CATs and dogs
I took the UKCAT [United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test] today, despite whining about it over a month ago.
The night before the last, I had made a hasty decision after talking to my friend Yousuf [mr_intoxicated] who said he wanted to take this test. I had decided that if Yousuf will take it, I'll take it too. So that very night, I registered to take the test on September 27th at 11:30 AM.
I'd heard from everyone who has taken the test that the time given to complete each section is murderously less. Even the mock test said so. Everyone said that the test was terrible and too tough for normal people.
Well, my opinion somewhat matches their's. It was difficult. But the time wasn't the problem in most of the sections.
The first section, Verbal Reasoning, was 27 minutes long and had 44 questions. One had to read the passage and answer multiple-choice questions on the passage in the form of true/false/can't tell.
The second section, Quantitative Reasoning, was also 27 minutes long and had 40 questions. One had to look at a statistical diagram/chart/table/statement and answer multiple-choice questions based on the information given.
The third section, Abstract Reasoning, was 20 minutes long and had 65 questions. Yes, 65. One was given two sets of shapes A and B and then a test shape was shown and then one had to choose whether the shape belonged to Set A or Set B or neither.
The last section, Decision Analysis, was 38 minutes long and had 26 questions - the only section in which the time limit in minutes exceeded the number of questions. One was given a table in which letters and numbers were assigned words. Either one was given a coded sentence which one had to decipher and choose, from the five options given, the correct answer OR one was given a sentence and asked to choose which set of numbers and letters would properly encode the given sentence.
I got my scores just two minutes after I clicked the 'End Exam' button. Each score is out of a maximum of 900 and the average range is 500 to 700. My scores:
Verbal Reasoning: 620
Quantitative Reasoning: 680... this is the section that I found the toughest because the time really wasn't enough to calculate all the answers and respond correctly. And this despite getting a score of 587 on 600 in advanced level Math.
Abstract Reasoning: 600... this is the section I thought was the easiest, because for some sets, I accurately understood the pattern of the shapes and accordingly chose the set to which I thought the given shape belonged. I was definitely expecting more marks in this section.
Decision Analysis: 810... Ok, I admit, I am surprised myself at getting a score so close to the maximum score. I was expecting lower marks in this one.
Ah well, that proves it.. I'm an Average Joe. But I'm more average than the rest of them! Now I can finally go ahead and apply to the British medical schools, though I'm applying to Canadian universities as well, as a precaution.
The night before the last, I had made a hasty decision after talking to my friend Yousuf [mr_intoxicated] who said he wanted to take this test. I had decided that if Yousuf will take it, I'll take it too. So that very night, I registered to take the test on September 27th at 11:30 AM.
I'd heard from everyone who has taken the test that the time given to complete each section is murderously less. Even the mock test said so. Everyone said that the test was terrible and too tough for normal people.
Well, my opinion somewhat matches their's. It was difficult. But the time wasn't the problem in most of the sections.
The first section, Verbal Reasoning, was 27 minutes long and had 44 questions. One had to read the passage and answer multiple-choice questions on the passage in the form of true/false/can't tell.
The second section, Quantitative Reasoning, was also 27 minutes long and had 40 questions. One had to look at a statistical diagram/chart/table/statement and answer multiple-choice questions based on the information given.
The third section, Abstract Reasoning, was 20 minutes long and had 65 questions. Yes, 65. One was given two sets of shapes A and B and then a test shape was shown and then one had to choose whether the shape belonged to Set A or Set B or neither.
The last section, Decision Analysis, was 38 minutes long and had 26 questions - the only section in which the time limit in minutes exceeded the number of questions. One was given a table in which letters and numbers were assigned words. Either one was given a coded sentence which one had to decipher and choose, from the five options given, the correct answer OR one was given a sentence and asked to choose which set of numbers and letters would properly encode the given sentence.
I got my scores just two minutes after I clicked the 'End Exam' button. Each score is out of a maximum of 900 and the average range is 500 to 700. My scores:
Verbal Reasoning: 620
Quantitative Reasoning: 680... this is the section that I found the toughest because the time really wasn't enough to calculate all the answers and respond correctly. And this despite getting a score of 587 on 600 in advanced level Math.
Abstract Reasoning: 600... this is the section I thought was the easiest, because for some sets, I accurately understood the pattern of the shapes and accordingly chose the set to which I thought the given shape belonged. I was definitely expecting more marks in this section.
Decision Analysis: 810... Ok, I admit, I am surprised myself at getting a score so close to the maximum score. I was expecting lower marks in this one.
Ah well, that proves it.. I'm an Average Joe. But I'm more average than the rest of them! Now I can finally go ahead and apply to the British medical schools, though I'm applying to Canadian universities as well, as a precaution.