UCAT CALCULATOR: HOW DO THE UCAT PRACTICE EXAMS DIFFER FROM THE LIVE UCAT?
5 years ago by Robert
The calculator in the live UCAT (i.e the calculator in the testing centre for the actual UCAT) has several differences to the calculator available on the official UCAT practice exams. These changes range from cosmetic (e.g. colour, style) to functional differences.
MedEntry’s Simulated UCAT Exam Platform is the most accurate representation of the live UCAT calculator. You may therefore notice some differences between MedEntry’s UCAT calculator (and the live UCAT calculator) compared to the official UCAT practice exams.
Difference 1: Backspace and Escape buttons
In the live UCAT, the backspace and escape buttons behave differently to the official UCAT practice exam calculator:
- Backspace: clears the UCAT calculator (in the same manner as pressing the ON/C button). This button does not do anything in the official UCAT practice exam calculator.
- Escape: does nothing in the live UCAT (however, it clears the calculator in the official UCAT practice exam platform).
MedEntry’s UCAT Platform replicates the behaviour of the calculator in the live UCAT.
Difference 2: Clearing memory
In MedEntry’s UCAT Exam Platform calculator, like the live UCAT, memory can be cleared by pressing the MRC button twice. This is in addition to pressing M- followed by MRC:
Difference 3: Keys change colours
When you press a calculator button on the keyboard, hover over, or click a button in the live UCAT’s calculator, the button will change colour to amber, similar to the below:
This is replicated on MedEntry’s online UCAT platform calculator.
Difference 4: Calculator window
Note: since this blog was posted, the UCAT official site has amended their calculator to be a draggable window like in the live UCAT.
While the official UCAT practice exam calculator opens in a separate window, the calculator in the live UCAT (and on MedEntry’s Simulated UCAT Exam Platform) is a draggable item within the main exam window.
To close the calculator in the live UCAT and MedEntry’s platform, you need to click the X icon in the top right, or proceed to the next question. Pressing ALT + C does not close the calculator. This is different to the official UCAT practice exam calculator, where the external window will remain open until you manually close it.
Official UCAT practice exam calculator:
MedEntry’s calculator, which more accurately simulates the live UCAT:
MedEntry’s Online Learning Platform exactly replicates the live UCAT in every major and minor detail. When you enrol with MedEntry, you’ll avoid any unwanted surprises on UCAT test day. Sitting UCAT will feel just like another MedEntry UCAT Practice Exam!
