Creating a UCAT timetable is really tricky. UCAT preparation runs in the summer and a lot of students feel nervous that they are going to dedicate their whole summer to the exam. Here are some pointers in creating an effective revision timetable alongside an example timetable at the end.
1: Keep it Over a Set Amount of Weeks
If you do too much UCAT revision for too many weeks, you are just going to burn out, set aside the weeks you are most free in summer and plan 4-6 weeks that you are going to revise within. 4.5-5 weeks is ideal.
2: Progressively Build your Hours
You don’t want to start with two full UCAT mocks a day. It will feel too much and you will lose concentration. Instead, start with an hour a day where you can and build that time up. This way you improve your concentration skills.
3: Don’t Set Rest Days
Take rest days and ‘I’m busy’ days as and when you need them. Don’t try to schedule them in as you may find you don’t need a rest day on your scheduled day but need it in a couple of days.
Maybe set 5 days' worth of work and instead tick each lot of work off when it’s done. Just go with how you feel and work around it. Go easy on yourself!
Below is a real example UCAT revision timetable used by a current medical student using the tips discussed in this blog. Note how the rest days change each week depending on the schedule!
We have used the following abbreviations in this timetable:
Abstract Reasoning (AR)
Verbal Reasoning (VR)
Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
Decision Making (DM)
Situational Judgement Test (SJT)
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
Week 1 | 30 minutes AR in the morning 30 minutes VR in the afternoon | 30 minutes QR revision in the morning 30 minutes DM revision in the afternoon | 30 minutes SJT revision in the morning 30 minutes AR in the afternoon | Busy this day | 30 minutes VR in the morning 30 minutes QR in the afternoon | Full UCAT mock and mark | Day off UCAT prep |
Week 2 | 1 hour AR in the morning 1 hour VR in the afternoon | Full UCAT mock and mark in the morning | Busy in the day 1 hour QR and 1 hour DM in the evening | 1 hour SJT in the morning 1 hour DM in the afternoon | Day off UCAT prep | Get a UCAT mock and marking out the way in the morning | Get a UCAT mock and marking out the way in the morning |
Week 3 | 1h 30 AR in the morning 1h30 VR in the afternoon | Full UCAT mock and mark in the morning | 1 hour 30 DM in the morning 1 hour 30 QR in the afternoon | Doing something in the day Full UCAT mock and marking in the evening | 1h 30 SJT Full UCAT mock and marking | Busy this day | Feeling a bit burnt out so took an extra day off |
Week 4 | 2h AR in the morning 2h VR in the afternoon | Full UCAT mock and mark Full UCAT mock and mark | Day off | 2h SJT in the morning 2h DM in the evening | 2h QR in the morning Full UCAT mock and mark | Feeling a bit burnt out so day off | Full UCAT mock and mark Full UCAT mock and mark |
Week 5 | Full UCAT mock and mark Full UCAT mock and mark | Full UCAT mock and mark Full UCAT mock and mark | Rest day before test day! | Made it to test day! | | | |
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