Some universities require applicants sit an entrance exam in addition to the normal academic requirements. There are a number of different exams used. Follow the links below to find out about each one. A list of the medical schools that use the exam and the courses for which the exam must be taken are provided beneath each link.
UKCAT
Introduced in 2007, the UK Clinical Aptitude Test is a computer based testing method used by a consortium of 26 Universities and medical who have agreed to adopt the UKCAT as part of their selection process to medical studies. To find out more about UKCAT, please visit this link.
A full list of Universities and medical school participating in the UKCAT consortium can be found on the UKCAT Universities page.
The UKCAT may be undertaken in up to 80 countries, with UK tests being conducted up and down the country in Pearson Professional Centres. For international student residing in and studying in countries not included within the UKCAT Testing Countries an exemption may be available by contacting UKCAT directly.
Registration Opens: 1 May 2014
Testing Begins: 1 July 2014
Registration Close: 19 September 2014
Bursary and Exemption Deadline: 19 September 2014
Booking/Rescheduling Closes: 2 October 2014
Last Testing Date: 3 October 2014
For 2014 UKCAT/Pearson VUE have confirmed that the costs will be as follows:
Tests sat between 1st July to 31st August 2014: £65
Tests sat between 1st September to 2nd October: £80
Tests taken outside of the EU: £100
The above costs will be the same for both UKCAT and UKCATSEN
The total mean average score in 2013 was 2643.
Mean average scores for the subsections were:
Verbal Reasoning – 557
Quantitative Reasoning – 655
Abstract Reasoning – 661
Decision Analysis – 771
A full breakdown of results and demographics is published as part of the UKCAT Executive Summary.
GAMSAT UK
The Graduate Medical Schools Admission Test, (GAMSAT) is designed to assess the suitability for an applicants ability to undertake medical studies at a number of medical schools in the UK. Variants of the test are also used in a few other Commonwealth nations. Taking the test does not require applicants to have studied a scientific discipline previously however success can only be gained through knowledge and ability in biological and physical sciences. There is only one GAMSAT test date per year, the date for which can be found on the UK section of the GAMSAT website.
Registration opens: 2 June 2014
Registration closes: Midnight on 8 August 2014
Late registration close: Midnight 18 August 2014 (subject to additional fee of £60)
Test date: 14 September 2014
Test fee: £234
Results published: Late November 2014
Correct as of 14 February 2014, details subject to change, please check the official GAMSAT UK website to verify the above.
St George’s Hospital Medical School: required for the 4-year graduate-entry course (A101).
University of Nottingham at Derby Medical School: required for the 4-year graduate-entry course (A101).
University of Wales Swansea Medical School: required for the 4-year graduate-entry course (A101).
Peninsula Medical School: required for graduates applying to their standard 5-year course (A100).
The GAMSAT test comprises of:
Section 1: Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences
Section 2: Written Communications – 2 x 30 minute tasks looking at
(i) Socio-cultural issues
(ii) Personal and social issues
Section 3: Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences
This section is made up of question in three discipline areas at the following proportions—
Chemistry 40%
Biology 40%
Physics 20%
Further information can be found in the 2013 GAMSAT Information Booklet.
MSAT (Medical Schools Admissions Test)
MSAT IS NO LONGER REQUIRED FOR ENTRY INTO THE FOLLOWING COURSES. THIS EXAM WAS SUPERSEDED BY UKCAT.
BMAT
The BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test) is administered by the Admissions Testing Service of Cambridge Assessment, used by a small number of Universities and medical schools to assess an applicants potential in an academically demanding medical setting. The test is not intending to decide upon their fitness to practice medicine however forms a component of the selection alongside the applicant’s academic and personal history, UCAS application and medical school interview.
Registration opens: Mid 2014
Registration closes: Mid 2014
Test date: Late 2014
Test fee: £44 (for 2013, subsequent years may be higher)
Results published: Late 2014
Please be advised at the time of publish, no dates for registration and testing, or test costs, have been released by the Admissions Testing Service. Please check the Dates and Costs link for more up to date information.
Cambridge: compulsory for the standard 5-year course (A100). Optional for graduates applying to the graduate-entry programme (A101) if they wish to use it to fulfil the academic requirements to study medicine at Cambridge.
Imperial College London: required for the standard 5-year course (A100).
University of Oxford: required for the standard 5-year course (A100) and 4-year graduate course (A101).
University College London: required for the standard 5-year course (A100).
University of Leeds: required for the standard 5-year course (A100).
Brighton and Sussex Medical School: required for the 4-year graduate course (A101).
The BMAT is a 2 hour pen and paper test consisting of 3 sections:
Section 1: Aptitude and Skill (60 mins—35 multiple choice or short answer questions)
Section 2: Scientific Knowledge and Applications (30 mins—27 multiple choice or short answer questions)
Section 3: Writing Task (30 mins – 1 from choice of 3 short essay questions)
Further information can be found on the BMAT Specification leaflet.
