The BMAT explained (valid for 2015-16)

Abstract

The Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT) is one of the entrance exams that medical schools require applicants to sit when they apply to study medicine. Of the 33 undergraduate courses available, six use the BMAT as part of their admissions policy, including Oxford and Cambridge. Unlike the UK clinical aptitude test (UKCAT), applicants sit the BMAT after they have submitted their application to UCAS, taking the exam on the same day in November. For the 2015-16 application, the date for the exam is 4 November 2015. You may only sit it once during every application cycle, and it costs between £44 and £75.50, depending on when you register. Registration to take the test can begin from 1 September 2015, and you can register up until 15 October 2015. This article provides an introduction to the BMAT, explains how it is marked, and gives tips on preparing for the exam. The BMAT is divided into three sections. The first two sections—aptitude and skills, and scientific knowledge and applications—are in a multiple choice format, and the last section is a writing task. The exam must be taken without a calculator, so brush up on your basic mental maths and working without a calculator beforehand. Table 1⇓ shows the timings and how many questions you need to answer in each BMAT section. View this table: Table 1 Timings for the BMAT ### Aptitude and skills section The first BMAT section is …