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The BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) was an aptitude test used as part of the admissions process for
Medicine Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, ...
, Biomedical Sciences and
Dentistry Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the Human tooth, teeth, gums, and Human mouth, mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, dis ...
in some
universities A university () is an educational institution, institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly ...
in the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
,
Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...
,
Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
,
Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
,
Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...
,
Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
,
Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...
and the
Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
. In 2023, Cambridge Assessment announced that it would withdraw from the admissions test market and cease provision of the BMAT examination. All UK universities that previously used the BMAT have announced that, from 2024 onwards, the University Clinical Aptitude Test will be used instead.


History

BMAT was developed by
Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing (formerly the Admissions Testing Service) provided admissions tests for a range of university level courses and assessments in thinking skills and behavioural styles. It is part of Cambridge Assessment, a n ...
in response to requests from academics at medical and veterinary schools for an assessment that would enable them to differentiate between applicants who appear equally well qualified and suited to the course, and provide a way of assessing the potential of students who have a range of different qualifications. Initially, it was taken up by
Oxford University The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest continuously operating u ...
for
Medicine Medicine is the science and Praxis (process), practice of caring for patients, managing the Medical diagnosis, diagnosis, prognosis, Preventive medicine, prevention, therapy, treatment, Palliative care, palliation of their injury or disease, ...
and
Physiology Physiology (; ) is the science, scientific study of function (biology), functions and mechanism (biology), mechanisms in a life, living system. As a branches of science, subdiscipline of biology, physiology focuses on how organisms, organ syst ...
(replacing the OMAT); the
University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...
for Medicine and
Veterinary Science Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, management, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, disorder, and injury in non-human animals. The scope of veterinary medicine is wide, covering all animal species, both ...
(replacing the MVAT) and
University College London University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...
, for Medicine. From 2011, the new Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKC Medicine) in Singapore, a partnership between
Imperial College London Imperial College London, also known as Imperial, is a Public university, public research university in London, England. Its history began with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, who envisioned a Al ...
and Nanyang University, started using BMAT as part of its entry process for Medicine. Over the past few years, universities introducing BMAT as part of their entry requirements for Medicine courses have included
Brighton and Sussex Medical School Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) is a medical school formed as a partnership of the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex. Like other UK medical schools it is based on the principles and standards of 'Tomorrow's Doctors' ...
(BSMS) (2013),
Leiden University Leiden University (abbreviated as ''LEI''; ) is a Public university, public research university in Leiden, Netherlands. Established in 1575 by William the Silent, William, Prince of Orange as a Protestantism, Protestant institution, it holds the d ...
in the Netherlands (2014), the
University of Leeds The University of Leeds is a public research university in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was established in 1874 as the Yorkshire College of Science. In 1884, it merged with the Leeds School of Medicine (established 1831) and was renamed Y ...
(2012), the
University of Navarra The University of Navarra is a private Catholic research university located on the southeast border of Pamplona, Navarre, Spain. It was founded in 1952 by Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, the founder of '' Opus Dei'', as a corporat ...
in Spain (2015),
Lancaster University Lancaster University (officially The University of Lancaster) is a collegiate public university, public research university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established in 1964 by royal charter, as one of several new univer ...
(2016), the
Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya The Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya (commonly known as the UM Medical School, FoM UM, UM Medicine, or Malaya Medicine) is one of the thirteen faculties of the Universiti Malaya (UM). It was officially established in September 1962 after t ...
in
Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
(2016). The vast majority of other universities at the time, especially in the United Kingdom, used an alternative admissions assessment - the UCAT. In 2017, a number of institutions in Thailand started using BMAT as part of their entry requirements for Medicine and Dentistry courses, initially starting with the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University and the Chulabhorn International College of Medicine of
Thammasat University Thammasat University (TU; ; , ) is a public university, public research university in Thailand with campuses in the Tha Phra Chan area of Bangkok, Rangsit, Pattaya and Lampang Province. , Thammasat University has over 39,000 students enrolled in ...
. This was followed by the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Faculty of Medicine, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University (Mahidol International Dental School), Suranaree University of Technology, and Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University as part of the first round (entrance by portfolio) of the Thai University Central Admissions System (TCAS) for the 2018 intake, after educational reforms in 2017. For the 2018 intake, CEU Cardenal Herrara University in
Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
, the University of Pécs in
Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
, the University of Rijeka and the
University of Zagreb The University of Zagreb (, ) is a public university, public research university in Zagreb, Croatia. It is the largest Croatian university and one of the oldest continuously operating universities in Europe. The University of Zagreb and the Unive ...
, both in
Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...
, have started using BMAT as an entry requirement to courses such as Medicine and Dentistry. Most recently in 2022, the BMAT exam date was brought forward from the normal date (1st Tuesday of the month in November) to the 18th of October, giving students two fewer weeks to prepare than the norm. It has also been announced that the BMAT will be running for the last time in 2023 (likely October). From 2024 onwards, the BMAT will not run.


Format

BMAT was a 2-hour, pen-and-paper test, which consists of three sections. The first two sections were both multiple choice questions and the third section is a writing task.


Section 1: Thinking Skills

This section was designed to test generic skills in problem-solving and understanding arguments. It was made up of 32 questions, with 60 minutes to complete.


Section 2: Scientific Knowledge and Applications

This section tested the ability to apply scientific knowledge typically covered in school Science and Mathematics by the age of 16 (for example,
GCSE The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a range of subjects taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, having been introduced in September 1986 and its first exams taken in 1988. State schools ...
in the UK and IGCSE internationally). It was made up of 27 questions, with 30 minutes to complete. The scope of scientific knowledge included that of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.


Section 3: Writing Task

This section tested the ability to select, develop and organise ideas, and to communicate them in writing, concisely and effectively. Applicants were required to complete one writing task from a choice of three questions, with 30 minutes to complete. Calculators and dictionaries, including bilingual dictionaries, were unable to be used in the exam.


Scoring

For Sections 1 and 2 the total raw marks for each section were converted onto the BMAT 9-point scale. The scores were given to one decimal place. The scale was designed so that typical candidates who are invited for interview at the most highly competitive medical courses score around 5.0. The best candidates scored 6.0 or higher (roughly 10% of candidates in recent years) and a few exceptional candidates (>5%) scored higher than 7.0. The average score of all candidates tended to fall around 4.0-4.5. For Section 3, candidates got two scores – one for quality of content (on a scale of 1– 5, with 5 being the highest) and one for quality of written English (on the scale A, C, E, with A being the highest). Each BMAT essay was marked by two examiners and the two marks were combined to give an overall score ranging from 1E to 5A. An image of the candidate’s Writing Task was supplied to each institution to which the candidate has applied.


Test sessions and results

BMAT was normally taken at authorised ‘open centres’ which are located around the world. For the test session that takes place in late October/early November, UK applicants could often take the test in their school or college. The timing of the test was designed to fit in with the timescales for Medicine applications for the institutions across the world using the test. Each year, the following test sessions took place: * BMAT – May * BMAT – late August/early September * BMAT – late October/early November * BMAT – February Typically, for each test session, students were required to register themselves or be registered for the test, by their school, at least a month in advance. BMAT results were generally issued 3–4 weeks after the test has taken place, either by a Statement of Results or via the Metritests system. BMAT results were only valid in the year that the test is taken.


Usage

BMAT results were used in a variety of ways by the different institutions using it: for example,
Oxford University The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest continuously operating u ...
combined the results with
GCSE The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a range of subjects taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, having been introduced in September 1986 and its first exams taken in 1988. State schools ...
grades, with both results being equally weighted, to decide who is called for interview. Other universities such as Brighton ascribed a score to each section of the BMAT, and then candidates are then ranked according to their BMAT grade before being called for interview. Often, it was seen as just part of the application process – previous examination results, a teacher’s reference, the applicant’s personal statement, and predicted grades are also important.


Preparation

BMAT did not require a lot of extra study as it is designed to test skills and knowledge that candidates are expected to already have. Practice materials, including the test specification, practice questions, past papers, and an Assumed Subject Knowledge guide for Section 2 are available to candidates for free from the Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testin
website
There were some companies that help with coaching for the BMAT, however these companies are not endorsed by Cambridge Assessment who administer the test.


Validity

A 2022 paper entitled BMAT’s predictive validity for medical school performance: a retrospective cohort study by Davies et al looked at BMAT scored and performance at medical school using data from
Imperial College School of Medicine Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) is the undergraduate medical school of Imperial College London in England and one of the United Hospitals. It is part of the college's Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and was ...
and Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and found that "no clear evidence of incremental validity for any BMAT Section scores over A-level grades." and that "Schools who wish to assess scientific knowledge independently of A-levels may find BMAT Section 2 useful. Comparison with previous studies indicates that, overall, BMAT seems less useful than comparable tools. Larger-scale studies are needed."


List of universities that had used BMAT

* UK/rest of the world: a list of universities and courses that had used BMAT can be foun
here
*
Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...
,
Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
and
Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
: information about the universities that had used BMAT can be foun
here
* The
Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
: a list of institutions and courses that once required BMAT in the Netherlands can be foun
here


See also

*
Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing (formerly the Admissions Testing Service) provided admissions tests for a range of university level courses and assessments in thinking skills and behavioural styles. It is part of Cambridge Assessment, a n ...
* GAMSAT *
UKCAT The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is an admissions test used by most medical and dental schools in the United Kingdom, Singapore Medical Association#Medical, Singapore, List of medical schools in Australia, Australia and New Zealand in ...


References


External links

* {{University admissions tests in the United Kingdom Entrance examinations University of Cambridge examinations Standardized tests in healthcare education University and college admissions in the United Kingdom