How early do i revise for my UCAT?

8

Hi, I know it's super early, but I'm interested in medicine and I've been hearing about the UCAT but I don't really know what it involves and how seriously I should take it. How much time should I devote to it and when do I start revising if I take it this summer? I don't want to do too much if its one of those things you can't really revise for, and I dont want to waste time I could use preparing for mocks. Thank you!

Reply 1

Fkdkfkflfle

10

I can't say for the UCAT but I started prep for my admission test in like April but it was a stem based one but I would say don't start too early or as you say because you need a good set of predicteds for med. I know that my friends started right after summer mocks and did like an hour a day in the holidays and increased intensity towards their test.

Reply 2

TheDrX

5

Original post

by dak123

Hi, I know it's super early, but I'm interested in medicine and I've been hearing about the UCAT but I don't really know what it involves and how seriously I should take it. How much time should I devote to it and when do I start revising if I take it this summer? I don't want to do too much if its one of those things you can't really revise for, and I dont want to waste time I could use preparing for mocks. Thank you!

Mocks are your priority right now- but it only takes a few mins a day to practice skills that will compound and save you a LOT of time in summer- with speedreading trainers and mental arithmetic. Give your mocks your all, and any spare time you have dedicate to improving skills

Reply 3

dak123

OP

8

Original post

by TheDrX

Mocks are your priority right now- but it only takes a few mins a day to practice skills that will compound and save you a LOT of time in summer- with speedreading trainers and mental arithmetic. Give your mocks your all, and any spare time you have dedicate to improving skills

Can you please recommend sites I can practice on, and specific skills? Mocks aren't til June so I feel like I should at least make a tiny start, and then I'm thinking of getting medify but I will wait long enough that I can buy a year's subscription and it can help me for my interviews next year.

Reply 4

FiBox

12

Definitely take it very seriously - most medical schools look at grades then invite for interview based on the UCAT score. Having said that, if you were to revise for it more or less full time, anything more than about a month’s revision won’t really improve your score. You definitely want to spend the equivalent of at least a two/three weeks revising though as just familiarity with the tasks will give you a boost - and learning the short cut keys. The biggest issue with it is time - it is fast. Medify and Medentry offer practice sessions and mocks in addition to the UCAT website practice questions. I would recommend a month’s subscription to one (more if you are revising part time over a longer period which is probably sensible). But if you have exams at the moment focus on those for now - as I mentioned, universities look at predicted grades too. If you are in Scotland doing Highers I would start after your final exams for those.

When you book, don’t choose a date that is too late - definitely before school starts back as you don’t want to be juggling it with course work. You are also stating you are fit to take the test by taking it - there are no special considerations in terms of health etc. So if you are ill on the day you are expected to rebook. If you leave it to the last week you won’t be able to rebook.

Reply 5

bobjeffandam

14

Original post

by dak123

Hi, I know it's super early, but I'm interested in medicine and I've been hearing about the UCAT but I don't really know what it involves and how seriously I should take it. How much time should I devote to it and when do I start revising if I take it this summer? I don't want to do too much if its one of those things you can't really revise for, and I dont want to waste time I could use preparing for mocks. Thank you!

I sat the UCAT last summer, and i started 6 weeks before my exam. I low-key regret not balancing my schedule more (doing less intense focus0 , because I was averaging 2300s+ (top 5 percent ish) in my last few mocks, but gave up a few days before the exam (I was so fed up of it). I still got a 2900 ish score equivlant which got me to where I wanted, but:

I had no idea what I was doing!! I feel like nobody really explains the process:

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I really recommend medify around 6-8 weeks before your mock. 8 weeks is PLENTY. My friend revised 3-4 weeks 4hrs/day and came out with a top 4% score.

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I personally started 6 weeks before, around 3 hours a day.

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MedEntry is okay, if you are able to get both- i recommend- so you can adapt to the structure

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do not use the official UCAT mocks yet- as these will be your closest reflection to your final score when you do sit the exam.

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PLEASE PRIORITISE SCHOOL EXAMS!! i started revising for my UCAT after my end of years, otherwise I would have not got the grades i did- you need to do well for your UCAS predicted!! especially since you would be an early applicant so getting teachers to change grades will be HARD!

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UCAT is NOT something you can genuinely prepare for- it is more learning how to manage your time and maximise points if anything. so more time does not necessarily mean better results. It is better starting like 6 weeks before, because you will have more time to learn those skills.

I was SOOO lost last year this time. DW!! its just like a goofy iQ type vibe test. you can do well, but you will be fine. Focus on your grades for now, and you will smash it when time comes :yes:

Lmk if you have any qs, hope this helped somewhat- I wrote it half asleep, so sorry if it doesnt make sense!

Reply 6

Flower2007!

14

Original post

by dak123

Hi, I know it's super early, but I'm interested in medicine and I've been hearing about the UCAT but I don't really know what it involves and how seriously I should take it. How much time should I devote to it and when do I start revising if I take it this summer? I don't want to do too much if its one of those things you can't really revise for, and I dont want to waste time I could use preparing for mocks. Thank you!

6-8 weeks before your exam is ideal. subscribe to medify and just rinse all the questions and mocks. do the official ucat mocks too. try to do a tiny bit everyday for consistency. joyel george on youtube very helpful

Reply 7

SomehowAMedic

Universities Forum Helper

14

Original post

by dak123

Hi, I know it's super early, but I'm interested in medicine and I've been hearing about the UCAT but I don't really know what it involves and how seriously I should take it. How much time should I devote to it and when do I start revising if I take it this summer? I don't want to do too much if its one of those things you can't really revise for, and I dont want to waste time I could use preparing for mocks. Thank you!

Yeah dont start now, it would be a waste of your time. Just focus on mocks and start prepping approx 3 months before your exam. 1st month chill, just getting familiar with it, then just start full timed mocks. There are not that many full mocks available so use them sparingly!

How early do i revise for my UCAT?

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