The UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) is a test that is beginning to be used in the selection process by a consortium of UK university Medical and Dental Schools. It is run by the UKCAT Consortium in partnership with Pearson VUE. It was first introduced in 2006, and will remain in test mode for some years beyond this date.
The test is designed to give information on the candidates' mental abilities, as well as attitudes and possible professional behaviour. The test is expected to start helping universities make more informed choices between medical and dental applicants in the years to come, once the test has been fully validated.
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The UKCAT is designed to be a test of aptitude and attitude, not academic achievement. The latter is already demonstrated by GCSEs, 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 2011, the UKCAT consists of four subtests:
Prior to 2011, the UKCAT tested an additional domain:[1]
The entire test is delivered by computer. Candidates are not allowed to bring external materials in to the exam. A basic calculator used to be provided in the past years of 2011, along with a white board and a marker pen or paper with a pencil, for taking notes, however in 2012 there will only be a simple digital calculator on the screen. 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 two hours. Each of the UKCAT subtests is in a multiple choice format and is separately timed.
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 on the UKCAT website. All candidates are urged to read this attentively. However the UKCAT Consortium specifies "The UKCAT does not contain any curriculum or science content; nor can it be revised for". So UKCAT Preparation is not necessary, desirable or advantageous". Indeed the Consortium says that for the 2007 edition it has placed questions such that it can cross check whether candidates are replying honestly or are giving prepared answers.
Contrary to the above statement, several companies and websites offer various forms of preparation for the UKCAT. Websites offer free practice questions and support, companies claim that psychometric tests can and should be practiced for, and since UKCAT is mainly a psychometric test, practice can improve one's chances immensely. This is apparently quite obvious to the students themselves considering the fact that thousands of students prepare months in advance for the test, as can be seen in student forums across the web.
The UKCAT Consortium specifies "Every university uses the UKCAT result as part of a well-rounded admissions policy in which several other factors also carry considerable weight." That said, the universities in at least several instances (University of Leeds, Cardiff University) (University of East Anglia) have indicated that for now, UKCAT will play a very small role in selection, until it has been properly validated. Universities such as University of Sheffield highly rate the UKCAT scores and often have a high cut-off mark a candidate has to achieve before they will be considered for an interview. Concerns also exist over the high price of the test (£65 - £80) and the profit making nature of Pearson Vue. In addition, reapplicant candidates on average get a significantly higher score - throwing further doubt on its relevance as an 'aptitude' test.
The usefulness of non-cognitive tests remains hotly disputed.[2][3] The use of such tests in the USA SAT, GRE and so on for university selection has for a long time been very controversial.
For 2009 entry, the UKCAT must be taken by all applicants (except for some accelerated, graduate-entry courses) applying to study medicine or dentistry at the following university Medical and Dental Schools:
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