4 Mindset Shifts to Help You Tackle the UCAT
1 year ago by Chris
Many students will already be starting or upping the intensity of UCAT preparation. While time spent on improving your proficiency at answering UCAT questions is certainly well spent, so is the time dedicated to reflecting on what you’re doing and renewing your confidence. After all, the UCAT, like other aptitude tests, is partially a mind game. This blog post aims to provide some new perspectives to boost morale and thereby boost your UCAT scores.
Here are four mindset shifts adopted by successful UCAT test takers:
1. Evaluate the objectives of UCAT test-creators
Yes, admission into medical education is competitive. Yes, the UCAT is among the most gruelling academic tests imposed on students in the country. However, it is helpful to keep in mind that the challenge is there for a reason. UCAT test-makers have designed UCAT questions to assess students’ suitability for a career as a doctor and they have done this by testing for attributes that have proven valuable in doctors. Namely, an attention to detail, quick and critical thinking under pressure, an ability to wield logic as a cognitive weapon in the workplace and so on.
It is important for future medical student graduates to have a solid baseline aptitude, so they are well positioned to deliver optimal health outcomes to their patients. Many decisions made in the clinical healthcare setting directly impact the wellbeing and quality of life of an individual, and therefore sound reasoning skills (verbal, abstract, numerical, social and emotional) are important. These skills are assessed via UCAT. This perspective can help you recognise the ‘why’ behind the style and structure of this challenging exam and make you more purposeful with your UCAT study.
2. Consider UCAT practice as an investment in your future self
It’s comforting to keep in mind that any UCAT study you dedicate yourself to is not wasted in the least, in fact, the skills and strategies you will hopefully acquire during your UCAT preparation are applicable to everyday life. For instance, an increased reading speed from UCAT Verbal Reasoning training can help you synthesise dense chunks of academic writing quickly. This will make you more efficient when undertaking research projects or reading school or university resources. Similarly, evaluating arguments in the UCAT Decision Making subtest helps you acquire an ability to think critically about contemporary issues and make you more informed about current affairs and controversies. The mental math which you develop from practising Quantitative Reasoning is helpful when judging discounts at business sales, for instance.
Moreover, the general ability to keep your cool during stressful situations is useful in a myriad of social and personal situations. As a result of your UCAT preparation, you might notice an improved ability to concentrate on schoolwork and find your flow while completing certain tasks. More than being a test for your suitability for medical studies, the UCAT is an invaluable way to prepare yourself for adult life in general. Keeping this refreshing perspective in mind should make your UCAT practice feel more worthwhile.
3. Remember that a strong mind needs a strong body
In order for your brain to function optimally while taking the UCAT, it requires the support from the remainder of the body. This may have already been repeated to you ad nauseum, but good and consistent lifestyle habits including adequate quality sleep, a healthy diet and regular exercise are essential to perform at your best in cognitive tests. Especially in the UCAT, where a heightened response time and critical thinking capacity are crucial to perform well, candidates should make sure to look after various aspects of their wellbeing and avoid zoning in exclusively on study.
If you do not already have scheduled exercise sessions in your week such as group sport training, perhaps try to dedicate half an hour after school (e.g. 5:00-5:30PM) to an outdoor walk or jog. Observe how even an occasional breath of fresh air taken intentionally can help take your mind off the stressors of the day and refresh you for some subsequent evening study. Ensure that you are also spending enough time in your day socialising with family or friends; they can be a comforting outlet for your worries and uncertainties in the case you become bogged down in UCAT study. Do what feels beneficial for your state of mind as you prime it for the exam.
4. Remind yourself of the big picture
Remember that the UCAT exam is not the be all and end all. If your final scores aren’t as competitive as you were aiming for, this has by no means barred you from entry into medicine. The majority of medical schools consider a collection of criteria such as academic scores and interview performance when deciding on admission into medicine. It is a good idea to be aware of the weightings of each criterion as this is often unique to university – some universities take UCAT scores into account very lightly, if at all!
Furthermore, there are several alternative pathways into a fulfilling career suited to you – direct entry from high-school is certainly not the only option! You can take a gap year, apply as a non-standard applicant or even pursue graduate entry medicine.
While it is important to consider how UCAT fits into the big picture of medicine admission, make sure this perspective doesn’t make you complacent with your current UCAT study, but instead helps to relieve excessive pressure you might be placing upon yourself, giving you a clearer head and some self-reassurance to perform optimally on test day.
Good luck with your UCAT study!
Written by Cindy, a past MedEntry student who is currently studying medicine
