How to Use Holidays to Improve in UCAT
1 year ago by Chris
Many students use the holidays to finally relax after several months of hard work. For those sitting the UCAT in the coming months, the road ahead can look especially challenging and instil feelings of anxiety. However, after taking a long-deserved rest, the holidays can be used efficiently and effectively to get ahead in the UCAT and obtain the results you need to get into your dream course of medicine.
This blog outlines some tips for using your holidays to your advantage.
1. Find and develop UCAT techniques that work for you
Start developing strategies for UCAT. Whether this be how you attempt UCAT Situational Judgement questions or how you analyse UCAT Verbal Reasoning texts, this is a good time to attempt different UCAT techniques to find out what works best for you. If you start practicing techniques now, they will become second nature to you by the time the UCAT exam comes around, which will not only enhance your time management but also your accuracy and score. Techniques for each type of UCAT question are covered in detail in Dr Ray’s UCAT workshop.
2. Attempt the UCAT subtest mocks
Once you have familiarised yourself with UCAT question types and techniques, it’s time to put your skills to practice. If you start practicing techniques now, they will become second nature to you by the time the UCAT comes around. Attempt a few subtest mocks from each of the five UCAT subtests. When doing so, treat them like a real ‘mini UCAT’. Use the keyboard shortcuts and on-screen calculator, make notes, and most importantly, stick to the UCAT time limits. Push yourself from the start to ensure you are developing the right UCAT skills.
3. Practice UCAT exams under timed conditions
Ensure you also start practicing full length UCAT exams under timed conditions. Enormous amounts of mental energy, determination and positivity is required to sit a 2-hour UCAT exam, which is why holidays are one of the best times to practice. At the same time, don’t cram all available UCAT exams at once – pace yourself and complete them at regular intervals. Avoid ‘saving’ up your UCAT exams, as you may run out of time to complete them once your UCAT testing date arrives.
4. Review your UCAT performance
Start reviewing your performance to identify your current strengths and weaknesses in UCAT. By doing so, you can assess the types of UCAT questions you need to improve in and specifically focus your attention in refining that particular area. Use the UCAT questions you are strong in as motivation to keep on improving because there is still time to perfect your skills.
5. Develop your UCAT study plan
Try to develop a “UCAT Timetable” with reasonable goals over the coming weeks, rather than a cram session a day or two before your UCAT exam. This will allow you to prioritise your weak areas, complete UCAT practice exams at regular intervals and address clear targets you wish to meet by certain dates. As a result, your UCAT study plan will be organised and structured, helping you visualise your progress and truly see the positive results of working hard. You can use the MedEntry interactive study planner to plan out your UCAT preparation.
6. Train your brain for UCAT
Just as an athlete would not stop training before a major event, so your brain needs consistent activity in the form of UCAT preparation to perform at its best. Keep up with UCAT preparation during your holidays. A little bit of preparation on a regular basis can go a long way.
The holidays are meant for and should be used for relaxing. Use the time to catch up with friends, attend parties and binge-watch TV series, but don’t drown in the pleasures of leisure and lose sight of your end goal. That being said, studying every day will just make you burn out and feel even more stressed when your testing date approaches. Keep yourself balanced, work hard and enjoy the indulgences of the holidays.
