What is the BMAT? - Stands for BioMedical Admissions Test - Usually it is a 2 hour long, pen and paper test divided into three sections. * Due to Coronavirus pandemic, you will take it on a computer at your usual test centre * - For further admission information, visit the official BMAT website Who uses the BMAT? - University of Oxford - University of Leeds - University of Cambridge - University College London - Lancaster University - Imperial College London - Brighton and Sussex Medical School Structure of the BMAT - Section 1 - Thinking Skills Number of questions: 35 Timing: 60 minutes Scores: 1-9 Topics: Multiple choice questions covering Problem Solving, Understanding Arguments and Data Analysis & Inference - Sections 2 – Scientific Knowledge and Applications Number of questions: 27 Timing: 30 minutes Scores: 1-9 Topics: 3 Parts covering Biology, Physics and Chemistry, Question style can vary. - Sections 3 – Writing Task Number of questions: 1 question from a choice of 3 Timing: 30 minutes Scores: Quality Score from 0-5 and Quality of Written English from A-E Topic: 1 page of A4 to answer a science – based question Top Tips for Section 1 - 35 questions in 60 minutes so around 1 minute 42 seconds for each question - 2 main types of question involved: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. - For Critical Thinking: Read the question first (so you know what to look out for), then the passage (looking out for key words) and then the options. Look out for common mistakes such as assuming a correlation means a causation. - For Problem Solving: Don’t read all the data, look at the question and pick out the relevant information. Mental maths is key, round numbers and use fractions to make calculations easier. - Best way to improve is PRACTICE! - Try to effective triaging – Skipping through time-consuming questions, completing easy one and coming back. Top Tips for Section 2 - An Assumed Subject Knowledge Guide is available on BMAT website. You could also use the specification provided on their website as well. - Practice mental maths and applying physics formulas. - Prioritise revising subjects you don’t take at A-Level. - When doing past papers, make a note of the topics you are struggling on and revise them. After a week, try to do the same questions you struggled on again. - Eliminate answers which are definitely wrong to find the correct one. - No formulas are provided. Learn them! Top Tips for Section 3 - 30 minutes to write an essay on one side of A4 ( or one side of an online page due to Coronavirus.) - Avoid waffling and be CONCISE…. I’m going to repeat that… be CONCISE! - Keep the introduction brief and arguments need to be balanced. - Keep yourself familiarised with ethical terminologies. - ALWAYS address each component of the question and offer counter- arguments to your points. - Proof-read your essay! Good grammar and spelling are essential. - Pick a question you will be good at and not the one that is the most ‘Medicine!’ - PLAN! So important to plan the structure for your essay because you only get one sheet. Overall Advice It is nerve-wracking, but honestly, practice makes perfect. It can be difficult and challenging, however, as long as you practice consistently and revising the areas you struggle on, you will ace the BMAT! Good Luck and I really do hope everything will go AMAZING for you! 😊