers plenty of time to put alternate options in place. The bespoke and intensely manual delivery of these complex high-stakes tests is operationally and financially unsustainable in the medium to long-term.”

To minimise disruption, the University of Cambridge is considering alternatives. ENGAA (engineering), NSAA (natural sciences) and TMUA are currently used for pre-interview selection to some courses at the University.

A spokesperson for the University of Cambridge said:
"There will be no immediate change to students this year or in 2023, and all changes from 2024 onwards will be clearly communicated in advance. Our focus is on a smooth transition to an alternative arrangement. We are constantly working to ensure that admissions are fair and transparent and we will continue to strengthen our efforts to encourage students from all backgrounds to apply for and secure places at Cambridge."

https://www.admissionstesting.org/news/view/reforms-to-cambridge-assessment-admissions-testing-from-2024/

thanks!

It’s a privilege for us that you have come back to TSR to point this out.

My younger son has already mentioned this to me a few days ago, and I have just read the article that you have printed out in full.

What I feel the students applying in 2024 need is some sample material to practise with. Yes they say they will let us know in good time. However, I hope this will not be too little, too late.

Heaven knows, it is stressful enough applying to Oxbridge medicine but Cambridge admissions being all mysterious about it, telling us the bmat is being scrapped and not giving any hints at all at even what type of questions there will be, never mind sample questions, makes me feel a bit uneasy.

The bmat results largely determine whether or not an applicant receives an Oxford interview, so detailed information is even more important.

I have just posted my concerns on the Cambridge thread, but not confident I will receive any response.

Hello just to clarify, as BMAT is being scrapped does that mean students who are currently in year 11 will not be sitting it?