Is your kid planning to pursue medicine?
Medicine is a recognized and fulfilling profession that allows students to pursue a stable, well-paying career with the possibility for lifelong learning and growth, all while making a significant impact in people's lives. As a result, it is among the most competitive fields to enter. One of the key reasons for this is because, in addition to the stringent ATAR standards, medical aspirants must also take the UCAT® exam and prepare for frightening medical interviews.
Understandably, the application procedure may be confusing and nerve-racking for everyone concerned, especially the parents. Fortunately, there are several methods to help your child.
• Undergraduate Pathway: The UCAT® Exam
• UCAT® Universities
• UCAT® Scoring
• Supporting Your Child Throughout Their Journey into Medicine
The UCAT® Exam is part of the undergraduate pathway.
In Australia, there are two avenues into medicine: undergraduate and graduate entry. The UCAT® test is only focused on the undergraduate track. For more information on the Graduate Entry Pathway, see our guide here.
The Undergraduate track is intended for'school leavers', or students who have completed secondary education within the last two years. The University Clinical Aptitude Test, or UCAT® exam, is a standardized computer-based test used by several Australian institutions to admit students to undergraduate medical, dental, and clinical science degree programs. The two-hour exam is administered at Pearson VUE test centers and tests a variety of skills and behaviors necessary for practicing medicine and dentistry. The ultimate goal of the UCAT® is to choose the top applicants from an already exceptionally competitive pool of medical or dental school hopefuls.
While the majority of medical schools demand a UCAT® score as a prerequisite, there are rare exceptions. Check university websites for the most up-to-date information on whether a certain program requires UCAT® results.
UCAT® Courses
The UCAT® exam is now required for entrance to the following courses.
• Medicine
• Dental Surgery
• Oral Health
• Medical Science (Regional Medical Pathway provisional entry to UQ)
• Dental Science
• Clinical Sciences / Medicine
• Dental Health Science
• Dentistry
• Dental Medicine
UCAT® Scoring.
The UCAT® exam consists of 233 multiple-choice questions. These questions are broken into five subtests, each designed to examine a distinct skill. The table below provides detailed descriptions of the five subtests in a specific order:
• Verbal Reasoning assesses the ability to critically examine textual material.
• Assesses decision-making skills when dealing with difficult information.
• Quantitative Reasoning evaluates the capacity to critically assess numerical information.
• Abstract reasoning evaluates the use of convergent and divergent thinking to infer relationships from data.
• Situational judgement assesses the ability to perceive real-world circumstances, determine essential aspects, and respond appropriately.
Supporting Your Child's Medical Journey
• Understanding the UCAT - To adequately support students preparing for the UCAT® exam, it is necessary to first grasp its significance in the medical school admissions process. Many institutions consider the UCAT® score just as important as the ATAR.
• Provide help - It is critical to urge students to take breaks from their studies and socialize with friends or simply relax. Burnout is a serious worry that might result from the high stress of the medical application procedure. Remember to remind your youngster to get enough sleep, exercise, and a healthy diet to reduce their stress.
• Encourage constant preparation, and start early - Many students fail to complete the exam at all due to the tremendous time constraint of having to complete two MCQs every minute. Consistency and practice will offer you the best chance of passing the UCAT® exam - here is where a study plan is crucial.
For more information, check out our full article here: https://gradready.com.au/ucat-parents-guide
