UCAT Preparation Comprehensive Program
The UCAT Preparation Comprehensive Program is a formal UCAT preparation program which combines all METC Institute UCAT workshops in order to maximise candidate performance in the UCAT. The program consists of five UCAT workshops (total of 10hrs) each corresponding to a specific section of the UCAT exam.
By enrolling in the UCAT Comprehensive Program, candidates learn advanced skills in each of the following domains:
- Verbal Reasoning: Critical appraisal and analysis of information presented in various passages, and solving problems.
- Decision Making: Application of logic to reach particular decisions or draw conclusions, and to evaluate arguments presented along with other data such as statistics and graphical information.
- Quantitative Reasoning: Identification of quantitative problems, obtaining the relevant information pertinent to solving problems, and efficiently using both mental and formal arithmetic to determine the solution accurately yet without excessive time-consumption.
- Abstract Reasoning: Identification of the implicit rules that govern the arrangement of abstract stimuli, and using these to solve abstract reasoning problems.
- Situational Judgement: Building an understanding of the values of integrity, perspective, resilience, adaptability, and teamwork. Such values are commonly assessed in both pre-medical and post-graduate selection processes.
More details about each workshop can be found under the courses section of the UCAT department webpage. Along with access to the above, candidates are supported with online access to a METC Institute UCAT tutor in the lead up to their exam.
Workshops are delivered via the METC Institute online classroom by a member of the METC Institute Academic Faculty. Sessions are available in the months of April, May, and June prior to the official UCAT exam. See the Location & Dates tab for more information. Following their sessions, students may access recordings of their workshops. Workshops are designed to be completed in conjunction with official UCAT preparation materials (which includes 3 official full-length online UCAT exams and another 400 official UCAT questions available in a question bank) to facilitate a complete preparation that will confer a distinct advantage to students.
Aims of the UCAT Preparation Comprehensive Program
The UCAT Preparation Comprehensive Program aims to assist students in maximising their overall UCAT score via the following:
- Assisting candidates to develop a general understanding of the rationale for all the sections of the UCAT examination
- Teaching candidates specific techniques for working through questions in the domains of verbal reasoning, decision making, quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning, and situational judgement
- Ensuring candidates minimise the habit of making assumptions when drawing conclusions, and focusing on evidence-based rationale
- Developing in candidates a fundamental understanding of deductive reasoning and how it can be applied to make decisions
- Assisting candidates to make decisions in uncertain and ambiguous circumstances, and ensuring appropriate justification for such decisions
- Providing candidates with skills in the interpretation of the major forms of data presented in the quantitative reasoning section of UCAT including interpretation of tables and graphs, and other figurative representations of multiple variables
- Providing candidates with techniques to perform quick and accurate mental arithmetic
- Providing candidates with insight into the four distinct types of questions in the abstract reasoning section, and strategies to solve each of these question types
- Teaching candidates to determine the implicit rules that underpin the figures via consideration of such variables as opposition, reflection, symmetry, position, enclosure, mirroring, adjacency, rotation, shape, shading, equivalence, and ratios
- Arming candidates with a contextual understanding of the professional medical workplace, and their roles and responsibilities in such an environment
- Providing candidates with skills to discern the appropriateness of actions in particular contexts
- Providing candidates with an efficacious plan of study in the lead up to their examination
About the UCAT exam
The UCAT examination is an admissions exam used by a consortium of universities for assessing entry into medical, dental, and clinical science university programs. The exam has replaced completely the now defunct UMAT exam.
The exam is completed over 120 minutes and is comprised of the following sections:
The UCAT is sat in the same year the candidate plans to apply to university. Registration for the exam opens in early March and closes in mid-May each year with the formal exam being held in later July of the same year. To find out more information about the UCAT, visit the official site www.ucatofficial.com
UCAT Preparation Comprehensive Program Content
The UCAT Preparation Comprehensive Program is comprised of five distinct workshops each specifically designed to develop candidate capacities in each section of the UCAT exam. The content of each workshop is detailed below.
Students enrolled in the program will receive:
- Understanding of the rationale and therefore approach to all sections of the UCAT exam
- Specific skills for each style of question seen in the various sections of the UCAT
UCAT Verbal Reasoning Workshop
The UCAT Verbal Reasoning Workshop is written specifically for candidates preparing for the UCAT. The workshop teaches students specific approaches to each of the question archetypes seen in this section of the exam. These include:
- True/False/Can’t tell questions
- Incomplete statements
- According to the passage questions
- Except questions
- Most likely questions
Each style of question is addressed in the workshop both theoretically and via representative UCAT practice questions. As well as techniques specific to the above style of questions, candidates are taught general strategies to approach their preparation and the exam.
UCAT Decision Making Workshop
The UCAT Decision Making Workshop is written specifically for candidates preparing for the UCAT. The workshop teaches students the principles of deductive reasoning. These principles are applied in the context of the item types seen in this section of the UCAT. These include:
- Logical puzzles
- Syllogisms
- Information interpretation
- Recognising assumptions
- Venn diagrams
- Probabilistic reasoning
Each style of question is addressed in the workshop both theoretically and via representative UCAT practice questions. Students are shown how to progress a problem from known information to construct conclusions not immediately evident in the stimuli. As well as techniques specific to the above style of questions, candidates are taught general strategies to approach their preparation and the exam.
UCAT Quantitative Reasoning Workshop
The UCAT Quantitative Reasoning Workshop is written specifically for candidates preparing for the UCAT. The workshop teaches students to accurately use numerical skills to solve problems. These principles are applied in the context of the numerical calculations seen in this section of the UCAT. These include:
- Percentages: For example, calculating the percentage change (increase/decrease) in cost prices/quantities or writing percentages as decimals/fractions
- Proportionality: Direct proportionality, and inverse proportionality
- Rates: Understanding rates and change in rate based on changes in parameters, especially flow and speed
- Averages: Estimating and finding averages (mean, median, mode) of a number of values via use of tables, charts, and diagrams
Each key calculation is addressed in the workshop both theoretically and via representative UCAT practice questions. During the workshop, candidates are taught how to perform swift mental arithmetic in order to expedite their progress through the exam, and maximise their score. As well as techniques specific to the above style of questions, candidates are taught general strategies to approach their preparation and the exam.
UCAT Abstract Reasoning Workshop
The UCAT Abstract Reasoning Workshop is written specifically for candidates preparing for the UCAT. The workshop teaches students to accurately identify patterns amongst abstract shapes. These principles are applied in the context of the different types of questions seen in this section of the UCAT. These include:
- Type 1 – Related Shapes – Candidates are presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. They are then given a test shape and asked to decide whether the test shape belongs to Set A, Set B, or Neither.
- Type 2 – Sequential Shapes – Candidates are presented with a series of shapes. They are then asked to select the next shape in the series.
- Type 3 – Shapes & Statements – Candidates are presented with a statement involving a group of shapes. They are then asked to determine which shape completes the statement.
- Type 4 – Shapes of Best Fit – Candidates are presented with two sets of shapes labelled “Set A” and “Set B”. They are then asked to select which of the four response options belongs to Set A or Set B.
Each style of question is addressed in the workshop both theoretically and via representative UCAT practice questions. During the workshop, candidates are shown how to quickly determine salient information, and to solve problems. As well as techniques specific to the above style of questions, candidates are taught general strategies to approach their preparation and the exam.
UCAT Situational Judgement Workshop
The UCAT Situational Judgement Workshop is written specifically for candidates preparing for the UCAT. The workshop provides candidates with an understanding of the values which underpin professional healthcare and represent the basis of assessment for this section. The values assessed include:
- Integrity
- Perspective
- Resilience
- Adaptability
- Teamwork
Each key value is addressed in the workshop both theoretically and via representative UCAT practice questions. Students are provided with an understanding of these competencies as they apply in healthcare, and students are expected to picture how they would manifest such values in their future careers. As well as the key values underpinning healthcare, candidates are taught general strategies to approach their preparation and the exam.
UCAT Workshop dates
The UCAT Workshops are held online in the METC Institute online UCAT classroom. Dates of the 2019 workshops are shown in the table below. Students enrolled in the UCAT Preparation Comprehensive Program may elect to attend their five UCAT training workshops on any of the following dates.
| Workshop | Date | State | Time |
| Verbal Reasoning Workshop | 19/04/2020 | QLD | 5pm to 7pm |
| Verbal Reasoning Workshop | 19/04/2020 | NSW | 5pm to 7pm |
| Verbal Reasoning Workshop | 19/04/2020 | VIC | 5pm to 7pm |
| Verbal Reasoning Workshop | 19/04/2020 | ACT | 5pm to 7pm |
| Verbal Reasoning Workshop | 19/04/2020 | SA | 4.30pm to 6.30pm |
| Verbal Reasoning Workshop | 19/04/2020 | NT | 4.30pm to 6.30pm |
| Verbal Reasoning Workshop | 19/04/2020 | WA | 3pm to 5pm |
| Verbal Reasoning Workshop | 19/04/2020 | New Zealand | 7pm to 9pm |
Enroling in the UCAT Preparation Comprehensive Program
Enrolment into the UCAT Preparation Comprehensive Program is online. To enrol, simply click the ‘Enrol’ button. Enrolment can be completed via the steps that follow.
Students will be contacted to arrange their preferred date of attendance for each of their five UCAT workshops. After each event, students have access to a recording of the workshop via their individual student portal. Access to the recording is provided up to the date of the official UCAT exam.
Academic Faculty
The UCAT Preparation Comprehensive Workshop is designed and delivered by the METC Institute Academic Faculty which includes education experts, specialist doctors and Senior Lecturers from leading Australian University medical schools and teaching hospitals. Students studying with the METC Institute possess the advantage of guidance from Australian doctors with extensive experience in medical education.
