• The percentiles that I get are sometimes high and sometimes low. Why is this?

  It is normal for your scores and percentiles to change over the course of your preparation. Several factors impact the score you receive during a mock exam - for example, your level of concentration, stress, timing technique - even luck with guessing! Answering just a few questions incorrectly or correctly can make a big difference to your scores and percentiles. It is important to avoid placing too much emphasis on the ups and downs of your practice scores from week to week, and avoid spendingFew readers

• I am disappointed in my percentiles. What should I do?

  If you are disappointed in your percentiles, it is important not to give up or become disillusioned. It is common for percentiles to fluctuate and differ between exams. There are a myriad of factors that impact upon your performance in a particular exam: the quality of your cognition, concentration levels, timing technique – even luck with guessing! Answering just a few questions incorrectly or correctly can make a big difference to your score. Think of a poor UCAT percentile as an opportunity tFew readers

• 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. SFew readers

• Why are my raw scores not improving?

  Remember that it is not the raw score or percentage of correct answers that the UCAT Consortium is concerned with; it is how you have performed compared to other students (i.e. your percentile). This seemingly subtle difference is very important. Your ultimate scores are a rank against all other candidates who are attempting the test. This is why the number of correct answers in the practice exams does not matter in itself. What matters is that you are improving, becoming more comfortable with qFew readers