Frequently Asked Questions - Students



http://bmat.sdcjntap85.ucles.internal/faqstudent.html/manage_workspace faqstudent.html
Q. What is BMAT?
A. The BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) is a two hour pen and paper test consisting of three sections.
  • Section 1: Aptitude and Skills (60 minutes - 35 multiple choice questions)
  • Section 2: Scientific Knowledge and Applications (30 minutes - 27 multiple choice questions)
  • Section 3: Writing Task (30 minutes - 1 essay question from a choice of 3)
A list of which universities require the BMAT can be found on the homepage of the BMAT website. Please refer to the university websites and prospectuses for information on course requirements.

For details, on the purpose of the test, qualities to be assessed, the structure of the test scoring and the test format please refer to the BMAT Test Specification (113Kb).

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Q. When should I take the BMAT?
A. You should register to take the BMAT in the year that you are applying for medical school, even if you are going to defer for a year. You cannot carry your score over to the next year.

The universities take a dim view of candidates taking the paper for practice purposes.

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Q. What is the date and time of the BMAT?
A. The date of the BMAT is Wednesday 5th November 2008. The test should be started at 9.30am GMT.

International candidates should check with the school/centre/British Council where they are sitting the BMAT to confirm the start time.

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Q. What date do I need to have registered by?
A. The closing date for standard entries is Tuesday 30th September 2008. Late entries can be made, subject to penalty fees, until Wednesday, 15th October 2008.

As a candidate you cannot register yourself for the BMAT, you must be registered through a BMAT registered centre - this could be your school or college. You cannot register to take the test at your school and then take it at another centre. The centre where you register is where you should sit the test and to whom the results will go to.

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Q. How much is the BMAT?
A. The standard BMAT fee for a UK candidate is £31.00 Stirling and £54.00 Stirling for an International candidate up until midnight on Tuesday 30 September 2008.

Late entries can be accepted, at the centres discretion between Wednesday 1 October and Wednesday 15 October 2008 but these entries will incur a late fee. UK candidates will be charged £62.00 Stirling and International Candidates will be charged £108.00 Stirling.

'Open' centres may also add an additional fee to cover any extra administration costs.

If you are a candidate registering at an 'Open' centre you may be asked to pay them directly, before you sit the test.

'Closed' centres will make their own arrangements regarding payment with their candidates directly.

If the entry fee is going to cause you financial difficulty, if at a closed centre, you should speak to your exams officer, head of sixth form or careers officer and they can contact us. If you are registered through an open centre, you may contact us directly by writing to:

The BMAT Team
1 Hills Road
Cambridge
CB1 2EU
United Kingdom

Open centre candidates can also contact us by email: bmatinfo@cambridgeassessment.org.uk outlining your circumstances.

Please note that proof of financial difficulty will be asked for where it is felt applicable.

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Q. Who do I pay?
A. If you are taking the test at the school or college you attend please check your method of payment with the person making your entry.

If you are a candidate taking the test at an 'Open' centre, you will be asked to make payment directly to the centre. The centre will then be invoiced by Cambridge Assessment for the cost of the test. You should check the method by which you can pay the centre you are registering with.

Cambridge Assessment will not issue refunds for entries withdrawn after midnight GMT Wednesday 15th October 2008. This is the deadline for late entries.

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Q. How long is BMAT valid?
A. Your BMAT results are only valid in the year in which you are applying.

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Q. I sat BMAT last year. Do I need to sit it again if I am re-applying to university?
A. Yes, you will need to re-sit BMAT.

Candidates who have taken BMAT and deferred their application will not need to re-sit BMAT.

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Q. What if I am applying to more than one University that requires BMAT?
A. You need only sit the BMAT once. UCAS send us a file which is matched to your results and passed on to the universities that you have applied to that require BMAT.

Please note that the invisibility rule applies whereby universities are told of the results for their applicants only. They are unable to see where else a candidate has applied.

It is important that when registering for the BMAT that you are entered under the name as it appears on your UCAS application form - this helps to speed up the matching of your results and ensures there is no delay on the University receiving results.

The invisibility rule applies whereby universities are only given the BMAT scores for their own applicants.

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Q. If I am taking UKCAT (UK Clinical Aptitude Test) do I still have to take the BMAT?
A. Yes, you do. Please be aware that depending on which university you are applying to, you may have to take both tests.

A list of universities that require the BMAT can be found on our homepage. It is important to always check the course code.

The invisibility rule applies whereby universities are only given the BMAT scores for their own applicants.

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Q. What if I cannot take the BMAT on Wednesday 5th November?
A. The BMAT must be taken on Wednesday 5th November 2008.

If you have reasons other than those listed here in the FAQs, please contact the BMAT team by emailing admissionstests@cambridgeassessment.org.uk setting out the reasons why you are unable to take the test on that day and where you are going to be.

We have centres worldwide and will do our best to find you somewhere to take the test.

Failure to take the BMAT could affect your university application.

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Q. The BMAT falls in half term. What can I do?
A. The BMAT must be taken on Wednesday 5th November.

If your school/college is unable to administer the test for you then you must find an 'Open' centre. An 'Open' centre is one willing to administer the test to external candidates (see "What is meant by the terms 'Closed' centre and 'Open' centre?")

You can expect to pay the BMAT entry fee and an additional administrative fee to cover the extra administration involved, payable to the centre. You should check with the 'Open' centre as to how much this is going to be. You can search for your nearest 'Open Centre' on the List Of Open Centres page.

You cannot register to take the test at your school and then take it at another centre. The centre where you register is where you should sit the test and to whom your results will go to.

If you are unable to find an Open Centre within a reasonable distance from you, please email the BMAT team at admissionstests@cambridgeassessment.org.uk and we will endeavour to help you.

It is important to note that 'Open' centres do not have an obligation to register you and in some cases have limited spaces. Therefore, please remember that if you need to register at an 'Open' centre, you should do it as soon as you are able, to avoid disappointment.

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Q. I cannot take the BMAT on the 5th November because I am taking part in a charity event/on a gap year and will not be in the country.
A. The BMAT must be taken on Wednesday 5th November 2008 by everyone wishing to apply to a university that requires BMAT. Not taking it could affect your application.

If you are taking part in the Fulcrum Challenge, please email admissionstests@cambridgeassessment.org.uk with your details. If you are taking part in other charity events please email us with as much detail as possible regarding where you are going to be and we will do our best to find somewhere reasonably near to take the test at.

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Q. I cannot find a BMAT registered centre on the BMAT website. What should I do?
A. If you attend a school/college, it would be helpful if you could ask someone in a position of authority, if they would be willing to administer the test on your behalf. You should refer them to the BMAT website (www.bmat.org.uk) for more information on the format of the test. If they agree to administer the test on your behalf, they should confirm this agreement by email to admissionstests@cambridgeassessment.org.uk. A member of the BMAT Team will be happy to answer any queries or concerns.

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Q. Can BMAT entry fees be waived or reimbursed?
A. If the entry fee is going to cause you financial difficulty and you are a candidates from within the E.U in receipt of full Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), or the equivalent, you may apply for your BMAT fees to be reimbursed.

If you are registered at a 'Closed' centre, you should speak to your exams officer, head of sixth form or careers officer and they can contact us. If you are registered through an 'Open' centre you may contact us directly by writing to:

The BMAT Team
1 Hills Road
Cambridge
CB1 2EU
United Kingdom

and outlining your circumstances. You should be aware that proof of financial difficulty will be asked for where it is felt applicable.

Standard entry fees will be reimbursed to candidates who have taken BMAT and applied to a BMAT university. Late entry penalties and administration fees will not be reimbursed.

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Q. Are there any BMAT study guides or courses available?
A. The only study guide endorsed by Cambridge Assessment in preparation for the test is "Preparing for BMAT: The Official guide to the BioMedical Admissions Test" which is written by the people who set the test.

It is available from bookshops or online from harcourt.co.uk or alternatively from Amazon (ISBN: 9780435280139).

We do not endorse any other study guides or courses.

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Q. What am I allowed to take into the test?
A. BMAT is administered under examination conditions.

You are allowed a pencil, rubber and pen. We recommend that you use a pencil for Sections 1 and 2 as they are multiple choice papers and it makes it easier to rub out an answer if you feel you have made a mistake. As there are no penalties for a wrong answer we would encourage you to answer all of the questions.

For Section 3, we recommend that you use a ball point pen. If you prefer to use a fountain pen, that is fine but please keep in mind that the essays are scanned and the images are passed on to the universities with your results. Sometimes when essays are written in fountain pen or pencil, the images can be illegible and have to be re-typed which may lead to a delay in the university receiving your image.

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Q. Can I use a calculator?
A. Calculators are not permitted.

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Q. Can I use a bi-lingual dictionary?
A. Neither bi-lingual dictionaries nor extra time are permitted for candidates without English as a first language in the BioMedical Admissions Test.

The BMAT universities feel that as a test for candidates wishing to study medicine/physiological sciences and veterinary science within the UK, it is not appropriate for a bi-lingual dictionary to be used.

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Q. What is meant by the terms 'Closed' centre and 'Open' centre?
A. A 'Closed' centre is the term used for a centre that administers the BMAT to its own candidates only.

An 'Open' centre is the term used for a centre willing to administer the test to external candidates. An external candidate is one which has no association with a registered BMAT School or College.

At an 'Open' centre, you have to pay an additional administrative fee to cover the extra administrative costs involved. You should ask about this cost when registering.

External candidates can find out where they can register to take the test by visiting the List of Open Centres section.

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Q. As a UK candidate – how do I register?
A. Most UK candidates currently attending a school or college will be able to take BMAT at their own school or college. We refer to this as being a Closed centre.

If you are currently attending a school or college, you will need to speak to your Examinations Officer and make them aware that you need to take the BMAT. Your school or college may already be registered as a BMAT centre in which case you may sit the test there under exam conditions. If your school or college is not already registered as a BMAT centre but is willing to administer the BMAT on your behalf your Examinations Officer should contact the BMAT team on admissionstests@cambridgeassessment.org.uk for more information regarding registering as a centre.

If you are not attached to a school or college, or your school or college is unwilling to administer the BMAT on your behalf, you will need to find an open centre in your area. A list of Open centres can be found here, an Open centre is one willing to administer the BMAT to external candidates.

Candidates cannot register themselves directly with the BMAT Support Team, entries for BMAT must be made through a registered BMAT centre.

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Q. As a UK Candidate not able to take the BMAT at a 'Closed' centre - How do I register?
A. UK candidates not able to take the test at their school/college are referred to as 'External' candidates.

If you are an 'External' candidate looking for somewhere to take the test you should refer to the List of Open Centres, where you can search for the nearest BMAT centre near you, listed by City. If you are unable to find a test centre reasonably near you then you should telephone the BMAT Team on +44 (0)1223 553366 and we will do our best to try to find one for you.

As an External Candidate, please have with you, the following information to hand when registering:
  • Full Name (as submitted on your online UCAS form)
  • Date of Birth
  • Gender
  • Address and contact telephone/mobile number
  • University/Universities and course code you are applying to
  • If you are an Oxbridge candidate, you will be asked which College you wish to apply to. If you haven't decided you can be entered under an 'Open Application' but this means if you do not change it, the University will allocate a College to you.
    If the change is not made on your BMAT entry but you have chosen a College on your UCAS form, there may be a delay in matching up your results.
On registering you should ask your centre for your BMAT Candidate Number which you may wish to use when completing your UCAS online application form although it is not obligatory to fill it in. Having your BMAT candidate number is also proof of entry.

You should also be prepared to be asked for evidence if you have requested Access Arrangements. For example, if you normally have extra time in public exams because of dyslexia.

You should also be prepared to be asked for some form of photographic identification, this could be your passport or driving licence either in advance or on the day of the test.

If you are unable to produce any form of photographic identification when asked, the test centre are within their rights to not allow you to take the test.

Please note that as well as paying the BMAT entry fee, you will also be asked to pay a fee to cover the extra administration involved. Check with your 'Open' centre when registering as to how much this is going to be.

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Q. As an International candidate - How do I register?
A. To find an 'Open' centre that is willing to administer the BMAT, you should consult the List of Open Centres section, where you can search by 'Country'. It is likely that it may be a British Council office but this is not unusual. You should be aware that as well as paying the BMAT entry fee you will be asked to pay the 'Open' centre an extra charge to cover the extra administration involved.

If your country is not listed and you attend a school/college, it may be worth you approaching someone in a position of responsibility such as your Exams Officer/Head of Sixth Form/Head Teacher to ask if they would be willing to administer the test on your behalf. If they agree, then please ask them to email the BMAT Team at admissionstests@cambridgeassessment.org.uk confirming that this is the case and we will look at setting your school/college up as a registered BMAT centre for the purpose of you being able to take the test.

When contacting the BMAT Team, please give us as much detail as possible and we will do our best to find you a centre.

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Q. Do I need to provide my UCAS number when applying for the BMAT?
A. No, you do not need your UCAS number to register for the BMAT.

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Q. Do I need my BMAT number for my UCAS form?
A. You may need your BMAT number for your UCAS application should you choose to declare that you are taking the BMAT under the Qualifications section of the Apply System. It is not obligatory for you to do so.

You should be given your BMAT number when you are entered by your centre. It is generated automatically by the entry system. If you are not given it, you should ask for it. Having your BMAT number is also proof that you have been entered for the test.

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Q. I am Dyslexic and/or have other physical needs. Who do I report these to?
A. You should let the centre know at the time of registration so that they can make the necessary arrangements. They will need to complete the 'Access Arrangements' box when you are registered. You may, in some cases, be asked for medical evidence particularly if you are an external candidate applying to sit the BMAT at an 'Open' centre. You may also be asked for medical evidence if you are called to interview at the university you have applied to.

'Access arrangements' is the term given to any pre-examination adjustments based on history of need and provision. That is to say that you may have dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, dysorthographia, or working memory deficit and need extra time, require the use of a laptop or you may have some other physical requirement. It is important to let the centre know of your needs when you register.

You will only require the use of a laptop for Section 3, the 'Writing Task' since Sections 1 and 2 are multiple choice.

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Q. What happens if I am affected by circumstances outside of my control on the day of the test?
A. You will need to let the centre know as soon as possible.

They should submit a letter on school headed notepaper which we will treat as a 'Special Consideration' and inform the universities that you have applied to. Universities will be asked to take the special consideration into account when considering your application. No adjustment will be made to your BMAT results.

'Special Consideration' is the term used for post-examination adjustments to reflect temporary illness, injury or indisposition at the time of assessment.

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Q. How is the BMAT scored?
A. Answer sheets for Sections 1 and 2 are computer marked and verified by trained operators. There are no penalties for incorrect responses, only points for correct answers, so you should make an attempt to answer all the questions.

So that the results of candidates taking different versions of the test (e.g. in different years) can be compared, marks on Sections 1 and 2 are converted to scores on the BMAT scale. This runs from 1 (low) to 9 (high), with scores being reported to one decimal place. The scale has been designed so that typical applicants to the most highly selective undergraduate university courses in the UK (who are by definition, academically very able) will score around 5.0. The best applicants will score more highly, but 6.0 represents a comparatively high score and only a few very exceptional applicants will achieve BMAT scores higher than 7.0.

Section 3 is marked holistically - i.e. the essay is viewed as a whole and a mark awarded based on its overall quality. Each essay is marked twice and the average of the two marks is reported. If the two markers disagree significantly, the response is marked by a third examiner and checked by a senior manager of the BMAT Assessment Team. Each university you have applied to will receive a scanned image of your essay.

The factors used to convert raw marks to BMAT scores vary from year to year, to allow for inevitable slight differences in the overall difficulty of each section. The Specimen Paper was produced to give candidates an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the layout and content of the test, rather than to give an accurate prediction of how well they will do on the day. As the specimen test hasn't been used, the conversion factors have not been established. However, as a very rough guide, a score of 5.0 on Sections 1 and 2 equates to approximately 50% of questions answered correctly.

Scores on each section are reported individually, no overall score is reported. The use of the BMAT scores in the admission process varies from university to university. For more information on how a university applies the scores to their admission process you should consult the university prospectus, university website or contact the admissions office of the university you are applying to.

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Q. When do I get my results?
A. The results will be available from the centre where you sat the BMAT from Monday 1st December 2008. You will be given or sent a Statement of Results with your name and BMAT scores for each section. You will not be given an overall score or grade.

You will also be provided with an explanatory leaflet detailing the scoring of the BMAT.

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Q. How do participating universities receive my results?
A. We send the results automatically to the universities that you have applied to with a copy of your essay.

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Q. Will my results be sent to all the universities I have applied to including those who do not require BMAT?
A. No, your results will only be sent to those universities that require the BMAT as part of their admissions process and as the invisibility rule applies, each university will only have the results applicable to their applicants. A university will not know which other universities you have applied to.

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Q. How do universities use my results?
A. There is no pass or fail and no overall mark or grade supplied for BMAT. The BMAT is only part of a well rounded admissions process which will also take into account your GCSE, AS and predicted A Level results (if given), the information on your UCAS form such as teacher's reference, personal statement and predicted grades are also as important. The BMAT is only one of several measures of your ability.

Each University will use the scores differently in their admissions process.

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