BMAT – October test format

BMAT

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Preparing for BMAT

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Visit our BMAT preparation page for a wide range of free support materials, including past papers, the test specification, and advice on how to approach the test.

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The BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) is a 2-hour test divided into three sections:

Section	What does it test?	Questions	Timing
Section 1: Thinking Skills	Generic skills in problem solving and critical thinking.	32 multiple-choice questions	60 minutes
Section 2: Scientific Knowledge and Applications	The ability to apply scientific knowledge typically covered in school Science and Mathematics by the age of 16 (for example, GCSE in the UK and IGCSE internationally).	27 multiple-choice questions	30 minutes
Section 3: Writing Task	The ability to select, develop and organise ideas, and to communicate them in writing, concisely and effectively.	One writing task from a choice of three questions	30 minutes

Download the BMAT test specification

How is BMAT scored?

There is no pass or fail for BMAT. You should aim to do the best you can.

There is no negative marking – marks are not lost for wrong answers, so it’s worth making a guess.

Section	Marking	Final score
Section 1: Thinking Skills	1 mark per question	Raw marks are converted to BMAT’s scale: 1.0 (low) to 9.0 (high)
Section 2: Scientific Knowledge and Applications	1 mark per question	Raw marks are converted to BMAT’s scale: 1.0 (low) to 9.0 (high)
Section 3: Writing Task	One score for quality of content One score for quality of written English	Scale of 0.0 (low) to 5.0 (high) Scale of A (high) to E (low)

Download the BMAT Section 3 marking criteria

BMAT is used in different ways by universities as part of their admissions process. To find out how your BMAT scores will be used as part of the admissions process, contact the relevant universities.

Have you got more questions? See below

Are Access Arrangements, such as extra time, available for BMAT?

Yes, Access Arrangements are available if you have a disability or special requirement, and are entitled to support for other exams.

Examples of Access Arrangements include, but are not limited to:

use of a laptop/computer
extra time
separate invigilation
enlarged papers (modified question paper).

More details about how and when to apply for Access Arrangements can be found on the BMAT – November registration page.

What’s a good BMAT score?

Candidates are not expected to get everything right in BMAT, and a typical candidate will get about half of the questions correct.

For Section 3, how can you get a score of B when the scale is A, C or E?

Writing Tasks in Section 3 are marked by two examiners. Each examiner gives two scores – one for quality of content (on a scale of 0–5), and one for quality of written English (on the scale A, C, E).

Combining the scores for Section 3: If the two marks for content are the same or no more than one mark apart, the candidate gets the average of the two marks. If the two marks for written English are the same or no more than one mark apart, the scores are combined like this: AA = A, AC = B, CC = C, CE = D and EE = E.

For example, a writing task given a 4C by one examiner and 4A by the other will get a final score of 4B. A writing task given 3C by one examiner and 2C by the other will receive a mark of 2.5C.

If there is a larger discrepancy in the marks, the writing tasks are marked for a third time, and the final mark is checked by the Senior Assessment Manager.

What level of English is required for BMAT?

BMAT requires a minimum English level of B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).