Medicine 2025 entry - part 2

[HGC2]

Not sure how to link old thread, can anyone help me do this?

Onto UCAT and personal statements now - good luck everyone!

@mumsneedwine and anyone else advising applicants for 2026. Please note UCAT has today announced the changes to the test for 2025: https://www.ucat.ac.uk/about-ucat/ucat-2025/.

@NoNotHimTheOtherOne we have been petitioning for this for years. Abstract reasoning is so hard and no one could ever understand what relevance it has to medicine 😂

DD is going to be raging about the Abstract Reasoning - she found it so much harder than the other sections. It is easier to see the relevance of the other parts of the test, isn't it!?

Its relevance matters less than the extent to which it predicts good performance for universities - which apparently it doesn’t. I am can definitely see the relevance of abstract reasoning skills to medicine though.

@KielderWater I never could. How working out where holes have been punched into a bit if paper, or seeing a pattern of upside down prongs was always weird to me. V strong candidates do badly on abstract.

The abstract reasoning just looks like washing instructions to me. I would have failed it very miserably.

Good to know anyway, in case we're back here next year. DD about to go into first interview. She's pretty nervous, I'm definitely worse (but not with her so she doesn't know this). Sorry if I'm rambling...

This thread is here for nervous rambling, @Optimum19 - better here than in front of your DD! Hope it goes well for her - it will probably be a relief (for both of you) to have one done and out of the way (albeit leading into another long wait for the decision).

Abstract reasoning is the ability to identify patterns and relationship within data. Think about looking at imaging data or public health data or the relationship between an array of characteristics/symptoms and genetics. Or even to analyse what you are seeing whilst carrying out surgery.

I agree. Analysing data and images. But weird patterns into groups always seemed odd to me. And it can be more taught than the other sections, so against WP. But whatever the reasoning I expect most students will be glad it's gone.

I notice UCAT puts a strong emphasis on not using commercial companies (presumably the likes of medify). Do you think there is a genuine reason not to next year, or is it just about WP and equality of opportunity?

This is absolutely gutting for my daughter as her Abstract Reasoning score failed her UCAT for her as it was 100 points lower than the other sections.

It's not things like Medify they don't like (it's free to some WP students). It's companies that offer months of tutoring. At a v hefty cost.
I think the removal of AR is more to do with the fact that it doesn't correlate with successful outcomes. Expensive to write and run so get shot of it. Something may well replace it in a year or 2.

@ElaineC77 that's v v common. It's horrible. But you can't 'fail' UCAT. And if apply strategically it's possible to get interviews on less than 2,400.

This is exactly why I’m a psychiatrist - I would never had made it to medical school if I had been tested on this 😂

😂😂

’Medicine’ is a very diverse profession, I wonder if recruitment and training sufficiently allows for that diversity.

Thanks @maybemedmum for your reassuring words and for all your support on here.
She's out now after 2 and a half hours and happy enough. Like you say the waiting starts now...

She ‘failed’ the UCAT as in it removed her ability to be invited to interview at a significant majority of medical schools. Which is a severe disadvantage considering how competitive medicine already is.

@ElaineC77 it's tough. But even with a low UCAT you can secure 4 interviews. I hope she's doing ok. You only need one offer ...

It’s such a tough process and I get how it feels like a failure even when it technically isn’t. DD’s boyfriend keeps moaning to her about being on hold at Bristol (for another subject) whilst holding offers at two RG unis and she had to explain to him that the day she sat UCAT basically all RG unis were closed to her in one fell swoop. She’s over it now - but it was quite an adjustment to make for a while.

incidentally for anyone not aware, Plymouth have emailed to say offers for interview will be sent 18 and 19 December so NOT Christmas Eve. DD has her Leicester interview on 18th so I’ve told her to keep away from her phone in case it’s bad news and you don’t want that just before an interview. Just good vibes!

glad to hear the interviews are going ok so far, I’m sure all the interviewers are wanting everyone to meet their potential. But it’s a nerve wracking time for sure. X

My DD just got offered a conditional place at Dundee! Her interview was less than 2 weeks ago so it was a fast turnaround! She is delighted and the pressure is off for Aberdeen next week!

Brilliant news. Well done dd

That is lovely news! Congratulations!

Oh @HGC2 , what brilliant news. Massive congratulations to her!!