Helpful Keyboard Shortcuts to Master for Your UCAT Exam
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Written By Team MedView
Reviewed By Thomas Nicolson (Currently studying Doctor of Medicine - MD at the University of Queensland)
Mastering keyboard shortcuts for the UCAT can make a significant difference in your speed and performance (and in turn, help maximise your score for medical school admission).
As such, keyboard shortcuts should be a focus of your UCAT preparation. Here, we've compiled all of the essential UCAT keyboard shortcuts you need to know. These shortcuts will help you navigate through the test swiftly and efficiently, helping you save precious seconds.
Ready? Let's dive in.
What keyboard is used in UCAT?
The UCAT exam keyboard found in test centres has a number pad on the right side — becoming familiar with this layout is essential for successful time management during the assessment.
We recommend getting an external keyboard to practice using the number pad in the lead up to the exam, rather than relying on your laptop. It's also worth noting that the exam is conducted on a Windows computer, should you want to prioritise your practice on a Windows versus Mac computer.
What are the most important keyboard shortcuts to know?
Using keyboard shortcuts when taking the UCAT exam can lead to great time savings, and may even benefit your score. Here are the shortcuts to memorise!
Navigating questions
You don't need to use the mouse to navigate through the questions — instead, there is a keyboard shortcut to go back forth.
Alt + N advances you to the next question, while Alt + P takes you back to the previous question.
Flagging and reviewing questions
UCAT tutors often advise candidates to employ the guess and flag approach in order to save time. By using Alt + F on a difficult question, one can indicate that it should be reviewed later before moving onto the next item.
Alt + V allows you to see only the questions you've previously flagged, while Alt + I lets you see only the questions you haven't yet answered. Alt + S allows you to go to the review screen so you can see all of the questions in this section.
Selecting answers
In the UCAT exam, you can use your keyboard’s letter keys to pick answers quickly. Pressing ‘C’, for example, will select answer C in no time, an effective way of saving precious time while taking the test.
Be sure to use A, B, C, D on the keyboard to select your answers. Using this can save a second a question, which is massive over the entirety of the UCAT — especially in the Abstract Reasoning section, where timing is particularly difficult.
It's important to note that drag and drop questions may require a mouse for selection, so you'll need to be nimble swapping from keyboard to mouse for these questions.
Mastering the on-screen calculator
For the UCAT, you're also able to access a simple on-screen calculator during the Decision Making and Quantitive Reasoning subtests.
The keyboard shortcut to bring up the UCAT calculator is Alt + C and this will open the calculator in any part of the test, including your testing screen. You'll need to activate Num Lock to use the number keypad, so don't forget to do this.
There are a number of UCAT calculator shortcuts that are helpful during the exam, including:
- P is memory plus (M+): Each time this is pressed, it will add whatever is in the answer to memory
- M is memory minus (M-): This subtracts the answer from memory total
- C is MRC (memory recall): This instantly recalls what is in memory but be careful when using as it wipes whatever is on the screen
Check out our UCAT calculator shortcuts guide for a more in-depth look at these helpful calculator-specific shortcuts.
Tips for using the keyboard in the UCAT
Your skill at using keyboard shortcuts during the UCAT can make a big difference. With this in mind, here are a helpful preparation tips.
Practice
The UCAT requires a lot of practice in the lead-up and becoming familiar with UCAT keyboard shortcuts should be something you dedicate time to.
Make sure to use these shortcuts all the time during your UCAT prep as muscle memory is key — you'll want to be able to move through these without having to think about it.
Be sure to include calculator practice too. While the calculator given to complete the test is limited compared to others of its kind, it does include practical functions, such as an internal memory that stores answers from previous calculations and can be applied elsewhere within any computation needed.
MedView Spark is a great resource for your preparation — our learning platform has over 4,500 practice questions as well as practice exams you can work through to become exam-ready.
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.
Use these resources to help you both prepare for the content of the exam and become familiar with using the simple on-screen calculator that is used during the UCAT.
Use a keyboard
While you might only use a laptop in your day to day, we recommend getting a keyboard with a number pad for UCAT preparation.
Not only does it make using the calculator much faster (especially for multiplying) but using keyboard shortcuts means you don't have to use a mouse very often, allowing you to press keyboard shortcuts with one hand and writing with the other. This can help you save a large chunk of time in the QR subtest.
Frequently asked questions
What is the keyboard shortcut for next question?
Alt + N moves you onto the next question, while Alt + P returns you to the previous one. You can also flag a question to return to later by selecting Alt + F.
What is the shortcut to open the calculator on the UCAT?
Alt + C opens the UCAT calculator. You can use the calculator during the Decision Making and Quantitive Reasoning sections.
What is the official UCAT exam keyboard configuration?
All UCAT test centres provide a keyboard that has a number pad situated on the right hand side.
What's the best way to approach UCAT preparation?
When it comes to UCAT prep, what works for one student may not work for another.
If you're after more personalised support on your UCAT journey, here at MedView Education, we take med school admission to a new level through application review, entrance exam and interview tutoring, and extracurricular mentoring for students in Australasia.
If you'd like guidance from industry professionals with years of experience, we can help — simply book a free consultation with our MedView advisors.
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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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