BioMedical Admissions Test
Encyclopedia
The BioMedical Admissions Test (also known as BMAT) is an aptitude test used as part of the admissions process for medicine
, veterinary medicine
or biomedical sciences in some universities
in the United Kingdom
. It is the successor of the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Admissions Test (MVAT).
and physiology
(replacing the OMAT); the University of Cambridge
for medicine and veterinary science (replacing the MVAT); University College London
, for medicine; the Royal Veterinary College
for veterinary science.
In 2005, Imperial College London
and the University of Manchester
also made it a part of their entry requirements for medicine, but from the 2006-07 application cycle, Manchester replaced it with the new UKCAT
, introduced in the majority of UK medical schools at the same time.
The BMAT is usually held at the beginning of November, and results are issued at the end of that month, in the form of a certificate with explanatory sheet. As of 2009, results are only available via BMAT Results Online. The results are weighted such that the scores form a normal distribution curve with 5 being the average for a medical candidate and 6 being a very competitive score.
, Logic
and Reasoning), and lasts 60 minutes with 35 questions; while Section 2 tests Scientific Knowledge and Applications, and lasts 30 minutes, with 27 questions. The third section is a Writing Task, lasting 30 minutes, in which the candidate chooses from 4 questions requiring the construction of an argument or debate, an analysis of a statement, or similar task. Unlike the UKCAT, the BMAT is not a calculator exam.
and given to one decimal place.
As of 2010, the marking of Section 3 has changed. The total score is out of 5; with 5 marks coming from construction of argument, and a letter indicating the quality of written communication. The construction of argument mark is given as 1,2,3,4,5 and the quality of communication mark is given as A,C,E. As each BMAT essay is marked by two examiners the two marks can be combined to give overall scores ranging from 1E to 5A (including ones such as 3.5B).
— previous examination results, a teacher's reference, the candidate's personal statement and predicted grades are also important.
Applicants to the University of Cambridge
graduate medicine course
may not have to sit the BMAT test as part of their application. The University advises the applicant to contact the College to which they are applying.
The University of Bristol's Veterinary Science (D100) course will have access to candidates' BMAT scores for research purposes only in 2011-12. The BMAT will not form part of the course entry requirements. For those candidates who are applying to the University of Bristol Veterinary Science (D100) course only, but not to any of the other BMAT-using institutions and courses, the BMAT will not be compulsory.
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, veterinary medicine
Veterinary medicine
Veterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
or biomedical sciences in some universities
British universities
Universities in the United Kingdom have generally been instituted by Royal Charter, Papal Bull, Act of Parliament or an instrument of government under the Education Reform Act 1988; in any case generally with the approval of the Privy Council, and only such recognised bodies can award degrees of...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is the successor of the Medical and Veterinary Sciences Admissions Test (MVAT).
History
The BMAT became part of the application process for such courses only in recent years. Initially, it was taken up by Oxford University for medicineMedicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
and physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
(replacing the OMAT); the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
for medicine and veterinary science (replacing the MVAT); University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, for medicine; the Royal Veterinary College
Royal Veterinary College
The Royal Veterinary College is a veterinary school located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. The RVC was founded in 1791 and joined the University of London in 1949...
for veterinary science.
In 2005, Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
and the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
also made it a part of their entry requirements for medicine, but from the 2006-07 application cycle, Manchester replaced it with the new UKCAT
UKCAT
The UK Clinical Aptitude Test is a test that is beginning to be used in the selection process by a consortium of UK university Medical and Dental Schools. It is run by the UKCAT Consortium in partnership with Pearson VUE...
, introduced in the majority of UK medical schools at the same time.
The BMAT is usually held at the beginning of November, and results are issued at the end of that month, in the form of a certificate with explanatory sheet. As of 2009, results are only available via BMAT Results Online. The results are weighted such that the scores form a normal distribution curve with 5 being the average for a medical candidate and 6 being a very competitive score.
Format
The BMAT consists of three sections. The first two are both multiple-choice/short answer: Section 1 is designed to test Aptitude and Skills (such as Critical ThinkingCritical thinking
Critical thinking is the process or method of thinking that questions assumptions. It is a way of deciding whether a claim is true, false, or sometimes true and sometimes false, or partly true and partly false. The origins of critical thinking can be traced in Western thought to the Socratic...
, Logic
Logic
In philosophy, Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning. Logic is used in most intellectual activities, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and computer science...
and Reasoning), and lasts 60 minutes with 35 questions; while Section 2 tests Scientific Knowledge and Applications, and lasts 30 minutes, with 27 questions. The third section is a Writing Task, lasting 30 minutes, in which the candidate chooses from 4 questions requiring the construction of an argument or debate, an analysis of a statement, or similar task. Unlike the UKCAT, the BMAT is not a calculator exam.
Scoring
Sections 1 and 2 are marked out of 9. The scores are standardisedStandardized test
A standardized test is a test that is administered and scored in a consistent, or "standard", manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions, conditions for administering, scoring procedures, and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored in a...
and given to one decimal place.
As of 2010, the marking of Section 3 has changed. The total score is out of 5; with 5 marks coming from construction of argument, and a letter indicating the quality of written communication. The construction of argument mark is given as 1,2,3,4,5 and the quality of communication mark is given as A,C,E. As each BMAT essay is marked by two examiners the two marks can be combined to give overall scores ranging from 1E to 5A (including ones such as 3.5B).
Usage
The results of the BMAT are used in a variety of ways by the different institutions using it: for example, Oxford University combines the results with GCSE grades to decide who is called for interview; often it is seen as just part of the application processUCAS
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service is the British admission service for students applying to university and college. UCAS is primarily funded by students who pay a fee when they apply and a capitation fee from universities for each student they accept..-Location:UCAS is based near...
— previous examination results, a teacher's reference, the candidate's personal statement and predicted grades are also important.
List of universities using BMAT
| University | Subject(s) |
|---|---|
| Imperial College London Imperial College London Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine... |
Medicine Biomedical Science |
| Royal Veterinary College Royal Veterinary College The Royal Veterinary College is a veterinary school located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. The RVC was founded in 1791 and joined the University of London in 1949... |
Veterinary Medicine |
| University College London University College London University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London... |
Medicine |
| University of Cambridge University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally... |
Medicine Veterinary Medicine |
| University of Oxford University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096... |
Medicine Biomedical Sciences |
Applicants to the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
graduate medicine course
Graduate Medical Program
Graduate Medical Program or sometimes also known as Graduate Entry Program or Graduate Entry Medicine are terms generally used outside of the United States to refer to medical programs usually of 4-years duration where applicants are university graduates who have taken aptitude tests such as the...
may not have to sit the BMAT test as part of their application. The University advises the applicant to contact the College to which they are applying.
The University of Bristol's Veterinary Science (D100) course will have access to candidates' BMAT scores for research purposes only in 2011-12. The BMAT will not form part of the course entry requirements. For those candidates who are applying to the University of Bristol Veterinary Science (D100) course only, but not to any of the other BMAT-using institutions and courses, the BMAT will not be compulsory.