UMAT Discussion Thread 2016

[heart]

It's only a waste if you didn't learn anything from it.

100% . Despite my 80th percentile score not being high enough for Monash MBBS that year the preparation for the UMAT (specifically the LSAT questions) did really help me for the gamsat as I had improved my critical reasoning and reading comprehension.

[Swagadaktal]

100% . Despite my 80th percentile score not being high enough for Monash MBBS that year the preparation for the UMAT (specifically the LSAT questions) did really help me for the gamsat as I had improved my critical reasoning and reading comprehension.

Look, an 80% would get me into a university interstate, so although my ideal university is monash, I'm happy to go interstate..
Now I believe that I can get above 80
But the thing that haunts me is getting below an 80... I'm not down to do 3 years biomed with additional competition

[heart]

Look, an 80% would get me into a university interstate, so although my ideal university is monash, I'm happy to go interstate..
Now I believe that I can get above 80
But the thing that haunts me is getting below an 80... I'm not down to do 3 years biomed with additional competition

Fair enough just got to prepare the best you can and do your best on the day not much else you can do. Keeping a positive and confident mindset is also vital.

[TwinNerd]

but my section 3 is God awful - apparently you can really improve on 3 tho

omg same. My section 3 is a disaster zone! Really its terrible! I take forever to do one question and I still can't work out the pattern. I'm really worried about it cos my other sections are relatively okay. I'm aiming for 95 + percentile cos I think my ATAR is gonna be on the low end of the scale....

[K888]

Wow I'm glad I'm not doing the UMAT. Sounds hellish. But good luck to all of you planning to do it this year!

 

[mtse]

Look, an 80% would get me into a university interstate, so although my ideal university is monash, I'm happy to go interstate..
Now I believe that I can get above 80
But the thing that haunts me is getting below an 80... I'm not down to do 3 years biomed with additional competition

Not to rain on your parade, but to get into unis interstate for med, your UMAT actually has to be higher than usual. E.g: for Adelaide interviews, SA people need 85+ umat, but for victorians, it was 90+. Similar case for UNSW.

ive found that I usually get section 1 questions with 90% accuracy, and section 2 with around 75% accuracy, but my section 3 is God awful - apparently you can really improve on 3 tho

Similar scenario for me last year.... My section 3 ended up being the best in the actual exam. I think I've talked to you before about tips for the UMAT, but for section 3, I just took my time to actually understand the questions and answers. I.e. Medentry gives you worked solutions, but before reading them I'd spend some time (a lot of time) trying to work out the answer for myself. In a notebook, i wrote down the question and wrote my own worked solutions. Before the UMAT exam, I revised this notebook and I did in fact use some of the techniques i learnt during preparation during the actual exam.
But tbh I don't think stressing about the UMAT will really help. During year 12 amongst all ur sacs etc, I just squashed in a little UMAT practice when I had a few spare minutes and closer to the exam date, I dedicated 3 hours a week to do the practice exams. All in all, you just need to learn the patience to concentrate for 3 straight hours and maintain a positive outlook.
Good luck with it all

[Orb]

She was a real keen bean, this one ^

[IndefatigableLover]

But the thing that haunts me is getting below an 80... I'm not down to do 3 years biomed with additional competition

Don't want to dishearten you or anything but keep in mind that there's also the 50-50-50 rule to consider when applying for Monash as well and not just getting below an 80

She was a real keen bean, this one ^

Nobody can stop mtse you know! Absolute gun

[Photon]

Don't want to dishearten you or anything but keep in mind that there's also the 50-50-50 rule to consider when applying for Monash as well and not just getting below an 80

What's the 50-50-50 rule?

[TwinNerd]

you have to score a minimum of 50 for each UMAT section

[IndefatigableLover]

For further proof, though it's the 2015 brochure, it'll highly apply to 2016 as well: http://www.med.monash.edu.au/medical/central/docs/2015-mbbs-domestic-brochure.pdf

All domestic applicants are required to sit the UMAT (Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences
Admission Test). http://www.umat.acer.edu.au Applicants must achieve at least a 50 in each section of the UMAT to be considered. NOTE: Onshore international students who think that their citizenship status might change during the application process should sit both the UMAT and the ISAT (http://isat.acer.edu.au/)

[Swagadaktal]

Guys, just out of curiosity, those who did well in the UMAT - did you know you were going to do well?
Surely you guys were in my same position and the uncertainty absolutely kills you - what did you guys do? Did the preparation put you at ease and make you ace it?
Btw the definition of 'light studying' on this forum is completely different to real life.
People are like "oh i did light study for this subject, i only did about 20 prac exams'
and im like damn man that's a whole year's worth of work

[Splash-Tackle-Flail]

Guys, just out of curiosity, those who did well in the UMAT - did you know you were going to do well?
Surely you guys were in my same position and the uncertainty absolutely kills you - what did you guys do? Did the preparation put you at ease and make you ace it?
Btw the definition of 'light studying' on this forum is completely different to real life.
People are like "oh i did light study for this subject, i only did about 20 prac exams'
and im like damn man that's a whole year's worth of work

Nope, after the UMAT I predicted a percentile anywhere between 20%ile and 99%ile. It's simply so different to your common test; most don't finish it, and getting 70% raw would already give you a ridiculous percentile.
Idk personally the idea of biomed didn't bother me too much, so the uncertainty wasn't tortuous. And then I guess being rural meant we didn't need killer UMATs.. The preparation did and it didn't put me at ease.. my practice scores were so much lower than VCE SACs and tests I've done before, and that took a while to get used to- but you soon find solace in the fact everyone (practically) finds the UMAT a metaphorical disease. It was also comforting hearing stories of people sitting the UMAT with no preparation, or for the wrong reasons (e.g. I heard a story of someone doing it thinking it was for law..)
20 practice UMAT exams are excessive and unnecessary imo- way better looking at solutions and technique.

[blacksanta62]

Hopeful UMAT taker here  I don't know how to study for it but I'm leaning towards doing questions just based on the UMAT. This leads me to another problem, where do I get them (want to do more than the 3 or so which are given after registering) for a reasonable price?? Sorry OP for barging into your thread but I would like some insight as well 

[Splash-Tackle-Flail]

Hi everyone! So I'm in year 12 and planning to do the UMAT this year, how many times a week should I be studying for the UMAT and is anyone else doing the UMAT this year?? Let me know in the comments below!

Unfortunately, there is really no magic number that will let you smash the UMAT. And this is made even more difficult by the nature of the test- it is quite hard to really study for it. Regardless, preparation is definitely recommended, and will pay off if you do it in the right way. I would recommend 30 minutes a day, but I know I wasn't that dedicated, and what's really important is how you study for it, and your understanding of the techniques to find the right answers. If lots of people are really keen I can try write a guide on tackling the UMAT (I'm definitely not the most qualified person but I got into my course so if it helps I can find the time i think).

Hopeful UMAT taker here  I don't know how to study for it but I'm leaning towards doing questions just based on the UMAT. This leads me to another problem, where do I get them (want to do more than the 3 or so which are given after registering) for a reasonable price?? Sorry OP for barging into your thread but I would like some insight as well 

There are a few places you can get UMAT material- most are up for purchase on the inter webs after doing a quick google of UMAT resources. I know there are also quite well known companies that release tests and tips, such as NIE, MedEntry, AN's section zero (not sure if this is still running after forum design reboot).

But like you said the former two companies charge an arm and a leg, your pet dog, your mother's eyebrows, and your childhood gameboy- so if they're out of the picture, I'd try section 0, or buy some resources second hand!

hope it helps!