BMAT & UCAT (UKCAT)
Students applying for Medicine at a university in the UK must take the UCAT (formerly known as the UKCAT) or the BMAT. University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Imperial College London Faculty of Medicine, Oxford University Medical School, Royal Veterinary College University of London, University College London UCL Medical School, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, and University of Leeds Faculty of Medicine and Health School of Medicine require the applicants to take the Bio-Medical Admissions Test (BMAT), The BMAT focuses on aptitude and skills, scientific knowledge and applications, and writing, Section 1 tests the aptitude and skills of the medical candidates by asking 35 multiple-choice questions about data analysis and inference, understanding arguments, and generic problem solving skills. This section takes 60 minutes. Section 2 requires only 30 minutes and asks 27 multiple-choice questions that require the candidate to apply scientific knowledge from Key Stage 4 of the National Curriculum for England in school mathematics and science. Section 3 of the BMAT is the writing task. The candidate will have 30 minutes to write an essay that presents well developed ideas efficiently, in logically organized paragraphs. The candidate will choose from four topics. The BMAT may be taken in Hong Kong at the British Council Exam Services Hong Kong.
University of Aberdeen School of Medicine and Dentistry, Cardiff University School of Medicine, University of Central Lancashire School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Dundee School of Medicine, Durham University School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health, University of East Anglia Norwich Medical School, University of Edinburgh College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Glasgow School of Medicine, Hull York Medical School, Keele University School of Medicine, King’s College London Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Leicester Department of Medical and Social Care Education, University of Manchester School of Medicine, University of Newcastle School of Medical Education, University of Nottingham Medical School, Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen’s University Belfast School of Medicine, University of Sheffield Medical School, University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine, University of St Andrews School of Medicine, St George’s University of London Medical School, and the University of Warwick Medical School require the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT). The UCAT is a multiple choice exam that does not test the mathematics and science curriculum like the BMAT, instead it tests innate skills. The Verbal Reasoning Section asks candidates to critically evaluate written statements. The Quantitative Reasoning Section asks candidates to answer mathematical questions. The Abstract Reasoning Section asks candidates to infer relationships from information using convergent and divergent thinking. The Decision Analysis Section asks candidates to use complex information to make sound decisions and judgements. The Situational Judgement Section assesses the capacity to identify critical factors, necessary to help understand real world situations, so that the most appropriate behaviour is used to deal with and solve the problems. The UCAT may be taken in Hong Kong at the Pearson Professional Center in Wan Chai.
The typical A Level offer for Cambridge Medicine’s Standard Course is A*AA, and the typical IB offer is 40-42 points with 776 or 777 at Higher Level, while the typical A Level offer for Medicine at Oxford is A*AA or an overall IB score of 39 points with 766 at Higher Level. Chemistry is required, while Biology, Physics, and Mathematics are recommended. The University of Leicester’s Medicine Departments standard offer is AAA or 36 points for IB with 6 required in all subjects. The Complete University Guide ranks the top British Medicine Programs. IST academic consultants may be booked to advise Hong Kong students, who are applying to the best Med Schools in the UK.
UCAT & BMAT Tutor, 2023 – present
Mr Firnaaz Mohideen has been studying medicine at the University of Cambridge, St John’s College since 2018. Mr Mohideen has consistently ranked in the top 5% of his class. Firnaaz is also a supervisor at St John’s College, leading group tutorials in Biochemistry, Pathology, and Pharmacology. He has many years of successful experience tutoring BMAT test takers and UCAS medical applicants, especially Oxford and Cambridge.
UCAT & BMAT Tutor, 2005 – present
Our Principal, Mr Don Ho’s top BMAT student scored 9 on Section 1 – Aptitude and Skills, 6.2 on Section 2 – Scientific Knowledge and Application, and 3.5A on Section 3 – Writing. Any score above 6 is usually considered excellent. To prepare, Don asks his pupils to do as many practice papers as possible as early as possible because some of the concepts required for Problem Solving, Understanding Arguments, Inference, and Data Analysis are very difficult to learn quickly. The BMAT essay is also challenging because only 30 minutes is given to write a single page on a scientific, medical, ethical, or philosophical quote or question.
Mr Ho has also been tutoring all sections of the UCAT (formerly known as UKCAT) for many years. Don has found that most students require the most help with the Abstract Reasoning Section. Since most UCAT students are very high achievers, most are able to prepare the Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning and Situational Judgment questions, without very much help from Don. He recommends that all students try the official online UCAT Practice Tests and Questions Banks before booking a lesson.
UCAT & BMAT Tutor, 2014 – 2019
Sadly, Dr Sam Szeto passed away in December 2019. He had liver cancer. IST will keep his information in memoriam.
Dr Sam Szeto is International Scholars Tuition’s top BMAT Tutor. He studied Biochemistry at the University of Alberta (CAN), where he earned both a Doctorate of Philosophy and a Bachelor of Science Hons. (First Class standing). Dr Szeto has been awarded numerous scholarships and prizes for his research and academic endeavours. These include two studentships, the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research Studentship and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Postgraduate Scholarship, and a University of Alberta Med Star Award for research excellence.
Dr Szeto was previously at the Department of Chemistry, University of Hong Kong performing research as a Postdoctoral Fellow. He also spent three years at the A*STAR Institute of Medical Biology in Singapore as a staff scientist. During his time at the University of Alberta, Dr Szeto also took on teaching positions as a Sessional Instructor for the Department of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene and as a Guest Lecturer for the Department of Biochemistry.
As an academically trained scientist Dr. Szeto has significant experience utilizing various skills and aptitudes such as problem solving, interpreting argumentative statements, and data analysis and inference, that are assessed in the Section 1 examination paper. Dr Szeto also possesses extensive academic experience in the field of biomedical sciences and has considerable training in the area of Biochemistry. This provides a thorough familiarity with both Biology and Chemistry, subjects that are assessed as part of the Section 2 examination. He is well prepared to provide insight and guidance through the scientific knowledge and critical thinking components of the BMAT, and has assisted students from Eton, Discovery College and GSIS in their preparations for this exam.