My percentiles are not improving! What should I do?

This can happen. It is important not to be disheartened; there are several reasons why your percentile may not increase. Some of these are:

• Even though you are improving, all other MedEntry students you are being compared to are also improving. This is especially true of the latter exams, as only the most prepared and able students complete these exams. You are therefore being compared against a much tougher cohort of students.
• The manner in which exams are completed is not standardised. Some students complete exams under different conditions (e.g. with distractions, without distractions) or have been exposed to similar questions in the past (e.g. past MedEntry students). <
• If only a small number of students have completed the exam, it may give a distorted view of the ability of the rest of the MedEntry cohort. If these students are much more able than average, your percentile may be low, and if they are less able than average, your percentile may be elevated.
  To ensure you give yourself the best chance of improving your UCAT potential, consider the following advice:
  Complete practice exams under simulated, timed conditions. <
  After completing an exam, reattempt any incorrect questions, review all solutions (including the questions you got right) and ideally discuss difficult questions in a study group.
  After completing an exam, engage in post-exam reflection: consider what went well, what didn’t go well, and how to improve your performance next time.

Updated on: 25/06/2025