Additional Admission Tests
2015 Entry
What are additional admissions tests?
• National tests, i.e. LNAT/BMAT/UKCAT
• Used for competitive/vocational courses
• Required in addition to predicted grades
• Taken into account when making offers
• Scores passed on to universities on your behalf
www.lnat.ac.uk | www.bmat.org.uk | www.ukcat.ac.uk
University specific tests
Some universities have their own tests
– Physics Admissions Test (PAT)
– Mathematics Admissions test (MAT)
– Plus many more/.
– Sixth Term Examination paper (STEP) -
Cambridge
– Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) - Oxford,
Cambridge, UCL
University
of Oxford
Courses Additional Requirements
Medicine UKCAT, Questionnaire and interview required
Graduate Entry Medicine GAMSAT, questionnaire and interview required
Veterinary Medicine and Science Questionnaire and interview required
Pharmacy Interview required
Law LNAT Required
Masters of Nutrition Questionnaire and interview required
English with Creative Writing An example of written work is required
Architecture A portfolio is required if A-Level Art or Design and
Technology is not taken
All Electrical and Electronic Engineering courses An interview may be required
Product design and manufacture An interview may be required
Nursing and Midwifery Courses An interview is required
Physiotherapy An interview is required
School of Education Courses An interview may be required
Social Work An interview is required
UKCAT
UKCAT – participating universities• University of Aberdeen
• Brighton and Sussex Medical School
• Cardiff University
• University of Central Lancashire
• University of Dundee
• University of Durham
• University of East Anglia
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Exeter
• University of Glasgow
• Hull York Medical School
• Keele University
• King’s College London
• University of Leicester
• University of Manchester
• University of Newcastle
• University of Nottingham
• Plymouth University
• Queen Mary, University of London
• Queens University, Belfast
• University of Sheffield
• University of Southampton
• University of St Andrews
• St George’s, University of London
UKCAT – Medicine and Dentistry
• Register:
– 1 May 2014 – 19 September 2014
• Sit the Test:
– 1 July 2014 – 3 Oct 2014
• Registration fee (bursaries available)
– £65 if sat by 31 August 2014
– £80 if sat 1 September – 4 October 2014
• Register with Pearson Test Centre
UKCAT – the structure
• It is a computer based test that
takes two hours
• Designed to be a test of aptitude
rather than strictly academic
achievement
• Assessing a wide range of mental abilities and behavioural
attributes identified by university medical & dental schools
as important e.g. your ability to be logical
UKCAT – the structure
• Computer based test in 5 parts (2 hours)1. Verbal reasoning (22 minutes)
Assesses logical thinking and reasoning
about written information2. Quantitative reasoning (25 minutes)
3. Abstract reasoning (14 minutes)
Assesses ability to solve numerical problems
Assesses ability to infer relationships from information
UKCAT – the structureComputer based test in 5 parts (2 hours)
4. Decision Analysis (32 minutes)
Assesses the ability in complex, ambiguous
situations to deal with various forms of
information, infer relationships, make informed
judgements, and decide on an appropriate
response.
NEW CONFIDENCE RATING SCALE
5. Situational Judgement (27 minutes)
Assesses judgement regarding situations
encountered in the workplace
Receive results on the day
Numerical score for parts 1-4 and a short descriptive
passage for part 5
UKCAT – students with additional
requirements
• If you have any Special Educational Needs or
access requirements you MUST specify them
when you register
• eg 25% extra time for dyslexic students which
makes the test 2 and a half hours long
• Go to the website for further information
How the University of Nottingham uses
UKCAT - Medicine
• There isn’t a threshold at Nottingham
• Your score is given an internal score, based on the scores
of other applicants (i.e. how well you do compared to your
peers)
• Your UKCAT score is considered with your GCSEs and
the results of our online questionnaire before staff look at
your personal statement and then decide whether to offer
you an interview
The UKCAT website has a document containing details of how each
university uses the results – newest version is for 2013
UKCAT – summary
• UKCAT is to test your potential for a Medicine
and Dentistry courses – not your knowledge
• Practice by doing sample tests on the UKCAT
website
• You will receive your results on the day and they
are also communicated to universities on your
behalf
BMAT
BMAT – participating universities
• Brighton and Sussex Medical School
• University of Cambridge
• University of Leeds
• University of Oxford
• Royal Veterinary College
• University College London
BMAT
• www.bmat.org.uk
• Registration Dates 1st September– 1st October 2014
• Late Applicant Closing Date – 15th October 2014
• Test date – 5th November 2014
• Results date – 26th November 2014
• Costs £44 (late additional registration fee £31.50)
• No bursaries, but fee may be reimbursed
• Usually sat at school/college - ask your exams officer
BMAT – the structure
– Problem solving, understanding arguments, data
analysis, inference abilities
– 35 multiple choice or short answer questions
– 60 minutes to complete this section
1. Aptitude and skills (60 minutes)
2. Scientific Knowledge and Application (30 minutes)
– Curriculum based questions, science and maths
(high GCSE level – recommended to use AS level
revision guides)
– 27 multiple choice or short answer questions
– 30 minutes to complete this section
BMAT – the structure
– Four short essay questions – pick one
– Select, develop and organise ideas and
communicate them in writing in a concise and
effective way
– 30 minutes to complete this section
3. Writing Task (30 minutes)
BMAT – results
• Results released 26th November 2014
– Download from BMAT website
• Section 1 and 2 graded from 1 (low) to 9 (high)
– Typical score = 5.0, best candidate above 6.0
• Section 3 is given two scores – one for quality of
content (on a scale of 0–5), and one for quality of
written English (on the scale A, C, E).
LNAT
LNAT – participating universities
• University of Birmingham
• University of Bristol
• Durham University
• University of Glasgow
• King’s College London
• University of Nottingham
• University of Oxford
• University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies)
• University College London
LNAT
• Register:
– Dates for 2014/15 yet to be released
– Usually from August - January
• Sit the test:
– At a Pearson test centre
– Dates yet to be released, but usually between
September – January
– Earlier deadline for some universities eg Oxford
• Results emailed in either February or July,
depending on when you sit the exam
LNAT
• Tests are sat at Pearson Testing Centre
– Nottingham, Mansfield, Derby, Leicester, Grantham
• Register as early as possible to ensure you get
the test centre and date you prefer
• Cost: £50
• Bursaries are available
– see LNAT website for further details
LNAT – students with additional
requirements
• If you have any Special Educational Needs or access
requirements you MUST specify them when you
register.
• eg 25% extra time for dyslexic students which makes
the test 2 and a half hours long
• Go to the website for further information
LNAT – the structure
• Computer based test
• Two parts in total (135 minutes)
1. Multiple Choice (95 minutes)
2. Essay (40 minutes)
• 12 argumentative passages, could include
newspaper articles, editorials or sections from
books.
• Each passage has 3-4 multiple choice questions
designed to test verbal reasoning skills.
• Answers are limited to the information contained
within or inferred from the passage
1. Multiple Choice (95 minutes)
1. Multiple Choice (95 minutes)
• Designed to test powers of comprehension,
interpretation, analysis, synthesis, induction, and
deduction, all essential skills for a career in law
• 12 passages, each with ¾ multiple choice
questions (95 minutes)
• Marked out of a maximum of 42 points
• The essay is considered to give the best indication of
your potential for Law courses
• Ability to argue a point in a coherent, logical and
comprehensive way
• Three titles – choose ONE
Note – there used to be a choice of five, and all practice
tests have a choice of five
• Maximum length of essay – 750 words – ideal is 500-600
2. Essay (40 minutes)
2. Essay (40 minutes)
• Needs to be well-organised
• Take time to plan
• Have a well structured argument
• You will be provided with a whiteboard and pen for
rough working and planning
• The essays are sent directly to the university and
NOT marked by the test centre
Sample essay questions
1. In what circumstances should abortion be permitted and
why?
2. Would you agree that travel and tourism exploit poorer
nations and benefit only the richer ones?
3. The Olympic games, today, are less a test of personal
athleticism and more a measure of national investment and
authority. Do you agree?
4. Wearing a burkha in Western countries is just as offensive
as wearing a bikini in Arab countries. Do you agree?
5. ‘Women now have the chance to achieve anything they
want.’ How do you respond to this statement?
Top Tips
• Read a quality daily newspaper every day
• Don’t just read the news, read the comments
as well
• Practice!
• Gain an interest in the world around you
• Practice writing essays on unfamiliar
subjects.
LNAT – summary
• LNAT is to test your potential for a Law course –
not your knowledge
• Practice by doing sample tests on the LNAT
website
• Prepare – compare the same argument in two
different quality newspapers