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Two-Day course
Whilst additional, non-subject specific testing is not an entirely new concept within our educational system, this is the first time that the majority of medical and dental schools have joined forces in pioneering the use of a general test. Some twenty-six schools, will be using the UK Clinical Aptitude Test for the second time as part of the admissions process for 2008 entry. It may seem that the burden on students is ever increasing, particularly as some will also have to sit BMAT (the BioMedical Admissions Test), but as with anything new, gaining some understanding of what is involved makes sense.
UKCAT has been designed to assess the scope of mental abilities and behavioural attributes that have been identified as desirable for those entering medical or dental school. It seeks to determine aptitudes rather than assess knowledge based on academic learning. The focus is on critical reasoning ability and for the 2007 test this has been further subdivided into the following 5 components:
- Verbal Reasoning
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Abstract Reasoning
- Decision Analysis
- Non-Cognitive Analysis
Collectively, the five areas will assess the following:
- Ability to think logically and laterally
- Propensity to solve numerical and spatial problems
- Aptitude to make judgements from given information and data
- Understand application and nuances of language
- Suitability for the study and practice of medicine or dentistry through the assessment of behavioural patterns
It is not necessarily possible to ‘learn’ or ‘revise’ for a test of this nature, but it is feasible to demystify what the above means, what questions are looking for, and how to form approaches in dealing with these types of questions under time constraints. Whilst these subjects will be tested in computer-based form, it is possible to develop strategies and tactics of dealing with the problems in a workshop-based form. The TestPrep two-day course will cover these topics, whilst introducing candidates to the background of the test and the ways in which universities will employ it to help them in the admissions process.
Course Structure
The following is a guide to the structure of the two days:
Day 1
| 10 - 11 |
The purpose, development and organisation of cognitive and multiple choice testing; common misperceptions and ways to approach testing
What is being studied? Types of reasoning which can be assessed and how to prepare for them. Logical, grammatical, sequential and intuitive rules of verbal reasoning. How social scientists, philosophers and humanists think about things. Inductive and deductive reasoning
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| 11 - 12, 1 - 3 |
Verbal reasoning practice; worked questions and explanations of how questions can be structured; the connection with abstract reasoning.
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| 3 - 4 |
Abstract and Quantitative reasoning and how questions can be organised; Brown-Petersen techniques and numerical reasoning; worked examples; insights from psychological studies
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| 4 – 5 |
An introduction to Decision Analysis and translation; ‘best fit’ reasoning and how language and cognitive reasoning can be measured and tested. |
Day 2
| 10 - 1 |
Decision Analysis and translation; worked examples and applications of the rules of language; possible scenarios; how grammar works
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| 2 - 3 |
Non-cognitive analysis; how personality tests work and what UKCAT seeks from students
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| 3.15 - 5 |
Review of the course and worked question practice |
Course Director
Dr Martin Meenagh DPhil, MSt., MA (Oxon)
Course Fee - £229
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