4 Mistakes to Steer Clear From when Attempting UCAT
The UCAT preparation process is similar to training for a marathon in that it calls for preparation, perseverance, and methods to maximize success on the final day. The UCAT is one of the most significant tests you will take in your dentistry career. Thus you must study for it much as an athlete would run for a major sporting event. The degree of complexity of UCAT questions may or may not be directly proportional to the amount of effort you've put in. But, it's only our efforts that are within the domains of our control. That’s why along with hard work, you ought to incorporate the smart work.
Being aware of what not to do is another crucial component of staying ahead of the competition. We've compiled a list of vital and most commonly made mistakes to avoid, if you've been dreaming of getting into dental school. Leading schools have raised the bar of dental school requirements with their innovative and intellectual set of UCAT questions.
1. Overuse and Underuse of the Whiteboard
Each candidate receives a whiteboard and a pen for a smooth attempt at the UCAT questions. Use it to scribble down important information, perform calculations for Quantitative Reasoning, or create flowcharts and diagrams for Decision Making.
Although the whiteboard is quite helpful, be cautious about using it only when necessary. If you can swiftly compute anything in your head, do so to increase your speed and prevent time wastage.
2. Enjoy the No-Negative Marking Policy
You won't be penalized for providing incorrect answers because the UCAT questions do not use negative marking. To sum it up, never leave a question unanswered. You will receive a score of 0 if you leave a question unanswered. Try to formulate reasonable assumptions for any questions you haven't already answered if you are on the verge of running out of time on the UCAT test and have only a few seconds left.
Congratulations, you just gained lucky access of getting into dental school!
3. Panic and Lose
You see a UCAT question but are unable to come up with a response. You choose to let it be and return to it later. You start to fear that you won't be able to respond, and the anxiety kicks in. No matter how tricky it gets, don't panic! It's normal to experience some anxiety when taking the UCAT exam, but try to remain composed and don't become discouraged if you are unable to respond to a question. There will always be some UCAT Questions that are more challenging than others. You won't be in the correct frame of mind to take the test if you start to panic. You'll merely waste time and money.
4. Falling for the Tricky Ones
The UCAT test has a wide variety of sleights of hand meant to trip you up. For instance, you must watch out for dispersion and inconsistency in Verbal Reasoning. When a word or phrase is used in the text more than once, the second occurrence usually negates or clarifies the first.
If you quit reading after the initial example, you can get the incorrect answer. Stay vigilant and harness your practice sessions to avoid falling for the tricky UCAT questions.
I Want to be a Dentist is a platform dedicated to helping aspiring dentists of tomorrow through every step of their application process, exam, and interview preparation. Getting into dental schools is now easier with the right and able guidance by experts of the domain.
