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36 Q's answered in 24 minutes
Approx. 40 sec per question

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how to NOT get demotivated or bogged down :)

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how to NOT get demotivated or bogged down :)

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This is something common and happens to students, like me and you, all the time. Remember why you started. Why did you want to study medicine? Who are you doing it for? What made you start this journey?
Doing VR, AR, DM etc can be a headache! but hopefully it's temporary :)
Keep a fresh mindset everyday, stay loyal to your goal and ambition. Have a clear vision and use a progress chart, overtime you will see an increase in success through your results- just a matter of time and consistency! :)

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You can take in a lot more information unstressed

Don't overthink it and just calmly go through

Skip a question if its too hard, if you don't you're essentially forfeiting other questions since your taking too much time

(if helpful) have the mentality that the real test will start after VR so that subsequent section s wont be affected by the VR STRESS

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TRAPS:

Time

Language

Synonyms:

Where the question uses a keyword but in the passage, only a synonym is used. Think a little more laterally

Strategic positioning: 2 statements close to each other that do not logically follow each other. Don't just assume there's a link if the distance of the key words are close

Faulty logic: make sure the logic makes sense

Don't take outside knowledge:

because it may make logical sense, it may not be stated in the passage and would therefore be ‘can't tell’ rather than ‘true/false’ even if the answer is so obviously true/false.

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What package is the best to get on Medentry?

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What package is the best to get on Medentry?

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Fast readers (speed reading), those that can read and UNDERSTAND the passage quickly!

Do not SUBVOCALISE (when reading, you vocalise the words in your head...this will slow you down) it's okay to subvocalise at first but ditch it ASAP.

Don't backtrack.because you'll reread and slow down because your brain WANTS to understand. (tip: accept you didn't try understand first try so skip, that's fine, so long you're aware of the big topics...next time)

Medentry has a speed reading trainer ;)

To stop subvocalising just keep repeating a number in your head. this helps in scanning the words quickly

Learn to recognise the words :)

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Note down the general topics and contents where you always make mistakes-  you can skip these with chest.

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Note down the general topics and contents where you always make mistakes-  you can skip these with chest.

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When reflecting on questions that you've practised, note what type of question it was and how well you performed in it.

This is because in the end you can see a pattern of what type questions you struggle with and find challenging and so in the exam if you see a similar question type, it would be wise to skip it. (don't leave it blank tho)

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If we are running short of time, can we use external knowledge to answer the question

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Trust your gut.

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technical terms you do not understand? passage too long and confusing? difficult question?

SKIP ITTTT and guess or come back later - use the time on other questions!1

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Skip hard questions or just guess them. Better to guess than completely skip a question, you have 25% chance of getting it right.

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In the real exam, do yu get breaks between each section or is it CONSECUTIVE??

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In the real exam, do yu get breaks between each section or is it CONSECUTIVE??

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don't stress and panic a lot go with a calm mind and pace yourself. flag questions

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BE CONFIDENT, PACE YOURSELF, FLAG, IMMERSE YOURSELF!!!

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This is my first time looking at the MedEntry passages and they are much more dense and difficult to understand than the Medify passages.
I think I will purchase the 90 day MedEntry pass to practise my VR and get better at it.

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Don't get sad or bog yourself down guys!

If you don't do so well on a question set, don't worry and get stressed out. Instead stay neutral and focussed, review your mistakes and take positives from them (in the form of learning points)

Notice how Amin did this really well when he was reviewing his question set himself.

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You'll have your off days but it's how you BOUNCE BACK and keep going!! you got this

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Every mistake you make now is a mistake you won't make in the real exam (if you reflect) <3

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Every mistake you make now is a mistake you won't make in the real exam (if you reflect) <3

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is medify bad for vr? what should we do if we use medify for this section?

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is medify bad for vr? what should we do if we use medify for this section?

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does it take longer in VR if u flag a lot and return to them?

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does it take longer in VR if u flag a lot and return to them?

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will a recording be available after the end of sunday's session. or is it just gonna be the powerpoint sent out

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will a recording be available after the end of sunday's session. or is it just gonna be the powerpoint sent out

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How accurate are the med entry questions compared to the real exam?

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How accurate are the med entry questions compared to the real exam?

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MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT A UCAT TEST.. i used outside knowledge and skimmed through all the questions like it was a breeze... Let me say this is was just NOT IT. I DIDN'T EVEN GET HALF RIGHT so i repeat. DO NOT USE OUTSIDE KNOWLEDGE.

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Don't bring any outside knowledge to VR section and assume things → answers come from passage and passage only!

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Don't bring any outside knowledge to VR section and assume things → answers come from passage and passage only!

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there's enough TFS in this section, I'll add another one :0

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there's enough TFS in this section, I'll add another one :0

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TFS? WHAT. IS. THAT?
THE TRIANGULATION FUNNEL :p
T FOR TRIANGULATE!
-Read, understand what the question is asking you.
- scan the passage and (mentally) take note of the structure of the passage.
- remember any key words that are present and where they are located
- try understand the passage as FULLY as you can.

F FOR FUNNEL
- read the question and use mental map to find where you can locate the most relevant piece of knowledge to the question given!
- DON'T OVERTHINK! (my biggest problem) GO WITH YOUR GUT
- compare answers with the option and go for what, essentially, feels right.

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If you feel like you found the answer at the start of the passage should you still read the whole thing?

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If you feel like you found the answer at the start of the passage should you still read the whole thing?

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NEVER apply your own knowledge to the question, rely only on what's mentioned in the passage.

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DONT TAKE OUTSIDE KNOWLEDGE INTO THE EXAM!!!

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DONT TAKE OUTSIDE KNOWLEDGE INTO THE EXAM!!!

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IT RELIES ON YOUR SKILLS TO SCAN FROM THE TEXT, IT MAY NOT EVEN BE TRUE INFORMATION HENCE WHY YOU SHOULDNT RELY ON YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE!!!!

unless you're making an educated guess and running out of time ofcourse.

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Go into the exam with no outside knowledge

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Go into the exam with no outside knowledge

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Pretend you're an alien that knows nothing taking the exam. The exam could trip you up if you use outside knowledge.

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Are questions that ask about writers opinions considered more difficult?

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I didn't really understand what you meant by funneling

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To answer the question, after locating your relevant paragraphs:
- read around the key words and this will help u answer the question

for harder questions:
- inference may be necessary - for this we need to understand more of the passage to be able to answer questions correctly

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Is it best to flag the inference harder questions for later?

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Is it best to flag the inference harder questions for later?

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Triangulate : read question,  pick out key words and look for info in passage.
Funnel :
- with easy questions focus in on section that talks about your key terms
- harder questions need inference

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FUNNEL- Isolate the section of the passage which has the information you need to answer. Easier questions mean you can read before and after the section, harder questions require inference. Compare the answer options in the question to see which one feels best.

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Triangulate
skim passage and create a mental amp of the passage.
remember where key words are vaguely
get the gist of what the passage is about
Funnel
read the question and use the mental map to locate the section that is most relevant to the question
compare answers and go with which one is best (don't overthink just go with it)
easy questions- easier to find and locate keyword may be there. allows you too read around the section
harder questions- understanding of entire passage needed and infer what is being asked.

GO WITH GUT INSTINCT

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This will guide your reading due to the keywords you would have located in the question and is time-effective.

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When you're doing the test is the correct answer to the question shown after you answer it? Or are the answers shown after a section or something else?

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Create a mental map of the structure of the passage - Triangulation

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Create a mental map of the structure of the passage - Triangulation

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As you skim and try to locate the key word from the question, you should form a general structure of the passage in your head.

whilst doing this you can understand the text better while also finding what info u need to answer the question

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- 2 part system:

TRIANGULATE:
- locate the keywords from question stem in the passage
- scan passage and create mental map of the structure
- gain an understanding of the passage in this process.

FUNNEL:
- isolate the relevant section of passage
easier ones let you read 'before and after' the keywords
harder ones need an inference of text

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Triangulate - locating something/an area on the text
Funnel - filtering and narrowing down your options 💙

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Focus!
Triangulation:
read question stem
locate the answer in the text
keywords will help
mental map of the structure is being formed.
this helps to gain the understanding of the passage that the QUESTIONS want you to have. therefore increasing the likelihood to whether or not you get it right.

Funnel:
channelling the focus, isolate the section of the passage, which part of the passage has the information you're looking for. whether this section satisfies what you're looking for is what you're trying to confirm.

for harder questions- inference is used, take the mental map and use it to understand the passage and THEN answer the question.

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Triangulate

•Read and understand the question stem – note the keywords in your head (if present)

•Proceed to scan the passage and create a mental map of the structure – if there are keywords present, make sure you have an idea of their location.

•Try and glean an understanding of the passage

Funnel

•Try to isolate the section of the passage which has the information you need to answer the question (not always possible)

•Easier questions will let you read ‘before and after’ the keywords

•With harder questions, you’ll need to focus on inference – tough.

•Compare the answer options in the question to see which one feels like the best fit.

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TRIANGULATE- Read and understand the question stem, note the keyword in your head. Scan the passage and create a mental map of the structure- if there are keywords present, make sure you have an idea of their location. Try and get a basic understanding of the passage. Split the passage up in your head about which part of the section talks about what.

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Two ideas that have nothing to do with each other can be placed close together.

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Synonyms
You may struggle to locate a keyword in the passage, because a synonym has been used to the keyword in the question stem.

This makes it hard to find the part of the passage you need.

Strategic Positioning
Two ideas that have nothing to do with each other can be placed close together, meaning that when you skim, you accidentally make a link between them.

Faulty Logic
Nonsensical logic may be used to justify a conclusion, but because you’re just skimming, it’s easy to brush over it and think that the answer is correct.

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- synonyms
- strategic positioning
- faulty logic

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-SYNONYMS
- you may struggle to locate a word in the passage because they have used a synonym instead.
-STATEGIC POSITIONING
- two ideas that have nothing to do with each other can be placed together, meaning you can skim :/ (hate this!)
-FAULTY LOGIC

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I have learnt that if you are resilient and keep pushing yourself to do more eventually you will improve and its important to not get bogged down by scores because what matters is that you're preparing yourself for TEST DAY.

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1. Synonyms
These may be used in the passage/ question stem, which makes it harder to locate key words!

2. Strategic Positioning
Ideas in the passage that follow on from one another may not actually be linked - however when skimming it is easy to assume or create a link

3. Faulty logic in answer options
The answers may be completely nonsensical but due to time pressure you may assume the logic presented is correct!

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What does inferred, supported and concluded really mean in questions?

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What does inferred, supported and concluded really mean in questions?

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•Inferred: deduced from evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements

•Supported: to help show something to be true

•Concluded: arrive at a judgement or opinion by reasoning

These are terms used in reading comprehension questions and have slight nuances.

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•True: the statement is confirmed by the passage, directly or implicitly.

•False: the statement contradicts the passage, directly or implicitly. The conclusion is not logical.

•Can’t tell: there is not enough information to tell either way.

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They will use different words in the question and in the passage, this makes it hard to find that part of the passage.

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To help show something to be true.

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1. Guess with education
•Have a method to the madness – use the process of elimination and boost your chances!

Example – eliminating an answer option in TFC questions takes it to a 50-50 chance.

2. Don't deep the answers
•When it feels like an answer option is the best fit, don’t waste time evaluating the alternatives. Move on. Time is everything

3. Extreme things are suspect!
On the whole, answer options which use extreme language such as never are more likely to be false - because… most of the time, nothing is impossible :)

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Double negative probably false. E.g. Never

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Double negative probably false. E.g. Never

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Deducted from evidence and reasoning rather than explicit statements.

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You need to be able to think clearly under the time pressure constraints.

Why’s this important? Well…

•Reading and skimming over the passages in quick time in itself is not going to help you – you need to be able to process and have some understanding of the information at the same time.

•To do this, you need to be thinking straight and not let the ‘heat’ get to your head

•This is infinitely more important in the actual test too!

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don't be afraid to use it when necessary! :)

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- not enough information provided in the paragraph
- do not second guess these, they are equally likely to be the answer!

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Don't hold back with using 'can't tell' as your answer as a lot of the answers are can't tell.

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dont waste time rereading the passage if you think you missed something because you probably didn't so keep cant tell

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There is not enough information to tell either way. Don't be afraid to use this option.

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True : confirmed by passage
False : contradicts passage
Ct : not enough info -- don't hold back using it

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The statement is confirmed in the passage, directly or implicitly.

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EDUCATED GUSSE
DO NOT DEEP THE ANSWER
EXTREME WORDS(never, etc) ARE SUSPECIOUS
Do used the option "can't tell"

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options including language such as 'never', 'always' - watch out for these - this language is what usually makes the answer incorrect

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If your gut says it's right, it probably is. Don't spend too much time thinking and comparing other answers - every second counts!!

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Educated guesses and use the process of elimination. If something seems correct don't evaluate the other options, if it feels right then it most likely is right. Look out for extreme language.

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there will be times you have to guess the answers!

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there will be times you have to guess the answers!

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- always try to make EDUCATED guesses

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whilst reading through these padlets! its very difficult because I don't think I understand without subvocalising!

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Verbal reasoning is the first section of the exam so if you find it difficult and challenging when revising for it, go in to the exam with the mindset that the real exam starts after verbal reasoning.

This is because if you stress about it and then do badly in it on the exam day, that stress and deflation will affect the rest of your exam performance.

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Medology UCAT course- Day 1

VR:

Hardest section of the UCAT.
￼
If you make it so that your VR score isn’t completely dragging you down.

￼
Reading comprehension is the most common, around 7/11 passages. It’s  more difficult and time consuming. Four answer options you have to choose from

Second type is true/false/can’t
Less common so 4/11 passages. Slightly easier

There is a lot of time pressure, so can’t read at a normal speed, the approach is different. You won’t understand the whole passage and that’s ok

Some passages are complex, you won’t take it in. Short term memory is not good enough, get a general understanding, so when you look at the statements you know where to look back. Sense and structure of the passage.

People who are good at Vr, are fast readers and speed read effectively whilst also understanding everything. It’s hard to understand everything whilst speed reading.
Actively speed read, taking in the info

How to develop the skill?
⁃ stop subvocalize, don’t voice it out in your head.
⁃ Don’t backtrack. So don’t reread things you’ve already read

Stress management:
You need to be able to think clearly under the time pressure constraints.
You’re going to loose where you’re scanning, you need to process and have some understanding of the information at the same time.

In VR, the question is as important as the passage, if you read it incorrectly you won’t pick out the correct answer. And don’t misinterpret the key word.

Guessing?
Make EDUCATED guesses, use the process of elimination as it will boost your chance of getting a question correct.

Don’t deep the answers, don’t waste time evaluating the alternatives, once you find that the answer option is the best fit go for it.

Extreme language: eg never, more likely to be false.

UNDERSTAND THE TERMS:

True: the statement is CONFIRMED in the passage, directly or implicitly.
False: contradicts the passage, conclusion not logical
Can’t tell: a bit tricky. There’s not enough info to come to that conclusion. Don’t hold back from using can’t tell.

Inferred: deduced from evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements
Supported: passage helps show something is true
Concluded: arrived at judgment or conclusion by reasoning

PITFALLS:
Synonyms can be used instead of the key words in the passage. Which makes it harder to find which section is relevant to the question.

Strategic positioning: two ideas that have nothing to do with each other can be placed close together. So you can accidentally make a link between them.

Faulty logic: nonsensical logic may be used to justify a conclusion

TRIANGULATION FUNNEL SYSTEM:
Locating the passage
1- read and understand the question stem and pick out the key words.
2- scan the passage and create mental map of the passage as you look through for the key word. Have an idea of the LOCATION of the keyword
Read the question first to guide your reading.
3- get an understanding of the passage

NOW FUNNEL:

- isolate the section of the passage which has the info u need. Easy question, can read the before and after of the key word. With harder questions, need to take your mental map and use that to understand what the situation is and then use that to answer the question.
- compare the answer options in the question to see which one feels like the best fit.

QUESTION REFLECTION:
If one key word is everywhere, forget it. Use the key word that is rare to see.
Do not consider any outside knowledge, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IN THE UCAT. No general knowledge 🙅‍♀️.

If u feel like there is more than one right answer, make an educated guess or it might be because of faulty logic.

For the conculsion questions consider reading the passage first and then use process of elimination.

Vary your method slightly for the different types of question

Reflect on whether the question u did was easy or not, reflect on the amount of time you took to answer the question

Look out for assumptions you make.

Sometimes for extreme language it isn’t a false.

Questions of according to the passage how two things differ, they take a lot longer so should just make an educated guess and move on.

Skip the ones that you don’t think you can do, never leave a question blank. Option C>>>>>

TRUST YOUR GUT

When you reflect on VR, talk about the type of passage and the content of the passage. What was the length and what was the subject. In one subject you might always be wrong in.

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Skip a questions if it's really hard and taking you too long. Stack up points on the other sections.

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how is the ucat set out. do you do it all in one go as in all the sections and time yourself or are you timed in each section and once 21 minutes is up the VR section closes and you cant go back and move onto the next section?

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how is the ucat set out. do you do it all in one go as in all the sections and time yourself or are you timed in each section and once 21 minutes is up the VR section closes and you cant go back and move onto the next section?

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I avoid subvocalising, but it's REALLY hard, any advice?

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I avoid subvocalising, but it's REALLY hard, any advice?

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I don't understand what i'm reading when i'm speed reading tho? 

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I don't understand what i'm reading when i'm speed reading tho? 

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DON'T STRESS. Keep your mind clear and stay calm.

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you can try to train yourself to read quick but also spot patterns when reading.
what works what doesn't work for you

if it doesn't work out then use VR as a points booster

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any alternatives ??

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MAKE SURE YOU DO:
practise reading faster. Duh, but it doesn't even require you to have a website, or anything. You can time yourself reading a page in your book. Then re time yourself again on the next page and work from there.

PLEASE DO NOT:
- subvocalise. DO NOT DO THAT! it slows you down.
^ Ngl I struggle with this A LOT
- backtrack! do not reread things you have already read.
- spend ages answering a question you CLEARLY do not know. It's a game, imagine playing warzone or whatever.. you stay there for to long, not running, that's it for you. MORAL OF THE STORY: BE FAST, DON'T REREAD. DON'T KNOW? GUESS. hotel? trivago.

IMPORTANT: if you don't know: most likely it will be CANNOT SAY.

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Is it true, in the real exam, they could give us 'surprise' questions which don't quite fit any category/that we can't prepare for.

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Is it true, in the real exam, they could give us 'surprise' questions which don't quite fit any category/that we can't prepare for.

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how do we stop sub vocalising? what do we do instead?

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and inference..
- 11 passages with 4 questions associated to the texts
- you need to answer 44 questions within 21 minutes!
- True, False, Can't tell!
YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO READ FASTT!

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People who do well in verbal reasoning all exhibit one common characteristic...

THEY READ QUICKLY

And how do we develop speed reading abilities?

•Stop subvocalising

•Don’t speak the words in your head

•Don’t backtrack!

•Don’t re-read things you’ve already read.

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- fast readers
- can speed read effectively and understand themselves
* speed read while actively understanding
DON NOT SUBVOCALISE - don't speak words in your head
DON NOT BACKTRACK -losing time

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Read fast and effectively. Don't speak the words in your head and don't re-read what you've already read.

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in the real UCAT exam, would we ever have time to proofread/re-do flagged questions towards the end of the exam?

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in the real UCAT exam, would we ever have time to proofread/re-do flagged questions towards the end of the exam?

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Don't read it like how you read a passage for an English Language test.

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- read while taking key information
- you don't have to understand the whole passage
- look at the question first then read the passage

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Go in with the intention of taking out information
Getting the general structure of the paragraph

Fast reading, reading it quickly whist being able to understand it

Stop subvocalising; reading and saying it in your head
Don't backtrack; don't re read things

Stress management
- You need to think clearly under pressure constraints