BMAT

Everything about BMAT 2021: Preparation, Scoring, Schedule, Test Format and Results

About BMAT

The Bio-Medical Admissions Test (BMAT) conducted by the Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing is a chance to show your potential to succeed in the field of medicine and healthcare.

BMAT tests your ability to apply scientific and mathematical knowledge, as well as problem solving, critical thinking and written communication skills that are essential to university-level study. BMAT is a 2-hour computer-based test which you will take on your own computer at home or at another suitable location. The test will be monitored by a remote Proctor.

Last year, BMAT was conducted in 3 test cycles: February, September and November.

How to Prepare for BMAT?

Students can start their preparation for BMAT for free by visiting Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing website and downloading the Official BMAT Preparation Guide available there.

They can also watch the BMAT Preparation video on the same site to get an overview of their resources, how to use them for each section of the test and for top tips and strategies.

CAAT provides you with BMAT Practise papers, BMAT Past year papers, test-specific and section-specific online guides all for free.

CAAT also has a YouTube Channel where they post advices from current medical students, top tips from examiners about different sections and information from universities. Candidates can also follow their Twitter account for date reminders, preparation tips and latest updates on BMAT.

With these resources available online for free on CAAT’s website, students don’t need to opt for costly preparation courses and everyone will get the same level of preparatory support.

How is BMAT scored?

1. Questions in Sections 1 and 2

Questions in Sections 1 and 2 are worth 1 mark each.

Total raw marks for each section are converted to BMAT’s scale, which runs from 1 (low) to 9 (high).

Typical BMAT candidates will score around 5.0, roughly half marks. The best candidates will score around 6.0, and a few exceptional candidates will score higher than 7.0.

2. Writing Tasks in Section 3

Writing Tasks are marked by two examiners. Each examiner gives two scores – one for quality of content (on a scale of 0–5), and one for quality of written English (on the scale A, C, E).

3. Combining the scores for Section 3

If the two marks for content are the same or no more than one mark apart, the candidate gets the average of the two marks.

If the two marks for written English are the same or no more than one mark apart, the scores are combined like this: AA = A, AC = B, CC = C, CE = D and EE = E.

For example, a writing task given a 4C by one examiner and 4A by the other will get a final score of 4B. A writing task given 3C by one examiner and 2C by the other will receive a mark of 2.5C.

4. If there is a larger discrepancyin the marks

In this case, the writing tasks will be marked for a third time, and the final mark will be checked by the Senior Assessment Manager.

Note: More information on how the questions in Section 3 are graded can be found on CAAT’s website.

Schedule of BMAT 2021

Due to the ongoing global challenges related to COVID-19, the September cycle of BMAT will not go ahead in 2021. Details about alternative test sessions can be found on Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing’s COVID-19 page on their website.

The November 2021 BMAT test will take place on 3^rd November 2021 as per the CAAT website. The full schedule might be updated soon and can be checked from CAAT’s website.

Costs for BMAT – November 2021 session

The following table shows last year’s costs for BMAT November session. These costs may or may not change for November 2021 session of BMAT. For latest updates, candidates should visit CAAT’s website.

Please note that if you’re applying to Thammasat University, you need to visit the university’s website for current registration fees.

The following table shows BMAT 2020’s costs and is just for a general idea:

How is BMAT conducted?

BMAT February 2021 was conducted as a remote proctored test.

How it works:

The test will be monitored by a Proctor and recorded using the Mercer Mettl Remote Proctoring System. The Proctor is a real person who has been trained to monitor you while taking the test and identify any behaviour that might break the test delivery rules. They can stop your test if they believe you have broken the test delivery rules.

Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing will be able to access and review the recording of the test. The result will be withheld if evidence of any malpractice is found.

Test Location:

You can take the test either at home or another suitable location. It must be a private location where you will be free from disruption. The room should be well lit and have walls and a closed door.

How to take the test: 

You will take the test on your own computer. All computers must have a microphone and an integrated webcam or a USB webcam to enable the use of Artificial Intelligence. Headsets are not permitted. The Mercer Mettl platform is not supported on mobile devices or on Chromebooks.

Important information for candidates under 18

If you are under the age of 18 on your test day, you must have your parent or guardian’s permission to take the test. This is to authorise that you have their consent to be recorded by the Mercer Mettl Remote Proctoring System.

CAAT will provide more detailed guidance about the remote proctored admissions test in advance of the test date. This includes further details about the technical requirements, the test environment, test security and suitable candidate behaviour, and a step-by-step guide on how to set up the test and run it on the day.

Registration Process

For BMAT 2021, candidates will have to do the registration themselves. They can register themselves and pay for it via Metritests when the registration for BMAT November 2021 opens. Metritests is CAAT’s online booking system.

This was the process for February 2021 registration of BMAT, so there may or may not be a few changes for November 2021 BMAT registration.

Registering and taking the BMAT automatically means that candidates are agreeing that data provided as part of the admission process may be passed to CAAT and any institution involved in your application, and also that your data may be anonymised and used for research purposes (including by the General Medical Council for the purposes of the Medical Act 1983 and the UKMED Development Group).

Candidates also agree that if they obtain a place on a course where BMAT results form part of the admissions process, then the University may supply Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing with data about their application and results in subsequent assessments at that University, unless the candidates specifically notify the University in writing.

Test Format

BMAT includes 3 sections: Thinking Skills, Scientific Knowledge and Application and Writing Task. The topics included in these sections may change in 2021, as the following date refers to test format of BMAT 2020.

Section 1: Thinking Skills

This section tests the Generic problem solving and critical thinking skills of the candidate. In 2020, Section 1 was updates to no longer include data analysis and inference.

Section 1 generally has 32 multiple-choice questions and an allotted time of 60 minutes.

Section 2: Scientific Knowledge and Applications

This sections tests the candidate’s ability to apply scientific knowledge typically covered in school in subjects like Science and Mathematics by the age of 16. For example, the GCSE in UK and the IGCSE internationally.

This section generally has 27 multiple-choice questions to be solved in 30 minutes.

Section 3: Writing Task

This section tests the candidate’s ability to select, develop and organise ideas and to communicate them effectively and concisely in writing.

The candidate will have to attempt any one writing task from a choice of 3 questions. The allotted time to complete Section 3 is 30 minutes.

Please note that candidates can find detailed and updated information on BMAT’s test format on the CAAT website.

BMAT Results

Candidates will have to use CAAT’s Metritests system to check results using their login details from the Confidential Results Information Sheet, which they will be given on the day of the test.

Applicants to universities in the United Kingdom and Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKC), Singapore:
Results of these candidates will be automatically sent to any BMAT institution(s) they have applied to in the UK or LKC (as long as the choices were entered on Entries Extranet when their centre registered them for the test).

Applicants to all other universities that accept BMAT November:
Results of these candidates are not sent to institutions automatically. The candidates need to select which institutions they want to send their results too using the Metritests system.

Candidates who appeared for BMAT November 2020 can share their results until 31 July 2021, but they are advised to check with their chosen university/universities for any information about when they need the results.

How to release results to your selected institution(s)?
Follow the following tests:

1. Go to your Metritests account (log in details are on the Confidential Results Information sheet you will be given on the test day).

2. Click on the test inside your Metritests account and select the ‘Share Results’ option.

3. Select the institution(s) you want to receive your results using the dropdown under ‘Institution Name’, then the degree(s) from the dropdown under ‘Course Details’, then click save. The institution will then automatically have access to your results once they are released.

If you do not make your selection using the Metritests system, your test results will not be provided to the institution.

Before results are released, you can add or remove selected institutions. After this, once your results have been published, you cannot remove an institution or course from the results website – the institution(s) will instantly receive your results – but you can add further institutions.

Usually for most universities, sharing results does not constitute an application, and your results will not be considered unless you have also made a formal application to the university. Please contact the universities directly on how to do this.

Important:

Applicants must only take one BMAT in an admissions cycle. Taking the test twice may be viewed by an institution as an attempt to gain unfair advantage.

BMAT results are only valid in the year that the test is taken and cannot be carried over to a re-application. Likewise, a candidate’s score from one year will not affect their chances if re-applying in later years, as each application is considered afresh.

I hope you may like the following as well.

Top 10 Countries to Study MBBS Abroad 2021

How to do MBBS in Australia?