bmat essay answer sheet

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BMAT practice papers

Use the practice and past papers below to get a good understanding of the test format, different question types and skills BMAT assesses.

• Work through some practice papers and then look at the explained answers to help you review your work.
• Download a few past papers and practise under timed conditions – this is really important.
• If you are taking BMAT in computer-based format, use the computer-based demonstration test to familiarise yourself with the test functionality.

Practice papers with explained answers

The specimen and 2020 question papers below are in the new format for Section 1: Thinking Skills, now consisting of 32 Problem Solving and Critical Thinking questions.

Specimen Section 1   Specimen Section 1 answer sheet   Specimen Section 1 answer key   Specimen Section 1 explained answers  

Past Paper November 2020 Section 1 Past Paper November 2020 Section 1 answer key Past Paper November 2020 Section 1 explained answers

You can still use Section 1 past papers to practise, but note that Section 1 no longer contains Data Analysis and Inference questions, in which a longer text is followed by a set of related questions.

Past Paper 2014 Section 1 Past Paper 2014 Section 1 answer sheet Past Paper 2014 Section 1 answer key Past Paper 2014 Section 1 explained answers

Specimen Section 2 Specimen Section 2 answer sheet Specimen Section 2 answer key Specimen Section 2 explained answers

Past Paper November 2020 Section 2 Past Paper November 2020 Section 2 answer key Past Paper November 2020 Section 2 explained answers

Past Paper 2014 Section 2 Past Paper 2014 Section 2 answer sheet Past Paper 2014 Section 2 answer key Past Paper 2014 Section 2 explained answers

Specimen Section 3 Specimen Section 3 answer sheet Specimen Section 3 sample responses with examiner comments

Past Paper November 2020 Section 3 Past Paper November 2020 Section 3 sample responses and examiner comments

Past Paper 2014 Section 3 Past Paper 2014 Section 3 sample responses with examiner comments

Section 3 marking criteria

Section 3 essay tips

Past papers

Thinking Skills

Past Paper November 2020 Section 1 Past Paper November 2020 Section 1 answer sheet Past Paper November 2020 Section 1 answer key

Scientific Knowledge and Applications

Past Paper November 2020 Section 2 Past Paper November 2020 Section 2 answer sheet Past Paper November 2020 Section 2 answer key

Writing Task

Past Paper November 2020 Section 3

Aptitude and Skills

Past Paper October 2019 Section 1 Past Paper October 2019 Section 1 answer sheet Past Paper October 2019 Section 1 answer key

Past Paper October 2019 Section 2 Past Paper October 2019 Section 2 answer sheet Past Paper October 2019 Section 2 answer key

Past Paper October 2019 Section 3

Past Paper October 2018 Section 1 Past Paper October 2018 Section 1 answer sheet Past Paper October 2018 Section 1 answer key

Past Paper October 2018 Section 2 Past Paper October 2018 Section 2 answer sheet Past Paper October 2018 Section 2 answer key

Past Paper October 2018 Section 3

Past Paper November 2017 Section 1 Past Paper November 2017 Section 1 answer sheet Past Paper November 2017 Section 1 answer key

Past Paper November 2017 Section 2 Past Paper November 2017 Section 2 answer sheet Past Paper November 2017 Section 2 answer key

Past Paper November 2017 Section 3

Past Paper 2016 Section 1 Past Paper 2016 Section 1 answer sheet Past Paper 2016 Section 1 answer key

Past Paper 2016 Section 2 Past Paper 2016 Section 2 answer sheet Past Paper 2016 Section 2 answer key

Past Paper 2016 Section 3

Past Paper 2015 Section 1 Past Paper 2015 Section 1 answer sheet Past Paper 2015 Section 1 answer key

Past Paper 2015 Section 2 Past Paper 2015 Section 2 answer sheet Past Paper 2015 Section 2 answer key

Past Paper 2015 Section 3

Past Paper 2014 Section 1 Past Paper 2014 Section 1 answer sheet Past Paper 2014 Section 1 answer key

Past Paper 2014 Section 2 Past Paper 2014 Section 2 answer sheet Past Paper 2014 Section 2 answer key

Past Paper 2014 Section 3

Past Paper 2013 Section 1 Past Paper 2013 Section 1 answer sheet Past Paper 2013 Section 1 answer key

Past Paper 2013 Section 2   Past Paper 2013 Section 2 answer sheet   Past Paper 2013 Section 2 answer key  

Past Paper 2013 Section 3  

Past Paper 2012 Section 1 Past Paper 2012 Section 1 answer key  

Past Paper 2012 Section 2   Past Paper 2012 Section 2 answer key  

Past Paper 2012 Section 3  

Past Paper 2011 Section 1 Past Paper 2011 Section 1 answer key

Past Paper 2011 Section 2       Past Paper 2011 Section 2 answer key  

Past Paper 2011 Section 3  

Past Paper 2010 Section 1 Past Paper 2010 Section 1 answer key

Past Paper 2010 Section 2      Past Paper 2010 Section 2 answer key  

Past Paper 2010 Section 3  

Past Paper 2009 Section 1 Past Paper 2009 Section 1 answer key

Past Paper 2009 Section 2      Past Paper 2009 Section 2 answer key  

Past Paper 2009 Section 3  

Past Papers from 2003 to 2008 with Answer Keys

Past Papers from 2003 to 2008

BMAT conversion tables from 2003 - 2008

This document shows how BMAT tests taken between 2003-2008 convert to the new BMAT score.

Computer-based demonstration test

• BMAT computer-based demonstration test
• Computer-Based Demo Instructions

Please use this demonstration test and the instructions to familiarise yourself with the functionality of BMAT in computer-based format.

Please note, however, that you will not be provided with a score. You can find practice tests in paper-based format, with answer keys and explanations, to help you evaluate your progress.

The demonstration test is intended to be viewed on a desktop computer, rather than a mobile device, to accurately reflect the test-day experience.

Section 1 tests problem solving and critical thinking.

Please note Section 1 has been updated for 2020 and will no longer include questions that test data analysis and inference.

The sample papers below are in the new format for Section 1: Thinking Skills, now consisting of 32 Problem Solving and Critical Thinking questions. You will also find a further paper in the new format in the section above called Practice papers with explained answers.

Sample A - BMAT Section 1 Sample A - BMAT Section 1 answer key

Sample B - BMAT Section 1 Sample B - BMAT Section 1 answer key

Section 2 is based on the knowledge typically included in non-specialist school Science and Mathematics courses. It tests your ability to apply this knowledge – possibly in unfamiliar contexts.

Please note that as curriculums have changed over time, so has the Science and Mathematics content of BMAT Section 2. The BMAT Section 2 content specification has been revised for testing from August 2019 onwards. Questions in the practice papers marked with an asterisk assume knowledge that is not currently on the specification.

Further information on Section 2 is available in the BMAT test specification which can be found in Further resources , and in the BMAT Section 2: Assumed Subject Knowledge guide, which can be found in Section 2 preparation .

Section 3 tests the capacity to develop ideas and to communicate them effectively in writing. It is not a test of knowledge. From 2010-2016, Section 3 had four writing tasks. From 2017, it has a choice of three writing tasks.

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BMAT: Section 3 [The Definitive Guide]

Home » Application Guide » BMAT: Section 3 [The Definitive Guide]

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The BMAT has now been discontinued. All applicants for undergraduate medicine in the UK will be required to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) for their application. Check out our wide selection of Free UCAT Guides to get started with your preparation.

Welcome to our guide on the final section of the BMAT – the essay Section 3.

Section 3 of the BMAT is where the test really shows its differences from the other medicine admissions test, the UCAT. Unlike every other section of both exams, this section is NOT multiple choice but a short writing task.

Let’s see how you can prepare your writing skills in time for the big test!

What is BMAT Section 3 and why is it tested?

Section 3 tests your ability to develop and organise ideas and to communicate them concisely and effectively in writing.

It is more commonly known as the dreaded essay section, and many candidates often find themselves questioning its relevance during revision frustration. However, the skills needed to do well in Section 3 are vital for a career in medicine.

The ability to formulate your own arguments and communicate your ideas clearly is crucial for a successful academic or clinical career. The university needs to be able to see a demonstration of these skills in order to be sure that a candidate will be the right fit for the course.

What will Section 3 look like in the BMAT?

The BMAT is a two-hour exam. You have 30 minutes to spend on Section 3. Here’s a quick refresher of the format of the BMAT exam:

The exam paper will offer a choice of three different essay questions, and you must choose one essay to answer. Each essay question will be followed by three prompts and you must address all three parts of this in your essay. For example:

BMAT Section 3 Example Questions (2019 Paper)

• People are often motivated to deny the existence of problems if they disagree with the solutions to those problems.

Explain what you think is meant by the statement. Present a counter-argument. To what extent do you agree with the statement?

2. ‘In science, there are no universal truths, just views of the world that have yet to be shown to be false.’ (Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw)

Explain what you think is meant by the statement. Argue that scientists need to accept some things as ‘truths’ to advance their understanding. To what extent do you agree with the statement?

3. Teamwork is more important for surgical innovation than the skills of an individual surgeon.

Explain the reasoning behind this statement. Argue that the skills of individual surgeons are more important for surgical innovation or progress. To what extent do you agree with the statement?

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You are given a single page of A4 as an answer sheet, and your essay must fit into this space. Only what is contained on the single A4 page will be scanned, sent to the examiner, and marked.  

How Can I prepare for BMAT Section 3?

The BMAT essays, like medical interviews, will cover a range of social and medical issues. To prepare for the BMAT, it is recommended you keep up to date with current medical, social, and political issues.

Newspapers, medical journals, and medical blogs are good resources, with the Health and Science sections of BBC News being particularly useful. Reading these articles will not only arm you with points to use in your essays but will also show you how to argue these ideas articulately and concisely.

It is vital you practice formulating and communicating your ideas about a topic. Get together with other students who are preparing their medical applications and practice debating health and social topics with each other. This will not only increase your chances of getting a good Section 3 score but will also improve your medical interview skills.

The most vital preparation for all BMAT sections is practice. Download the official past papers here   and get used to planning and writing essays under timed conditions. Print off the official answer sheet and use this for writing your essay; it is key you get used to writing in the limited space available.

Of course, we’d also recommend our own resources to help your prepare for the BMAT. We run the best crash courses in the world for the BMAT, as well as having an intuitive online platform in BMAT Ninja. You can get access to both, along with 5 x Section 3 essay edits with our BMAT Bundle (our best value BMAT support).

BMAT Essay Planning

To make the most of your limited answer space, it is incredibly important you spend at least 5-10 minutes planning your essay.

Take a spare piece of paper (there is usually a blank page in the question paper earmarked for this purpose) and plan your essay point by point before you think about touching the answer sheet.

The planning stage can be split into two clear parts.

Get everything down on paper.

Write down everything you know about the subject and all your ideas on the topic.

Organise these ideas.

Create clear subsections, which can be derived from the three prompts listed in the essay question, and structure your ideas into bullet points beneath each heading.

Before moving onto writing your essay make sure:

• The ideas conveyed in your bullet points flow smoothly from one to the next
• Your essay is well balanced , with points covering both sides of the argument
• You have not included any points that are outside the scope of the essay question
• You have only included your most relevant and most important points to make best use of the limited space
• Every part of the essay question and subsequent prompts have been addressed by your ideas

Writing Your Essay

The essay should be divided into three main parts: an Introduction, a Main Body, and a Conclusion. Let’s go into each section in a little more depth starting with the introduction.

THE INTRODUCTION

Your introduction should clearly set out the aims of what you are about to write.

You should state what the essay will try to achieve, and briefly mention some of the main points you will consider, both for and against the essay question.

The introduction is a brief overview of your argument and should not go into any great detail.

Your introduction is successful if it tells the reader:

• What is the topic of the essay?
• What is the essay planning to answer?
• What are the main points for and against?

The introduction is usually where you will tackle the first prompt of the essay question, which usually asks you to explain the reasoning behind a statement or to define a principle.

THE MAIN BODY

The main body of your essay is where you should address your key points in detail.

This should be the longest part of your essay and should be split up into 2-4 paragraphs. Most candidates will write at least one paragraph per each of the three prompts included in the essay question.

It is crucial that the main body of your essay includes points both for and against the essay question. The marking scheme mandates that the essay must communicate a balanced argument to secure a minimum content score of 3.

You should start a new paragraph for each major new idea in your essay, in order to clearly indicate to the examiner the structure of your argument. Each paragraph should start with a sentence that signposts the main point you are going to explore in that section. The rest of the paragraph will then expand and back up your main point in greater detail and with relevant examples.

In each paragraph, only include sentences that are directly related to the issue set out in the signposting sentence.  Quoting sources and statistics can lend an air of professionalism and credibility to your essay. However, if you do not know any, do not make these up – the BMAT examiners are paid by the hour and therefore have the time to fact-check any claim you may make.

THE CONCLUSION

Your conclusion should summarise the main points of your essay, and if appropriate, draw a final judgement on the topic you have been discussing.

There should be no new evidence in your conclusion, it is simply a summary of what you have already stated in the main body of the essay.

In the next section, we will go through examples of successful essay plans so you can see how the entire process works. Read on to check it out.

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Examples of Successful Essay Plans

First, we’ll start by presenting the question that we want to answer. Then we’ll go into the kind of notes you should be writing when planning your essay.

An important part to consider is the wording within the question – this will give you an indication of what the examiners are wanting to see and should direct your essay plan.

Fully Worked Essay Question [1]

As a physician, you have a duty to consider the wider society when treating an individual patient.

Explain the reasoning behind this statement. Argue that a doctor’s main priority should always be the patient he is currently treating. With respect to medical treatment, to what extent can a patient’s interests differ from those of the wider population?

Fully Worked Essay Plan [1]

Explain the statement..

• The four principles of medical ethics, as described by Beauchamps and Childress (2008) are autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.
• This statement is clearly addressing the principle of justice: the duty to share and allocate treatment equally across all patients.

Argue that a doctor’s main priority should always be the patient he is currently treating.

• Medical treatment should be individualised where possible. Each patient may respond differently to the same treatment, depending on their individual characteristics and co-morbidities. Therefore while general guidelines may be useful, we should tailor our treatments to best benefit the patient we are currently treating.
• While utilitarianism holds its place in medical ethics, it is important we do not use ‘considering the wider society’ as an excuse to provide subpar care.

With respect to medical treatment, to what extent can a patient’s interests differ from those of the wider population?

• Resources are finite; we must allocate treatments where it will be the most effective and provide the most benefit. For example, a specific drug may provide little or no benefit to a terminal cancer patient but may be curative to those with early stage cancer. Therefore we should prioritise the treatment for the latter group.
• We must consider the cost-effectiveness of each drug. We cannot in good conscience supply an extremely expensive drug that treats only a small number of patients when this comes at the cost of several cheaper treatments that benefit the entire population.
• Certain medical diagnoses are notifiable and Public Health England must be informed, even if the patient does not wish the condition to be disclosed. This is because in some scenarios (e.g. potential spread of a highly contagious disease) protecting the public is deemed more important than an individual’s right to confidentiality. A similar situation arises if a patient refuses to disclose certain diagnoses to official bodies as required by law (e.g. epilepsy to the DVLA). In this case, the doctor is required to override the patient’s wishes and inform the body themselves.

Fully Worked Essay Question [2]

2. Publishing surgeons’ mortality rates may lead to surgeons declining to perform high risk cases and only operating on safer, more routine patients.

Explain what this statement means. Argue that the publication of such statistics is necessary. To what extent do you believe league tables will change surgeons’ behaviour to benefit patients?

Fully Worked Essay Plan [2]

Explain what this statement means..

• Publishing a ‘league table’ of surgeons by their mortality rates may cause physicians to avoid operating on high-risk cases risk to avoid lowering their personal statistics. This will lead to an overall decline in the ability of surgeons and also a dearth of doctors willing to treat difficult cases.

Argue that the publication of such statistics is necessary.

• Publication of such data is needed for clinical governance, namely to produce audits comparing individual surgeon performance to national and regional averages to ensure competency.
• Transparent mortality rates could highlight discrepancies in surgical teaching and education between regions
• By comparing one surgeon to another, surgeons will be incentivised to improve the quality of care they are delivering
• The NHS ‘Choose and Book’ system was introduced to allow patients greater autonomy over who they are treated by. Publication of surgeons’ mortality rates would help patients make an informed decision when choosing a doctor.

To what extent do you believe league tables will change surgeons’ behaviour to benefit patients?

• It would be hoped that publication of league tables would incentivise surgeons to perform better, seek continual training, and strive for optimal performance.
• In medical ethics, beneficence describes a doctor’s duty to perform actions that will benefit patients. It is likely the fear of a poor mortality rate would supersede a surgeon’s duty to abide by this principle; resulting in surgeons avoiding high-risk cases. This would result in an overall detriment, not benefit, to patients.

How will you be marked?

For Section 3, you are graded on both the quality of your content and the quality of your English.

Content quality is graded on a scale from 1-5.

English quality is graded from A-E . 

Therefore the best possible mark you can gain from this section is 5A, however, the average mark achieved is 3A, with only the top 5% of students achieving 4A and above.

Each essay is double marked. For the quality of content, the scores given by each examiner are averaged if they are the same or one point away from each other. So if you are awarded a 3 by Examiner 1 and a 4 by Examiner 2, you will be awarded a 3.5.

However, if the two examiners disagree by more than one point in their marking (e.g. if you are awarded a 2 and a 4) the essay will be sent to a third examiner, with the final mark will be checked by the BMAT Assessment Manager.

For the quality of English, each examiner awards a score of either A, C, or E. The two scores are then combined in the following ways to give the final result: AA = A, AC = B, CC = C, CE = D, EE = E

What do I need to do to get the top mark?

To achieve a 5 for quality of content, you need to produce an essay that:

• Has no significant weaknesses
• Addresses all aspects of the question
• Has an argument that is clear, logical, and well-reasoned
• Covers a wide range of relevant points
• Has a clear and compelling conclusion

To achieve an A for quality of English, your writing must have:

• Good sentence structure
• Good use of vocabulary
• Good spelling, punctuation, and grammar

Does the essay section even matter?

You may hear people say that Section 3 isn’t as important as Section 1 or Section 2. There is an element of truth to this; Oxford and Leeds place a higher weight on Section 1 and 2 (40% each) compared to Section 3 (20%).

However other universities, such as Cambridge, take all marks for the BMAT score into consideration alongside a number of other factors, such as your A-level grades and interview scores.

Therefore, to be an attractive medical candidate to as many universities as possible, it is important to prepare well for every part of your medical application, including Section 3 of the BMAT.

Top Tips For BMAT Section 3

Download the official practice and past paper examinations.

This will make sure you have familiarised yourself with the question format.

Don’t slack when you’re practicing!

Even when practicing, make sure you plan your essays well: this is the most important part of writing your essay.

Use the official answer sheet.

Practice writing essays using the official answer sheet to get used to the space given.

Only practice under timed conditions.

There is little point in writing a perfect essay if it has taken longer than you will have in the exam.

Write neatly, and in the smallest font that is still clearly legible to the examiner.

For an examiner faced with hundreds of essay papers to mark, a well-presented and tidy essay will be a delightful change and they will be more likely to award higher marks.

Keep up to date with the latest medical, social, and political issues.

You can do this by reading news articles and medical journals. This will allow you to provide an educated argument and bring in fresh viewpoints.

Discuss recent medical and political issues with friends & family.

This will help you to shape your ability to formulate and effectively communicate an argument.

Revising for Section 3 of the BMAT is as essential as any other part of your medical application preparation. The knowledge and skills needed to write a good BMAT essay will serve you well in medicine, and more short-term, in your medical interviews.

The key to achieving a competitive score BMAT sections is to familiarise yourself with past papers, practice under timed conditions, and start prepping early!

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How to Prepare for the BMAT: The Ultimate Guide

The BMAT is a university admissions test required for entry to NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and several UK medical schools (only four of which are recognised in Singapore – Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and UCL).

In a separate article on university admissions tests , I explicitly state that you can DIY your way through the preparation without spending a single cent. This is especially true for the BMAT, where everything you need, from exact details of the test format to seventeen years’ worth of past papers, can be found on the official BMAT website .

I agree wholeheartedly with Oxford when they advised, quite bluntly:

Companies and individuals offering help with BMAT do not have a special insight into the nature of the test. While an applicant’s performance at any test will improve with some familiarisation or practice, anyone thinking of paying for such help should consider very carefully whether they would be wasting their money. University of Oxford, Medical Sciences Division

So with that, let’s go ahead and discover how you can prepare well for the BMAT and attain your desired results without wasting any money at all.

Step 1: Get to know the BMAT test format

Take a look at this helpful overview of the test format, based on the official BMAT website :

Then, save and scan through the BMAT test specification (PDF). That’s it. Everything else you’ll be able to glean from looking through and attempting the practice papers.

Step 2: Brush up on key concepts tested in BMAT

How can i identify what i need to revise.

That’s where the BMAT test specification document comes in handy. The important part to look through in greater detail is really “BMAT Section 2: Assumed Subject Knowledge” from page 7 onwards.

All the content required should have been covered in school for Chemistry and Mathematics. So really what you need to pay special attention to is only the Biology (page 8) and Physics (page 25) sections.

If you did not take Physics in Junior College (e.g. BCMX)

Generally, for BMAT Physics, everything should have been covered in secondary school, except P3.3: Force and extension , P3.6: Momentum , and the whole of P7: Radioactivity .

Here are extremely useful PDF documents where I’ve clearly highlighted the content that you need to learn or revise:

Insider’s advice: Take note that there’s quite a sizeable portion in BMAT Biology (mainly B9.2 Organ systems) that is not touched in JC at all. I realised I had forgotten most of the details and had to revisit those topics.

Insider’s advice: Despite having learnt Physics in secondary school I went over every topic again just to be safe (and to refresh my memory).

If you did not take Biology in Junior College (e.g. PCMX)

Generally, for BMAT Biology, everything should have been covered in secondary school, except B1.2 Prokaryotic cells , B6.2 Stem cells , and B9.5a Communicable diseases .

Insider’s advice: Do not attempt to read through two years’ worth of JC Biology lecture notes. You do not have the time, nor is it necessary. The bulk of what BMAT tests is secondary school knowledge anyway. Read on to find out what resources you should use instead.

How can I revise all the content as efficiently and effectively as possible?

When I just started my BMAT preparation, I spent ages digging up my old secondary school notes and downloading past notes and documents. I downloaded an eBook and tried to read through the Physics section. I even borrowed JC Physics lecture notes from my friend. In the end, I used none of those.

That’s because I discovered that there’s an amazing resource on the BMAT website itself that will give you all the content knowledge you need to study.

BMAT Section 2 Guide – The best and only resource you’ll need

To access the BMAT Section 2 guide :

• Click on the link above (or on the BMAT website: Preparing for BMAT > Section 2 preparation ).
• Click on Access the guide .
• Click on Create new account at the bottom of the page.
• Enter your username, password, and details, and click on Create my new account .
• Click on the link sent to your email to confirm your account.
• Sign in at the login page .
• (Optional: Bookmark the course page for quick access in the future.)

You will get access to texts that cover every point in the BMAT test specification for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics. This resource is good enough. In fact, it’s the best and you can rely solely on it.

Some reasons why I like this resource so much (and why it was the only one I used):

• It is not overly lengthy unlike typical textbooks. This makes it easy to read and digest. Furthermore, it contains just the right amount of information, considering that all the questions will be MCQs i.e. you do not have to be able to write any explanations with exact phrasing.
• It is organised exactly according to the BMAT test specification. It covers every item on the list, in that sequence. That makes it so easy to find the part(s) you need and target your revision to certain sections. It also makes it superior to your own notes (since none of your secondary school or JC notes were based on the BMAT specification).
• It is published by UCLES – the examination board that sets the BMAT test. Not only does this mean that the content is tailored to the BMAT, you can expect reliable and accurate information. With other online sources or notes, you can never be 100% sure of their credibility. (Quote Oxford: “ Companies and individuals offering help with BMAT do not have a special insight into the nature of the test. ”)

TLM Biology Notes – Relevant sections for BMAT

The A-Level H2 Biology notes on this site are condensed into the main points for each topic, complemented by a wealth of useful diagrams. Same for the O-Level Biology notes.

• BMAT Physics Formula Sheet

Insider’s advice: Answering BMAT Physics questions is simply about knowing when to apply the right formulae. As long as you have a basic understanding of the concepts and commit all the required formulae to memory, you’re good to go.

Generally, your approach to any BMAT Physics question is:

• Write out the values given in the question.
• Work out which formula to use based on the variables given.
• Rearrange the formula and solve the equation.

Step 3: Do (tons of) BMAT practice papers

Start from earlier years and work towards the most recent ones.

Past papers are available from 2019 going all the way back to 2003. Explained answers are provided for the specimen paper and 2014 paper only.

I recommend starting from the earlier years (e.g. 2012) and working your way to 2019. (Ignore 2003 to 2008 first in case you don’t have time to finish that many.) This is so that you’ll be doing the most recent years’ papers close to the date of the actual test.

Plan everything out before you start

Have a calendar or a simple list of dates where you can plan out exactly which papers you’ll do on which day. You can integrate it with your A-Level revision timetable. (This initial planning step basically ensures that you’ll be able to finish the number of papers you set out to do.)

I began my BMAT revision proper only after Prelims. I started with one BMAT paper a day (alternating between Section 1 and Section 2), while going through a few sections of the BMAT Section 2 guide every day. Only six days before the test date did I bump it up to two papers (Section 1 + Section 2) a day.  

Always time and score yourself

Timing is so important, especially for BMAT in which the main challenge is finishing the paper on time. Not once did I finish a practice paper within the time limit. (I remember taking roughly 1.5 h for Section 1 and 45-50 min for Section 2.)

Scoring gives you an idea of where you stand. With every practice paper, therefore, aim to improve both your timing and your score.

Recommended course of action for every BMAT practice paper

• Set a timer (1 h for Section 1, 30 min for Section 2) and start doing the paper.
• Stop doing the paper once time is up and mark out which questions were not attempted. Start a stopwatch and complete all remaining questions.
• Add up the total time taken and record this on your paper.
• Mark your paper. Use the score conversion provided with the answer key to obtain your BMAT score (leaving out all questions not attempted within the time limit). Record this together with your raw score on your paper.
• Review your mistakes and any questions you were unsure of.

Step 4: Familiarise with BMAT Section 3

Section 3: Writing Task is the where preparation may seem the most futile. You can, however, take concrete steps towards improving your score. The first is to get a good idea of what the task demands.

Read through the Section 3 marking criteria

Reading the Section 3 marking criteria gives you a general idea of how you’re being graded. You should be getting A for “quality of English”, although 5 for “quality of content” is much harder to attain.

Read sample BMAT essays

I didn’t find the sample responses given on the BMAT website extremely helpful. (They give three samples with examiner comments, graded 3.5A, 2.5A, and 3A – not exactly the scores you should be aiming for.)

You can read those, taking note of the examiner comments. But also try sourcing for “model essays” that you can emulate. (You may want to borrow books from seniors or the library to ensure quality and not waste any money.)

Step 5: Try writing a few BMAT essays

Confession: I think I only wrote one complete BMAT essay for practice. This is because I half-thought it a waste of time and effort since the questions we’re getting will be entirely different anyway.

But if you do try, time yourself (30 min) and print out the single-page Section 3 answer sheet to simulate the actual test. Also, I’ve compiled all the BMAT Section 3 questions available on the BMAT website (2004 to 2020, and Specimen) into one document for easy reference.

Insider’s advice: There is usually one “medical” question. It might be a good idea, therefore, to target that question specifically. That is to say, read up on medical issues or some recent medical news so that you’ll have some ideas for points to write, plus evidence to substantiate – no matter what question comes out. Don’t try to “prepare” content for anything else; the questions can be about anything.

P.S. I was sort of going with the above approach. I did try to read up before the test. In the end, the 2019 “medical” question turned out to be: “ Teamwork is more important for surgical innovation than the skills of an individual surgeon .” Well. So another piece of advice: just use common sense and prior knowledge (e.g. content you remember from GP).

List of free downloads on this page

• BMAT Biology Specification – Not in O-Level Syllabus
• BMAT Biology Specification – Not in A-Level H2 Syllabus
• BMAT Physics Specification – Not in O-Level Syllabus
• BMAT Physics Specification – Not in A-Level H2 Syllabus
• TLM Biology Notes Relevant Sections for BMAT
• BMAT Section 3 Past Papers

List of recommended resources for BMAT preparation

Free online resources.

• BMAT | Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing – the official BMAT website
• BMAT practice papers | Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing – 17 past papers from 2019 to 2003 and one Specimen paper (explained answers provided for 2014 and Specimen)
• BMAT Section 1 guide | Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing – 7 example questions for Section 1 which you can work through to familiarise with the types of questions that can be asked, before doing the practice papers
• BMAT Section 2 guide | Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing – the amazing ‘textbook’ (notes) covering all the required content knowledge for Section 2

(Almost no other resources are offered for free. Neither are they half as good as those you can access for free from the official BMAT website, as listed above.)

Books (completely optional)

• How to Master the BMAT by Chris Tyreman and Christopher See
• Mastering the BMAT by Christopher Nordstrom, George Rendel, and Luke Baxter

(Books are not necessary. However, if you want to get any books then just stick to one of these two. You don’t have to get “700 BMAT questions” or any books of the sort since you won’t even finish all the practice papers on the BMAT website anyway.)

How to prepare for BMAT Section 3

UPDATE: Please note that CAAT have announced they will no longer be administering the BMAT in 2024, for 2025 entry. Cambridge University has announced that they will be using the UCAT as an admissions indicator. Oxford University are to announce admissions test changes in Spring 2024.

BMAT Section 3: What is It?

In BMAT Section 3, you will be provided with three essay titles. You will then have to choose one out of the three titles to write an essay that is not longer than the length of more than one side of an A4 paper. 

Each essay title takes the following format: 

• A provocative sentence or opinion
• Three prompts (included in the question) to guide your writing

Here is a question from Section 3 of the 2020 BMAT paper as an example: 

‘Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.’

To what extent is it possible for someone to hold power without using it for their own personal gain? 

Explain the reasoning behind this statement. Argue that power does not necessarily degrade or weaken the morals of those who hold it.

As per the prompts in the question, you should explain the statement first and then offer an oppositional argument in your answer. After this, you will need to weigh both sides of the argument and come to your own conclusion. This is the most typical structure, and it serves as a general guide for answering the question, but there can be different variations. Hence, do not be startled if a question does not fit this structure exactly!

As you only have one side of an A4 piece of paper to work with, you would not be required to write a lot. Furthermore, you also have a time restriction of 30 minutes. Hence, when writing your essay, keep the time and space restriction in mind in case you run out of time or space.

What kinds of titles might I anticipate for BMAT Section 3 essays?

As stated on the BMAT website, Section 3 of the BMAT “measures the competence to create ideas and to present them effectively in writing”. This means that Section 3 of the BMAT is not a knowledge-based exam, and therefore there is no specific content that you will need  to revise or memorise. They could test anything under the sun, so do not make the mistake of trying to revise every topic that you come across in past papers as this would be a waste of valuable revision time! Instead, you can focus on revising general essay writing techniques such as how to structure your essay well or how to form a strong argument. 

With such varied possibilities, how can you anticipate what essay titles will come up in the exam? While there is no set syllabus for BMAT Section 3, you can get an idea of the style of questions by looking at past papers available online. You will notice that in each past paper, there is often one question related specifically to healthcare, one on science in general, and one that focuses on a topic completely unrelated to medicine, such as human nature, society, or politics.

In terms of choosing which topic to answer, your natural inclination may be to choose the question on medicine or science, since this topic would be more familiar to you. However, these questions could contain terminology that you might not be familiar with, or have aspects of the question that you do not understand. On the other hand, the non-medicine or scientific essay titles could be a lot broader. This could make these questions easier to answer, as you will have a wider range of examples to choose from. Hence, the tip is to not go into the exam expecting to answer a specific topic. Instead, you should try to be open-minded. This means to carefully read through all the questions, and choose your question based on what you think you can answer best. A good way of judging which question you can answer best is by quickly brainstorming points and examples for each question title. The question that you are able to come up with the most points and examples for will likely be your best choice. 

How is Section 3 of the BMAT scored?

Two examiners will grade your essay, and each will assign two scores. One score, from 0 to 5, is given for content, which includes your display of logic, how effectively you responded to the prompts, the way your argument is structured, and how you utilise examples to support your claims. The other grade, from A to E, is for your quality of English, including vocabulary, sentence structure, syntax, and spelling.

The marks from the examiners are then averaged. For an extreme example, 4A from one and 3C from the other would result in a 3.5B (Most examiners usually would give each essay a similar grade). The highest possible grade is a 5A. 

Less than 10% of applicants scored 4 or higher in 2020, with the average content score being 3. More than 70% of applicants received an A for English proficiency. A good score is generally a score of 3A or higher.

How can I get ready for the BMAT Section 3?

One of the best methods to get ready is to try previous examination papers or sample essay questions. You may wish to start your preparation without a time constraint, in order to familiarise yourself with your answering style and how you approach the question, but you should definitely practise writing under timed conditions closer to the exam date. You should also practise answering these questions in the sample response sheet, in order to get a sense of how much space you have available. This is because in the actual examination, you must fit whatever you wish to write onto the available one-sided A4 page of the test sheet as no extra pages would be given. After writing your essays, you should seek feedback by asking someone to read your essays, as they may point out any areas that need improvement that you might not have otherwise noticed on your own.

If you would like to learn case studies that you can use as examples in your essays, it would be useful for you to read more broadly about ethics, science, and current events. Using examples in your essay will improve your responses and consequently the grade that you would receive, but be careful to not use them excessively. Do not include every example that you can think of in your answer. A good general rule of thumb is to support every point that you have with only 1-2 examples and to cite these examples in a clear and succinct way such that it supports your point, instead of being your point.

A tip for memorising is to choose case studies that you are already aware of or would be memorable to you, for example case studies that are related to a personal interest or something you have studied at school. You can then summarise your chosen case studies on flash cards in a concise way, such as in bullet points, and memorise using these flashcards. Avoid trying to memorise too many case studies – quality is definitely better than quantity. If you can memorise a smaller number of case studies that you can apply to lots of different types of questions, such as a medical ethics case study that was in the news, this would be a more effective use of your revision time.

How will universities utilise my Section 3 score?

Each university that requires the BMAT uses BMAT scores differently. This is the case for Cambridge – they weigh your application as a whole, considering aspects of your interview, predicted or achieved grades, as well as your BMAT. That being said, having too low of a BMAT score could jeopardise an offer from Cambridge, but there is no specific cut-off that they use. 

On the other hand, Oxford is more straightforward with its usage of BMAT scores. They would calculate a composite BMAT score, with Section 3 making up a certain percentage of that score. After that, they set a cutoff below which candidates are not invited for an interview. Specifically, Section 3 makes up 20% of this composite BMAT Score, with quality of content being weighted twice as heavily as quality of english. Keep in mind that they also weigh GCSEs equally with your overall BMAT score when determining interview readiness!

It’s crucial to verify the website or prospectus of each BMAT medical school you’re thinking about applying to since these methods might also alter from year to year. The BMAT portion of our guide to medical schools includes information on how each score is used to choose applicants.

Essays from Section 3 may potentially be utilised as talking points during yout interview. Candidates at UCL, for instance, are frequently requested to examine and elaborate on their writings. On the BMAT examination day, you should take notes regarding the questions you answered and the things you wrote. Otherwise, you may not remember much by the time interview offers are sent out! 

BMAT Section 3: Top Tips

BMAT Section 3 essay writing represents an intimidating final hurdle for many BMAT takers. Given the time and space limitations (30 minutes, one side of A4), savvy exam techniques are essential to maximising your score.

1. Answer the question – all of it!

Do not, whatever you do, fail to answer the question in its entirety. This means more than just sticking to the title – it includes addressing all three prompts and giving proper attention to each. This is due to the marking criteria, which makes it challenging for an examiner to give a response of a score higher than 2 if it does not fully address the topic – even if it is an amazing essay! This is because it could be a good essay, but it is not an essay that answers the question. Hence, this means that even if you write a perfect essay but you do not cover all the prompts that they have asked, you would still get a low score.

2. Select the question that you can best answer

Although it may seem like a piece of obvious advice, applicants frequently remark that they struggle to select which title to choose. You should base your choice of question on your ability to answer the question – that is, choose the one for which you can offer the strongest justifications and arguments. Do not choose a title just because you have heard the statement before or because you can immediately think of one particular case. Furthermore, do not feel inclined to choose the science or medicine-related question. Examiners do not favour answers that are scientifically related, as they are marking based on your argumentation skills!

The most important thing to remember is to exercise caution if you are able to answer two of a question’s prompts but lack the ability to answer the final and third prompt, because you are unable to entirely grasp what it means or because you simply do not have anything to say about it. In such a case, be wary of this and do not choose that particular question, no matter how compelling your arguments for the first two prompts would be. This is because in order to thoroughly answer the question, it is crucial that you address all three prompts in your response.

3. Develop your planning skills

You have undoubtedly heard the advice to wait until you have a clear strategy before beginning to write before. This advice is crucial for Section 3, as if you do not plan well, you would find yourself struggling to think of examples mid-way through the examination, and may run out of time.

When planning, use the question sheet instead of the lined answer sheet for this – you need all the space available for your response! Your planning should take around 5-15 minutes. Some candidates prefer a longer planning time because they believe that with a solid framework in place, writing will be done more quickly. However, ultimately how much time you take should depend on you. Your decision on how much time you should allocate can be fine-tuned by doing past year papers and figuring out what works for you. However, take note to not exceed 15 minutes in planning, otherwise, you would run out of time to write your actual essay.

In your planning, you should plan for the structure of your essay. Divide it into the three or four paragraphs you will write, each of which will respond to one of the three questions. Each paragraph you have planned should represent a different part of your argument and be linked to the examples you intend to use.

4. Practice using realistic test circumstances

This is a wonderfully practical method for preventing terrible timing errors on the big day. Create a specific 30-minute timetable that suits you as much as possible, and make sure that this includes time for question selection, planning, writing, and editing. 

Afterwards, set up examination-like conditions where you would attempt the BMAT Section 3 questions in only 30 minutes. You can download past year papers from the official Cambridge Admissions Assessment Testing website, and it would be ideal for you to not look at the papers before your stimulated examination practice. You could also go one step further and try the BMAT examination as a whole, where you not only practise Section 3 on its own but with Sections 1 and 2 as well. This will simulate the nature of the actual exam.

It is recommended to print off blank sample answer sheets from the BMAT website because they give less space than an average side of A4.

5. Definitely include examples in your essay

The importance of using examples to support your claims in BMAT Section 3 essays is frequently stressed. This is because the use of examples is included in the marking scheme, hence this would directly improve your grade. However, simply including examples in your answer would not help you improve your score – you have to use them appropriately as well.

Your examples should only be used to support your arguments, and they should also be sufficiently detailed. Do not fall into the common pitfall of overly describing your example – this would cause your paragraph to detract from the main point, as well as take up valuable space and time. On the other extreme, you should also avoid using examples that do not add weight to your point or are not relevant. A good guide is that your example should only take up 1-2 lines, and only describe them in a way that is relevant to the point that you are explaining.

6. Dig deeper if you find yourself having too little or too much space

If you frequently run out of space to complete your essay, either your handwriting is too big or you are attempting to cram too much information into your essay. 

On the other hand, if you find it difficult to write a page’s worth of text and your handwriting is not too small, attempt to phrase your essay using an appropriate structure. For example, you can have an introduction and conclusion paragraph, along with 3 middle body paragraphs. Each body paragraph could answer each of the prompts in the question, and be of around 6-7 lines. You could even have a structure for your individual body paragraphs, such as starting it off with a point, followed by an example, before elaborating on that example and finally linking it back to your original point. Having a good structure helps you to avoid missing out on key details, and it also helps you to communicate your ideas in a succinct and readable manner. 

7. Have an opinion or conclusion in your essay.

A solid BMAT essay will always weigh the arguments in favour of and against the thesis and have an opinion in the conclusion. This is because the grading requirements for a score of 5 state that a good essay will “lead to a convincing synthesis or conclusion.”

This will require more depth than just declaring complete support for either side of the argument. Having a conclusion also does not mean simply restating your ideas from our earlier body paragraphs. Instead, you should try and give your opinion on which side of the argument you favour, and briefly explain why. Afterwards, it would be good to include exceptions or situations where you might not necessarily agree on that side. 

8. Always check your work

You should try and set aside 5-10 minutes at the end of your allocated time for Section 3 for final grammar and spelling checks. This is to avoid any simple grammatical or punctuation errors that would otherwise compromise the readability of your essay. Furthermore, you can also take this time to embellish your essay with any adverbs that can help strengthen your argument.

When attempting practice papers for BMAT, use this approach instead of only checking your essay on the actual examination itself. This is because practising it beforehand would allow you to identify and resolve any common grammatical or spelling mistakes. You will then need to check less on the day of the BMAT exam as you will hopefully make fewer errors and be quicker at checking for spelling and grammar mistakes. 

9. Ask for feedback on your practice essays

You should always ask someone to review your practice essays in order for them to point out any areas of suggestions that you would not otherwise be aware of. They could mark your Section 3 BMAT essays using the mark scheme that is available online, as well as comment on how well your ideas flow or how well they answer the question. If you do not have anyone that you are able to ask, look no further than Medic Mind for knowledgeable BMAT tutors who can provide you with precise score estimates! Otherwise, anybody who is familiar with the Section 3 marking standards would be a good place to start, and these could be your friends, family, instructors, and neighbours.

10. Understand the mark scheme

You should study the mark scheme for BMAT Section 3, which is available on the official Cambridge Admissions Assessment Testing website. This is to allow you to understand what is the best way to score. 

Furthermore, it would allow you to understand the expectations of the marker, which could allow you to relax as the standards might not be as high as you think! For example, the expectations for the English language are rather modest, and you would have more freedom to use simple language. Instead, you might realise that it would be more advantageous to focus on argumentation strategy rather than memorising vocabulary!

11. Be more flexible in taking into account other viewpoints

Your capacity to weigh numerous points of view and present them in a clear and cogent manner is what is being tested on the BMAT Section 3 exam. Hence, you should be able to consider how the subject could affect many groups of people, such as that of patients, physicians, and the general public. You can also further analyse the consequences to stakeholders in your essay by relating how a certain situation might benefit one group but harm another. This would allow you to have a wide range of information and perspectives to draw on.

12. Keep up to date with social and medical concerns

Generally speaking, the writing assignments in Section 3 have a broad scientific or medical focus. Hence, try to stay up to date on the news, paying special attention to stories on science and medicine. You can even incorporate this into your everyday life by talking about these articles with your loved ones so that you can learn other viewpoints and practice expressing yourself. Doing this will make it simpler for you to write down your views in an essay format, and pick up examples or perspectives you might not originally have thought of.

BMAT Section 3 is a written essay component of the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) used by some universities as part of the admissions process for medical and veterinary schools. It assesses a candidate’s ability to articulate their thoughts and opinions on a given topic within a specified time limit.

To prepare for BMAT Section 3, it is important to practice writing essays within the time limit provided. You should also familiarize yourself with the structure and content of the test by reviewing past papers and sample questions. Additionally, you can improve your critical thinking and argumentation skills by reading widely and engaging in discussions or debates.

To write a successful BMAT Section 3 essay, it is important to read the question carefully and plan your response before beginning to write. You should also structure your essay in a clear and logical manner, using evidence and examples to support your arguments. It is also important to demonstrate a depth of understanding of the topic and to consider different perspectives and potential counterarguments.

The topics presented in BMAT Section 3 can vary widely, but generally relate to current events, scientific or ethical issues, or broader social or political issues. Candidates should be prepared to analyze and provide thoughtful opinions on these topics within the allotted time.

Yes, there are many resources available to help candidates prepare for BMAT Section 3, including past papers and sample questions, online courses or tutoring services, and study guides or textbooks. It is important to choose resources that are reputable and aligned with the content and format of the BMAT.

BMAT Section 3 is scored based on the quality of the written essay. The essay is marked by two independent examiners who are trained to assess the quality of writing and content. The examiners assess the essay on four criteria: quality of content, quality of written English, the ability to organize and present ideas in a clear and logical manner, and the ability to show insight and critical thinking skills. Each criterion is given a score from 0.5 to 5.0, with a total score ranging from 2.0 to 10.0. The two scores are then combined to provide an overall score for the essay. The score for BMAT Section 3 is not directly comparable to scores in other sections of the BMAT or to scores on other admission tests. The score is used by universities as one of the factors in their admission decisions.

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