UMAT

Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test

A test used specifically to assist with the selection of students into the medicine, dentistry and health science degree programs at an undergraduate level

The test results can only be used for the year following the test

Written to assess the general skills and abilities developed over the course of a persons education and life experience that are considered to be important to the study and practice of medicine and the health sciences 

The test looks for: Flexibility in thinking (critical and analytical) Ability to respond quickly to new situations and

problems A well developed ability to understand and

respond to patients needs and individual situations.

Not based on learned academic curriculum or study of particular subjects, but to test of your response to stimulus that will not necessarily be familiar.

Universities that accept UMAT entrance

NSW The University of New South Wales The University of Newcastle/University of New

England University of Western Sydney

NT Charles Darwin University

QLD Bond University The University of Queensland

SA Flinders University The University of Adelaide

TAS University of Tasmania

VIC La Trobe University Monash University

WA The University of Western Australia

3 hours of testing Allow 4 – 5 hours for test to cover all

administrative requirements All questions multiple-choice with 4 or 5

possible answers Questions are both based on written and

visual material Marks out of 300

Eligibility

Anyone whose educational level at the time of sitting the test is their final year of secondary schooling or higher

Desired subjects: English Chemistry Biology

Cost

2014 registration fee is $240.00

The dates

Registrations open early December 2013 Registrations close 6th June 2014 TEST DATE- 30th July 2014 Results released in late September 2014

Results

Accessible only online Only valid for one year Acer will send the results directly to the

universities that you applied too (if accepts UMAT) Every University has different selection criteria

Preparation

Test does not test any particular body of knowledge

Assess a wide range of skills and personal qualities Ability to reason Make logical deductions Form a judgment

Question type

The UMAT has been designed to measure: Logical reasoning and Problem solving ability

Conceders process of reasoning and ability to identify problems and relevant information. Then the ability to them comprehend, analyse, select, transform, synthesize, and evaluate data

Common general knowledge (non-medical) Text-based and text-free reasoning

Understanding people Interpersonal skills and ability to interact in different

settings. Question based on text or scenarios and require personal reflections.

Non-verbal reasoning Questions consist of a sequence or a pattern

comprising a number of ‘frames’ composed of a number of elements.

Previously the exam consisted of: Section 1 (Logical Reasoning & Problem Solving), 48

questions, 70 minutes Section 2 (Understanding People), 44 questions, 55

minutes Section 3 (Non-verbal Reasoning), 42 questions, 55

minutes

Now the exam no longer has separate timed divisions for each of Sections 1, 2 and 3.

A ten minute reading only time is given at the start of the test to check for printing accuracy etc.  The three test “constructs” as ACER now terms them, are mixed up throughout the three hour exam.

ACER advises not to do any intensive preparation course (knowledge-based)

ACER does advise a wide amount of reading and to practice answering questions in a similar setting for a similar amount of time

Exam hints

Process of elimination Most people look for the best answer and, in the

process, end up falling for answer choices that are designed to look appealing but actually contain artfully concealed flaws.

The part that looks good looks really good, and the little bit that’s wrong blends right into the background if you’re not reading carefully and critically.

The “best” answer on a tricky question won’t necessarily sound very good at all.

Timing To be successful in the UMAT, timing is just as

important as anything else You should aim to pace yourself throughout each

section so that you finish the last question just before time runs out.

Prepare Make sure you prepare appropriately for the test

by exposing yourself to UMAT style questions that you are likely to receive on the day

Practice answering questions Read and gain as much exposure to current

events as possible and reflect on these subjects

UMAT Prep Courses – beware of the scams! There are many websites that claim to be UMAT

prep organisations when they are actually scam websites.

Speed Reading Practice speed reading It may be beneficial take a speed reading course

as part of your UMAT preparation You want to waste as little time as possible

reading but you do not want to rush through it as you will not understand very much and you may have to go back over what you have already read

Utilise your nervous energy On the day of the UMAT it is healthy to be a little

bit nervous. (Psychological studies have shown that people perform poorly when they are not aroused or when they are too aroused)

If you have a little bit of nervous energy and you are able to harness it, your performance will be heightened and it will allow you too perform at your best level- practice this!

Have confidence in your abilities If you go into the test with a negative mindset,

expecting to perform poorly, this will be the case. You should go into the UMAT confident in all of

your preparation with a ‘can do’ attitude in order to make the most of the UMAT and score as high as possible!

A positive mindset may be a small factor, but it does contribute significantly to a person’s performance in any test

Good Luck!