Post-UCAT Discussion 2020

[jennyy1]

To those who sat the exam at the Pitts St centre, did they allow you to use your own earplugs or do we have to use the ones provided?

 

[icandoit]

Heyy everyone, hopefully all is well. Wanted to share my results to receive and share advice. Remember though, only high achievers usually post their scores, so don't overestimate the number of high achieving scores, though mine isn't particularly high

	2019 UCAT	2020 UCAT
Verbal Reasoning	580	670
Decision Making	730	720
Quantitative Reasoning	730	760
Abstract reasoning	660	690
Situational Judgement	617	480
Total	2700	2840

These are my scores for this years UCAT which I sat today. Unfortunately its borderline 90th percentile I think, and I'm honestly just hoping that it'll be enough. Key thing to notice is an improvement in marks, contrary to what some may say about not being able to improve in an aptitude test like the UCAT.

VR: It was overall very similar to last year and practise questions. Method I used was skim, scan and read questions using logical thinking, removing obviously incorrect answers. Long term study works.

DM: I thought I did much better than last year, and had 2 mins to spare but was clearly mistaken. I'd suggest practising with UCAT resources, but overall similar in difficulty. Short term study works.

QR: Definitely much easier than official practise questions. You simply have to learn to think quick, and skip any potentially time consuming questions to maximise your score; every mark counts. Short term study works.

AR: Honestly had a couple patterns I was unsure of, though others were very straightforward. Best method for prep is a wide scope of practise, preferably longterm study.

Overall: I do wish I scored a little higher just to be safe, though I'm hoping I can score an interview or two regardless. Though it'd be on the low end of the percentiles, hoping to make up for it in interviews.

Advice: If you don't get it the first try, keep hope and try again because numerous people have scored better this year than last year . Don't deny your study for high school because you need that too. Best to achieve both high marks, but if possible lean towards ATAR or equivalent because that'll get you into other degrees if you don't make it in med this year. Hopefully that helps at least one of you reading this feel more relaxed- Best of luck to all candidates!

This score is AMAZING and I’d still consider it very high!!!!!!!! I think I’ll score between 2400-2600 so this is outta those world!!!!! Be proud!

 

[christhekid]

This score is AMAZING and I’d still consider it very high!!!!!!!! I think I’ll score between 2400-2600 so this is outta those world!!!!! Be proud!

Haha Thanks I'll try and stay positive

 

[cocodreams]

Hey guys! Sat my UCAT today For personal reasons, I won't be uploading my scores (they're NOT amazing or off the charts!). I want to wait until September and I think advice is more important than the scores, because that's what helped me heaps! I won't really be going into detail with each subsection because if you scroll through this thread, I have pretty much the same to say but I thought I'll write about a few things that I believe haven't really been written about (more about logistics):
Venue: Box Hill
It was pretty warm, a hoodie or sweatshirt should do! If you're planning to wear in a jacket with pockets, you cannot take it off during the exam time. If you don't want to wear into the room, you can place it in your locker!
The supervisors were really good and nice, which helped me calm my nerves.
No water allowed in the room! Take a few sips to stay hydrated but don't drink too much.

Materials: Laminated booklet with grid paper. It was more than enough for me at least because I am someone who writes big and takes up a lot of space when writing.
Marker: Was kind of running of out ink so I put my hand up in the 1 minute break to ask for another one .
Earplugs (they provided) --> Not really that amazing, they're foamy squishy ones that come in a packet. It was surprisingly quieter than I expected so it wasn't a big issue.

COVID: Face masks are compulsory! (at Box Hill at least) Luckily, I had taken a face mask but there were some who hadn't, so the supervisors gave some out (I personally wouldn't rely on the centre because they might run out and I think they gave face masks because it was recently stated in the media that face masks are becoming compulsory in Victoria (idk really know, but still take a face mask!)

Hope this helps! If I think of anything else, I'll share Good Luck and feel free to ask me any questions!

 

[2xq]

Hey guys! Sat my UCAT today For personal reasons,

aw im sure it wasnt that bad. nonetheless, your decision not to share them is respectable. congrats on completing the ucat this year!

 

[AJ13]

Heyy everyone, hopefully all is well. Wanted to share my results to receive and share advice. Remember though, only high achievers usually post their scores, so don't overestimate the number of high achieving scores, though mine isn't particularly high

	2019 UCAT	2020 UCAT
Verbal Reasoning	580	670
Decision Making	730	720
Quantitative Reasoning	730	760
Abstract reasoning	660	690
Situational Judgement	617	480
Total	2700	2840

These are my scores for this years UCAT which I sat today. Unfortunately its borderline 90th percentile I think, and I'm honestly just hoping that it'll be enough. Key thing to notice is an improvement in marks, contrary to what some may say about not being able to improve in an aptitude test like the UCAT.

VR: It was overall very similar to last year and practise questions. Method I used was skim, scan and read questions using logical thinking, removing obviously incorrect answers. Long term study works.

DM: I thought I did much better than last year, and had 2 mins to spare but was clearly mistaken. I'd suggest practising with UCAT resources, but overall similar in difficulty. Short term study works.

QR: Definitely much easier than official practise questions. You simply have to learn to think quick, and skip any potentially time consuming questions to maximise your score; every mark counts. Short term study works.

AR: Honestly had a couple patterns I was unsure of, though others were very straightforward. Best method for prep is a wide scope of practise, preferably longterm study.

Overall: I do wish I scored a little higher just to be safe, though I'm hoping I can score an interview or two regardless. Though it'd be on the low end of the percentiles, hoping to make up for it in interviews.

Advice: If you don't get it the first try, keep hope and try again because numerous people have scored better this year than last year . Don't deny your study for high school because you need that too. Best to achieve both high marks, but if possible lean towards ATAR or equivalent because that'll get you into other degrees if you don't make it in med this year. Hopefully that helps at least one of you reading this feel more relaxed- Best of luck to all candidates!

Nice improvement on your VR score! Best of luck with your appplication

 

[AstralResolve]

Date Completed: 11 Jul 20
Venue: Rydges Newcastle

	2019 UCAT	2020 UCAT
Verbal Reasoning	670	630
Decision Making	660	630
Quantitative Reasoning	690	700
Abstract reasoning	520	660
Situational Judgement	610	633
Total	2540	2620

Thoughts on the Results: I don't know what happened. F.W.I.W. I feel like i didn't pace myself properly at the start of VR and ran out of time. DM i thought i did well, but there you go. QR i thought i smashed and would get 800ish plus but there you go. AR thought i bombed, i was thinking like 500 ish so yeah. Based off last years percentiles i'm not going to apply.

Thoughts on the Venue: The table was about 30cms long, was not enough place to rest your arms comfortably. The monitor, big screen macs was about 20/30cms from your nose and was annoying to read. The administrators were super nice and gave out free earplugs and water bottles.

 

[2xq]

Date Completed: 11 Jul 20
Venue: Rydges Newcastle

	2019 UCAT	2020 UCAT
Verbal Reasoning	670	630
Decision Making	660	630
Quantitative Reasoning	690	700
Abstract reasoning	520	660
Situational Judgement	610	633
Total	2540	2620

Thoughts on the Results: I don't know what happened. F.W.I.W. I feel like i didn't pace myself properly at the start of VR and ran out of time. DM i thought i did well, but there you go. QR i thought i smashed and would get 800ish plus but there you go. AR thought i bombed, i was thinking like 500 ish so yeah. Based off last years percentiles i'm not going to apply.

Thoughts on the Venue: The table was about 30cms long, was not enough place to rest your arms comfortably. The monitor, big screen macs was about 20/30cms from your nose and was annoying to read. The administrators were super nice and gave out free earplugs and water bottles.

although it wasnt your desired result, its always best to never give up

 

[Angela2020]

Hi everyone,
Sat my UCAT yesterday (Brisbane: Adelaide Street) and got my scores a few hours later. I am quite happy with this score considering I was averaging around 2800 in mocks.
But I can't help but wonder whether my VR and SJ scores will come back to haunt me. Any feedback is appreciated

VR	520 (Big yikesf!)
DM	870
QR	880
AR	760
Total Cognitive	3030
SJ	510 (Bigger yikes!)

Thanks in advance!

As for the actual exam, I felt everything but VR was very doable compared to the official mocks (especially QR and AR). VR passages were lengthy and had mainly inference based questions. Being able to speed-reed would definitely help here!

omg I'm there too! Is there are a number pad on the key board? Also, how's the computers (pretty big or small lol). Also, GOOD JOB! THAT IS AN AMAZING SCORE!!!

 

[arbot]

hey guys, how do i upload a screenshot on here

 

[Sokka]

hey guys, how do i upload a screenshot on here

There’s an “attach files” box to the left of the “post reply” box

 

[arbot]

sorry but I can only see preview next to the post reply box

 

[dani01]

To those who sat the exam at the Pitts St centre, did they allow you to use your own earplugs or do we have to use the ones provided?

you can wear your own ones

 

[Sokka]

sorry but I can only see preview next to the post reply box

The "attach files" is on the other side of the "preview". It's a white box. Idk why you wouldn't have access to it if you can't see it

 

[N182]

sorry but I can only see preview next to the post reply box

I think lurkers can't attach files, become a member and you should be able to.

 

[gudgie]

I had a general timing strategy in my head - 20+ questions done with 12 mins to go etc... and if I wasn't keeping to the timing I would force myself to hurry up and guess (logically deducing it from the questions options given) 1-3 q's to catch up with my timing - also I used the true/false/can't tell questions to speed up on my thing because those are generally quicker . I was around 2 mins behind my ideal timing strategy in the actual test but somehow managed to catch up on the true/false/can't tell q's. Also I resisted the urge to go back and 'check' my previous answers - just kept powering forward with the questions. Don't hit that Alt-P button!

WOAHH I DO THAT TOO HAHA so cool to see someone utilise the same methods as me D

 

[dani01]

Hi I’m also taking the UCAT but it’s my first time. I’ve practise a lot but am averaging 2400 on mocks and it seems like I’m destined for that in the real exam what would you say you did “wrong” or regretted doing the first time that you improved on or just avoided doing the second time?

Hi! Well this year after each mock, I actually picked out question types from each section that I was not getting. I focused on particular question types, instead of the whole section, which is what I would do last year. For e.g. my weakness in Qr was ratios so I took one study session to re-learn ratios and do questions just on ratios.
Also timing. I know an obvious one. But last year I would not accept that I couldn't get a question and move on. BIG wrong move. This took a bit of time to accept tbh but once you do this and recognise it, you will be better able to dedicate time to questions you know you will get right. In AR make sure you learn SCANS, and write down patterns every now and then read them. Also a random tip just go on Wikipedia and read different text types. Search things up about war, random biographies on people, movements such as BLM. Also last year I didn't do hardly any official bank questions! big no no. This year I did them but I did them all untimed, simply so I could actually get the real gist of the official questions. Because for sections such as DM,prep company material and how they teach it can differ. So its important you familiarise yourself with how the UCAT ANZ write questions.

Good Luck, stay positive!

 

[Argonaute]

As someone from the UK who's been reading through the thread, I'm in awe of these scores. On our student forums, a 700 average is considered to be an amazing score, so seeing these 750+ averages being the norm is insane to me! Well done to all of you. I have my exam in a months time, hope I can channel this positive energy into my test

 

[ucatboy]

As someone from the UK who's been reading through the thread, I'm in awe of these scores. On our student forums, a 700 average is considered to be an amazing score, so seeing these 750+ averages being the norm is insane to me! Well done to all of you. I have my exam in a months time, hope I can channel this positive energy into my test

Wishing you luck from halfway across the world!

 

[dotwingz]

As someone from the UK who's been reading through the thread, I'm in awe of these scores. On our student forums, a 700 average is considered to be an amazing score, so seeing these 750+ averages being the norm is insane to me! Well done to all of you. I have my exam in a months time, hope I can channel this positive energy into my test

Woop Woop! Kill it you brilliant briton