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The Ultimate Guide to the BMAT Essay (BMAT Section 3) 2022

Section 3 of the BMAT requires you to write a short essay that covers a maximum of one side of A4 paper. You are given a choice of three essay titles that are usually in the form of a statement or a direct quote.

Normally, you’ll be asked to explain the reasoning behind the statement, argue to the contrary and then make a conclusion, although the sub questions can vary.

The quality of your content is scored from 1 to 5 (5 being the highest) and the quality of your English is scored from A-E (A being the highest).

So how should you prepare for this? Here are our top tips on preparing for BMAT Section 3!

Every Sentence Needs a Purpose

In the BMAT, you need to make sure every sentence has a purpose and adds to your argument/counterargument.

You need to make sure nothing is “fluffy” and each sentence makes a standalone point that could not be taken out of the essay. In some ways, this is like a scientific paper, where you want to skip any unneeded adjectives and storytelling to give the most coherent writing style possible.

Remember, you also only have one side of A4 so your space is precious!

Planning is Key!

A big chunk of your essay time should be spent making a plan. Depending on your writing speed, this can be anywhere between 10 and 15 minutes. Every sentence must have a purpose. If you plan in bullet points, you can cover each of your bullet points sentence by sentence.

Make your essay really structured, answering every subquestion individually. Some students use paragraphs to split this up; however, it may be wise to use small indents, as this gives you a little more space on the paper to write more.

It is most logical to follow the structure given in the sub-questions, which is usually:

Explain the reasoning behind the statement

Argue to the contrary

To give a conclusion

When asking your point, you need to give examples. This could be a specific scenario that you think the quote relates to or it could be an example from the news, public figures, a book, or a particular case.

Examples don’t need to be completely unique to score you highly, but they should be entirely relevant to the point of the essay. Don’t try to fit the essay around the example, instead, fit the example to the essay.

Practice as Though it were the Real Thing

You need to make sure that you are practising in the most realistic way possible. It’s really tempting to skip the plan and head straight into the essay; however, it’s going to be more effective if you time yourself the full 30 minutes and force yourself to use 10-15 minutes of this time to adequately plan.

If the BMAT is on pen and paper, download and print some section 3 answer sheets, so you know exactly how much space you have.

Have Fun With It!

I know this is really easy to say and hard in practice but, your application journey is an exciting period of your life. You get to decide on your own future and decide where you’re going to spend the next 5 or 6 years. The BMAT, although tricky, is a part of this and it may open up some really exciting doors for you!

If you would like further help, BMAT tutors can guide you.

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BMAT: Section 3 [The Definitive Guide]

Home » Application Guide » BMAT: Section 3 [The Definitive Guide]

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The BMAT has now been discontinued. All applicants for undergraduate medicine in the UK will be required to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) for their application. Check out our wide selection of Free UCAT Guides to get started with your preparation.

Welcome to our guide on the final section of the BMAT – the essay Section 3.

Section 3 of the BMAT is where the test really shows its differences from the other medicine admissions test, the UCAT. Unlike every other section of both exams, this section is NOT multiple choice but a short writing task.

Let’s see how you can prepare your writing skills in time for the big test!

What is BMAT Section 3 and why is it tested?

Section 3 tests your ability to develop and organise ideas and to communicate them concisely and effectively in writing.

It is more commonly known as the dreaded essay section, and many candidates often find themselves questioning its relevance during revision frustration. However, the skills needed to do well in Section 3 are vital for a career in medicine.

The ability to formulate your own arguments and communicate your ideas clearly is crucial for a successful academic or clinical career. The university needs to be able to see a demonstration of these skills in order to be sure that a candidate will be the right fit for the course.

What will Section 3 look like in the BMAT?

The BMAT is a two-hour exam. You have 30 minutes to spend on Section 3. Here’s a quick refresher of the format of the BMAT exam:

The exam paper will offer a choice of three different essay questions, and you must choose one essay to answer. Each essay question will be followed by three prompts and you must address all three parts of this in your essay. For example:

BMAT Section 3 Example Questions (2019 Paper)

• People are often motivated to deny the existence of problems if they disagree with the solutions to those problems.

Explain what you think is meant by the statement. Present a counter-argument. To what extent do you agree with the statement?

2. ‘In science, there are no universal truths, just views of the world that have yet to be shown to be false.’ (Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw)

Explain what you think is meant by the statement. Argue that scientists need to accept some things as ‘truths’ to advance their understanding. To what extent do you agree with the statement?

3. Teamwork is more important for surgical innovation than the skills of an individual surgeon.

Explain the reasoning behind this statement. Argue that the skills of individual surgeons are more important for surgical innovation or progress. To what extent do you agree with the statement?

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You are given a single page of A4 as an answer sheet, and your essay must fit into this space. Only what is contained on the single A4 page will be scanned, sent to the examiner, and marked.  

How Can I prepare for BMAT Section 3?

The BMAT essays, like medical interviews, will cover a range of social and medical issues. To prepare for the BMAT, it is recommended you keep up to date with current medical, social, and political issues.

Newspapers, medical journals, and medical blogs are good resources, with the Health and Science sections of BBC News being particularly useful. Reading these articles will not only arm you with points to use in your essays but will also show you how to argue these ideas articulately and concisely.

It is vital you practice formulating and communicating your ideas about a topic. Get together with other students who are preparing their medical applications and practice debating health and social topics with each other. This will not only increase your chances of getting a good Section 3 score but will also improve your medical interview skills.

The most vital preparation for all BMAT sections is practice. Download our official past papers here   and get used to planning and writing essays under timed conditions. Print off the official answer sheet and use this for writing your essay; it is key you get used to writing in the limited space available.

Of course, we’d also recommend our own resources to help your prepare for the BMAT. We run the best crash courses in the world for the BMAT, as well as having an intuitive online platform in BMAT Ninja. You can get access to both, along with 5 x Section 3 essay edits with our BMAT Bundle (our best value BMAT support).

BMAT Essay Planning

To make the most of your limited answer space, it is incredibly important you spend at least 5-10 minutes planning your essay.

Take a spare piece of paper (there is usually a blank page in the question paper earmarked for this purpose) and plan your essay point by point before you think about touching the answer sheet.

The planning stage can be split into two clear parts.

Get everything down on paper.

Write down everything you know about the subject and all your ideas on the topic.

Organise these ideas.

Create clear subsections, which can be derived from the three prompts listed in the essay question, and structure your ideas into bullet points beneath each heading.

Before moving onto writing your essay make sure:

• The ideas conveyed in your bullet points flow smoothly from one to the next
• Your essay is well balanced , with points covering both sides of the argument
• You have not included any points that are outside the scope of the essay question
• You have only included your most relevant and most important points to make best use of the limited space
• Every part of the essay question and subsequent prompts have been addressed by your ideas

Writing Your Essay

The essay should be divided into three main parts: an Introduction, a Main Body, and a Conclusion. Let’s go into each section in a little more depth starting with the introduction.

THE INTRODUCTION

Your introduction should clearly set out the aims of what you are about to write.

You should state what the essay will try to achieve, and briefly mention some of the main points you will consider, both for and against the essay question.

The introduction is a brief overview of your argument and should not go into any great detail.

Your introduction is successful if it tells the reader:

• What is the topic of the essay?
• What is the essay planning to answer?
• What are the main points for and against?

The introduction is usually where you will tackle the first prompt of the essay question, which usually asks you to explain the reasoning behind a statement or to define a principle.

THE MAIN BODY

The main body of your essay is where you should address your key points in detail.

This should be the longest part of your essay and should be split up into 2-4 paragraphs. Most candidates will write at least one paragraph per each of the three prompts included in the essay question.

It is crucial that the main body of your essay includes points both for and against the essay question. The marking scheme mandates that the essay must communicate a balanced argument to secure a minimum content score of 3.

You should start a new paragraph for each major new idea in your essay, in order to clearly indicate to the examiner the structure of your argument. Each paragraph should start with a sentence that signposts the main point you are going to explore in that section. The rest of the paragraph will then expand and back up your main point in greater detail and with relevant examples.

In each paragraph, only include sentences that are directly related to the issue set out in the signposting sentence.  Quoting sources and statistics can lend an air of professionalism and credibility to your essay. However, if you do not know any, do not make these up – the BMAT examiners are paid by the hour and therefore have the time to fact-check any claim you may make.

THE CONCLUSION

Your conclusion should summarise the main points of your essay, and if appropriate, draw a final judgement on the topic you have been discussing.

There should be no new evidence in your conclusion, it is simply a summary of what you have already stated in the main body of the essay.

In the next section, we will go through examples of successful essay plans so you can see how the entire process works. Read on to check it out.

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Examples of Successful Essay Plans

First, we’ll start by presenting the question that we want to answer. Then we’ll go into the kind of notes you should be writing when planning your essay.

An important part to consider is the wording within the question – this will give you an indication of what the examiners are wanting to see and should direct your essay plan.

Fully Worked Essay Question [1]

As a physician, you have a duty to consider the wider society when treating an individual patient.

Explain the reasoning behind this statement. Argue that a doctor’s main priority should always be the patient he is currently treating. With respect to medical treatment, to what extent can a patient’s interests differ from those of the wider population?

Fully Worked Essay Plan [1]

Explain the statement..

• The four principles of medical ethics, as described by Beauchamps and Childress (2008) are autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.
• This statement is clearly addressing the principle of justice: the duty to share and allocate treatment equally across all patients.

Argue that a doctor’s main priority should always be the patient he is currently treating.

• Medical treatment should be individualised where possible. Each patient may respond differently to the same treatment, depending on their individual characteristics and co-morbidities. Therefore while general guidelines may be useful, we should tailor our treatments to best benefit the patient we are currently treating.
• While utilitarianism holds its place in medical ethics, it is important we do not use ‘considering the wider society’ as an excuse to provide subpar care.

With respect to medical treatment, to what extent can a patient’s interests differ from those of the wider population?

• Resources are finite; we must allocate treatments where it will be the most effective and provide the most benefit. For example, a specific drug may provide little or no benefit to a terminal cancer patient but may be curative to those with early stage cancer. Therefore we should prioritise the treatment for the latter group.
• We must consider the cost-effectiveness of each drug. We cannot in good conscience supply an extremely expensive drug that treats only a small number of patients when this comes at the cost of several cheaper treatments that benefit the entire population.
• Certain medical diagnoses are notifiable and Public Health England must be informed, even if the patient does not wish the condition to be disclosed. This is because in some scenarios (e.g. potential spread of a highly contagious disease) protecting the public is deemed more important than an individual’s right to confidentiality. A similar situation arises if a patient refuses to disclose certain diagnoses to official bodies as required by law (e.g. epilepsy to the DVLA). In this case, the doctor is required to override the patient’s wishes and inform the body themselves.

Fully Worked Essay Question [2]

2. Publishing surgeons’ mortality rates may lead to surgeons declining to perform high risk cases and only operating on safer, more routine patients.

Explain what this statement means. Argue that the publication of such statistics is necessary. To what extent do you believe league tables will change surgeons’ behaviour to benefit patients?

Fully Worked Essay Plan [2]

Explain what this statement means..

• Publishing a ‘league table’ of surgeons by their mortality rates may cause physicians to avoid operating on high-risk cases risk to avoid lowering their personal statistics. This will lead to an overall decline in the ability of surgeons and also a dearth of doctors willing to treat difficult cases.

Argue that the publication of such statistics is necessary.

• Publication of such data is needed for clinical governance, namely to produce audits comparing individual surgeon performance to national and regional averages to ensure competency.
• Transparent mortality rates could highlight discrepancies in surgical teaching and education between regions
• By comparing one surgeon to another, surgeons will be incentivised to improve the quality of care they are delivering
• The NHS ‘Choose and Book’ system was introduced to allow patients greater autonomy over who they are treated by. Publication of surgeons’ mortality rates would help patients make an informed decision when choosing a doctor.

To what extent do you believe league tables will change surgeons’ behaviour to benefit patients?

• It would be hoped that publication of league tables would incentivise surgeons to perform better, seek continual training, and strive for optimal performance.
• In medical ethics, beneficence describes a doctor’s duty to perform actions that will benefit patients. It is likely the fear of a poor mortality rate would supersede a surgeon’s duty to abide by this principle; resulting in surgeons avoiding high-risk cases. This would result in an overall detriment, not benefit, to patients.

How will you be marked?

For Section 3, you are graded on both the quality of your content and the quality of your English.

Content quality is graded on a scale from 1-5.

English quality is graded from A-E . 

Therefore the best possible mark you can gain from this section is 5A, however, the average mark achieved is 3A, with only the top 5% of students achieving 4A and above.

Each essay is double marked. For the quality of content, the scores given by each examiner are averaged if they are the same or one point away from each other. So if you are awarded a 3 by Examiner 1 and a 4 by Examiner 2, you will be awarded a 3.5.

However, if the two examiners disagree by more than one point in their marking (e.g. if you are awarded a 2 and a 4) the essay will be sent to a third examiner, with the final mark will be checked by the BMAT Assessment Manager.

For the quality of English, each examiner awards a score of either A, C, or E. The two scores are then combined in the following ways to give the final result: AA = A, AC = B, CC = C, CE = D, EE = E

What do I need to do to get the top mark?

To achieve a 5 for quality of content, you need to produce an essay that:

• Has no significant weaknesses
• Addresses all aspects of the question
• Has an argument that is clear, logical, and well-reasoned
• Covers a wide range of relevant points
• Has a clear and compelling conclusion

To achieve an A for quality of English, your writing must have:

• Good sentence structure
• Good use of vocabulary
• Good spelling, punctuation, and grammar

Does the essay section even matter?

You may hear people say that Section 3 isn’t as important as Section 1 or Section 2. There is an element of truth to this; Oxford and Leeds place a higher weight on Section 1 and 2 (40% each) compared to Section 3 (20%).

However other universities, such as Cambridge, take all marks for the BMAT score into consideration alongside a number of other factors, such as your A-level grades and interview scores.

Therefore, to be an attractive medical candidate to as many universities as possible, it is important to prepare well for every part of your medical application, including Section 3 of the BMAT.

Top Tips For BMAT Section 3

Download the official practice and past paper examinations.

This will make sure you have familiarised yourself with the question format.

Don’t slack when you’re practicing!

Even when practicing, make sure you plan your essays well: this is the most important part of writing your essay.

Use the official answer sheet.

Practice writing essays using the official answer sheet to get used to the space given.

Only practice under timed conditions.

There is little point in writing a perfect essay if it has taken longer than you will have in the exam.

Write neatly, and in the smallest font that is still clearly legible to the examiner.

For an examiner faced with hundreds of essay papers to mark, a well-presented and tidy essay will be a delightful change and they will be more likely to award higher marks.

Keep up to date with the latest medical, social, and political issues.

You can do this by reading news articles and medical journals. This will allow you to provide an educated argument and bring in fresh viewpoints.

Discuss recent medical and political issues with friends & family.

This will help you to shape your ability to formulate and effectively communicate an argument.

Revising for Section 3 of the BMAT is as essential as any other part of your medical application preparation. The knowledge and skills needed to write a good BMAT essay will serve you well in medicine, and more short-term, in your medical interviews.

The key to achieving a competitive score BMAT sections is to familiarise yourself with past papers, practice under timed conditions, and start prepping early!

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How to write a bmat essay (section 3) [bmat series], what is bmat section 3 how to prepare for it and some of our top tips.

The third section of the BMAT exam is the “essay” writing section. I say “essay” (in quotations) as it is really nothing to be afraid of. This section of the BMAT assesses your essay writing skills by asking you to write a short piece of text that answers a question selected from several options provided to you. These skills include your ability to form clear and concise arguments, provide examples to support these and tie these together to form a logical conclusion in which your opinion is outlined.  Read on to find out more…

What is BMAT Section 3 composed of?

In this section you will be given the choice of three essay titles and you will have 30 minutes to answer the associated question. You are only given 1 A4 piece of paper, with some of the top being used to input candidate details (so it’s not even a whole page!).Therefore, it is not your typical essay – you will only have room to write around 3 paragraphs in total and therefore it will end up being a relatively short piece of writing.

The nature of each question varies. It will take the form of an opinionated statement that gives one point of view or sometimes as a quote, with three accompanying prompts. These prompts will be quite similar for each question: they often ask you to expand on the statement, provide arguments against it, and end with a conclusion. Whilst there is no specific content you need to learn for the essay, the questions are typically divided into the following themes (there is sometimes some variation): one healthcare related, one covering science more generally, and one that is unrelated to science or medicine – sometimes about politics, sociology, philosophy etc.

You may not be studying essay-based subjects, but please do not worry about this. With practice and adequate preparation, you will score well in this section! When choosing an essay question, it is always good to choose a topic you fully understand and have sufficient related knowledge of. Having an opinion on the matter might also be useful when forming a conclusion (although this is not required). In terms of the conclusion though, the examiner is less interested in what your opinion is (ie. whether it is considered right or wrong) but is more concerned with your ability to form logical ideas/arguments and provide evidence and examples to support these.

How is BMAT Section 3 scored?

Two examiners mark your essay. Their scores are then averaged and an overall score is given. If the scores given are very different, a third examiner might mark your essay. There are two parts to the score you are given. The first is a number between 1 and 5. Scores increase in increments of 0.5 and relate to the quality of the content of your essay. This considers how well you have explained your ideas, answered the questions and used the prompts, the structure of your answer and the quality of examples used to support your case. The other score goes from A-E and assesses the quality of English used. This includes grammar and spelling, fluency, and sentence structure.

How to prepare for BMAT Section 3?

As with the other sections of BMAT, hands-down, the best way to prepare for this section is practice. Use past questions and specimen questions to perfect your essay-writing skills. As you only have access to that one page for this section, you have to try and make your case in that space. It may be worth writing essay plans instead if you are running out of time, in order to try as many questions as possible. It is often recommended to spend 1/3 of your time during the exam (so 10 minutes) writing a plan so this will definitely be valuable revision (see below for reasoning why). However, saying this, it is still important to try to get as many proper timed practices in as possible when preparing.

What are some tips for BMAT Section 3?

1. answer all parts of the question..

‍ Make sure to answer all parts of a question, addressing all the prompts given. If you do not do this, you cannot get a high score – the criteria for a 3 is to address all the prompts so please make sure you take care to do this and make it clear you are doing so.

Regarding the questions, always plan your answers before starting. By generating a framework, you are much more able to form a strong structure for your response to the question you select. This will help you remain on the correct path and to ensure you don’t forget any points you make. Planning should take around 5-10 minutes and should include your points for each of your 3 or 4 paragraphs. You should also try to list your selected examples in your plan.

3. Useful knowledge.

It is a good idea to go over medical ethics as this is often relevant to the questions in Section 3. Make sure you know the four pillars of medical ethics and can explain them well enough to illustrate a point.

Also, ensuring you can explore politics and philosophy to answer questions is a great way to tackle Section 3 questions. To do this, it might be useful to read journals and blogs, particularly BBC health articles for examples and points to use. Staying on top of medical news can play to your advantage. Consider debating issues with friends to practise formulating opinions and arguments to answer a question/prompt.

How should you structure your BMAT essay?

You should organise your essay into 3 main parts: an introduction, main body (which can be subdivided further) and a conclusion.

Your introduction should always state what your essay is about and should briefly outline the points you are going to make ie. those for and against the statement. This is a reason why you need to plan - so you have these points ready from the get-go.

After this, you have the main body of the essay. Most will write a paragraph to address each prompt given. What is crucial here is presenting a balanced argument. The marking criteria states you cannot get higher than a 3 if you don’t do this. Use examples to support your points and make sure to start a new paragraph for every major point you make. I would personally recommend a PEEL structure – make your point, then explain it. Back up your explanation with examples, and finally link back to your point and the question to explain why your explanation is relevant.

Your conclusion should summarise the rest of the essay. You shouldn’t make any new points or give any new examples here, instead you should try to form a judgement on the question (if appropriate) and round off the essay.

Make sure to leave a few minutes to check your work after finishing your essay. Remember, you are marked on the quality of English used so ensure this is at a high standard. Being concise, clear and avoiding repetition are all crucial to scoring well in section 3.

How long should you spend preparing for BMAT Section 3?

How long you should spend preparing for this section will depend on the individual (as it does for the other sections). Consider your current ability to write clear and (importantly) concise essays. I would recommend spending 1-2 weeks writing essay plans and scattering a few times practices in the mix too – this will help you work on time management and structuring your essays well. It will also help you get used to the nature of the titles that tend to appear, helping you feel more prepared for the final exam. Try to go through every past paper and practice question you can find and write at least a plan for it. For the ones you struggle with most, challenge yourself to write a full essay - this will help you get used to answering difficult questions.

To Summarise…

This section is nothing to be afraid of. Using your current knowledge and reasoning skills to draw valid conclusions will serve you well in the exam. Make sure to practice, and if you have access to anyone who can mark your essays please make the most of this. Feedback is a goldmine in this instance. Focus on having a clear structure and please, please, please get into the habit of planning everything – you will thank me later! Best of luck to you all - you can do it!

Author: Chandan Sekhon

Editor: Allegra Wisking

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BMAT Section 3​: The Complete Guide

Advice & Insight From BMAT Specialists

​Maximum Score: 5A 1 Essay (Choice of 3) 30 Minutes

​BMAT Section 3 requires you to choose from a choice of three essay titles, completing a structured answer on an official BMAT Section 3 Answer Sheet, within a 30 minute timescale.

​BMAT Section 3 Essay Types

​Historically, each of the BMAT Section 3 essays will fall into one of the following categories, although this can vary from year to year: Historical Quote/ Philosophy (eg. Voltaire, Darwin etc.) Medicine/Science Ethics The majority of prospective medical students select Medicine/Science or Ethics based questions, and this is completely understandable. It is important to select the question that you feel most comfortable answering, rather than attempting to excel at a potentially more challenging question as what you may view as challenging, other candidates may regard as much more straightforward. We have divided the past BMAT Section 3 Questions by categories allowing you to trial questions from each grouping, in order to identify your strengths.

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​BMAT Section 3 Essay Structure

​Each essay will normally have three parts; these may be (although are not restricted to) the following: Explain what you think the statement means. Argue in favour of the statement. To what extent do you agree with the statement?

Choosing Your BMAT Section 3 Essay

By completing a range of BMAT Section 3 practice essays, you will be obtain a better understanding of which of the three essay categories suits your strengths. Combining this background knowledge with a two minute assessment of the essay titles and importantly their sub-questions, should allow you to choose the most suitable BMAT essay within the first two minutes. ​ Further details BMAT Section 3 timings, and how to distribute the time effectively can be found in our BMAT Section 3 Tips.

Optimise Your BMAT Performance

Learn time-efficient BMAT strategies and practice with reflective BMAT questions & worked solutions.

BMAT Section 3 Answer Sheet

Answers to BMAT Section 3 need to be completed on an official BMAT Section 3 answer sheet, which is equivalent to approximately two-thirds of an A4 page. Importantly, text written outside of the answer sheet borders is not scored and hence it is essential that all key information is included within the specified area. ​ In order to better understand the space available, we would strongly recommend that all BMAT Section 3 practice is completed on official BMAT Section 3 answer sheets.

BMAT Section 3 Knowledge

Whilst BMAT Section 3 does not test specific knowledge or topics, an awareness of a range of medical topics such as medical ethics, consent and the Hippocratic Oath can considerably improve your score. We have created a dedicated page of important section 3 knowledge, and for more detailed content, attend an Intensive BMAT Course or subscribe to the Online BMAT Course

BMAT Section 3 And Medical School Interviews

BMAT Section 3 essays are sent to your chosen medical schools along with your BMAT scores. This allows medical schools to ask you questions on your BMAT Section 3 essay during your medical school interviews. This is commonly the case at UCL, with other medical schools using the BMAT essays more sporadically. As such, we would recommend that you write down all of your BMAT Section 3 Essay points after the BMAT exam, and prepare for questions that may arise from the points made. Common interview questions related to BMAT Section 3 include the following: Can you summarise your BMAT Section 3 essay? What changes would you make to your BMAT essay If you were allowed to make one additional point, what would you add to your BMAT essay? How would you explain…..to a lay individual

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• 11:00 - 11:15: BMAT Section 1 Mock Exam
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• 11:45 - 12:45: BMAT Section 2 Key Content & Practice Questions
• 12:45 - 13:00: BMAT Section 2 Mock Exam
• 13:00 - 13:15: BMAT Section 2 Feedback
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• 14:00 - 15:00: BMAT Section 3 Techniques & Implementation
• 15:00 - 16:00: BMAT Section 3 Mock Exam, Feedback & Further Discussion
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BMAT Section 3: Essay

Please note that the BMAT is now discontinued. Most universities that used the BMAT will use the UCAT from 2024 onwards. See our comprehensive UCAT guide.

• Discover how to stand out with your BMAT essay
• Find out how to prepare for Secion 3
• Get the best BMAT essay tips

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Please note that the BMAT is now discontinued, and most universities will switch to the UCAT admissions test from 2024 onwards. See  our comprehensive UCAT guide.

BMAT Section 3: The BMAT Essay

In BMAT Section 3, you’re required to write a short essay. This will cover one side of A4, but it can’t be any longer, so timing and technique are crucial.

Each essay option is based on a short quote or statement. These can be scientific or medically-related but often aren’t. Typical examples might include a quote from Voltaire or Charles Darwin.

Section 3 Scores

Your Section 3 BMAT score will be split into two.

You’ll score between one and five for the quality of the content of your essay. Five is the highest, and awarded to those who have addressed the question in the way demanded, organised their thoughts clearly, and used general knowledge and opinions appropriately.

You’ll also get a score from A to E for the quality of your written English . A is the best, and will be given to students who express themselves clearly using concise, compelling and competent English.

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Section 3 Essay Questions

You’ll get to choose from three essay questions in Section 3 of the BMAT. You must fill one sheet of A4 in the 30-minute timeframe.

Each question may seem totally different, but the reality is that you’ll do the same three things no matter what question you pick.

When writing your Section 3 essay, you will:

• Explain the proposition, part of it, or its implications
• Produce a counter-argument
• Reconcile the two sides

You may not be studying essay-based subjects for A-Level , which can lead to a degree of trepidation. However, we have designed a clear and repeatable strategy for success in this section that you’ll learn in our BMAT Course – and we can review your BMAT essay practice  too.

How To Tackle Your Question

When it comes to selecting the best question to answer, we recommend you choose the one that:

• Has a statement you understand fully
• Has a question that you understand fully
• Covers a topic that you have good arguments and good general knowledge of

Once you’ve decided on the question, you should follow these steps:

• Write a clear explanation of the statement in one or two sentences
• Prepare your arguments and note them down
• Think about your conclusion
• Start writing once you have the structure planned

Learn score-boosting strategies for producing a 5A essay every time in our BMAT Course.

Bmat Section 3 Essay Tips

• Plan essay questions. Outline the key points, plan contrasting arguments and list points to make in the conclusion.
• Practise writing concisely, with clearly articulated points.
• Ask others to review your work. Send your BMAT essays to us to review – they’ll get marked by an expert Medicine Tutor!
• Read widely, to understand different arguments.

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BMAT Specification: A Section-by-Section Breakdown

The BMAT is made up of three sections and is used as an admissions test for medical schools. It is also used for Oxford’s Biomedical Sciences programme.

In this article, we cover each section in depth and list the topics you need to revise to get a good BMAT score. For a general overview of the test, read our BMAT guide .

NOTE: BMAT will take place on 18 October 2023 and will be a pen-and-paper test. BMAT will be withdrawn from 2024. Keep an eye on our TikTok channel and live updates article to find out what's happening with BMAT universities after next year.

Which skills does BMAT test?

• Reading formal English and following written instructions 
• Applied scientific and mathematical knowledge
• Speed of work
• Mental maths and interpreting data to form conclusions
• Making logical inferences based on texts or data and spotting illogical inferences 
• The ability to communicate clearly, including making arguments, predictions and evidence-based assertions

BMAT Section 1 – Thinking Skills

Length: 60 minutes Questions: 32 multiple choice questions

BMAT Section 1 used to be called ‘Aptitude and Skills’. It assesses the type of general reasoning you require in an academic environment, both numerical and verbal. It is similar to the UCAT Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections.

Learn more about the differences between the UCAT and BMAT.

NOTE: Questions are multiple choice and calculators are not permitted.

BMAT Section 2: Scientific Knowledge and Applications 

Length: 30 minutes  Questions: 27 multiple choice questions

BMAT Section 2 tests whether you have an appropriate level of core scientific knowledge and the ability to apply it. 

Questions are of the same difficulty as non-specialist science and maths courses at school. 

Questions are all multiple choice and no calculators are allowed.  

BMAT Section 2 knowledge check

• SI prefixes: nano 10-9, micro 10–6, etc
• Structure and function of the main subcellular components of animal and plant eukaryotic cells
• The structure and function of prokaryotic cells (bacteria)
• Levels of organisation: cells to tissues to organs to organ systems
• Movement across membranes
• Cell division and sex determination
• Inheritance 
• Gene technologies 
• Animal physiology

• Atomic structure
• The Periodic Table (IUPAC conventions; groups are labelled as 1-18) 
• Chemical reactions, formulae and equations 
• Quantitative chemistry 
• Oxidation, reduction and redox 
• Chemical bonding, structure and properties 
• Group chemistry 
• Separation techniques 
• Acids, bases and salts 
• Rates of reaction 
• Energetics 
• Electrolysis 
• Carbon/organic chemistry 
• Kinetic/particle theory 
• Chemical tests 
• Air and water 

• Electricity
• Thermal physics 
• Radioactivity 

• Ratios and proportions
• Statistics 
• Probability

Section 3: Writing Task

Length: 30 minutes Questions: One writing task from a choice of three questions

In BMAT Section 3 , you write a counterargument in response to a proposition. 

This assumes science-related language skills as well the ability to produce clear and concise written communication for an audience unfamiliar with the subject matter at hand.

You choose one option from three possible tasks based on general, scientific and medical topics.

The questions offer a proposition. You may need to:

• Offer a counterargument to the proposition
• Explain the proposition
• Find a resolution between two opposing perspectives

While you're allowed to make preliminary notes, answers are strictly limited to one A4 page.

Your writing must be carefully planned, concise and organised. You will not have access to a dictionary, so use familiar vocabulary – don’t guess at spellings unless absolutely necessary.

Some universities will discuss your essay at interview.

Read the official BMAT specification for more details

BMAT scoring and reporting 

For Sections 1 and 2, your answer sheet is marked automatically and is reported on a 9-point BMAT scale (to one decimal place). 

Section 3 is marked by two Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing examiners and sent to each university you’ve applied to, which can be used to assess your writing skills.

Find out more about how the BMAT is scored and what makes a good score.

• Section 1 is similar to a verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning assessment (think of UCAT VR and QR sections).
• For Section 2, brush up on your science fundamentals, as detailed in the lists above.
• For Section 3, practise your academic writing skills, as clarity, conciseness and structure are paramount.

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How to prepare for BMAT Section 3

UPDATE: Please note that CAAT have announced they will no longer be administering the BMAT in 2024, for 2025 entry. Cambridge University has announced that they will be using the UCAT as an admissions indicator. Oxford University are to announce admissions test changes in Spring 2024.

BMAT Section 3: What is It?

In BMAT Section 3, you will be provided with three essay titles. You will then have to choose one out of the three titles to write an essay that is not longer than the length of more than one side of an A4 paper. 

Each essay title takes the following format: 

• A provocative sentence or opinion
• Three prompts (included in the question) to guide your writing

Here is a question from Section 3 of the 2020 BMAT paper as an example: 

‘Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’

To what extent is it possible for someone to hold power without using it for their own personal gain? 

Explain the reasoning behind this statement. Argue that power does not necessarily degrade or weaken the morals of those who hold it.

As per the prompts in the question, you should explain the statement first and then offer an oppositional argument in your answer. After this, you will need to weigh both sides of the argument and come to your own conclusion. This is the most typical structure, and it serves as a general guide for answering the question, but there can be different variations. Hence, do not be startled if a question does not fit this structure exactly!

As you only have one side of an A4 piece of paper to work with, you would not be required to write a lot. Furthermore, you also have a time restriction of 30 minutes. Hence, when writing your essay, keep the time and space restriction in mind in case you run out of time or space.

What kinds of titles might I anticipate for BMAT Section 3 essays?

As stated on the BMAT website, Section 3 of the BMAT “measures the competence to create ideas and to present them effectively in writing”. This means that Section 3 of the BMAT is not a knowledge-based exam, and therefore there is no specific content that you will need  to revise or memorise. They could test anything under the sun, so do not make the mistake of trying to revise every topic that you come across in past papers as this would be a waste of valuable revision time! Instead, you can focus on revising general essay writing techniques such as how to structure your essay well or how to form a strong argument. 

With such varied possibilities, how can you anticipate what essay titles will come up in the exam? While there is no set syllabus for BMAT Section 3, you can get an idea of the style of questions by looking at past papers available online. You will notice that in each past paper, there is often one question related specifically to healthcare, one on science in general, and one that focuses on a topic completely unrelated to medicine, such as human nature, society, or politics.

In terms of choosing which topic to answer, your natural inclination may be to choose the question on medicine or science, since this topic would be more familiar to you. However, these questions could contain terminology that you might not be familiar with, or have aspects of the question that you do not understand. On the other hand, the non-medicine or scientific essay titles could be a lot broader. This could make these questions easier to answer, as you will have a wider range of examples to choose from. Hence, the tip is to not go into the exam expecting to answer a specific topic. Instead, you should try to be open-minded. This means to carefully read through all the questions, and choose your question based on what you think you can answer best. A good way of judging which question you can answer best is by quickly brainstorming points and examples for each question title. The question that you are able to come up with the most points and examples for will likely be your best choice. 

How is Section 3 of the BMAT scored?

Two examiners will grade your essay, and each will assign two scores. One score, from 0 to 5, is given for content, which includes your display of logic, how effectively you responded to the prompts, the way your argument is structured, and how you utilise examples to support your claims. The other grade, from A to E, is for your quality of English, including vocabulary, sentence structure, syntax, and spelling.

The marks from the examiners are then averaged. For an extreme example, 4A from one and 3C from the other would result in a 3.5B (Most examiners usually would give each essay a similar grade). The highest possible grade is a 5A. 

Less than 10% of applicants scored 4 or higher in 2020, with the average content score being 3. More than 70% of applicants received an A for English proficiency. A good score is generally a score of 3A or higher.

How can I get ready for the BMAT Section 3?

One of the best methods to get ready is to try previous examination papers or sample essay questions. You may wish to start your preparation without a time constraint, in order to familiarise yourself with your answering style and how you approach the question, but you should definitely practise writing under timed conditions closer to the exam date. You should also practise answering these questions in the sample response sheet, in order to get a sense of how much space you have available. This is because in the actual examination, you must fit whatever you wish to write onto the available one-sided A4 page of the test sheet as no extra pages would be given. After writing your essays, you should seek feedback by asking someone to read your essays, as they may point out any areas that need improvement that you might not have otherwise noticed on your own.

If you would like to learn case studies that you can use as examples in your essays, it would be useful for you to read more broadly about ethics, science, and current events. Using examples in your essay will improve your responses and consequently the grade that you would receive, but be careful to not use them excessively. Do not include every example that you can think of in your answer. A good general rule of thumb is to support every point that you have with only 1-2 examples and to cite these examples in a clear and succinct way such that it supports your point, instead of being your point.

A tip for memorising is to choose case studies that you are already aware of or would be memorable to you, for example case studies that are related to a personal interest or something you have studied at school. You can then summarise your chosen case studies on flash cards in a concise way, such as in bullet points, and memorise using these flashcards. Avoid trying to memorise too many case studies – quality is definitely better than quantity. If you can memorise a smaller number of case studies that you can apply to lots of different types of questions, such as a medical ethics case study that was in the news, this would be a more effective use of your revision time.

How will universities utilise my Section 3 score?

Each university that requires the BMAT uses BMAT scores differently. This is the case for Cambridge – they weigh your application as a whole, considering aspects of your interview, predicted or achieved grades, as well as your BMAT. That being said, having too low of a BMAT score could jeopardise an offer from Cambridge, but there is no specific cut-off that they use. 

On the other hand, Oxford is more straightforward with its usage of BMAT scores. They would calculate a composite BMAT score, with Section 3 making up a certain percentage of that score. After that, they set a cutoff below which candidates are not invited for an interview. Specifically, Section 3 makes up 20% of this composite BMAT Score, with quality of content being weighted twice as heavily as quality of english. Keep in mind that they also weigh GCSEs equally with your overall BMAT score when determining interview readiness!

It’s crucial to verify the website or prospectus of each BMAT medical school you’re thinking about applying to since these methods might also alter from year to year. The BMAT portion of our guide to medical schools includes information on how each score is used to choose applicants.

Essays from Section 3 may potentially be utilised as talking points during yout interview. Candidates at UCL, for instance, are frequently requested to examine and elaborate on their writings. On the BMAT examination day, you should take notes regarding the questions you answered and the things you wrote. Otherwise, you may not remember much by the time interview offers are sent out! 

BMAT Section 3: Top Tips

BMAT Section 3 essay writing represents an intimidating final hurdle for many BMAT takers. Given the time and space limitations (30 minutes, one side of A4), savvy exam techniques are essential to maximising your score.

1. Answer the question – all of it!

Do not, whatever you do, fail to answer the question in its entirety. This means more than just sticking to the title – it includes addressing all three prompts and giving proper attention to each. This is due to the marking criteria, which makes it challenging for an examiner to give a response of a score higher than 2 if it does not fully address the topic – even if it is an amazing essay! This is because it could be a good essay, but it is not an essay that answers the question. Hence, this means that even if you write a perfect essay but you do not cover all the prompts that they have asked, you would still get a low score.

2. Select the question that you can best answer

Although it may seem like a piece of obvious advice, applicants frequently remark that they struggle to select which title to choose. You should base your choice of question on your ability to answer the question – that is, choose the one for which you can offer the strongest justifications and arguments. Do not choose a title just because you have heard the statement before or because you can immediately think of one particular case. Furthermore, do not feel inclined to choose the science or medicine-related question. Examiners do not favour answers that are scientifically related, as they are marking based on your argumentation skills!

The most important thing to remember is to exercise caution if you are able to answer two of a question’s prompts but lack the ability to answer the final and third prompt, because you are unable to entirely grasp what it means or because you simply do not have anything to say about it. In such a case, be wary of this and do not choose that particular question, no matter how compelling your arguments for the first two prompts would be. This is because in order to thoroughly answer the question, it is crucial that you address all three prompts in your response.

3. Develop your planning skills

You have undoubtedly heard the advice to wait until you have a clear strategy before beginning to write before. This advice is crucial for Section 3, as if you do not plan well, you would find yourself struggling to think of examples mid-way through the examination, and may run out of time.

When planning, use the question sheet instead of the lined answer sheet for this – you need all the space available for your response! Your planning should take around 5-15 minutes. Some candidates prefer a longer planning time because they believe that with a solid framework in place, writing will be done more quickly. However, ultimately how much time you take should depend on you. Your decision on how much time you should allocate can be fine-tuned by doing past year papers and figuring out what works for you. However, take note to not exceed 15 minutes in planning, otherwise, you would run out of time to write your actual essay.

In your planning, you should plan for the structure of your essay. Divide it into the three or four paragraphs you will write, each of which will respond to one of the three questions. Each paragraph you have planned should represent a different part of your argument and be linked to the examples you intend to use.

4. Practice using realistic test circumstances

This is a wonderfully practical method for preventing terrible timing errors on the big day. Create a specific 30-minute timetable that suits you as much as possible, and make sure that this includes time for question selection, planning, writing, and editing. 

Afterwards, set up examination-like conditions where you would attempt the BMAT Section 3 questions in only 30 minutes. You can download past year papers from the official Cambridge Admissions Assessment Testing website, and it would be ideal for you to not look at the papers before your stimulated examination practice. You could also go one step further and try the BMAT examination as a whole, where you not only practise Section 3 on its own but with Sections 1 and 2 as well. This will simulate the nature of the actual exam.

It is recommended to print off blank sample answer sheets from the BMAT website because they give less space than an average side of A4.

5. Definitely include examples in your essay

The importance of using examples to support your claims in BMAT Section 3 essays is frequently stressed. This is because the use of examples is included in the marking scheme, hence this would directly improve your grade. However, simply including examples in your answer would not help you improve your score – you have to use them appropriately as well.

Your examples should only be used to support your arguments, and they should also be sufficiently detailed. Do not fall into the common pitfall of overly describing your example – this would cause your paragraph to detract from the main point, as well as take up valuable space and time. On the other extreme, you should also avoid using examples that do not add weight to your point or are not relevant. A good guide is that your example should only take up 1-2 lines, and only describe them in a way that is relevant to the point that you are explaining.

6. Dig deeper if you find yourself having too little or too much space

If you frequently run out of space to complete your essay, either your handwriting is too big or you are attempting to cram too much information into your essay. 

On the other hand, if you find it difficult to write a page’s worth of text and your handwriting is not too small, attempt to phrase your essay using an appropriate structure. For example, you can have an introduction and conclusion paragraph, along with 3 middle body paragraphs. Each body paragraph could answer each of the prompts in the question, and be of around 6-7 lines. You could even have a structure for your individual body paragraphs, such as starting it off with a point, followed by an example, before elaborating on that example and finally linking it back to your original point. Having a good structure helps you to avoid missing out on key details, and it also helps you to communicate your ideas in a succinct and readable manner. 

7. Have an opinion or conclusion in your essay.

A solid BMAT essay will always weigh the arguments in favour of and against the thesis and have an opinion in the conclusion. This is because the grading requirements for a score of 5 state that a good essay will “lead to a convincing synthesis or conclusion.”

This will require more depth than just declaring complete support for either side of the argument. Having a conclusion also does not mean simply restating your ideas from our earlier body paragraphs. Instead, you should try and give your opinion on which side of the argument you favour, and briefly explain why. Afterwards, it would be good to include exceptions or situations where you might not necessarily agree on that side. 

8. Always check your work

You should try and set aside 5-10 minutes at the end of your allocated time for Section 3 for final grammar and spelling checks. This is to avoid any simple grammatical or punctuation errors that would otherwise compromise the readability of your essay. Furthermore, you can also take this time to embellish your essay with any adverbs that can help strengthen your argument.

When attempting practice papers for BMAT, use this approach instead of only checking your essay on the actual examination itself. This is because practising it beforehand would allow you to identify and resolve any common grammatical or spelling mistakes. You will then need to check less on the day of the BMAT exam as you will hopefully make fewer errors and be quicker at checking for spelling and grammar mistakes. 

9. Ask for feedback on your practice essays

You should always ask someone to review your practice essays in order for them to point out any areas of suggestions that you would not otherwise be aware of. They could mark your Section 3 BMAT essays using the mark scheme that is available online, as well as comment on how well your ideas flow or how well they answer the question. If you do not have anyone that you are able to ask, look no further than Medic Mind for knowledgeable BMAT tutors who can provide you with precise score estimates! Otherwise, anybody who is familiar with the Section 3 marking standards would be a good place to start, and these could be your friends, family, instructors, and neighbours.

10. Understand the mark scheme

You should study the mark scheme for BMAT Section 3, which is available on the official Cambridge Admissions Assessment Testing website. This is to allow you to understand what is the best way to score. 

Furthermore, it would allow you to understand the expectations of the marker, which could allow you to relax as the standards might not be as high as you think! For example, the expectations for the English language are rather modest, and you would have more freedom to use simple language. Instead, you might realise that it would be more advantageous to focus on argumentation strategy rather than memorising vocabulary!

11. Be more flexible in taking into account other viewpoints

Your capacity to weigh numerous points of view and present them in a clear and cogent manner is what is being tested on the BMAT Section 3 exam. Hence, you should be able to consider how the subject could affect many groups of people, such as that of patients, physicians, and the general public. You can also further analyse the consequences to stakeholders in your essay by relating how a certain situation might benefit one group but harm another. This would allow you to have a wide range of information and perspectives to draw on.

12. Keep up to date with social and medical concerns

Generally speaking, the writing assignments in Section 3 have a broad scientific or medical focus. Hence, try to stay up to date on the news, paying special attention to stories on science and medicine. You can even incorporate this into your everyday life by talking about these articles with your loved ones so that you can learn other viewpoints and practice expressing yourself. Doing this will make it simpler for you to write down your views in an essay format, and pick up examples or perspectives you might not originally have thought of.

BMAT Section 3 is a written essay component of the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) used by some universities as part of the admissions process for medical and veterinary schools. It assesses a candidate’s ability to articulate their thoughts and opinions on a given topic within a specified time limit.

To prepare for BMAT Section 3, it is important to practice writing essays within the time limit provided. You should also familiarize yourself with the structure and content of the test by reviewing past papers and sample questions. Additionally, you can improve your critical thinking and argumentation skills by reading widely and engaging in discussions or debates.

To write a successful BMAT Section 3 essay, it is important to read the question carefully and plan your response before beginning to write. You should also structure your essay in a clear and logical manner, using evidence and examples to support your arguments. It is also important to demonstrate a depth of understanding of the topic and to consider different perspectives and potential counterarguments.

The topics presented in BMAT Section 3 can vary widely, but generally relate to current events, scientific or ethical issues, or broader social or political issues. Candidates should be prepared to analyze and provide thoughtful opinions on these topics within the allotted time.

Yes, there are many resources available to help candidates prepare for BMAT Section 3, including past papers and sample questions, online courses or tutoring services, and study guides or textbooks. It is important to choose resources that are reputable and aligned with the content and format of the BMAT.

BMAT Section 3 is scored based on the quality of the written essay. The essay is marked by two independent examiners who are trained to assess the quality of writing and content. The examiners assess the essay on four criteria: quality of content, quality of written English, the ability to organize and present ideas in a clear and logical manner, and the ability to show insight and critical thinking skills. Each criterion is given a score from 0.5 to 5.0, with a total score ranging from 2.0 to 10.0. The two scores are then combined to provide an overall score for the essay. The score for BMAT Section 3 is not directly comparable to scores in other sections of the BMAT or to scores on other admission tests. The score is used by universities as one of the factors in their admission decisions.

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Mastering the BMAT Test in 2024: General Preparation Tips And Section Strategies

N.B. The BMAT test will be discontinued for those applying for 2025 entry. Students will take the UCAT .

In this blog, we provide students with general BMAT preparation advice (how to structure your prep, adjust your mindset and gear up for the test), as well as specific guidance on each of the three sections, including an overview of question types and tips/ resources for preparation.

General preparation for the BMAT

Tip 1: adjust your mindset.

The Biomedical Admissions Test is a completely different style of exam to GCSEs and A-levels as the marks are generally awarded in a roughly normal distribution. This means that most candidates will score between 4-5 on sections 1 and 2. Aiming for an 8 or 9 is not the same as aiming for an A*, and beating yourself up over what seems like an average mark isn’t going to help. Most good candidates will score in the 5-6 bracket with excellent candidates scoring 6-7, so this should be your aim.

Source: https://www.admissionstesting.org/Images/563514-bmat-explanation-of-results-2019.PDF

BMAT score distribution 2019

Tip 2. Do dress rehearsals

Make sure you do a few full length mocks near the end of your revision for two reasons. Firstly, as with most exams, it’s a bit of a marathon and practising focussing for that long is important, as well as getting used to the conditions (we don’t know if the BMAT will stay online or go back to paper after COVID). Secondly, the BMAT is essentially three exams back to back as each section is taken away before the next begins. If you have only been revising one section at a time then it’s a new skill to be able to switch mindset from logic/critical thinking to science to essay writing.

Tip 3. Use your time well

The start of year 13 is very stressful for medicine applications. Not only is the pace of your subject studies increasing, but you potentially also have to prepare for UCAT (unless you did it over the summer), the BMAT, and send in your personal statement. Make a timetable of when you want to start beginning BMAT revision based on how much work you want to do. We recommend doing a little bit most days and starting earlier than anticipated. This is going to be much less stress-inducing than cramming in the final two weeks. Additionally , have a plan of what you are covering each day to maximise efficiency e.g practice questions, wider reading, or science revision.

Tip 4. Look after yourself

This follows on from the last point; application time is a tough period but you can get through it! Give yourself a day off each week from anything and everything medicine and focus on your wellbeing. Don’t burnout before you even get an interview.

Tip 1. Read the question stem first

The questions have a lot of information in them and it can become very time consuming to attempt to assimilate the information before reading the stem and going back to find the relevant bits. If you read the question stem first you’ll be able to filter out the less relevant bits as you read the extra information. After you have glanced over everything, read the question stem again to make sure you have interpreted it correctly.

Tip 2. Not all questions are the same

Some questions will stump you; this test is not designed for you to get 100% on. However, the questions are all worth the same number of marks. If you have read through everything and don’t know where to start then move on and come back to it later, you’ll be subconsciously processing it as you continue so you might have better luck second time round.

Tip 3. Brush up on your critical thinking

A big part of section 1 involves critical thinking and identifying the logic or flaws in arguments. If you haven’t done any critical thinking courses in the past then invest some of your initial revision on learning argument structure as well as basic flaws and common fallacies. You can get extra practice at identifying these by reading opinion columns or even social media comment threads (I wouldn’t count this as “official revision” though). U2 also have a number of medicine mentors who support students with BMAT, and can guide you through vital critical thinking strategies. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss.

Tip 4. Utilise additional exam resources

BMAT practice questions are the gold standard as they show you the exact style of questions that come up. However, you can get extra practice from some of the aspects of the UCAT examination. For this reason, try to time your UCAT exam with the start of your BMAT revision. This way the skills you’ve learnt can stay fresh. Additionally, you can always use TSA (thinking skills assessment) practice questions for extra content as well.

Extra BMAT questions:

https://www.medify.co.uk/bmat

Tip 1: Double check the content

The BMAT science questions aim to cover the GCSE syllabus. This means they cover the content from every syllabus, and they aren’t all the same. The knowledge expected is in an assumed knowledge guide. Read it and make sure you have at least covered everything on there; the worst thing that could happen is getting caught out by an obscure module that was not in your GCSE specification.

Tip 2. Know your formulas

Physics seems to be the science that catches people out as a lot of people haven’t looked at it since GCSE. A lot of the physics questions comes down to knowing formulas and, unlike in GCSE (for some anyway), you won’t have an equations page at the front of the exam. Know them inside and out. It’s a step up from GCSE as some questions will require you to use two equations; using the first to get an intermediate answer to put into the second equation.

Tip 3. Understand the material

Another difference from GCSE: past questions don’t come up, but concepts do . It isn’t just about learning random morsels of scientific fact, many of the questions rely on the application of knowledge learned in GCSE. I remember being outraged that one of the chemistry questions in my exam was covering a topic we had learnt in year 13 as opposed to in GCSE. However, applying the basics of science from GCSE will allow you to answer any of the questions regardless of if you continued it at A-level. 

Tip 4. Learn to love estimating

There is no calculator in the BMAT, despite some of the questions seemingly deserving one. Work on your mental maths to whittle down the time spent working through the maths answers but, ultimately, estimating saves the most time . A few of the questions will have stupid calculations involved that will take too long to get an exact answer for, and you will probably make an error anyway. The multiple choices reflect this uncertainty and are different enough that rounding and estimating will still guide you to the right answer.

Tip 1. Read up on medical principles

To gain top marks in the essay you need to add additional facts . The chances are that, unless you have absorbed a medical library, you won’t have a specific stat or fact for the topics that come up. Instead, focus on general reading such as ethical principles in medicine , healthcare structures in the UK and abroad, and current medical news. This broad knowledge is often applicable to many BMAT essay questions in some form or another. Not only will this be helpful in your essay, it will also aid you in upcoming medical interviews.

Medical ethics

https://ollieburton.com/feed-articles/2017/7/19/interview-preparation-four-pillars-of-medical-ethics

https://www.medstoriesblog.com/blog/the-four-pillars-of-medical-ethics

NHS structure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CSp6HsQVtw

Medical news

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health

N.B. Develop a mental library of ‘case study’ examples to work into your writing (rather than merely reading the news and hoping for the best)

Subscribe for free to our co-curricular division, Minds Underground™’s Curious Minds digest to be sent regular STEM resources (including Medicine)

MU Mind-Enhancing Articles Medicine section for blogs on the latest exciting medical developments written by our team of Oxbridge medics

We host a Medical Club every Saturday during term times, where you will discuss & critique the latest medical issues and news, hosted by our Oxbridge medics. The Club is a precursor to our Medicine Summer School , which takes place June-August, see PDF .

Tip 2. Don’t jump into writing

The essay questions are often quite vague or worded in a difficult way to understand. One point to include in your essay is usually to explain the statement/question and so people often let out a sigh of relief if they read a question that they actually understand (make sure not to just reword the statement though). However, there’s more to writing the essay than being able to understand what the question is about. Spend a minute or two sitting and reflecting on each option. It often quickly dawns on you what each question is asking and you may realise you can actually write a much better argument on the more abstract statements. Knowing you can write several solid points is better than being able to explain the question followed by floundering for content.

Tip 3. Plan out properly

Following on from the previous point, take the time to plan . Spend at least 5-10 minutes making a detailed plan. It does not take very long to write down an A4 page of work when you know exactly what you’re writing. The marks are partly awarded on the fluency of your argument and so taking a moment to narrow down your ideas to the best points will stop the examiner getting lost in mediocre waffle. Additionally, you only have one A4 page to write your points on, it’s way less than you think. You don’t want to be getting to your ground breaking conclusion to find you have one line to fit it onto.

Tip 4. Answer the whole question

When you choose your question, there will be guidance on what to include. If you include all of it then you have secured at least a mark of 3. This is nearly always enough to get an interview. Therefore, when you’re drawing up your plan, make sure it answers all aspects of the question. Even if you write university grade material, if you only answer 2 out of the 3 domains you will not satisfy the criteria for a 3 grade. Additionally, this criteria often includes choosing a side in your conclusion. Whilst you don’t have to go 100% in one direction, staying completely neutral does not score well.  

Finally, do not be disheartened, it is only natural that your scores in past papers will fluctuate. Practise, practise, practise and all will be okay! Remember that this is not the only part of the admissions process.

By Thomas (5th year medical student at Imperial College London performing in the top 5% of the year)

How can U2 help prepare you for the BMAT & wider medical application?

U2 offer admissions test preparation either as part of our wider Medical School / Oxbridge Mentoring programmes or as separate ad hoc tuition (book a free consultation to discuss options).

The Process:

1) We suggest a medicine graduate (Predominantly Oxbridge-educated, with experience of other top UK medical schools) as a mentor and send their full CV for review. Our mentors are deeply familiar with the admissions process to study Medicine at top UK Medical Schools and Oxbridge, and we have tutors who specifically specialise in BMAT admissions test preparation.

2) We typically suggest beginning with a 1.5 hour informal assessment/ taster session , where the mentor will informally assess the student’s current performance level for test (and interview if desired). Following this, we issue a report with feedback, and structure a plan to best prepare.

3) BMAT Session Components:

Our customisable BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test) course is five sessions of two hours each. N.B. This can be customised to the student depending on the level of support required, but gives an indication of what preparation with a BMAT tutor can involve/ how it would be structured.

Frequency of sessions can be decided between student and tutor. Honing the skills necessary to succeed in the BMAT test can begin early in Year 12. When the student and mentor run out of past papers, they will work through similar questions curated by the tutor. We offer BMAT practice online or in-person in London.

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• BMAT Preparation Tips: The Complete Guide

Last Updated: 3rd April 2015

Author: Rohan Agarwal

Table of Contents

As of 2024, the BMAT will no longer operate for Medicine applicants. Applicants for all UK medical schools will be required to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) for 2025 Entry. Find out more in our BMAT/UCAT 2025 Guide .

The BMAT is a tricky exam that requires excellent academic knowledge and problem-solving skills. The test may also determine whether you get onto the university course of your choice.

With that in mind, it’s not difficult to understand why BMAT preparation is essential. Thankfully, we have a wealth of top tips on the different sections of the test to help you achieve the highest score possible, so let’s get started:

Where to start with your BMAT preparation

It’s much easier to prepare for the BMAT if you practice little and often. We recommend starting your preparation well in advance, ideally by July with the test due to be sat on the 18th of October. This will give you plenty of time to complete as many past papers as you wish to make you feel comfortable and confident about succeeding.

Here are a few steps you can take when beginning your BMAT preparation: 

Start off by creating a preparation plan that includes a timetable of what you hope to achieve each week. Monitoring your progress is important for both the effectiveness of your preparation and your own morale throughout the process. 

Gather your preparation resources ahead of time to ensure you have plenty of past/mock papers and practice questions. 

Sections 1 and 3 are difficult to revise in a traditional sense, but Section 2 contains a lot of subject knowledge so you will need to make sure you brush up on it before taking on practice questions.

Be ready for the UCAT now that the BMAT has been removed. 

With the BMAT being removed, it is more important than ever to be prepared for the UCAT. At UniAdmissions, we are experts at boosting your UCAT score and maximising your chances of gaining a place to study Medicine.

Discover our  UCAT Tuition Programme  by clicking the button below to  enrol and triple your chances of success.

Preparing for each BMAT section

The BMAT has three sections, each focusing on a different subject/skillset:

Keep in mind that if you’re aiming to attend Oxbridge, admissions tutors look for above 6 and a 5A in your scoring. An example overall BMAT score could look like this — 6.6, 6.3, 5A. Other universities may accept slightly lower scores, but these scores are still the ones to aim for. 

• BMAT Scoring and Results Explained

Each of these three sections tests vastly different skills, so it’s important to prepare for each in a different way.

Section 1 – Thinking Skills

Section 1 tests your ability to solve problems and think critically with 32 multiple-choice questions that don’t require any subject knowledge. You have 60 minutes to complete them.

Section 1 has two different question types – Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. However, there are various sub-categories within these questions, so you need to be prepared to understand a variety of disciplines and skill sets within this section. Find out more about the question types in our BMAT Section 1 Guide . 

As there is no subject-specific knowledge required here, you won’t be able to spend time revising in textbooks (although learning about question techniques will certainly help). Therefore, your primary method of preparation will be through practice papers and mock exams with past papers. 

If you have given yourself enough preparation time, you should start off slow and get to grips with the styles of questions in the test. Remember to monitor your progress and gradually increase your preparation time as you become more confident. After a while, you shouldn’t have any issues with all but the hardest of questions in the test. Here are some other small tips to remember: 

Calculators aren’t allowed in the BMAT, but all of the Problem-Solving questions can be easily answered with basic arithmetic, so be sure to sharpen your skills.

When a question includes longer passages or data sets (which is fairly common in the BMAT), read the question before investigating the additional information as it will help you determine what your are looking for. 

Try to look at real-world scenarios or texts that you have read (such as in a newspaper) with the same though-process you would use in a BMAT question. Making this style of thinking seem natural will help ease the pressure in the actual exam.

Section 2 – Scientific questions

This section focuses on what you’ve learned in non-specialist science and mathematics by the age of 16 (GCSE level or equivalent). As you would expect, the four subjects covered at Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. There are 27 multiple-choice questions and you have 30 minutes to finish them.

You need to demonstrate your understanding by applying your knowledge to scientific problems. To prepare for section 2, head back to school and revise your science and mathematics. The BMAT specification lists all the potential topics you may be tested on, so be sure to check for any topics you may not be familiar with or are less confident in . These should be your primary focus when preparing. 

Although you need to revise these topics through reading and remembering, it is equally important to work through actual questions as well. This will cement both your subject knowledge and exam technique, ensuring you will be able to perform well in the BMAT. 

Most of the tips and techniques you’ve learnt for Section 1 can be applied here, although the mathematics involved will be far more complicated and require in-depth working out. Our BMAT Section 2 Guide provides more details on what to expect from the questions in the paper.

Some people question whether you need to take certain A-Levels (or equivalent) to increase your chances of doing well in the BMAT. Specifically, some think that A-Level Physics should be taken if you are due to sit the test, as most applicants will already be required to sit Biology, Chemistry or both. 

Although there may be some very minor benefits to doing this, you should generally not choose A-Levels based on any future admissions test. These tests are one-off events whereas these qualifications are with you for life. 

If you choose something you have no interest in pursuing, it will not only take up a subject that could have been better for you but can also affect your performance as a whole as you may begin to burn out from the stress or lack of engagement felt in that subject. 

Section 3 – Essay based paper

This section is fairly different in structure and skill requirements. It tests your ability to communicate effectively in an essay format, organise ideas coherently, and present them clearly and concisely while supporting your argument with evidence. There are three questions to choose from and you have 30 minutes to write your answer on one A4 page.

Preparing for the BMAT essay question is more challenging as answers are much more subjective and open-ended. The best approach is to consider both sides of the argument and analyse various opinions for and against different viewpoints. Some of the skills developed in Section 1, such as strengthening an argument, coming to conclusions, and finding flaws in opposing opinions will be useful.

You should practice to find out how long it takes you to write your answer to ensure you don’t run out of time in the real exam. 30 minutes is a very short amount of time to both plan and write a quality essay, so you should aim to build the quality of your work first and then start to reduce your time limit until you can answer the question within exam conditions. 

By the later stages of your preparation, you should try to write an essay every day or 5-6 per week until the actual testing date to ensure your skills are sharp. If you need help with how to effectively use your 30 minutes, our Section 3 Guide provides an in-depth analysis of how you should tackle the time limit.  

For this section, you’ll receive a number between 1.0 and 5.0, with 5 being the highest and a letter grade. The number is related to the quality of the argument written in your essay answer, and the letter refers to the quality of your language. This is marked by two examiners so you’ll receive two scores which are averaged into your final score.

Extra Tips for BMAT preparation

Bmat resources.

As we mentioned before, you’re going to need to round up a collection of resources to aid you in your preparation. But what should you be using and where can you find the best options? 

Firstly, for Section 2 you’re going to need some revision materials for GCSE Level Science and Maths. Your textbooks should serve you well here, although you may also find it useful to seek out some more BMAT-specific guides, as these will have the most relevant information to the BMAT specification and will present things in the same context to the actual exam.

Study guides for Sections 1 and 3 are also helpful, but these will mainly focus on exam techniques and tips. You will find guides covering each section free online, but these will typically only cover surface-level knowledge. More in-depth materials can be found in the form of workbooks, online courses and even live intensive courses , which include guidance from expert BMAT tutors that will provide tested advice. 

Beyond learning, you’re also going to need to gather plenty of practice materials. First of all, are the official BMAT Past Papers. These are the papers that were sat in previous years and contain hundreds of questions for your to try out. These papers are most effective when you sit them in exam conditions, as they let you truly get into the headspace you will be in when sitting the exam. 

Before trying serious mock exams, you will to build up your skills with practice BMAT questions which are very easily found. There are a number of question banks available featuring thousands of questions. Some of these banks are free to start, although most will require payment for access to all features. When looking for a question bank, ensure that worked solutions are available, as seeing a break down of the solution is the most effective way to learn from practice questions.

Lastly, if you are looking for comprehensive support for whatever reason, you will be able to find a variety of courses and bundles of support. These can include everything mentioned above as well as other features like one-to-one tuition and Section 3 essay marking. UniAdmisssions’ BMAT Tuition Programme is one example of all-inclusive BMAT support available, but be sure t consider what you believe you need in terms of your resources and support.

We’ve mentioned before that mock exams are important for your revision, but the build-up to sitting them regularly can’t be immediate. 

This mainly relates to the time limits imposed on applicants, as this is the most difficult aspect of the test for many. When you first start your revision, taking mock exams under exam conditions is still very beneficial as it helps you adapt to the exam format and restrictions. However, we would recommend ignoring the time limit for the first few weeks and focussing on finishing the paper. 

As you progress, your completion time for a past paper will continue to decrease to the point that you can start taking timed mock exams. As you become more confident with the questions you will naturally become faster at answering them, making mock exams a little bit easier. 

The important thing to remember about BMAT preparation is that learning to answer the questions comes before answering them within the time limit. Both elements are essential, but the learning process is much easier when taken one step at a time.   

How to prepare in the lead up to your BMAT exam date

You’ve likely been preparing for your BMAT for a few months by this point, and the day of your exam has come around quickly. Now, it’s very easy to become overwhelmed about completing it or feel worried about the results, however, if you’ve done the prep, there’s no reason for you to be concerned.

To ensure you perform to your fullest potential:

• Get a good night’s sleep before the exam.
• Have a nutritious and filling breakfast so you’ll have the energy to tackle the test.
• Avoid cramming any last bits of information in. You’ve already worked hard to prepare, and you most likely won’t retain any new information now.
• Write down key information prior to the test so you can have a quick glance and remind yourself before heading into the exam hall.

Remember that you will need to bring your own black pen, a pencil and an eraser. You are not allowed to use a calculator, dictionary or correction fluid in the exam. Rough paper is also not allowed, but you can write on the question papers to mark key information, write notes, and draw diagrams if necessary.

If you want to carry on your research in BMAT preparation, check out our other free BMAT resources now, or discover how you can triple your chances of success with our BMAT Tuition Programme. 

Our BMAT Tuition Programme provides all the support you’ll need to pass the test, including guidance from our expert tutors who are high achievers and know what is required for success in the BMAT. If you’re hoping to study Medicine at Oxbridge, our Oxbridge Medicine Programme includes one-to-one tuition for the test as well as interview prep, the BMAT intensive course, the BMAT online course, and past papers and fully-worked solutions.

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Send us your BMAT essay with the accompanying title. You can specify whether it is an actual past BMAT title or a custom title, and also add in some notes for the marker.

Our BMAT experts will check your BMAT essay, section by section, and provide line-by-line comments. The feedback will focus on constructive tips and suggestions for improvement.

Your examiner will provide two scores - one for quality of content (on a scale of 0–5), and one for quality of written English (on the scale A-E).

Use the feedback in your future essays, and take on board the tips and suggestions from the markers- they know what they are talking about! Really want to succeed? Submit future essays to see how you are doing and watch that BMAT score improve!

Line-by-line feedback

Here at Medic Mind, we're extremely meticulous and our team of markers will review every line of your BMAT Essay and ensure it meets our high standards.

Complete with an analysis summary

As well as line-by-line feedback for your BMAT Essay, we'll give you overall feedback on your essay structure, word count, essay content and language. This is in addition to your BMAT Score (1-5 and A-E).

Write, revise and repeat

After reading our feedback, keep up with the practice and use the suggestions and tips to improve your BMAT Essays. You can submit future essays to see how you are improving, or contact one of our experts for more detailed feedback through a live tuition session.

1-1 sessions with BMAT Tutoring

You can book 1-1 tutoring sessions to further improve your technique for BMAT Section 1, 2 or 3. You can request to have the same essay marker if you wish to discuss your essay in more detail.

Let’s work through an example together...

Defining the statement.

Good start by defining the statement, but be careful not to presume that knowing nothing is “better”!

Good Analysis

Good consideration of other factors - e.g. how someone uses knowledge at an individual level determines whether little knowledge is useful.

Broaden Examples

You could link in a more diverse set of case studies.

Paragraph Structure

As you start the 'for' arguments, you should begin a new paragraph.

Good Use of an Example

Good practical example used here. You could also counter it - e.g. poor quality compressions could do more harm than good.

Narrow Interpretation

Be careful not to be too narrow in your interpretation – that a little learning is problematic when it makes one overconfident.

How can we improve your BMAT Essay?

Personal analysis.

Rather than giving you some generic advice, we'll work through what you've written and give bespoke feedback.

Use of Case Studies

We will provide feedback to optimise your use of case studies and examples to support points.

Improving Language

All our tutors are experienced teachers who have excelled in the exam and implement our proven strategies.

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We will provide feedback on any patterns of grammatical errors or spelling mistakes.

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You have the option to book a 1-1 tutoring session with your marker via Zoom.

Why our students love us (and you will too!)...

The BMAT marking was detailed and to the point. The marker noticed trends in my writing which I hadn't myself, and this feedback was beyond the obvious generic tips you may find online.

I used 4 essay checks, and each one helped me improve in a different way. I am much more confident now in approaching Section 3, which was always my weak section.

I was really happy with my essay check, and ended up booking 7 in total. I also had a 1-1 lesson with my marker which was really useful as she knew my weaknesses from my past essays

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Your examiner will provide two scores – one for quality of content (on a scale of 0–5), and one for quality of written English (on the scale A-E).

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Improve and Progress

Take on board the feedback for future essays, and you should improve your technique and quality of essays. You can submit further essays in future to see how you improve over time.

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→what is the bmat.

The BioMedical Admissions Test is an aptitude test which is used in the selection for universities for Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Dentistry in different countries.

→How is BMAT Section 3 marked in the actual exam?

Your real BMAT essay will be marked by 2 different examiners. Each examiner gives you two scores each - one for quality of content (on a scale of 0–5), and one for quality of written English (on the scale A, C, E).

→What are the criteria used to mark BMAT essays?

The criteria used to mark BMAT essays include content and relevance, quality of argument, organization and structure, use of language, and critical thinking skills. Each of these criteria is assigned a specific score, and the total score is used to determine a candidate's essay mark.

→How many BMAT Section 3 essays should I write during the exam?

In the actual BMAT exam, you need to pick one BMAT essay from the question options. It can be tricky to choose, especially when you are under time pressure and exam stress, but it is important to be efficient and selective when deciding which BMAT essay to write. Our BMAT essay marking service will allow you to understand which essay suits you best.

→How many BMAT Section 3 essays should I write during revision?

We recommend planning and writing lots of essays. Many students prefer to mainly plan BMAT essays, as it gives you the opportunity to tackle more essay titles. Then for a few of these plans, you may wish to write them out in full. Practice writing the BMAT essay in the official BMAT writing sheet, so you get used to working to the limited space you have.

→Who are Medic Mind's BMAT Tutors?

Across our BMAT team, we have over 10,000 hours of BMAT teaching experience. Our BMAT tutors have scored in the top 10% and have a wealth of BMAT experience and will provide the best BMAT essay marking possible

→Can I submit multiple BMAT essays?

Definitely! You may find it useful to book further BMAT essay marking in future.

→Can I use a computer to write my BMAT essay?

No, BMAT essays must be written by hand in black ink. However, you are allowed to use a pencil to draft your essay before writing it in ink. It is important to write legibly and clearly to ensure that your essay can be read and marked accurately.

→How important is the BMAT essay in the overall BMAT score?

The BMAT essay is one of three components that make up the BMAT score, along with the multiple-choice sections. While the essay is only worth one-third of the overall score, it is an important component and can have a significant impact on a candidate's final BMAT score.

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MCAT vs BMAT: What’s the Difference?

June 25, 2024

minute read

Medical schools often require applicants and pre-med students to take a standardized admission exam as one of their registration processes. 

However, not all medical schools or universities use the same standardized exams. It can often confuse students when they notice or hear about various exams, such as the MCAT, BMAT, GAMSAT, etc., among the choices of exams to take. 

In this article, we will focus on the MCAT and BMAT and how these two admission exams, widely used by med schools, differ. 

What is the MCAT?

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is an exam generally taken by those students who want to enter medical school and those universities that offer medical degree courses. 

The test’s primary purpose is to assess the knowledge of pre-medical students in  Chemistry ,  Physics ,  Biology ,  Psychology ,  and  Sociology . These basic sciences are usually encountered when taking any medical course. 

The MCAT is specially designed for these educational institutions as an admission exam to help them assess their applicant's knowledge and skills. It also allows them to know whether or not students have the required knowledge they have set to pursue such higher medical courses. 

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is the organization that manages and  administers the MCAT. It is a non-profit organization invested in developing medical education, medical research, health care, and more. 

The MCAT is 7 hours and 30 minutes long, with four test sections that emphasize the applicant's various skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and knowledge of various sciences and principles that are significant to the medical profession. 

It contains 230 multiple-test questions and is offered 35 times annually ;  it is usually scheduled between January and September.

The MCAT is a computerized exam that gives convenience to its test-takers. It is also recognized widely by distinguished medical schools and universities across the globe. Such as those institutions located in the United States, Canada, Australia, etc.

The four MCAT test sections are:

• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (BIO/BIOCHEM)
• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (CHEM/PHYS)
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (PSYCH/SOC)
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)

What is the BMAT?

The BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) is a 2-hour standardized examination that is fully recognized and used by universities and medical schools. 

This exam aims to help these educational institutions pick the best candidate for medical, biomedical, veterinary, and other health-related degree courses. 

The test was offered online during the pandemic to cater to students despite the current situation. The test will be given in a paper-based format and must be taken at their official testing centers. 

The Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing (CAAT) administers this exam and is also offered internationally with accessible testing centers. This exam is accepted in the following countries: Canada, Australia, China, the UK, UAE, the United States, Singapore, and more. 

You can take the exam once per year . However , they have two pre-scheduled test dates during the months of September or November.

The BMAT contains three test sections with 35 multiple-choice test questions with an essay writing task.

These test sections solely focus more on the skills and abilities of the applicant rather than content knowledge. 

The objective of the exam is to evaluate the test taker's thinking skills, including problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, data analysis, and mental math skills. 

The three BMAT test sections are:

• Thinking Skills  
• Scientific Knowledge and Applications
• Writing Task

MCAT vs. BMAT: What are the Similarities?

In general, the MCAT and BMAT share a few similarities. 

For instance, these two admission exams are generally part of the registration process for every medical schools and universities. 

These admission exams assess the knowledge, skills, and abilities that are relevant to taking up a medical degree.

Moreover, they both significantly help med schools select the best and most qualified applicants for them. 

Exam Format and Structure: MCAT vs. BMAT

The MCAT and BMAT differ entirely from each other; these exams have their distinct exam format, structure, length, frequency, and other exam features. 

For example, MCAT has 230 test questions with four test sections , while the BMAT only has 35 test questions with three test sections . 

The MCAT and BMAT both utilize multiple-choice type of questions in their respective test sections. However, the BMAT has an essay writing test which the MCAT does not have. 

In terms of exam duration, the MCAT is known to be a lengthy test that usually takes about 7 hours and more compared to the BMAT , which only takes about 2 hours.

Furthermore, these two exams are taken on computers. 

In the case of the BMAT, it was offered online and can be taken at home with an online proctor. The setup was like this during the pandemic and followed specific health protocols. 

For the BMAT 2022 , the exam will be offered in a paper-based test format , and test-takers need to take the exam in their official testing centers. 

For MCAT, it is still required and needed to be taken at their official testing centers, and taking the exam at home is not allowed. 

The table below compares  the MCAT and BMAT exam structure and format, including their test frequency.  

Scoring: MCAT vs. BMAT

The MCAT and BMAT uses different scoring systems. 

The MCAT has a score range assigned to its four test sections, which ranges from 118 to 132 points . 

Furthermore, the four test section scores will be summed up to get the MCAT overall score . It will be considered the final score for the MCAT, it usually ranges from 472 to 528 points.  

Using the MCAT percentile rank with your overall MCAT score, you will know the percentile ranking of your score compared to the overall scores of its previous test-takers. 

As for the BMAT –  the exam uses a score scale between 9.0 to 1.0 for the two test sections, while the essay test section is scored differently. 

Below is the BMAT Essay scoring scale , showing the different bands that describe its marking criteria for this test section. 

We have provided below the MCAT Percentile Rank from May 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022 . This table shows the overall scores with the respective percentile ranking of its test-takers in this given period. 

Test Requirements: MCAT vs. BMAT

The registration process for the BMAT is not similar with MCAT, where you only need to process everything online. 

The registration for the MCAT is accomplished online through their official website . 

In the case of the BMAT, you need to check first with the medical school or university you want to get into if they are eligible to administer the exam. 

If they are not qualified to administer the BMAT, you have another option which is to find their official testing centers around your area. 

However, if the university or medical school is qualified to administer the BMAT, you need to go to their exam officer and process your BMAT registration. 

In addition, for those registering from the UK, you are required to present your UCAS number , a 9 to 10-digit number given during the application for the BMAT. 

The comprehensive table below shows the differences between the MCAT and BMAT with their respective test requirements.  

Test Costs: MCAT vs. BMAT

These admission exams for medical schools vary in their exam fees and also with their other additional charges like fees for late registration and others. 

If you intend to take the MCAT, you need to pay around USD 325 for the exam fee. The MCAT has a late registration fee of USD 55. 

The BMAT costs around £75 for those registrations made from the UK and those in Europe, the exam costs €88. On the contrary, the exam fee for those outside Europe and the UK is around £100 or USD 137. 

The BMAT does not accept late registrations for the test after the given registration schedule, thus you do not have to pay any extra charges. 

The BMAT exam fees vary per exam schedule or sitting depending on Cambridge Assessment , which administers the exam. They have the exclusive right to make some changes when it comes to the BMAT cost. 

Below is a comprehensive table showing the cost differences and payment options of the MCAT and the BMAT.

Test Recognition: MCAT vs. BMAT

There are many testing centers available worldwide for the MCAT and the BMAT. Also, these two admission exams are recognized and highly trusted by various institutions, universities, and medical schools worldwide. 

The MCAT is highly in-demand by institutions in the following countries : the United States, Canada, Europe, Singapore, Australia, and the Caribbean Islands. 

The BMAT is also recognized and required in some countries, including Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Poland, Singapore, Thailand, UAE, USA, and the United Kingdom. 

These two exams are mandatory for those international students who intend to enter medical school in these countries. 

• Brighton and Sussex Medical School
• Imperial College London
• Lancaster University
• University College London
• University of Cambridge
• University of Manchester Medical School
• University of Leeds
• University of Oxford
• Keele University

Below are some universities and medical schools in Europe that accept the BMAT:

• Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Netherlands
• the University of Twente, Netherlands
• Universidad de Navarra, Spain
• University of Pecs, Hungary
• the University of Rijeka, Croatia
• University of Zagreb, Croatia
• Medical University of Gdansk, Poland
• Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
• Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Poland
• the Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Poland
• Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, Romania
• Universita Campus Bio-Medico di Roma (UCBM), Italy
• Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania
• Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Medicine
• the University of Tartu, Estonia
• Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia

Below are some universities and medical schools in Asia that accept the BMAT:

• Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore
• Chiang Mai University, Thailand
• Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Thailand
• Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
• Khon Kaen University (Institute of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences), Thailand
• King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Thailand
• Mahidol University, Thailand
• Nazarbayev University School of Medicine
• Rangsit University
• Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand
• Suranaree University of Technology (Dentistry, Institute of Medicine), Thailand
• Thammasat University: CICM and Dentistry, Thailand
• University of Malaya, Malaysia

Below are some medical schools in Australia that require the MCAT:

• Griffith Medical School
• Melbourne Medical School
• UQ Medical School
• Sydney Medical School

Below are some medical schools in Canada that require the MCAT :

• McMaster University Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine
• Queen’s University School of Medicine
• University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
• University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine
• University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine
• University of Manitoba Max Rady College of Medicine
• University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine

Below are some medical schools in the USA that require the MCAT :

• Harvard Medical School
• Yale School of Medicine
• Boston University School of Medicine
• Stanford University School of Medicine
• Georgetown University School of Medicine
• Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Howard University College of Medicine
• University of South Alabama College of Medicine
• New York Medical College
• Duke University School of Medicine
• Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
• Saint Louis University School of Medicine
• Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
• California Northstate University College of Medicine
• George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Average MCAT Score & GPA for Top 100 Medical Schools

MCAT Scores for Top Medical Schools & Universities in Canada

Which is Easier: MCAT vs. BMAT

Both of these exams are difficult bearing in mind that they are used as admission exams for prominent universities and medical schools. They significantly differ with regard to their respective difficulty level.

The MCAT is popularly known to be a very tough test for any medical school . The test questions are based on the different sciences , and it also requires technical knowledge and certain skills, making it extra difficult. 

While the BMAT is also recognized as a difficult exam by its test-takers. It focuses primarily on the application of scientific-based knowledge and skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and more. 

These two admission exams focus on and assess different knowledge and skills of their test-takers. However, the MCAT’s duration added more challenge to the test, making it more complex than the BMAT.

Should You Take the MCAT vs. the BMAT?

Getting into medical school is not as easy as it seems to be. There will be a lot of standardized exams that you need to take, and it depends on where you are going to enroll. 

Some universities and medical schools require specific admission exams for their applicants, among them are the MCAT and the BMAT. 

If you are planning to take up a medical degree , it is best to consider first the university or medical school you plan to get into and check in with them about what admission exam they require. 

For example, universities and medical schools in the UK, including prominent institutions such as Cambridge, Oxford, University College of London, and others, highly prefer the BMAT. 

While the MCAT is commonly accepted and used by medical schools and universities in the USA, Canada, Australia, and other parts of the world. 

That is why it is important to know first what specific exam or admission test you need to take for you to avoid inconvenience. Also, you can prepare adequately for the test, either, the MCAT or BMAT.

Summary Table of Differences: MCAT vs. BMAT

Below is the table of differences between the MCAT and BMAT.

Additional FAQs – MCAT vs. BMAT

Are the bmat and the mcat the same, which is harder: the bmat or the mcat, additional reading:.

• GRE vs MCAT
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BMAT Essay Titles

To help you with your bmat preparation we have prepared a free list of every bmat essay title since 2010., from 2017 there have been 3 essays to choose from on section 3 of the bmat. prior to this there were 4 essays to choose from. remember you only need to do one in the exam, but it shouldn’t be longer than one side of a4.

1. ‘He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander’. (Aristotle)

Explain what you understand by this statement. Argue to the contrary. To what extent do you agree that someone cannot be a good leader without learning how to follow?

2.  The only moral obligation a scientist has is to reveal the truth.

What is the reasoning behind this statement? Present an argument to the contrary. To what extent do you agree that the only moral duty a scientist has is to reveal the truth?

3. The health care profession is wrong to treat ageing as if it were a disease.

What do you understand by this statement? Argue that it is not wrong to treat the effects of ageing as if they were a disease. To what extent do you agree with the statement?

1.  ‘You can resist an invading army; you cannot resist an idea whose time has come.’ (Victor Hugo)

Explain the reasoning behind this statement. Argue that, on the contrary, any idea can be suppressed with sufficient force. What do you think gives power to an idea?

2. Science is not a follower of fashion nor of other social or cultural trends.

Explain what you think the statement means. Argue to the contrary. To what extent do you agree with the statement?

3. The option of taking strike action should not be available to doctors as they have a special duty of care to their patients.

Explain what is meant by this statement. Argue that it should be possible for doctors to go on strike as other workers do. To what extent should doctors’ duty of care to patients affect the conditions of their employment?

4. If we truly care about the welfare of animals, we must recognise them as fellow members of our communities with their own political rights and status.

Explain the thinking behind this statement. Argue that it is not necessary to confer political rights or status upon animals in order to ensure their welfare. To what extent is it possible to incorporate the interests of animals into political institutions?

1.  “Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.” (Pablo Picasso)

Explain what is meant by this statement. Argue to the contrary. What are the real limits of technology?

2.  “That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.” (Christopher Hitchens)

Explain what you think Christopher Hitchens means. Argue to the contrary that some assertions do not require evidence. To what extent do you agree with the statement?

3.  When treating an individual patient, a physician must also think of the wider society.

Explain the reasoning behind this statement. Argue that a doctor should only consider the individual that he or she is treating at the time. With respect to medical treatment, to what extent can a patient’s interests differ from those of the wider population?

4.  Just because a behaviour occurs amongst animals in the wild does not mean it should be allowed within domesticated populations of the same species.

Explain what you think is meant by this statement. Argue to the contrary. To what extent should humans interfere with the natural behaviours of animals

1. There is no such thing as dangerous speech; it is up to people to choose how they react.

Explain the reasoning behind this statement. Argue to the contrary that there can be instances of dangerous speech. To what extent should a society put limitations on speech or text that it considers threatening?

2. Science has been a process of continuous advancement towards objective truth.

Explain what is meant by this statement. Argue to the contrary. To what extent do you agree that science is a continuous process of advancement towards objective truth?

3. There is money to be made from not curing disease.

What do you think is meant by this statement? Argue to the contrary. To what extent do you agree that there is money to be made from disease?

4. Modern veterinary medicine is more for the benefit of humans than the animals under its care.

Explain what you understand by this statement. Argue to the contrary that veterinary medicine is concerned more with the benefit of non-human animals. How might human and non-human interests diverge within the practice of veterinary medicine?

1. “When you want to know how things really work, study them when they are coming apart.” (William Gibson)

Explain what this statement means. Argue to the contrary. To what extent do you agree with the assertion?

2. Good surgeons should be encouraged to take on tough cases, not just safe, routine ones. Publishing an individual surgeon’s mortality rates may have the opposite effect.

Explain what this statement means. Argue to the contrary. To what extent do you think league tables should change a surgeon’s behaviour?

3. “Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science.” (Charles Darwin)

Explain what you think is meant by this statement. Argue to the contrary. To what extent do you think it is true?

4. In a world where we struggle to feed an ever-expanding human population, owning pets cannot be justified.

Explain what is meant by this statement. Argue that pet ownership is indefensible. How should moral or ethical concerns influence a decision to own a pet?

1.  “Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.” (Voltaire)

Explain what this statement means. Argue to the contrary that to be certain about something is not necessarily absurd. To what extent do you agree with Voltaire?

2.  “There is something attractive about people who don’t regard their own health and longevity as the most important things in the world.” (Alexander Chancellor)

Explain what this statement means. Argue that nothing is more important than one’s own health and longevity. To what extent do you agree with Alexander Chancellor?

3.   The scientist is not someone who gives the right answers but one who asks the right questions.

Explain what this statement means. Argue to the contrary that the right answers are more important than the right questions. To what extent do you agree that the right questions must be asked before science can progress?

4.  “… Dolphins are very intelligent and so similar to humans that they are worthy of a special ethical status: that of ‘non-human persons’.”

Explain what this statement means. Argue to the contrary that dolphins should not be given special ethical status. To what extent do you agree that intelligence and similarity to humans bestows special ethical status?

1.  Democratic freedom means there should be no restriction on what may be said in public.

Explain what you think democratic freedom means. Argue that there should be restrictions on what is said in public. To what extent do you agree that there should be limitations on what can be said in public?

2.  The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease. ( Voltaire)

Explain what this statement means. Argue to the contrary that medicine does in fact do more than amuse the patient. To what extent do you think Voltaire is correct?

3.  A scientific man ought to have no wishes, no affections – a mere heart of stone. ( Charles Darwin)

Explain what this statement means. Argue that scientific enquiry benefits from personal wishes and affections. To what extent do you think a scientist should have ‘a mere heart of stone’?

4.  Veterinary pet care in the UK should be free at the point of delivery, as human care is.

Explain the argument behind this statement. Argue to the contrary, that if people choose to keep pets they should pay for all aspects of their care. To what extent do you agree that there should be free pet care?

1.  Anyone who has a serious ambition to be a president or prime minister is the wrong kind of person for the job.

What is the reasoning behind this statement? Argue to the contrary that without serious ambition to be a leader a person would not be suited to the job. To what extent is ambition required to succeed as a political leader?

2.  People injured whilst participating in extreme sports should not be treated by a publicly funded health service.

Explain the reasoning behind this statement. Suggest an argument against this statement. To what extent, if any, does the statement justify a change in public attitudes to personal risk taking?

3.  A pet belongs to its owner – it is their property. Thus, if a client asks for their healthy cat to be painlessly euthanased, a veterinary clinician should always agree to this request.

Explain the reasoning behind the statement. Argue to the contrary that a veterinary clinician should never agree to such a request. To what extent should pet owners influence clinicians’ decisions?

4.  Science only tells us what is possible, not what is right.

Explain what this statement means. Argue to the contrary that science helps us to judge what is right. To what extent can decisions about what is right and wrong be informed by science?

Personal Statements

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BMAT Study Tips

There’s only a small number of universities that require the BMAT, but those that do are often very high-achieving competitive medical schools.

What is the BMAT?

Like the UKCAT the British Medical Aptitude Test (BMAT) is another admissions test that some medical and veterinary schools use to assess the applicants’ abilities and approaches.

UCAT Study Tips

We know it can all sound a bit confusing. Another exam to revise for? And it’s not based on your school curriculum either? We’ve put together some useful tips to help you prepare for your UCAT!

What is the UCAT?

Many medical schools use the UCAT to select medical students. So what is the UCAT and how can I prepare for it?

To help you with your BMAT Preparation we have prepared a list of every Section 3 BMAT essay title since 2010.

Applying to Medical School – Timeline

For a truly successful medical school application you must prepare in advance. Our team of medical students have put together a timeline on what the process was like for them.

Applying to Medical School in the UK

The process of applying to medical school can be confusing. So to help you kick-start the journey we have put together a short intro guide on the application process.

What were the BMAT essay questions for 2023 again?

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Opinion Columnist, reporting from Lisbon

I watched the Biden-Trump debate alone in a Lisbon hotel room, and it made me weep. I cannot remember a more heartbreaking moment in American presidential campaign politics in my lifetime, precisely because of what it revealed: Joe Biden, a good man and a good president, has no business running for re-election. And Donald Trump, a malicious man and a petty president, has learned nothing and forgotten nothing. He is the same fire hose of lies he always was, obsessed with his grievances — nowhere close to what it will take for America to lead in the 21st century.

The Biden family and political team must gather quickly and have the hardest of conversations with the president, a conversation of love and clarity and resolve. To give America the greatest shot possible of deterring the Trump threat in November, the president has to come forward and declare that he will not be running for re-election and is releasing all of his delegates for the Democratic National Convention.

The Republican Party, if its leaders had an ounce of integrity, would demand the same, but it won’t, because they don’t. That makes it all the more important that Democrats put the country’s interests first and announce that a public process will begin for different Democratic candidates to compete for the nomination — town halls, debates, meetings with donors, you name it. Yes, it could be chaotic and messy when the Democratic convention starts on Aug. 19 in Chicago, but I think the Trump threat is sufficiently grave that delegates could quickly rally around a consensus nominee.

If Vice President Kamala Harris wants to compete, she should. But voters deserve an open process in search of a Democratic presidential nominee who can unite not only the party but also the country, by offering something neither man on that Atlanta stage did on Thursday night: a compelling description of where the world is right now and a compelling vision for what America can and must do to keep leading it — morally, economically and diplomatically.

Because this is no ordinary hinge of history we are at. We are at the start of the biggest technological disruptions and the biggest climate disruption in human history. We are at the dawn of an artificial intelligence revolution that is going to change EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE — how we work, how we learn, how we teach, how we trade, how we invent, how we collaborate, how we fight wars, how we commit crimes and how we fight crimes. Maybe I missed it, but I did not hear the phrase “artificial intelligence” mentioned by either man at the debate.

If there was ever a time that the world needed an America at its best, led by its best, it is now — for great dangers and opportunities are now upon us. A younger Biden could have been that leader, but time has finally caught up with him. And that was painfully and inescapably obvious on Thursday.

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