UKCAT 2011: Some Frequently Asked Questions
The UKCAT 2011 is just looming in the horizon. All of you hopefuls out there must have your preparations in full swing. However, there are some things that you should know about the examination itself before you sit for it. So take some time off your preparations to don the investigative cap.
The UKCAT or UK Clinical Aptitude Test is the only examination in the UK for entry to 26 of the 31 the medical universities in the UK and EU. By acing the UKCAT, you can gain entry to a plethora of medical courses, ranging from optometry to dentistry. The examination is conducted by a Consortium of medical schools in the country; therefore, you are eligible to apply with your UKCAT scores only to those universities that belong to the Consortium. These universities are the best in the field in the country.
Any candidate wishing to pursue medicine as a career needs is eligible to sit the UKCAT. The examination is international, and candidates from all around the world can sit for the test, other than a select few countries that are exempt. Some candidates are also exempt from the examination. In order to ensure that you do/do not fall under this category, you must carefully browse through the information provided in the official UKCAT website.
If international candidates are worried about the long trip that has to be undertaken in order to sit the test, rest assured that there is no such problem. The UKCAT organises test centres in almost every country around the world. Possibly the best thing about the UKCAT is that it believes in trying till you succeed; which is why there is no age bar and you can try again if success doesn’t smile on you at once. Even better, you can appear for the test only once a year, which means that you have another whole year to better your preparations.
The UKCAT does not require the candidates to belong to a science background; the stress is on aptitude and not on knowledge. After all, knowledge is something that the universities you go to will impart in plenty; what you must have is the ability to soak in the whole of it.
The UKCAT 2011 has seen some changes. For instance, section 5 of the paper, that is, the Non-Cognitive Analysis segment, no longer exists. The other areas all remain the same. An online aptitude test, the UKCAT requires you to be quick and smart, because the time frame is too limited.