BMAT

As the standard of university applications rise every single year, it has become more common for universities to offer entrance exams or Aptitude Tests as a way of determining who should be studying at their university.

While Russell Group Universities have always offered entrance exams, other universities have since caught up, with the Cambridge Assessment (or the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate) creating a number of different exams, such as the LNAT or GMAT, however, the BMAT is chief among them.

What is the BMAT?

The BMAT is the BioMedical Admissions Test and is usually part of the admissions process for a Medicine degree and a Biomedical Sciences degree, although it has been known to be a part of the Dentistry degree application process as well.

The BMAT was started in 2001 and was developed by the aforementioned University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES). To begin with, it was only the University of Oxford, who used it primarily to determine the abilities of candidates applying for Medicine and Physiology; the University of Cambridge, who used it for Medicine and for Veterinary Sciences and then by University College London (UCL), who used it for Medicine.

The BMAT is a two-hour test, which has three sections, which are:

• Section 1 - Aptitude Skills: Designed to test your generic skills, problem-solving abilities and your ability to understand arguments. Will also, likely, have a Verbal Reasoning section too. This section has thirty-two questions and takes sixty minutes.
• Section 2 - Scientific Knowledge and Applications: Designed to test the scientific and mathematical skills that you will have covered in school either at GCSE or A-Level. This section has twenty-seven questions and takes thirty minutes to complete.
• Section 3 - Writing Task: Designed to test your ability to communicate your ideas effectively. You will have three writing tasks and you will be asked to select one. This section takes thirty minutes to complete.

The first two sections of the test are multiple-choice questions. You cannot use dictionaries (bilingual dictionaries are also not allowed) or calculators in the examination.

The test is sat at an authorised open centre. The test is studied worldwide, so most countries should have a centre available for students that are looking to study them. Some students are allowed to study the test in their school or college, assuming that their institute is permitted to offer this).

The test results for the BMAT are only valid for the year that they have been studied in and cannot be extended further.

The BMAT fee is different in each country and is also liable to change.

How are you scored for the BMAT?

The BMAT has two different scoring systems. For the first two sections, the raw marks for the sections are then converted into a nine-point scale. What is unusual is that the scores are given by decimal points, so rather than receiving a 7, for example, candidates will receive a 7.0.

The third section of the BMAT has two different BMAT scores; one is for the quality of the content and the second is for quality of the written English. The quality of the content is marked on a scale of 0-5 (0 being the lowest and 5 being the highest). The quality of the Written English is marked on a letter-scale of A, C and E (A being the highest and E being the lowest).

Your examinations are marked by two different examiners, and their respective marks are then combined to form one overall score, which is then averaged out as a score between 1E and 5A. Your marks are then sent onto the university, college or school that you have applied to in picture form.

When do I get my BMAT results back?

The BMAT results are returned typically within a three or four week period after completion of the test and will be returned to students either by a Statement of Results, or by using the Test Portal Metritests, which displays your results in the same way that UCAS Hub does.

It has been known for students to receive the results earlier, but it is best to plan for the fact that you will most likely get your results back within three or four weeks.

Which countries offer the BMAT?

The BMAT Exam is a worldwide course, however, not every single country necessarily offers it. It is most commonly sat in Europe. The main countries that offer the BMAT are:

• Australia
• Canada
• China
• Germany
• Greece
• Hong Kong
• India
• Malaysia
• Poland
• Singapore
• Thailand
• United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• United Kingdom (UK)
• United States of America (USA)

These countries can opt-in and out of the BMAT at their discretion. The BMAT can also be used if you are applying abroad as well.

When can you take the BMAT?

The specific dates change every single year. It has been known for the BMAT to be offered multiple times-a-year, however, this can change. In 2020, the BMAT was changed from multiple tests-a-year to just one, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The BMAT is usually offered in November, so this is the most common schedule used:

Stage	Dates
Registration opens	1st September
Requests for modified question BMAT papers	Deadline: 30th September
Registration deadline	1st October
Late registration deadline	15th October
BMAT Test date	4th November
Results day	27th November

The BMAT dates are subject to change, however, for the most part, this is the general schedule that the BMAT follows. You are generally given around a two-and-a-half-month period to prepare for the test once you have registered.

How much does the BMAT cost?

There are three different costs for students, one for students from the EU, one for students from outside the EU and an additional fee if you are applying later.

Stage	Dates
Students in the EU	£49
Students outside the EU	£83
Late fee (additional payment)	£35

The BMAT fee is different in each country and is also liable to change. We recommend checking to see that the institute that you are applying to requires you to have the BMAT for their course, otherwise, you may find yourself out of pocket unnecessarily.

You can be reimbursed for your BMAT fee if you end up not taking the test, however, you will not be refunded any administration fees or any late-entry fees.

The test is sat at an authorised open centre.

How can I prepare for the BMAT?

The best way to prepare yourself for the BMAT Test is to use any previous revision materials that you have used for Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.

The BMAT website also has a number of helpful resources available for students as well, such as BMAT past papers and other useful resources for students. There are also other materials available as well, such as books and intensive courses.

Which universities require the BMAT?

Universities constantly chop and change their application processes and their admissions criteria, so it can be common for universities to drop the requirement for the BMAT.

These are the universities that generally require the BMAT prior to application

• Brighton & Sussex Medical School
• Imperial College London
• Keele University (only for overseas students, applicants from the UK are required to sit the UCAT)
• Lancaster University
• Leeds’ School of Medicine
• University of Cambridge
• University College London
• University of Oxford

Many of these universities have a Medical School that is apart from their university, which is why they require applicants to have the BMAT when applying.

What is the difference between the BMAT and the UCAT?

Though both tests are used for judging the viability of a student applying for a medical-based degree, their focuses are slightly different.

The main differences are listed below:

Areas	BMAT	UCAT
Focus	Knowledge and aptitude	Aptitude
Cost (EU students)	£49	£65
Cost (non-EU students)	£83	£115
Sections	Three	Five
Paper type	Pen-and-Paper	Computer

The BMAT focuses on judging a candidate’s knowledge and aptitude for the subject that they are applying for, whereas the UCAT only really tests the aptitude of the candidate. The UCAT is studied or taken on the computer, rather than candidates having to write anything out.