Top Tips to ACE Section 2 of the BMAT
Top Tips for Getting a Fantastic Score in Your BMAT Section 2
Maths & Rounding
The BMAT is a non-calculator exam. You need to practice your mental maths. The best way to do this is just exposing yourself to as many questions as possible.
Similarly, you need to be thinking about rounding when and where you can. Check the answers. Are any of them not sensible/can you rule them out immediately?
Then, check how far apart the answers are. If they’re really close together, you’re probably going to need to use precise maths. If not, time to round!
Timing
Remember that your timing is 67 seconds per question. It may also be worth bringing a watch as you may be in sight of a clock but struggle to focus on the second hand. You don’t need to time every question exactly but it can provide an indicator that you are spending too much time on a question.
Get Someone to Teach you
There are probably going to be 1-3 subjects within the content specification that you do not take at A level. As a rough guide, the difficulty will be around AS Level.
Show your teachers/peers the content specifications and put your heads together. Maybe there are some lessons that you can sit in on, or some separate help they can give you.
BMAT coaches can also help you with any aspect of the content specifications that you have not covered in school.
That said, you don’t need to revise everything
Common questions are common, and they come up time and time again. Whilst it can’t be predicted what exactly will come up on the BMAT, there are definitely themes that are repeated and questioned in a similar way. Therefore, practice with past papers, and learning from your mistakes, is the most important revision method.
You can cover all the content specifications but it’s time-consuming, and it’s important that you improve your timing and practice high-yield questions, in how the BMAT examiners ask them.
Subjects are tested equally so don’t worry too much if you have a weak one
Remember Mathematics, Physics, Biology and Chemistry are tested equally on the BMAT. There will be 7 Biology, 7 Chemistry and 7 Physics questions. There will be 6 Mathematics questions. Practice as much as you can but remember if you’re weaker in one subject in can easily be made up elsewhere and questions are guaranteed to come up in equal proportions
Final Points
BMAT Section 2 can be hard and daunting. If you would like further help, BMAT coaching is available to give you a helping hand through any content you’ve not seen before!
Next Steps
The BMAT is a tricky test as with any medical admissions test, but with the right preparation, it is an exam that you can ace!
Any further questions?