UCAT Verbal Reasoning Tips: How to Improve Your Score
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Written By Team MedView
Reviewed By Thomas Nicolson (Currently studying Doctor of Medicine - MD at the University of Queensland)
The Verbal Reasoning (VR) subtest is 1 of 5 sections included in the UCAT — in fact, it's the very first part of the exam — and it gauges your ability to critically evaluate information presented in a written form.
There are a number of ways you can improve your Verbal Reasoning skills in the lead-up to the UCAT, to ensure you're tackling the VR section with as much knowledge and practice under your belt as possible.
So, let's get started on the journey to the UCAT with strategies to help improve your Verbal Reasoning score.
Understanding the UCAT Verbal Reasoning section
The UCAT Verbal Reasoning subtest gauges your ability to read information and determine whether specific conclusions can be drawn from it. The reason it'sits included in the UCAT is because this skill is incredibly important for those working in the medical field.
Doctors and other medical professionsthe like need to excel in verbal reasoning as they are required to ingest and understand complex information and then be able to deliver it to patients in a clear and easy to understand way.
Additionally, they also need to be able to interpret findings from published materials and apply this in their own day-to-day.
This is why you're required to pop on your VR hat and answer 44 questions in a 21-minute test time. You also have an extra minute at the beginning of each section to read the instructions.
The VR section is a comprehension test that requires you to read 11 passages of text, which are roughly 200-400 words long, and answer questions based on these.
When it comes to the UCAT scoring system, the Verbal Reasoning score is transformed into a scale from 300 to 900. All of the 5 subtests in the UCAT are scored on the same scale.
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Verbal Reasoning question types
Each section of the exam has different question types and there are 2 styles in the Verbal Reasoning section. Here's what you can expect.
True/False/Can't Tell questions
One of the types of questions you'll be asked in Verbal Reasoning are True/False/Can't Tell questions.
After reading a passage of text, you'll have 3 options to chose from:
- True: Based on the information, the statement is true
- False: Based on the information, the statement is false
- Can't Tell: Based on the information, you can't tell whether the statement is true or false
Single best answer questions
For the second style, you'll be presented with a question or incomplete statement and 4 response options. From here, you're required to pick the best or most suitable option (keep in mind you can only select one).
Preparing for Verbal Reasoning
To get a good result in the UCAT Verbal Reasoning section, it is important to assess your progress from practice tests and pinpoint any areas for improvement.
For starters, VR is the section that responds best to work outside of the UCAT, which is great news. With this in mind, let's look at ways you can prepare for the VR subtest.
Practice speed reading
Your reading speed plays a large role in how well you can do in VR. This section requires you to speedily read through a lot of information and answer questions, so developing speed reading techniques is important.
To start working on this muscle, try making speed reading a part of your daily routine. Each day, practice speed reading articles and then test yourself: do you remember specifics from those articles when discussing them with friends or family?
We recommend that you read often and read with purpose. Get used to reading the news and talking to people about what you've read, as well as engaging with both fiction and non-fiction writing.
Skimming and scanning
Becoming adept at skimming and scanning can help you easily spot significant data within the information without spending too much time on it.
Skimming lets you gain a general understanding of what the information is conveying, while scanning lets you discover keywords, which you read around to help answer the questions.
You may wish to quickly skim read the passage first, before scanning for important keywords — it's up to you to discover what process works best for you.
Implement a skimming and scanning strategy during your daily reading and see how it feels for you and how much information you can obtain from this practice.
Focusing on keywords
To make the most of your time and ensure accuracy during the UCAT Verbal Reasoning portion, hone in on relevant keywords. It’s especially crucial to pay attention to verbs and nouns since they are usually decisive words.
When selecting a keyword, opt for one that is relevant to the question at hand. Focusing on specific terms will enable you quickly pinpoint key data from texts provided so as to answer questions more promptly with higher precision.
Be sure to keep an eye out for confusing phrases or questions that are similar to parts of the test, but include negative interjections such as 'not' or 'don't'.
Analyse your performance and address weaknesses
This is relevant for all parts of the UCAT, but taking regular practice tests can help you discover your strengths and weaknesses, and allows you to focus your study on the latter.
You might discover that your time management skills need to be sharpened up, or your speed reading is a little lacking. From here, you can take steps to work on these ahead of the UCAT.
MedView Spark is a great resource for this — our learning platform has over 4,500 practice questions as well as practice exams you can work through to become exam-ready.
Work on your reading speed, time management and skimming and scanning through Verbal Reasoning questions. Plus, our interface is designed to mimic the UCAT experience, right down to the keyboard shortcuts and calculator, so there are no surprises and it'll help you feel comfortable for the real deal.
The dos and don'ts of Verbal Reasoning
Having knowledge of the most common dos and don'ts in the VR subtest can help you navigate this section with a little more ease. Here's what to do (to help you increase you score!), and what to avoid, during the first part of the UCAT.
Test timings
- Do: Be consistent with test timings
- Don't: Spend too much time on questions early in the test
During the test, it's incredibly important that you are consistent with your timing. Each passage should take slightly under 2 minutes to read and answer 4 questions.
Taking more time, especially at the beginning of the exam, can lead to not enough time later on, which in turn, can lead to poor test results.
Keep tight on these timings so you have time to finish all 11 sections of Verbal Reasoning.
Assumptions and prior knowledge
- Do: Use information from the text to answer questions
- Don't: Use your own external knowledge to provide answers
Students often make assumptions based on past knowledge during the VR section but try to resist the temptation to do this. When answering questions, focus only on the information provided in the passage.
For example, you might know that something is correct from your own prior knowledge, but the information confirming this may not be included in the passage, and as a result, you can't say it's true because this has been derived from previous knowledge.
Misreading questions
- Do: Speed read where possible (to save time!)
- Don't: Assume you understand the question solely based on reading keywords
While sticking to a tight time schedule is important, it's also vital to take time reading the questions in the UCAT Verbal Reasoning section accurately, as this will prevent incorrect answers due to misreading or misunderstanding.
Speeding through questions can lead to mistakes, so it’s important for candidates to thoroughly comprehend each question and its accompanying text before attempting a response.
Students tend to run into issues with speed reading (and missing important information) so improving this skills will lead to overall improvements throughout the whole section.
How to approach questions you’re unsure about
If you're unsure about a question, it's best to have self-understanding as to the exact nature of your confusion with a question, and evaluate your thinking as to whether you can reasonably get a correct answer within an appropriate timeframe.
Here are 3 scenarios and how to deal with them:
- You've spent 30 seconds on the question (this is the ideal timing) and you've narrowed it down to 2/3 options and you're thinking a bit more time might be helpful — from here, try spending another 15 to 20 seconds and then pick an answer (keep in mind this shortens time in upcoming sections)
- You've spent 30 seconds on the question (again, ideal timing) and have narrowed it down to 2/3 options but have no idea how to differentiate the options — from here, guess your best option and keep moving
- You've spent 30 seconds on the question and have no idea what the answer could be — from here, guess your best option and move on
Remember that you're marked on the number of correct answers you give, which means there is no negative marking for wrong answers, so it's worth taking an educated guess if you're unsure.
What is considered to be a competitive Verbal Reasoning score?
A competitive, or 'good', Verbal Reasoning score is considered to be X or higher. This demonstrates a student's ability to discover relevant and important information in a passage, evaluate it and in turn, make conclusions from it — a skill that is crucial for a career in the medical field.
For comparison, in 2023, Verbal Reasoning scores in the 90th percentile were 720, while the median score was 600.
When it comes to your overall UCAT score, students who score in the 90th percentile for their overall UCAT score are considered competitive. For the 2023 admissions cycle, a score that surpasses 3100+ is often required to be offered a medical school interview at many of the major Australian universities.
Summary
While this process can be extremely complicated, understanding the UCAT score you need for admission to the medical school of your choice is crucial when planning for your future.
But, you don't have to do it alone. If you'd like extra support from industry professionals or to catch more UCAT updates, sign up for our monthly newsletter. Stay ON THE PULSE by being the first to catch UCAT and medical school admissions news.
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Frequently asked questions
How can I improve my Verbal Reasoning?
To work on your skills for the Verbal Reasoning subtest, focus on reading, specifically speed reading, by ingesting new content every day. Undertake timed practice questions and exams to work on your time management and be strict with how long you spend on each question (remember, you have just under 2 minutes to read the passage and answer 4 questions).
What is the hardest subtest on the UCAT?
Verbal Reasoning is widely regarded as the toughest and lowest scoring UCAT subtest. The stringent timing and dense passages all contribute to its difficulty, resulting in lower scores among test takers.
The median VR score in 2023 was 600; in both 2022 and 2021, it was 580.
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The UCAT
The UCAT, or the University Clinical Aptitude Test is the medical school admission test required for many universities in Australia and New Zealand. The UCAT is designed to assess applicants for the aptitude, attitudes and beliefs required of a doctor. In order to defeat the UCAT - we should understand what it is. First off, it’s a two hour computer based exam. There are 5 separately timed subtests - Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning and Situational Judgement. In this blog we break down each of the sections and offer guidance on how to prepare for this important exam.
Verbal Reasoning
Verbal Reasoning is meant to assess your ability to read something and draw appropriate conclusions. You can see why this would be important to a doctor - you’re part of a multidisciplinary team and will have to communicate effectively. In addition, doctors have to keep current with new research and draw reasonable conclusions from published findings. Decision making involves 11 text excerpts with 4 questions each, meaning this section has 44 questions in 21 minutes - that means an average of 29 seconds per question. That doesn’t even take reading the stem into account!
Decision Making
Decision Making is essentially data interpretation from graphs, tables, text and charts. You don’t need to have background knowledge on any subject, because part of what they’re testing is your ability to understand new information. Can you think of a time a doctor might have to do the same? This section has 29 questions in 31 minutes - an average of 64 seconds per question. Compare the timing of section to verbal reasoning, it’s more than double. Consider the length of time per question as an indication of how much the test writers want you to analyse.
Quantitative Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning is a straightforward mathematics section - there are nine scenarios each with four questions. You’ll have access to an on screen calculator - which is functional but pretty clunky! You’ll have to strike a balance between using mental maths to be quick, and keeping your wits about you, and staying accurate. This section has 36 questions in 24 minutes - an average of 40 seconds per question. It’s not a lot of time to question your maths abilities!
Abstract Reasoning
Abstract Reasoning is used to evaluate your ability to locate patterns and understand logic, separate from your language abilities. If you’ve seen the guides online with pictures asking you to find a pattern - that’s abstract reasoning. This section is sometimes hard for students to grasp, because it’s such a different set of skills. It’s also probably the biggest struggle with time management. This section has 55 questions in 13 minutes - that’s only 14 seconds per question. Don’t even think about going into this section unprepared!
Situational Judgement
Situational Judgement assesses your judgement and character in different situations - the situations are usually clinical or education based. Either situations you’ve likely been in, or a situation you could be involved in future. Then you’ll have to evaluate the appropriateness, importance or consequences of the situation. It’s one way for universities to evaluate the characteristics that are important for future doctors! Situational Judgement has 69 questions in 26 minutes - an average of 25 seconds per question.
With so much to do - how can I set myself up for success?
Prepare
This sounds like a no brainer, but preparation is the most important thing you can do if you want to succeed on the UCAT. Going over questions is one thing but the most effective thing you can do is to practice under exam conditions. That means doing computer based exams - so when you get to test day, you know what to expect. Luckily MedView has a bank of questions.
Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Time is a precious resource when you’re preparing for medical school admissions - you have to continue doing well in your studies, prepare yourself for an interview, and master a new exam. There’s not infinite time - so you have to learn how to study smarter, not just harder. So many students waste their time by continuing to drill skills that they’ve already mastered. It’s important to identify the weak points that need more TLC.
Learn Skills
Each type of question requires a specific psychometric approach to understand and answer so quickly. Skills and strategies to identify the problem and solve the challenging question are essential for success. MedView has a range of 1:1 tutoring, group workshops, practice exams and questions alongside our spiral learning curriculum to help students develop the skills necessary to succeed in time conditions. Our UCAT students are 5x more likely to receive an interview offer.
Sitting full-length practice exams under simulated conditions is the most effective preparation for developing UCAT skills. As this will familiarise yourself with the extreme time pressures, as well as allowing you to practise concentrating on psychometric skills for two hours. It is also important to practice using the computer-based platform that will be used when you sit UCAT as well.
Seek Help
Find friends that have taken the test before and ask for their experience. Better yet, schedule a free Academic Assessment with MedView today! When you start your journey as a MedView student, you are allocated an Education Coordinator who has experience helping hundreds of students get into med school. They’ll help you stay on track with your goals, offer you support, and help you succeed on your path to medical school.
Next Steps
The UCAT is an important exam that is key to medical school admission for undergraduates. We recommend starting your UCAT preparation early and integrating it into your study load to give yourself the best opportunity to succeed. If you’d like to learn more about the UCAT or how to get into Medical School, check out our free eBooks and blogs!
- What is the UCAT?
- How Universities use your UCAT Results
- A Quick Guide to Australia Medicine eBook
- A Quick Guide to New Zealand Medicine eBook
- How to Prepare for the UCAT
- What UCAT scores will get me into med?
MedView offers a range of UCAT preparation courses as well as personalised 1:1 tutoring with our expert team. If you would like to know more about the UCAT and how MedView can help, get in touch today.
What can you do before the year starts?
Before the year starts, it is vital that you understand that the journey to becoming a doctor is a long and arduous process. Medicine is a life-long commitment whose pathway extends beyond the 6 years of study. It includes a progression from a house officer to a registrar, and application onto training schemes if you opt for the surgical pathway.
The vast majority of people who apply for medicine, do not have a clear picture of what they want to do in the future. This uncertainty is not something to worry about now – you have plenty of time to figure out exactly what you want to do. There is something in medicine for everyone. If you are still uncertain about the medical pathway beyond the 6 years of study, I would recommend doing further research.
Another thing you can do over the summer break is to identify your motivation to become a doctor. If it’s for the money, you may not be in the correct profession - it will be at least 10-12 years until you start earning the big bucks that all doctors are known for! If you have an inherent nature to help people and seek to make our society healthier, then you are on the right track.
Once your head is in the right place, enjoy your summer! The year will belong, and you will have to make social sacrifices to make your studies a priority. Make the most of the time you have by seeing friends and family, as you will inevitably see less of them throughout the year. You are likely to experience burnout sometime during the year, so optimising your rest now is important.
The single most effective way to distance yourself from your competitors is to start early and hard. After you have rested throughout December and into the new year, it is time to get started and get ahead. The Flying Start Course offered by MedView was my ticket to success. It is a highly intensive programme starting in late January that covers the first 6 weeks of content for the three core papers in the first semester. The advantages of this course are numerous:
- The most valuable aspect of Flying Start is the content covered. As the first semester contains 3 out of the 4 core papers, it is so important to get a good start. An early lapse within the first few weeks can completely derail your entire year. Being exposed to similar content ahead of time builds your confidence and gives you the opportunity to begin learning before others.
- There is a radically different teaching style from high school to university. Flying Start emulates the style you are accustomed to, while simultaneously teaching university material. This eases your transition and places students into a more comfortable and familiar environment.
- You can meet other motivated people. You may have heard the horror stories of people sabotaging each other, taking their notes and hiding their bags. While these are mostly exaggerated, there will still be those who resort to other measures to gain an advantage. The people doing Flying Start will be motivated just like you, and eager to get ahead. Working together and building these strong relationships before the year starts means that you have a better support group in place. I have met several bright individuals who were passionate and together, we were able to navigate the difficult year and succeed as a group!
MedView believes in a holistic approach to medical school admissions, meaning we surround the student with a team of experts to help develop their candidacy and skills in all three major pillars in their journey to medical school, and now it’s even more accessible with the MedView Hub App!
Over the last decade there’s been a mass adoption of smartphones and a shift in the way people behave online and communicate. Australians are spending more time online, often using multiple screens, and consuming vast amounts of content each day. And it’s only going up!
Recent figures show that almost eight out of ten Australians use social media, and 87% of them use their mobile phones to access it. Fifty-nine percent of Australians access social media everyday or most days, and over a third of people check social media more than five times per day.
We often go online to chat with friends and family, share photos, or be entertained by cat videos. But the very same platforms we use to socialise can also be used to gather knowledge that we can apply in our offline lives. One of the areas where users can reap the benefits is online communities. MedView prides themselves on finding the best tutor, strategist or consultant for each student whether they be in Australia, New Zealand or the United Kingdom and having an online community platform allows even more core benefits for our students in a shorter amount of time. Now students can access over 320 tutors, strategists and consultants and get answers to their Synapse questions, interact in exclusive workshops, and most importantly make friends. The meaningful relationships with other members of the community increases knowledge and collective wisdom.
The MedView Hub App is our own online community platform for students, parents, tutors, and alumni to create a network of opportunities to participate in smart, focused conversation on specific medical school admissions topics (unlike the Instagram and Facebook chatter).
Over the last decade there’s been a mass adoption of smartphones and a shift in the way people behave online and communicate. Australians are spending more time online, often using multiple screens, and consuming vast amounts of content each day. And it’s only going up!
Recent figures show that almost eight out of ten Australians use social media, and 87% of them use their mobile phones to access it. Fifty-nine percent of Australians access social media everyday or most days, and over a third of people check social media more than five times per day.
We often go online to chat with friends and family, share photos, or be entertained by cat videos. But the very same platforms we use to socialise can also be used to gather knowledge that we can apply in our offline lives. One of the areas where users can reap the benefits is online communities. MedView prides themselves on finding the best tutor, strategist or consultant for each student whether they be in Australia, New Zealand or the United Kingdom and having an online community platform allows even more core benefits for our students in a shorter amount of time. Now students can access over 320 tutors, strategists and consultants and get answers to their Synapse questions, interact in exclusive workshops, and most importantly make friends. The meaningful relationships with other members of the community increases knowledge and collective wisdom.
The MedView Hub App is our own online community platform for students, parents, tutors, and alumni to create a network of opportunities to participate in smart, focused conversation on specific medical school admissions topics (unlike the Instagram and Facebook chatter).
Find out more and begin your journey to medical school by speaking with a MedView Academic Advisor for free today!
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