So you’ve decided that you’re going to sit the Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT) and you want to crack on with preparation but, you need some help and guidance on how to do that. This guide is going to take you through BMAT preparation and how to make a start!
Getting Familiar With the BMAT
There are two ways you can go about this. As the first port of call, you need to have a rough idea of what is going on. MasterMedPrep’s Understanding the BMAT blog is a great place to start.
The best way to learn is always to practice, so once you know roughly what the BMAT is and what each section entails, get stuck in!
Setting a Baseline
One idea is to start with a full BMAT mock but entirely untimed. You can set yourself a baseline with the mark and get to know how the test works. It’s best to write yourself a list of topics that you find tricky so that you can cherry pick these question types from any BMAT resources.
Starting Your Timed BMAT Practice
After you’ve given yourself time to get familiar with the BMAT, it is always best to practice timed. As with the UCAT, time pressure is often the greatest challenge with the BMAT, not the content, so utilising the timings from the get-go will give you the most accurate imitation of the actual exam.
BMAT Section Timings Explained
Section | Time | No. of Questions | Time Per Question |
Section 1 | 60 minutes | 32 Questions | 1 minute 53 seconds |
Section 2 | 30 minutes | 27 Questions | 1 minute 7 seconds |
Section 3 | 30 minutes to complete the essay | 1 Question | 30 minutes |
Struggling to Keep Accuracy with the Timings?
It’s normal to struggle to remain accurate whilst under time pressure.
If you feel you need more familiarity before sticking to these timings, try timing yourself by doing one question, taking away 10 seconds, and using that timing.
Set yourself an achievable goal. For example, 3 questions correct in a row. Once you have achieved this, take 5 seconds of your time. Repeat until you are down to the BMAT timings!
How Can I Prepare for the Subject(s) That I Don’t Take in School?
Firstly, approach your subject teachers with the BMAT content specification and ask if there are any lessons you can sit in on/if they can give you any help.
You can also receive help from a specialised BMAT tutor, who will help you tackle anything that you haven’t seen!
It’s important that you don’t wait to cover the entire content specification before you begin questions. It’ll take too long and the most productive way to prepare for an exam is to do the type of questions that will be on it. It’s best to get cracking with mocks and questions and identify problem areas, alongside covering the specification.
What About Preparing for the BMAT Essay?
The essay is a little harder to mark, as whilst there’s a mark scheme, it’s hard to be objective when it’s your own work.
One option is to give the BMAT section 3 mark scheme to a teacher/parent/guardian and ask them to mark it for you. Another option is to have a BMAT tutor who can mark these essays for you and give you feedback and advice!
What Resources Should I Use to Prepare for the BMAT?
With admissions tests, the test provider often gives their own resources for you to prepare with. In the case of the BMAT you can use the Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing BMAT resources to practice; it is entirely free.
Closing Comments
The BMAT is a tricky exam and knowing where to start with preparation can feel like a minefield. Keep it simple and keep it timed to prepare yourself and achieve a high score!