Although there are 5 sections, you receive 2 sets of final marks. The first four UCAT sections comprise the one group and are:
- Verbal Reasoning
- Decision Making
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Abstract Reasoning
These are marked depending on how many correct answers you give. Here are the key features that you should be aware of:
- There is no negative marking. You simply do not get the mark for incorrect replies nor do you lose an actual mark.
- Questions that have only one correct answer are awarded the 1 mark.
- You can get 2 marks where questions have more than one correct answer so you don’t need to get the full response correct to at least get some reward.
- These particular questions you can be awarded 1 mark if you give the partially correct answer.
- Each section overall has an equal weighting with no preference between sections.
Marks for each UCAT (UKCAT) Section
Because the 4 sections have a different number of questions and a different time allocated nevertheless each section has an equal weighting with no preference between sections. This means that there is no direct link to the number of correct answers and the score as the computer will convert each initial score/correct replies into a scale between 300 and 900. Each of the 4 sections will be allocated a mark between 300-900 depending how well you have done and with the weighting adjusted equally.
Once your UCAT exam is complete, you will receive a converted score per UCAT section. The important thing here is that you should be equally as good at each section. Your overall score when added up, will be the total converted score for all the 4 UCAT (UKCAT) sections hence the final score will be a number ranging from 1200 to 3600.
The final number will be the total divided by 4 which gives a number between 300 and 900. Most students will be around the 600 to 700 mark which tells you how tough the exam is because out of 3 questions, you will get roughly one question wrong.
What about the Situational Judgement Test?
Only for this particular section, the marking system is different.
Here are the key features that you need to know:
- Each question uses a banding system.
- Band 1 is the highest with 4 being the lowest.
- Your banding score depends on how correct your response is.
- Band 1 is given when you choose the correct answer.
- Band 2 or 3 if you are further from the answer
- Band 4 if you have incorrectly chosen the answer.
In this regard, Band 1, 2 and 3 are all correct but in varying degrees. Then at the end when all the SJT questions are complete, you will be given an average Band which will be your final SJT banding grade. Most universities will be rejecting any candidates who score an overall Band 4 in this section.
How each band is looked at by the university.
Each individual university puts a different emphasis on the 2 sections of the UCAT but as a general rule, a 700+ score puts you in a strong position as long as your SJT is not a 4.
A guide to the SJT Banding System is highlighted below:
Band 1: This is the ideal answer and one which a panel of experts would answer themselves.
Band 2: The student demonstrates a good level of understanding of the concepts and frequently has matched answers similar to that of an expert.
Band 3: The candidate has demonstrated a reasonable level of performance with many valid answers.
Band 4: The candidate has a demonstrated an unacceptable low level with most answers differing from the ideal answer.