Year ten is too early for Umat?

[The Usual Student]

Is year ten to early to be starting prep for Umat?

[brenden]

Probably, yeah. If you're that keen, just get Section Zero in Year 11 (lasts for two years)

[nerdmmb]

Is year ten to early to be starting prep for Umat?

nope not at all
I started in year 10 and found that I actually had to time to go over it.
So I was familiar with it when I started year 11
having said that though, I haven't really seen any improvement in my scores but atleast I have a slight idea of what to expect

[IndefatigableLover]

Is year ten to early to be starting prep for Umat?

I've done some light reading on whatever UMAT materials I could find (E.g Age Expo - MedEntry lectures handing out their sample papers LOL) from about last year just to see what I should be expecting in the next couple of years (like what nerdmmb pretty much said) but I haven't signed up to any programs or anything yet (maybe starting Semester 2 I'll try starting LOL).

[pi]

Is year ten to early to be starting prep for Umat?

In short: yes.

[alchemy]

Is year ten to early to be starting prep for Umat?

I'd say "yes!". Many people who I know done well on it started preparation quite late. Not that I'm advising you to start really late or anything, but it's definitely something that I've noticed. Besides, there are more important things than UMAT right now. Get involved in co-curriculars, competitions of all sorts, and make the best of these years

[nerdmmb]

In short: yes.

I know you hate being asked about the UMAT, but when did you start preparing how much did you score? (If you don't mind me asking)
Thanks.

[pi]

I know you hate being asked about the UMAT, but when did you start preparing how much did you score? (If you don't mind me asking)
Thanks.

It's been a while now so I can't remember that well, but I did some work in the summer break and then some in the weeks leading up to the exam. From memory I didn't do many of the MedEntry exams (maybe 4 of 12?) but I did the ACER papers.

My brother did UMAT work most weekends for an hour or so for about 6-7 months and he did better than me so maybe his strategy was better.

[nerdmmb]

Wow

Then that just means I'm naturally dumb
My percentiles have never gone above 49

[pi]

Then that just means I'm naturally dumb
My percentiles have never gone above 49

Some people I know did a lot of study for the UMAT, did well in VCE with high 99+ ATARs, did extra curricular activities, were very keen on med/dent, etc etc but couldn't "pass" the UMAT. Maybe they just didn't have it on the day, maybe the questions didn't suit what type of person they were, maybe their study wasn't ideal, maybe it's something else altogether. The important thing to realise is that being good at the UMAT does not equal the same as being not suitable for a medical/dental school. There are other tests (GAMSAT) and other pathways, and many people find them to be better suited to them. It really depends.

Having said that, it would be foolish for you to put yourself down given you're only in Year 11 with a long way ahead.

[xenial]

Far too early. There are more important things to life than getting into med school. You'll have plenty of time to be competitive and regret it later - spend your time in year 10 developing yourself socially, and forming friendships that will (hopefully) remain with you for the rest of your life. You need establish a healthy work-life balance, so when you skew it later you'll still have friends to fall back on.

If it's any consolation - my preparation consisted of ~4 practice exams (including the ACER ones). I do two exams in the two days leading up to the exam. I did very well. Sure, I'd never actually done an exam to time, I went too slow and had to guess like 3 pages at the end.. but other than that, it's not exactly an exam where you can drastically improve your scores through study.

[D27RII]

Disagree strongly. Never too early to start UMAT prep - in fact, you have probably already starting inadvertently preparing to some degree. Many people are very short-sighted about what UMAT preparation entails. You don't have to start any questions or subscribe to any courses in year 10 but you can do many things to start preparing. Read the paper on a daily basis, take up chess on a competitive basis, start taking up sudoku - give debating a shot at school, start reading some novels - more than just the prescribed ones from your school. Just some suggestions.

Also I have to particularly disagree with Xenial. While I can commend his/her natural skill, it is wrong to assume everyone else will be able to handle the UMAT in the same manner. Personally, as a UMAT tutor for 4 years, I have seen countless people drastically improve through study and focus - some quickly, others through months of work. One thing is given, and I have noticed this in all cases, when guided and where you can obtain some form of mentor, even if a friend or former student, persistent UMAT training will result in improvement.