Medicine admissions tests

CONTENTS

1. What Medicine admissions tests are there?

2. Medicine applications: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs)

What Medicine admissions tests are there?

To qualify for entry to UK universities, Medicine applicants have to pass one of several tests. Applicants only have to take one, so check to make sure you take the correct test for the relevant university.

University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)

The UCAT tests whether you have the appropriate mental ability, attitude and professionalism needed to succeed as a doctor or dentist. The test helps universities make informed choices and differentiates between highly-qualified applicants. It’s divided into five sections, all multiple-choice questions:

• Verbal reasoning – 44 questions that assess your ability to critically evaluate the information presented in written form.
• Decision making – 35 questions assessing your ability to make informed decisions and judgements using complex information.
• Quantitative reasoning – 36 questions similar to verbal reasoning but the information is presented in numerical form.
• Situational judgement – 69 questions assessing your ability to understand real-life situations and identify appropriate behaviour to deal with them.

The computer-based test lasts two hours, with each section having a set amount of time to be completed in. Tests taken in the UK cost £70. Test taken outside the UK cost £115. If you have been approved for a UCAT Bursary, the test fee will be waived.

More information including a list of universities that use this test for admissions is available on the UCAT site.

Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT)

Imported from Australia, the GAMSAT helps universities select participants for their graduate-entry Medicine programmes. The test is designed to assess an applicant's ability to undertake high-level intellectual studies. It’s divided into three sections:

• Written communication – two essay responses that assess your ability to produce and develop ideas in writing.
• Reasoning in humanities and social sciences – 62 multiple choice questions that assess your ability to interpret and understand ideas in social and cultural contexts.
• Reasoning in biological and physical sciences – 75 multiple choice questions assessing your ability in chemistry (40%), biology (40%) and physics (20%)

The test takes place in March and September each year. You should take it during the academic year in which you’re applying to university. It costs approximately £296 for UK students, €378 for students from Ireland and $568 for students from Australia.

More information including a list of universities that offer graduate medicine programmes is available on the GAMSAT site.

Medicine applications: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs)

If you’re applying for Medicine at a UK university, you’ll probably have to complete a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) to be offered a place. It’s unlikely you’ll have experienced an MMI before, so you may not be sure how they work.

What are MMIs?

MMIs are an alternative to traditional interview formats. Most UK medical schools now use them. They may also be used for admission to Dentistry and Vet Science, healthcare-related degrees such as Nursing, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and also for Law and Education degrees.

How do MMIs work?

MMIs are made up of multiple ‘stations’ (usually between six and twelve). Each station is designed to test your non-academic traits, such as communication skills, empathy and teamwork.

At each station, you’re given a time limit to read the instructions and prepare your response. You then have a set period of time to complete the station before being instructed to move on to the next one. The MMI finishes once every candidate has completed every station.

You may have to complete many types of station, including:

• Role play
• Discussion of your UCAS application and relevant experience
• Ethics question
• Reading comprehension
• Data analysis
• Manual dexterity
• Interpretation of scenarios/observation of scenes on a screen

You’re given a score based on the strength of your performance at each station. These scores are collated and you’re given an overall score. The strength of your overall score relative to those of other candidates determines whether or not you’re offered a place.

Medical schools should give you details of how the MMI will work before you attend. Familiarise yourself with them to make sure you aren’t caught out on the day.

It’s also important to adhere to confidentiality guidelines. You may be asked to sign a confidentiality statement, meaning you can’t share the specifics of your MMI experience.

Why do universities use MMIs instead of traditional interviews?

They create a level playing field for candidates
MMIs are harder to prepare for because they’re unconventional, so students can’t be coached for them. They’re designed to test for skills for a medical career, not interview-response skills. This means there’s no advantage for students who take professional interview coaching or those who have contacts in the medical field.

MMIs are more realistic
MMIs allow medical schools to better recreate scenarios where students will find themselves during their time as a medical student and a doctor. It’s difficult to test for important traits such as compassion and patience just by asking a candidate questions. Evidence shows that MMIs can better identify students who’ll perform well at medical school, particularly in the later years of the degree when they’ll spend most of their time in hospitals.

MMIs are more fun
Doing a variety of tasks is more challenging and interesting than simply responding to questions being asked by the same person. Your degree is meant to be enjoyable, so there’s no reason the selection process shouldn’t be as well.

What do interviewers look for in candidates?

Interviewers want to see you have what it takes to be a doctor besides academic excellence.

Give or take a grade or two, all candidates at an MMI will have the same predicted or actual grades. Interviewers are looking for you to show you can cope with the challenges of medical school and being a doctor. They want you to show confidence, composure, ethical integrity and good interpersonal skills.

How to prepare for an MMI

MMIs are deliberately harder to prepare for than normal interviews, but there are ways you can be ready for them:

Create your own stations
If you know other people who have MMIs coming up, a good way to get into the mindset for doing one is to make your own stations. This will get you thinking about what skills are required to succeed at medical school and as a doctor.

Know your personal statement
There could be a station at your MMI that gets you to talk about your personal statement and any previous experience you may have.

Know what’s going on in the UK and global health sector
You may or may not be asked about an issue in the health sector, but either way, it’s important to know the key issues that medical staff face today.

Be wary of websites that claim to coach for MMIs
Universities change their MMI stations every year, so any insider information these websites claim to have will be outdated and lead you to practice in the wrong way.

Treat it like an exam
Get to bed early the night before so you have a good night's sleep. Arrive at the MMI venue early to be prepared and get familiar with your surroundings.

Relax
You've earned your place at the MMI. If you’ve prepared well, you'll have nothing to worry about.

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