New Admission Test for future Doctors and Dentists

From summer 2006, candidates applying to the Dental and Medical Schools of 24 UK universities, for entry in 2007, will be required to take the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT).

 

The test will help universities widen access and make more informed choices from amongst the many highly qualified applicants who apply for medical and dental degree programmes. It will help ensure that the candidates selected have the best combination of mental abilities, attitudes and professional behaviours required for Doctors and Dentists to be successful in their clinical careers. The 90 minute test will require no specific preparation as it aims to probe innate skills and competencies and seeks to assist rather than place an additional hurdle in front of potential candidates.

 

The UKCAT is being developed by the UKCAT Consortium of Universities with Pearson VUE, a global leader in computer-based testing and part of Pearson plc. It will be delivered on computer through Pearson VUE test centres worldwide. No UK applicant should be more than 40 miles from a test centre and 80% will be within 20 miles.

Professor Ian Johnson, Chair of the UKCAT Consortium, said: “We are delighted that so many universities have acted together and agreed to use the same test to provide additional information for selectors and to improve transparency when feeding back to candidates. The UKCAT will assess a wide range of general skills and attributes rather than strictly academic achievement and will assist universities in creating a level playing field for applicants from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds.”

Peter Miller, Commercial Director, Pearson VUE, commented: “We are excited to be working together with the UKCAT Consortium to deliver this important test.  Pearson VUE has ten years of experience in developing computer based assessments. As those who have taken the LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law) have discovered, our network enables candidates to choose from over 150 UK test centres, so that they can sit a test near their home, school or college.”

Further information about the UKCAT will be available on the UKCAT website www.ukcat.ac.uk when the site is launched in April 2006.

  

 

Notes

 

UKCAT  Consortium
The UKCAT Consortium includes the following 24 university Medical and Dental Schools:

 

University  of Aberdeen

University of Birmingham

Brighton and Sussex Medical School

Cardiff University

University  of Dundee

University  of Durham

University  of East Anglia

University  of Edinburgh

University  of Glasgow

Hull York Medical School

Keele University

King’s College London

University  of Leeds

University  of Leicester

University  of Manchester

University  of Newcastle

University  of Nottingham

University  of Oxford Graduate Entry Medical Degree

Peninsula Medical School

Queen Mary, University of London

University  of Sheffield

University  of Southampton

University  of St Andrews

St George’s, University of London

Candidates will need to refer to university Medical and Dental School websites for the specific entry requirements.

Pearson VUE (ww.pearsonvue.com) is the global leader in electronic testing services for academic admissions, certification and licensingprogrammes. Pearson VUE offers exams through the world’s largest network of more than 4,000 test centres in 145 countries, providing testing services for information technology, regulatory and certification boards, academic, government and corporate clients. Its innovative technology offers the security and control required by admissions, licensing and certification programmes while its commitment to service provides customers with an unmatched testing experience.

Pearson VUE is a business of Pearson (NYSE: PSO; LSE: PSON), the international media company, whose other businesses include the Financial Times Group, Pearson Education, and the Penguin Group.

The National Admissions Test for Law, or LNAT, is run by a consortium of 11 UK universities. It helps universities to make fairer choices among the many highly-qualified applicants who want to join their undergraduate law programmes.

(23/1/06)