UKCAT

The UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) is a test used in the selection process by a consortium of UK university Medical and Dental Schools. It is run by the UKCAT Consortium, currently chaired by Nigel Siesage, in partnership with Pearson VUE. It was first introduced in 2006.

The test is designed to give information on the candidates' cognitive abilities through four reasoning tests, with a fifth test, the situational judgement test testing attitudes and professional behaviour. The test is used by universities to make more informed choices between medical and dental applicants.

The UKCAT is designed to be a test of aptitude and attitude, not academic achievement. The latter is already demonstrated by A-Levels, Scottish Highers or undergraduate degrees. It attempts to assess a certain range of mental abilities and behavioural attributes identified as useful. These mental abilities include critical thinking as well as logical reasoning and inference.

For candidates sitting the examination in summer 2017, the UKCAT consists of five subtests: four cognitive tests, and one testing your professional demeanour. Each test has a time allocation as below:

The situational judgement test is a different type of test to the tests above:

The test is an online test taken at a Pearson Vue centre near the candidate. Candidates are not allowed to bring external materials in to the exam. A basic calculator is provided on the screen in the quantitative reasoning and decision making tests, along with a white board and a marker pen or paper with a pencil, for taking notes. The equipment and conditions vary slightly between different test centers.

Including warm-up time (time allocated to reading the instructions), the test lasts a maximum of 2 hours (or 2.5 hours for the UKCATSEN version of the test). Each of the UKCAT subtests is in a multiple choice format and is separately timed.

The test must be sat in the summer of 2017 by candidates who want to apply to member universities for entry in 2018 (or deferred entry in 2019).

There is no curriculum content, as the test is designed to probe innate skills. These include basic arithmetic, reading and writing ability, along with character, and personal and social attitudes.

Past papers are not available. There are however specimen questions and fully timed practice tests on the UKCAT website. All candidates are urged to read this attentively. The UKCAT Consortium recommend that candidates prepare for the test, and provide materials on their site to assist.

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