BlackStone Tutors | Medicine Application Specialists
London Office: 020 3393 8934 
info@blackstonetutors.co.uk
  • Home
    • Our Tutors
    • Our Tutees
  • Interview Clinics
    • UCAS Interview Clinics
    • Dentistry Interview Preparation & Tuition
    • Personal Statement Services
    • Complete Medicine Application Packages
  • Schools
    • In-School Medicine Talks and Courses
    • How to get into Medical School Intensive Course
  • UCAT
    • UCAT Preparation Courses
    • Online UCAT Course
    • UCAT ANZ Courses
    • Private UCAT Tutoring
  • BMAT
    • BMAT Preparation Courses
    • Singapore BMAT Course
    • Online BMAT Course
    • Private BMAT Tutoring
    • Free BMAT Resources >
      • BMAT Information: Free Guide to the BMAT Exam
      • Free BMAT Past Papers
      • Free BMAT Subject Guide
      • BMAT Practice Questions - Section 1
      • BMAT Practice Questions - Section 2
      • BMAT Section 1 Tips & Techniques
      • BMAT Section 2 Tips & Techniques
      • BMAT Section 1 Critical Thinking - Additional Practice
  • MMI
    • MMI Interview Courses
    • MMI Question Bank >
      • Medicine MMI Question Bank
      • Dentistry MMI Question Bank
      • Nursing MMI Question Bank
      • Physician Associate MMI Question Bank
    • MMI Tips & Resources >
      • Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) Questions and Answers
      • MMI Interview Tips
      • Medical School Interview Questions
      • Medical School Interview Questions | US & Canada
      • Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) Ethical Scenarios
  • GPST
    • GP Stage 3 Preparation Course
    • GP Stage 3 Online Question Bank
    • GPST Entry Articles & Resources >
      • GPST Entry >
        • GP Training Entry Requirements and Key Tips
      • GP Stage 2 (MSRA) >
        • Free MSRA Practice Questions & Answers
        • GP Stage 2 Exam Information, Tips & Banding
        • GP Stage 2 (MSRA) & GP Stage 3 (Selection Centre) Weighting
      • GP Stage 3 >
        • GP Stage 3 - What To Expect, Mark Scheme & Preparation Tips
        • GP Stage 3 Selection Centre: The Complete Guide
        • GP Stage 3 Written Prioritisation Exercises | Key Tips, Techniques & Mark Scheme
        • GP Stage 3 Simulation Exercises | Key Tips & Techniques
        • Free GP Stage 3 Written and Simulation Exercises
        • GP Stage 3 Mark Scheme Domains
        • GP Stage 3 Pass Rate
        • How To Score 100% In The GP Stage 3 Selection Centre
  • Articles
    • BMAT Articles >
      • Free BMAT Resources
      • BMAT Section 1 Tips
      • BMAT Section 2 Tips
      • BMAT Section 3 Mark Scheme
      • How Universities use the BMAT
      • BMAT Past Paper Worked Solutions
    • UCAT Articles >
      • Free UKCAT Practice Questions
    • TSA >
      • TSA Essay Tips & Techniques
      • TSA Essay Example
      • Free TSA Past Papers
    • Personal Statement >
      • Medicine Personal Statement Structure
      • Medicine Personal Statement - Common Errors & Pitfalls
    • Interview Articles
    • Medicine Applications >
      • Which Medical Schools Should I Apply To?
      • Tips for a Successful Oxbridge Medicine Application
      • Why 40% Of All Doctors Choose General Practice?
    • Dentistry Applications
  • COVID
  • Contact Us
    • New Tutor Registration
    • Fees
    • Testimonials
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Subscribe To Our Newsletter
  • GPST Entry and Selection Centre Dates
  • GP Stage 3 Selection Centre Tips
  • The University of Auckland Medicine Interview Questions
  • The University of Auckland Medicine Interview Tips
  • MMI Tips & Techniques
  • 5 Cambridge Medicine Interview Tips
  • GP Selection Centre: Common Written Prioritisation Scenarios
  • Oxford Medicine Interview Tips
  • When Do Medical School Interview Invites Come Out?
  • MMI Role Play: The Complete Guide
  • MMI Data Analysis: The Complete Guide
  • MMI Prioritisation Tasks: The Complete Guide
  • MMI Calculation Questions: The Complete Guide
  • MMI Ethical Scenarios: The Complete Guide
  • MMI Observation Tasks: The Complete Guide
  • How To Revise For The BMAT
  • Why Do You Want To Study Medicine?
  • Guide To The 2020 UCAT
  • How To Prepare For The UCAT Situational Judgement Section
  • How To Prepare For UCAT Abstract Reasoning
  • How To Prepare For UCAT Verbal Reasoning
  • How To Score 850+ In UCAT Quantitative Reasoning
  • How to Score 850+ on the Quantitative Reasoning section of the UCAT
  • Pre-Registration Pharmacist Situational Judgement (SJT) Exam: The Complete Guide
  • Bespoke BMAT Course
  • UCAT Practice Test: Decision Making Mini Mock Exam
  • Online TSA Course Tutorials
  • Medicine Personal Statement Checklist: 8 Key Areas
  • What Should a Medicine Personal Statement Include?
  • Physician Associate University Interview Questions and Answers
  • Nursing University Interview Questions and Answers
  • Nursing Applications
  • Dentistry University Interview Questions
  • BMAT Section 1 Critical Thinking Questions
  • BMAT Section 2 Physics Questions
  • BMAT Section 2 Maths Questions
  • BMAT Section 2 Biology Questions
  • BMAT Section 2 Chemistry Questions

UCAT Scratchpad: The Essential Guide



What is the scratchpad?

The scratchpad is a feature of the UCAT, in which candidates are able to take notes on their computer or laptop during the exam. It is accessible to candidates sitting the exam at a test centre, and also if taking it online via OnVUE, and is provided alongside a physical whiteboard. To access the scratchpad, candidates must select a ‘pop up window’ icon at the top of the screen, or alternatively can use alt + D. To close the scratchpad, the ‘close’ button can then be selected. The other keyboard shortcuts present in the exam must also be noted. The ‘alt’ feature can be used for any underlined letters present in the instructions; for example, when selecting ‘previous’ to go back to the previous question, alt + P can be used, and when selecting ‘next’, alt + N would be chosen. However, these shortcuts may differ for Mac users taking the test online, thus it is important to trial them during the short sample exam present in the OnVUE System Test.
 
When using the scratchpad, users can type up any notes they feel to be useful in answering the question. Candidates are able to cut, copy and paste within the text, but cannot do this from the actual UCAT questions. For example, it is not possible to select a section of information or data from the question, and paste it into the scratchpad to use to take notes. The scratchpad will automatically close when continuing on to the next question, however the notes will remain when reopening it. The notes are removed once each section of the exam has been completed. For questions such as those in the Quantitative Reasoning section, in which calculations have to be carried out or diagrams must be drawn, the physical whiteboard may be a more suitable option to take notes on, as notes cannot be drawn using a mouse on the scratchpad. Nonetheless, for other questions in the Verbal Reasoning section, for example, it could instead be more effective to use the scratchpad, as notes can be made without taking your eyes off the screen, ensuring that you remain focussed on the question. Therefore, it is important to make use of both of these resources, and be able to use them interchangeably during the exam. Completing the practice tests available on the UCAT website will help you familiarise yourself with using the scratchpad, in addition to the other resources available such as the online calculator. As the UCAT is a time pressured exam, with there being five sections to be completed in two hours, ensuring that you are able to use and access these resources quickly during the test is vital.
 


​Free UCAT Practice Questions
Free DM Mini-Mock Exam
Online UCAT Course With Full Practice Tests
​

UCAT Preparation Courses
Online UCAT Course
UCAT Tips & Articles


Taking the UCAT at a Test Centre

When taking the UCAT at a Pearson Test Centre, as well as the scratchpad, laminated noteboards and a pen will be provided. These should be provided by the administrators at the beginning of the test, however if they have not been it is vital to ask for them, as not requesting them is not regarded as a mitigating circumstance. 
​


​Taking the UCAT Online

When taking the exam online, candidates will be required to provide their own whiteboards, or alternatively a single laminated piece of plain white paper, which should not be larger than 30cm by 50cm. The whiteboards must be erasable, have a maximum of two dry erase markers, one dry erase whiteboard eraser, and as mentioned above be equal to or smaller than 30cm by 50cm.
 
There are items that are not allowed, when taking the UCAT online. These are as follows:
  • Whiteboards with grids/markings or background colours
  • Paper
  • Pen or pencil
  • Permanent marker
  • Tissues, paper towels or napkins
  • Whiteboard spray
  • Paper in a clear slide
  • Writing table, boogie board or doodle pad
  • Chalkboards
 
At the beginning of the test, candidates will need to show the Proctor their whiteboard, to ensure it fulfils the requirements. The front and back will be checked, to show that it is blank prior to taking the exam. Once the test has been completed, candidates will again be required to show the Proctor their whiteboard, to make sure that all notes have been erased or removed.
 

Further Reading....


​​UCAT Verbal Reasoning
​UCAT Decision Making
​UCAT Quantitative Reasoning
UCAT Abstract Reasoning
​UCAT Situational Judgement
​

UCAT Preparation Courses
Online UCAT Course
UCAT Tips & Articles