Welcome to Medical Entrance via UMAT

Q: I cannot read very quickly. What is a quick way of increasing my reading speed?
A: You may increase your reading speed by reading short passages in a limited time.

Q: Are there any online programs available for increasing reading speed?
A: ICARUS College offers its students the Reader Leader online program for increasing reading speed.

Q: Which texts should I use for my speed reading exercises?
A: The texts that you can use are short articles from newspapers, magazines, or websites. You can also use short stories or sections out of books.

Q: What is the least time consuming way to read and answer questions in Section I of the UMAT?
A: You can save time in Section I of the UMAT by previewing the question stem first, then reading the stimulus and finally reading the answer options. By previewing the question stem first this will give you an indication of what you need to focus on when reading the question stimulus.

Q: What are the typical wrong answer options to avoid in Section I of the UMAT?
A:

• Answers which are outside the scope of the argument
• Answers which make strong, generalising statements which do not account for possibilities
• Answers which make an opposite statement to the one you are looking for
• Answers which twist the meaning of the passage

Q: How can I approach questions from Section I of the UMAT to save maximum time?
A: For minimum time wastage, it is essential that each individual question is worked through in an efficient order: the question stem previewed, the stimulus is read actively and a possible answer is hypothesized. If applicable, a rule to the argument is deduced, and each answer option is skimmed through to match with the hypothesised answer or with the rule.

Q: Which questions in the UMAT should I answer first?
A: You are advised to answer the questions which will take the least amount of time first, for quick points.

Q: How do I critically read stimuli in Section I of the UMAT?
A: You must be able to discuss the argument objectively and evaluate its accuracy. You should be able to distinguish between the facts provided in the text from your own interpretations and assumptions. You should aim to critique each argument that the author presents and to evaluate its accuracy. You should also notice the aim of the text, i.e. does the text argue a point or offer explanations.

Q: How can I improve my critical reading and critical thinking skills?
A:

You should ask yourself questions such as:

• What is the author’s main purpose for writing this passage?
• How does the structure of the passage relate to the question being asked?
• What is the hidden meaning of the stimulus material?

Q: What are some tips on critical reading?
A:

• Begin by reading the questions that are based on the text
• Highlight the main arguments or conclusions that you find within the text, as well as the supportive evidence
• Be attentive to the context that the arguments are written in

Q: How should I critically assess questions in Section I of the UMAT?
A:

• Actively read the text
• Approach texts with a degree of suspicion
• Constantly question ideas in the text
• Be open to new ideas
• Evaluate if there are inconsistencies in the argument
• Evaluate the author’s method of analysis – does it follow a logical order?
• Consider if you could find weaknesses in the argument

Q: What should I do if I do not understand some of the emotive words in the answer options of Section II of the UMAT?
A: If you do not understand some of the emotive words in the answer options in Section II of the UMAT, you should try and eliminate the answer options that you do understand and this will increase your chances of choosing the right option out of the ones that are left over.

Q: How should I approach UMAT Section II questions which require an empathic response?
A: Identify the emotion that is being communicated and then identify how this emotion is affecting the person’s mood, state of mind, their relations to others and their daily functioning.

Q: How should I approach UMAT Section II questions which ask me to identify the key emotion expressed in the text?
A: Look for key words in the stimulus which may hint at the emotion or which may eliminate another emotion from the list of possible answers. Try to imagine what the person in the stimulus is going through and ask yourself how you would feel if you were in their position. There may be many emotions portrayed in the stimulus but try to identify the predominant emotion.

Q: How should I approach UMAT Section II questions which ask me how I would respond to a patient who is experiencing a certain emotion?
A:

Ask yourself how you would like to be spoken to if you were experiencing a similar emotion then choose the option that doesn’t advise the patient or tells them what to do.

Choose the option that shows understanding and offers support.

Q: How can I distinguish between an empathic answer option and a sympathetic one in Section II of the UMAT?
A: Empathy involves identifying and understanding another’s feelings. Sympathy on the other hand involves sharing another’s emotions, whereby whatever affects one person will likewise affect the other. Sympathy can be thought of as an expression of sorrow due to someone else’s distress.

Q: Why is it important to be empathetic and not sympathetic in a clinical setting?
A: This is particularly important in clinical practice, where the health care workers should maintain a professional distance from the patient without becoming emotionally involved with their case. It is however important to be compassionate with patients and to offer them understanding.

Q: How can I develop my empathic skills that are needed for answering questions in Section II in the UMAT?
A:

Be open to experiencing emotions and do not ignore them or turn to substance abuse to become desensitised to them. Acknowledge that you are experiencing a certain emotion and try to identify it. Accept the emotion and your mental and physical response to it.

Once you have experienced the emotion and are aware of its implication on your state of mind and on your daily life and functioning, you will be able to understand others who are or have been in a similar situation.

Q: What should I do if I am having difficulty with answering a question in the UMAT?
A: If you have difficulty with answering a question in the UMAT you shouldn’t spend too much time on it. Go on to the next question and if you have time in the end return to that question.

Q: Should I complete the questions in each section of the UMAT in the order that they are presented?
A: It is probably a good idea to attempt to answer the questions in the order that they are presented in the UMAT, so that you do not get confused with which questions you skipped and which ones you have completed. However if you come across questions which you find are especially difficult, leave them to the end to complete if you have time.

Q: How can I reduce my anxiety when I'm under pressure?
A: You may engage in a physical activity such as jogging or cycling which will cause the body to release endorphins.  You may engage in relaxation techniques such as meditating and deep breathing exercises that will help decrease tension in your mind and body. Set realistic goals for yourself and allocate enough time in which to complete them. Prioritise your time availability and stick to the timetable you have created for yourself.

Q: What should I do immediately after I recognise that I am experiencing the first signs of stress?
A: Recognise when you begin experiencing early signs of stress and frustration and employ stress-reduction techniques to immediately eliminate these negative feelings before they escalate.

Q: Is there anything that I should avoid doing before the UMAT to decrease stress?
A: Do not consume substances which are associated with increasing alertness and muscle tension, such as coffee.

Q: How much time should I devote to UMAT prep a month before the exam?
A: Ideally you should spend about half an hour a day for each section of the UMAT.

Q: I do not have an hour to two hours a day to spend on UMAT preparation. Is this really necessary?
A: Though an hour and a half a day may seem like a long time to spend on UMAT alone, especially when you are still going to school and you also need time to study for school exams, this is necessary to give you as much practice as possible as you approach the day of the UMAT.

Q: Is it useful to consult students who have previously completed the UMAT about their experiences?
A: It is very useful to consult other students about their UMAT experiences, however UMAT changes from year to year and it is not advised that the UMAT candidate only relies on the recount of others’ experiences to get through the UMAT.

Q: Is it useful to rely on many different UMAT preparation programs to prepare for the UMAT?
A: The UMAT candidate is advised that he or she does not rely on the materials from different UMAT prep courses. This is because some UMAT prep courses may teach contradicting information and the UMAT candidate can become very confused.

Q: Should I only rely on word of mouth when choosing my UMAT prep course?
A: You should choose your UMAT prep course wisely, and this means that you should look at a variety of criteria when evaluating the UMAT prep course. This may include word of mouth as well as statistics, the source that the UMAT material was prepared by and the number of relevant practice questions available.

Q: What are the most essential items that I should bring with me on the day of the UMAT?
A: On the day of the UMAT you should bring your UMAT Admission Ticket, your ID and a pencil and rubber. You may also take a bottle of water with you into the examination room. Bring enough money for public transport and/or food and leave your mobile phone and any other valuables at home if you can. There will be limited facilities to leave your bag at the UMAT testing centre so it is best to carry as little as possible.