If you have just finished your post-secondary education, you may be looking beyond Singapore to pursue your tertiary studies.
The United Kingdom (UK) is one of the most popular destinations for students in Singapore pursuing higher education, namely for its world-class educational institutions such as the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, and more. These universities offer students a wide variety of courses, degrees, and programmes that are not available locally, as well as a vibrant student life in some of Europe’s most dynamic cities.
If you are planning to pursue your higher education in the UK, here’s what you need to know about the test prep and admissions process.
What tests do I need when applying to university in the UK?
The first thing you will need when applying to university in the UK is a good set of A-Level or IB results, or an equivalent. Some courses may also accept preliminary examination results if you are applying during the early application stage.
Your intended programme page should state the grades needed to apply, as well as other requirements for the admissions process. This might also include subject requirements, admissions essays, or personal statements.
For most general programmes in the UK, the requirements mentioned above should be sufficient for you to get through the application process. However for certain specialised or professional degrees, you will need to take an additional diagnostic test to qualify for the admissions criteria. The most common of these diagnostic tests are the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT), BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT), and Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT).
- UCAT: The UCAT is one of two major admissions tests for entry into dental, medical, and other health-related university courses throughout the UK. The 2-hour long examination is divided into the 5 categories of Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning, and Situational Judgement. Find out more about our UCAT preparation course in Singapore.
- BMAT: The BMAT is required for entry into medical, biomedical, dental, and veterinary programmes in the UK. It is a 2-hour long written examination divided into the 3 sections of Thinking Skills, Scientific Knowledge and Applications, and Writing Skills. Find out more about our BMAT preparation course in Singapore.
- LNAT: The LNAT is a pre-admissions diagnostics test required for entry into law programmes in universities in the UK. The full examination is 2 hours 15 minutes long, and comprises multiple choice questions (Section A) as well as an essay question (Section B). Find out more about our LNAT preparation course in Singapore.
All three of these tests focus heavily on critical thinking and analytical skills, with the BMAT also including a section on content knowledge. The tests are meant to assess your ability to understand, interpret, and analyse information, in order to gauge your suitability for the respective university course of your choice.
This means you cannot rely on rote memorisation to pass the UCAT, BMAT, or LNAT; rather, you need to be able to hone your thinking and reasoning skills in order to excel on the test.
Gateway+ provides various university entrance test and exam preparation courses in Singapore to help you prepare for these tests and more. Our programmes provide quality content and resources for students and applicants to draw on, including online video lessons, interactive activities, diagnostic tests, and more. Through our test prep courses, we have helped dozens of students in Singapore pursue their dream degrees in universities throughout the UK.
UK University Admissions Process for Students in Singapore
The UK university admissions process for students in Singapore is facilitated by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) through their application platform. As the application process can involve multiple tests, documents, and application rounds, it can feel overwhelming or intimidating even to the most prepared of students.
Gateway+ offers a University 101 programme to help guide you through everything you need to apply through UCAS. Our UCAS Application track includes useful features such as course and school exploration options, application strategies, application requirement walkthroughs, and expert feedback – all of which help you approach UCAS in a measured and intentional manner.
Sign up for a 14-day FREE Gateway+ trial today to get access to exclusive test prep and admission course guides as part of our online training courses and subscription plans! Our lecturers and coaches are here to help you get the confidence you need to apply to your intended universities across the UK and pursue your dream degree.
