BlackStone Tutors | Medicine Application Specialists
London Office: 020 3393 8934 
info@blackstonetutors.co.uk
  • Home
    • Our Tutors
    • Our Tutees
  • Interview Clinics
    • Medicine Interview Preparation & Tuition
    • 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 (UKCAT) Tips & Techniques

Written By Doctors Scoring In The Top UCAT Decile

​Time Aware-Time Efficient

How long do you have for each UCAT question? This answer should be at the tip of your tongue; the main reason for poor UCAT performance is a lack of time awareness. Let’s break it down and make this tip one to remember:
​
UCAT Verbal Reasoning
21 Minutes, 44 Questions
 Time for each Passage & Set of 4 Questions = 2 minutes (or just under)
Passage Reading Time: 45-60 Seconds
Time for each question = 15 seconds


UCAT Decision Making
31 Minutes
29 Questions
Time for each question = 
64 Seconds

​
UCAT Situational Judgement
26 Minutes
69 Questions
Time for each question = 22 Seconds
​
UCAT Abstract Reasoning
13 Minutes
11 Sets with 5 Shapes/Questions for Each (ie. 55 Questions)
Time for each question =
12 Seconds
​

​
UCAT Quantitative Reasoning
24 Minutes
36 Questions
Time for each question = 40 Seconds

​

Online UCAT Course
UCAT Preparation Courses

​Section Specific Tips & Techniques

​Whilst time awareness is a requirement for all UCAT sections, each of the 5 UCAT Sections (& numerous sub-sections) require their own specific techniques:
​Verbal Reasoning: SBA v T/F/CT
The 6 Dimensions of UCAT Decision Making
Quantitative Reasoning: Practice v Perfection
The 3 Step Approach to Abstract Reasoning & NASSSS
Situation Judgement: GMC Guidelines & Key Principles

​Students attending a BlackStone Tutors UCAT Course will be taught a range of trusted, time-saving techniques including the aforementioned.

Reflect The Exam Environment

​The second most common reason for poor exam performance is a lack of pre-exam simulation. In order to minimise unnecessary stress and time pressure on the examination day, ensure that all UCAT practice within 1 month of your examination reflects the examination environment.

Timed UCAT Practice
Online UCAT Calculator
Official UCAT Platform
Whiteboard & Pen (No A4 Pukka Pads)
Quiet (preferably computer based) Environment, with no Instagram, Facebook, Twitter accessible!

Before V After: Structure Your UCAT Preparation


Effective UCAT preparation requires an understanding of the following key areas prior to taking the examination:
When Should I Start Studying for UCAT?
When Should I Book my UCAT?
 
Making the most of your UCAT score requires an understanding of the following key areas after taking your UCAT examination:
 What Is a Good Score on the UCAT?
How Universities use my UCAT Score?




Recognise Your Strengths & Weaknesses

Each student will have their own preferred UCAT sections as well as less preferred areas. This itself is not a bad thing, especially if you recognise and act on these areas requiring additional focus. Simple measures such as reading broadsheet newspapers (Verbal Reasoning) and practicing mental maths (Quantitative Reasoning) can also be very useful.
​
However, in most cases, areas of weakness are the result of poor technique rather than a lack of knowledge, and adopting a structured technique such as the 3 Step Approach to Abstract Reasoning, in combination with NASSSS can help students immeasurably.

Keyboard Shortcuts

To maximise time-efficiency, we would strongly recommend that you familiarise yourself with keyboard shortcuts, and utilise this in daily practice. We have compiled a list of the most important keyboard shortcuts which can be found here.

Further Reading....

UCAT Verbal Reasoning Tips & Techniques
UCAT Decision Making Tips & Techniques
UCAT Quantitative Reasoning Tips & Techniques
UCAT Abstract Reasoning Tips & Techniques
UCAT Situational Judgement Tips & Techniques

Online UCAT Course
UCAT Preparation Courses