bmat section 1 problem solving

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BMAT Section 1 Guide – Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

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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.

Section 1 of the BMAT is, of course, your first step into the medicine admissions assessment. This section is all about Thinking Skills which, unlike Sections 2 and 3, you should be familiar with from the UCAT. They’re not identical though, so let’s take a look at everything you need to know to ace the first section of the BMAT!

The Basics of the BMAT

Since this guide is about Section 1, this might be your staring point for the BMAT entirely! We would highly recommend checking our BMAT Introductory Guide before going further here, but we’ll just go over the basics here as well.  

The BMAT is an admissions exam you sit if you’re applying to study Medicine, Biomedical Sciences or Dentistry at some universities. There are far fewer universities in the UK that require this exam compared to the UCAT (although there is a wide variety of international medical schools which require it). Therefore, depending on your medical school choices, you may not need to sit the BMAT if you are only applying to UCAT universities . Below you can find the full list of UK Medical Schools which require the BMAT:

As you can see, some of the top medical schools in the UK use the BMAT, including Oxford , Cambridge and UCL , so this clearly isn’t going to be an easy admissions test. You can learn more about how these universities use your BMAT score in our BMAT University Guide .  

BMAT Structure

The BMAT lasts a total of 2 hours and is split into three separate sections:

• Section 1 : Aptitude and Skills (32 questions, 1 hour)
• Section 2 : Scientific Knowledge and Applications (27 questions, 30 minutes)
• Section 3 : Writing Task (1 essay, 30 minutes)

Each Section is sat ‘separately’, so you do Section 1, and at the end of the hour, you hand in your paper. Then you get given Section 2 to do and so on. Calculators aren’t allowed during any part of the exam.

BMAT Time Pressure

The biggest challenge in the BMAT is the time pressure. The questions themselves are tough but certainly do-able if you had all the time you wanted. However, in the exam, you only get 112 seconds per question in Section 1.

That means you’ve got to be really ruthless with how you approach the exam. If a question looks tough, skip it and come back. If you’ve spent a minute barking up the wrong tree, just make the best guess and move on. There’s no negative marking, so you don’t need to spend ages on the first few questions only to run out of time and miss a load of easy ones at the end.

This change of mindset is something loads of students find really tough because it’s very different from exams you’ve done in the past. It goes against the natural instinct to want to try and get every question right. Those students who can appreciate it and change will be the ones who do better, so it’s important to get used to this.

How is the BMAT Scored?

The BMAT uses 2 separate marking methods; one for Sections 1 and 2 and one for Section 3. This is due to the different question types, as the first two sections are multiple-choice and Section 3 is an essay.  

BMAT Sections 1 & 2

These questions are initially marked based on the number of answers you get correct, creating your raw mark. There is no negative marking, so incorrect answers do not affect your score.  

Your raw marks are then converted into a BMAT score that sits on a scale between 1.0 and 9.0. Each section is marked separately, so you will have a seperate score for each (although some universities will combine these scores or convert these scores into their own ranking method). Also note that each section will have a different conversion table that changes from year to year.  

BMAT Section 3

As this is an essay, the marking isn’t as simple as counting the amount of correct answers. For the BMAT, a scoring format was create to rank both the quality of content and the quality of language:

When marking essays, two examiners are required to mark each one in order to avoid bias. If their scores differ by 1 point, the average of the two will be used (which is why you will see scores like 3.5A)  

All universities will consider Section 3 in some form, although some will not take the language ranking into account.  

To learn more about how the BMAT is scored, including how scores are converted and what would be considered a “Good BMAT Score”, check out our BMAT Scoring Guide.  

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What is BMAT Section 1?

We’ve briefly touched upon what you can expect from Section 1 of the BMAT, so now it’s time to go deeper!

What do we know already? Section 1 of the BMAT is a one-hour long test of thinking skills which sees you answering 32 multiple-choice questions. What do we mean by thinking skills though?  

  BMAT Section 1 is further split up into two parts focusing on two different skillsets. These are:

Critical Thinking

Problem solving.

These two question types will test you on very general skills that will be incredibly important in all aspects of the medical field. They cover verbal, logical and mathematical abilities which aren’t specific to any subject, meaning this section isn’t going to require any content knowledge.

BMAT Section 1 Scoring

Section 1 of the BMAT is scored out of 32 total marks which are converted to a scale from 1.0 to 9.0. This isn’t a linear scale and will change slightly from year to year based on a few different factors.

Take a look at the results from 2020 and 2021:

BMAT Section 1 Score Distribution Chart 2021

Bmat section 1 score distribution chart 2020.

In Section 1, 25% of test-takers scored between 5.0 and 6.1 and 10% of applicants scored over 6.2 in 2020 . Meanwhile, 2021 had a much narrower window of record scores, with ~63% achieving a score between 3.5 and 5.5. It’s uncommon to get higher than 6.0 in either section of the BMAT, but achieving a score on that level will be extremely valuable to your application.  

So, we’ve discussed just about everything in Section 1 of the BMAT, except the actual questions! So now it’s time to move onto what you need to study and prepare for, starting with critical thinking.  

BMAT Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking is an important skill for doctors and scientists. A lot of things in science are not known for sure, so the ability to understand and evaluate arguments is critical for you to form your own viewpoints. Therefore, admissions teams want to see applicants demonstrate these skills, hence it’s inclusion in the BMAT.

How do these questions work exactly? You’ll be given a block of text to read (usually 4-5 lines), making an argument for or against something. The topic could be anything, and while this can be a bit off-putting, everything you need to answer the question is in the passage, you don’t need your own knowledge. On that same note, even if you happen to be an expert on the topic, don’t bring in your own knowledge – the passage is all that matters and any external information will have no relevance to the question!

The topics can be on anything, but there are only 6 overall question types that you actually need to be prepared for. They are as follows:  

• [1] What is the main conclusion of the passage?

[2] What conclusion can be drawn from the passage?

[3] identify an assumption., [4] identify a flaw in an argument., [5] which statement strengthens/weakens the argument, [6] which option parallels the reasoning used in the above argument/best illustrates the principle underlying the argument (logic)..

The best way to effectively explain how these work is to look at some practice questions and worked solutions, so let’s get straight into it!  

BMAT Critical Thinking Practice Questions and Worked Solutions

[1] what is the main conclusion.

The conclusion here is given to you at the end of the passage. ‘Social media…has undermined democracy’ is analogous to ‘democracy has been made weaker by the use of social media’.

It won’t always be as clear cut, and sometimes the conclusion will be embedded in the middle of the passage.

The most common incorrect answer students put here is B, and this shows how you really need to pick out the information in the passage and be specific.

Yes, social media is technological development, but the passage states that the internet helped democracy by empowering people, and there’s no way from the passage to tell the relative impacts.

This is a common theme that will come up time and time again. Look for the most specific conclusions, rather than grand sweeping statements. The bigger the statement, the more likely an assumption or a flaw is undermining it.

Let’s look at what we’ve been told.

• cVJD is a brain disease caused by eating infected beef
• Infected cows aren’t around anymore
• The gene to do with cVJD has three combinations
• Everyone who died of cVJD had MM until last year -> so this is going to be the bad variant
• One person with MV died
• 38% of the population has MM and 51% has MV variants

Now let’s look at the options.

Taking it right back to basics, what is an assumption?

An assumption is something that, although unstated, needs to be true for an argument to be valid. Looking at the passage, there are two parts to the argument for police body cameras.

First is that cameras encourage better police behaviour to the public. Statement 1 would be an assumption underlying this – if you read it through, the level of force the police use must sometimes be excessive, or else they wouldn’t need to be filmed.

Likewise, with the second part which states body cameras are better because officers must warn everyone that they are being filmed, this would only be necessary if the public weren’t aware bystanders were filming them, making statement 3 a true assumption.

The correct answer is C.

Often these questions look a bit intimidating, but simplicity is key. This is a classic example where one experience is used to justify a viewpoint.

Often, the flaws are things we talk about in science all the time – not doing repeats to ensure reliable results and saying something is true or false all the time (which is really hard to prove).

There are two parts to these questions, but hopefully, they’re reasonably straightforward.

First, you need to understand what the passage is arguing. In this case, rugby and other contact sports allow young people to channel their aggression, so that they aren’t going to be violent in the community/outside sport.

Then go through the statements and decide if they would strengthen or weaken the argument, as the question demands. Often the options will provide more information or clear up an assumption.

Statement 1 supports the argument, as it says rugby is the only form of controlled aggressive sport you could play in school.

Statement 2 also supports the argument, as it gives more weight to the point that without rugby, young people will be violent in the street.

Statement 3 weakens the argument as it says that rugby is the only school sport where head or spinal cord injuries are possible, so there must be better ways for children to be active.

The key sentences in this passage are the last two: If the prince’s whereabouts had remained a secret, the level of risk could have been managed.

But since his whereabouts were not a secret, risk management was not possible’. There’s a couple of ways you could run with this.

One would be to try and draw parallels between the options.

Here, the tide is analogous to the prince, and the island is the risk. The tide being out is like the prince’s whereabouts being known, and if the tide is out the island can be reached (aka the prince is at risk).

So therefore, if the tide isn’t out, the prince’s whereabouts aren’t known, and the island and the prince can’t be reached.

This might not work for you, and that’s OK, find what works for you!

If you’ve got a bit of time before the exam, it’s worth having a look at some logic stuff, it’s really interesting and it’s quite handy to know some when you debate mates studying philosophy!

Otherwise, just go through the past papers and find a way that works for you, and again remember we aren’t aiming for full marks. Think tactically, if it doesn’t seem obvious just guess and move on. You lose nothing and the time you gain might help you answer the rest of the questions.

This last question type is a bit more uncommon than the other 5, as from time to time the examiners like to chuck in a more out-there logic puzzle.

Don’t worry if you’ve never studied philosophy or logic formally before, you can still work it out your own way, just have a think and remember if you aren’t getting anywhere after a minute or so just guess and move on.

BMAT Critical Thinking Tips

Here are a few tips to help you in your during Critical Thinking questions:

• Always read the question first. In some exams similar to this, advice is to not read the passage at all and go straight to the question. The passages in the BMAT aren’t long, so it’s still worth going through them, but it’s always best to read the question first, as you will then be able to look for anything relevant when reading the passage.
• Stick to what the question asks. If the question is asking about the conclusion to be taken from the passage, you’re more than likely going to find this at the end, so focus on analysing there.
• Use process of elimination. Be sure you understand all of the options in the answer key, and rule out options as you analyse the passage to make the final decision easier.
• Don’t spend too much time. Remember, you don’t have too much time per question here, so don’t spend ages trying to decide between two options. If you really can’t figure out which is correct, just make a guess to give yourself a chance of gaining the mark.

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BMAT Problem Solving

This is generally regarded as the second part of the BMAT, although there isn’t any actual order or separation to the question in the exam paper, so neither part is first or second!  

Problem Solving sounds like an incredibly generic category that could cover almost anything, but thankfully it’s not that broad. Problem Solving questions in the BMAT are essentially numerical based questions that require some form of mathematics or spacial reasoning to solve. This isn’t pure mathematics that your would see in a typical maths exam, as each problem is scenario based and requires situational context in order to answer correctly.  

But how does this relate to medicine? Being a doctor is all about solving problems. A patient comes to you with a variety of signs and symptoms, and from this limited information, it’s up to you to come to a diagnosis. Whilst in the BMAT, they can’t get you to diagnose patients but they can test your ability to solve problems where the information isn’t all there and the approach to the problem is hidden.

The question types are generally much more varied than the Critical Thinking questions, but they can be separated into three broad categories:

• ‘Classic’ Problem Solving
• Interpreting data from tables and graphs
• Spatial reasoning

An important thing to note is they’ve removed a question style. Previously, you could get given a large block of text with some figures and be asked a set of questions on the data. Keep an eye out for this when you do past papers.

As with Critical Thinking Questions, it’s best to discuss these in the context of actual questions and solutions.

BMAT Problem Solving Practice Questions and Worked Solutions

Let’s start with the “classic” Problem Solving questions you may face in the BMAT. What does this mean exactly? Essentially they are questions that will require you to use verbal and numerical information to work out some form of quantity or sum. This could relate to anything from time to money to something random like ‘bins’, as you’ll see in the first question!

[1] "Classic" Problem Solving Worked Question

The biggest tip for Problem Solving is diagrams are your best friend!

The questions in the BMAT are written to be confusing, to hide the information you need, and to put everything in the wrong order that you need.

Trying to arrange all the information in your head, and solve the question is basically impossible and you’ll likely get into a muddle and use up your 100 seconds.

Make diagrams and arrange the information in a way you can use it. For example, a diagram for this question might look like this:

We are told that there are two bins by each seat, so starting from the seat at the start of the walk there are 5 bins in the 400m until the next seat. If the walk is 3.2km long, then there will be 8 lots of 5 bins, plus 2 bins for the seat at the end of the walk, giving a total of 42 bins.

You may be thinking “do I really need to draw a diagram of that, won’t it take too long and it seems a pretty straightforward question”, but the key to the BMAT is exam technique, more so than any exam you’ll have sat before.

The more you practise these questions, the quicker you’ll become at spotting the patterns they use and drawing suitable diagrams. If you just start by drawing a diagram, you won’t waste time deciding whether you need to draw a diagram.

[2] "Classic" Problem Solving Worked Question

It’s for questions like this that drawing diagrams becomes essential. There’s a lot of information to take in here. The key bits to me are the floors on the list, the direction of travel and the time taken.

A good diagram looks like this:

First, the floors have been written in order, so it becomes clear which way the lift will move.

Next, the travel times between floors have been added.

From floor 11, the lift is going to go first to floor 15, as it’s the closest floor.

From 15, floors 6 and 24 are both 9 floors away, however, the lift will continue up to 24 because it is in the direction the lift was previously travelling.

Then the lift will go down to 6, then to 4.

The question wants to know the total time elapsed to travel from floor 11 to floor 4. It takes 3 seconds to travel up or down one floor, so from floor 11 to floor 14 it will take 12 seconds. The lift will stop each floor for 9 seconds.

Totalling up all the time, we get 12 + 9 + 27 + 9 + 54 + 9 + 6 = 126 seconds

Next there are Table and Graph questions. This one is pretty self-explanatory; you’re going to need to use data from a table or graph to answer a question relating to situation the data is based on.  

[1] Tables And Graphs Worked Question

Starting with the table, the headings show 5 people and the times they enter and leave the office.

Draw a table showing the time each person was in the office between the hours of 10 and 12, and you’ll see Sanna is clearly ahead.

It’ll look something like this:

But an even quicker way would be to look at the time each person was not in the office.

Sanna is not in the office for just 16 minutes, and then working down the list you can see each person has a spell longer than 16 minutes out of the office, so without doing any calculations you can see Sanna is in the office the most.

This is another great trick as there’s often a shortcut you can use – the purpose of these questions is to test your ability to come up with novel calculations and solutions, so be aware that there’s often a better, less obvious way to do these questions.

[2] Tables And Graphs Worked Question

The key here is to not get bogged down reading all the data in the table.

Read the headings, to understand what data you’ve been given, and then read the question to find out what you need to know.

Here, the headings are mobile phone use, a list of people and time spent. The question wants you to pick the person whose mobile phone use matches the pie chart.

By eye, you can see the pie chart splits into 2 1/3rds, 1 1/6th and 2 1/12ths, so the minutes need to be 2 lots of x, 1 lot of 2x and 2 lots of 4x.

Going back to the table, Dolly would fit this (2 lots of 20, 1 lot of 40, 2 lots of 80).

[3] Tables And Graphs Worked Question

This is another question with a lot of information.

Skimming through highlighting the key points, we have the cost of pizzas, details of promotional discounts, a clarifying statement, and a pizza order.

The question asks for the cheapest possible cost of the pizza, so work backwards through the data.

Add another column to the table with the final cost of each pizza including toppings.

There are 7 pizzas, so from the promotions, you can get 1 free and 1 half price.

There are no restrictions, so the best way to save money is to make the most expensive pizza free and the second most expensive pizza half price.

This means the final cost is $5 + $8 + $6 + $8 + $9 + $5 = $41.

Lastly there are Spacial Reasoning questions. These ones require a slightly different outlook, as you’re going to be solving problems based on visuals elements. Typically, you’re going to need to provide the correct interpretation of a shape or visual element based on the examples provided to you. Let’s take a look at a question:

[1] Spatial Reasoning Worked Question

The first thing to do is work out what you’re looking at, and which dice is which.

• We are told that on one dice the faces add to 5 and on the other, the faces add to 9.
• We can see 3 and 2 are not opposite each other on the left dice, so that must be the one adding to 9
• Likewise, we can see 5 and 4 are not opposite each other on the right dice so that must be the one adding to 5.

Now we can work through the options, first working out which dice it is and then whether it’s a possible view.

A and B both have the same arrangement of 3 and 2, so are the 9 dice.

We can also immediately eliminate them as options because we know that the 3 and 2 make an arrow towards 5.

C must be the 5 dice, as it has a 1. This view does match up with the dice, so C is the correct answer.

D must be the 9 dice and is incorrect as the 6 should be a 3. E must be the 5 dice and is incorrect because the 3 should be a 2.

Another trick you could use here is to draw out nets.

It’s really common for them to give you cubes or tetrahedrons to interpret, so if you can quickly draw out a net that can really help you visualise the problem.

You might feel silly ripping up a piece of paper in the exam, but nothing is stopping you and if it means you get that extra mark it’s definitely worth it!

BMAT Problem Solving Tips

Here are a few tips to help you solve these BMAT problems:

• You won’t have a calculator, so be sure to practice your mental arithmetic. Look out for numbers that multiply or divide easily, often that’s a hint you need to use them.
• For questions with graphs and tables, start with the headings. This will help you hone in what you need to look out for in the data.
• Cubes and tetrahedrons come up all the time for spatial reasoning, so make sure you’re comfortable in your understanding of them in this context.

That covers all the questions you can expect to see in Section 1 of the BMAT! Exams like these can either be somewhat easy or very difficult depending on the type learner you are. Some people are going to be able to click with this logical manner of thinking pretty quickly, while others may require more practice. It’s not a topic that can be revised for in the traditional sense that you’re likely used to, as their’s no facts to learn or formulas to memorise; it’s all about your method of thinking.

• The majority of your preparation is going to be practice questions and past papers, so do as many of these as you can. You’ll find over 6,000 practice questions available at BMAT.Ninja to try!
• Don’t be afraid to make notes and draw diagrams, as this will allow you to make better sense of the information in the question. Practice doing this quickly so you don’t use up too much time.
• The best way to solve a question may not be immediately obvious, keep an open mind when you’re reading the question.
• To do really well at the BMAT you don’t need full marks, play the game and you’ll do fine!

That’s a lot of stuff to go through in one go! But that’s only 1/3rd of the exam, so be sure to check out our other BMAT Section guides to get a better understand of the whole thing:

No matter who confident you are in the BMAT, getting support is always a good idea in order to boost your chances of success. 6med’s BMAT Bundle will give you everything you need to get a great score in the exam. Or you can guarantee your place in medical school with our Complete Bundle , which guides you through your Personal Statement, UCAT, BMAT and Interview, all in one place!

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• The Complete BMAT Section 1 Guide

Last Updated: 25th May 2018

Author: Rohan Agarwal

Table of Contents

As of 2024, the BMAT will no longer operate for Medicine applicants. Applicants for all UK medical schools will be required to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) for 2025 Entry. Find out more in our BMAT/UCAT 2025 Guide .

BMAT Section 1 is renowned for being difficult to prepare for, but there are powerful shortcuts and time-savers you can use.

This section is considered difficult to prepare for because it does not feature traditional required knowledge as you would find in the majority of tests taken during your education. Instead, it tests you on a variety of general Thinking Skills, hence the name, which do not specifically relate to medicine or science. 

However, while revising through textbooks is mostly unhelpful here, there is still plenty you can do to practice and prepare for the test. This guide will explain the basics of Section 1 and provide you with tips on how to succeed. Let’s get started: 

BMAT Section 1: Thinking Skills Overview

Bmat section 1 timings.

32 questions | 60 minutes

You have approximately 112.5 seconds per question; this may sound like a lot but given that you’re often required to read and analyse passages or graphs – it can often not be enough. Nevertheless, this section is not as time-pressured as Section 2 so most students usually finish the majority of questions in time. The people who fail to complete Section 1 are those who get bogged down on a particular question and waste time.

Here’s an example of a typical BMAT Section 1 Thinking Skills question taken from our Medicine Programme , where you can get access to thousands of practice questions, solutions and much more. The worked answer can be found at the bottom of this guide, attempt it and see how you do!

Be ready for the UCAT now that the BMAT has been removed. 

With the BMAT being removed, it is more important than ever to be prepared for the UCAT. At UniAdmissions, we are experts at boosting your UCAT score and maximising your chances of gaining a place to study Medicine.

Discover our  UCAT Programme  by clicking the button below to  enrol and triple your chances of success.

BMAT Critical Thinking

BMAT Critical Thinking questions require you to understand the constituents of a good argument and be able to pick them apart. The majority of BMAT Critical Thinking questions tend to fall into 3 major categories, which we will now explain in-depth.

Identifying Conclusions

What is a conclusion?

A conclusion is a summary of the arguments being made and is usually explicitly stated or heavily implied. It’s common for students to mix a conclusion up with a premise.

What is a premise?

A premise is a statement from which another statement can be inferred or follows as a conclusion.

Hence a conclusion is shown/implied/proven by a premise. Similarly, a premise shows/indicates/establishes a conclusion.

For example: My mom, being a woman, is clever as all women are clever.

Premise 1: My mom is a woman + Premise 2: Women are clever = Conclusion: My mom is clever.

Identifying Assumptions + Flaws

An assumption is a reasonable assertion that can be made on the basis of the available evidence.

 A flaw is an element of an argument that is inconsistent with the rest of the available evidence. It undermines the crucial components of the overall argument being made.

Consider for example: My mom is clever because all doctors are clever.

Premise 1: Doctors are clever. Assumption: My mom is a doctor. Conclusion: My mom is clever.

What if the mother was not actually a doctor? This argument would break down because the assumption is incorrect or flawed.

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Strengthening and Weakening arguments

You may be asked to identify an answer option that would most strengthen or weaken the argument being made in the passage. Normally, you’ll also be told to assume that each answer option is true. A good argument has three components:

Evidence | Logic | Balance

In order to strengthen or weaken an argument, look for points that tip the scales on any of these components. These questions are arguably the hardest to prepare for but there are useful techniques you can employ to solve questions more quickly. Two favourites are:

Construct Equations

This is essentially turning writing into numerical data. For example “Mark is twice as old as Jon” could be written as M=2J.

Drawing Diagrams

When a question asks about timetables, directions or sequences, you should draw a diagram. Look at the example below: the information is much easier to decipher when drawn out.

Tips and Tricks for BMAT Critical Thinking

• Don’t get confused between premises and assumptions. A premise is a statement that is explicitly stated in the passage. An assumption is an inference that is made from the passage.
• Though it initially sounds counter-intuitive, it is often best to read the question before reading the passage. Then you’ll have a much better idea of what you’re looking for and are therefore more likely to find it quicker.
• In some cases, you may not even need to read the passage in full. Usually they are fairly short, so reading through the whole thing doesn't take much time. But, if you're running low on time or find a longer passage with a lot of filler, it may be better to skim through it quickly to find the important details. Always assess this carefully though, and read through the passage in full if you aren't able to figure out the answer the first time.

BMAT Problem Solving

This is the second question type within Section 1 of the BMAT and can seem pretty generic on first impressions. In actuality, Problem Solving essentially means questions linking to mathematics, data interpretation and spatial awareness skills, the kind of things you would see in a typical maths test. These three skills actually make up the three categories of questions you will find in the paper, although the actual questions will be much more varied than the categories imply. 

Traditional Problem Solving

The first type of question here is the closest to a traditional mathematics question, although it doesn’t cover more complex topics such as Algebra or Geometry. 

Essentially, these questions will provide you with a selection of information and figures which you must use in order to determine a sum or quantity. The catch is that these questions are almost always scenario-based, meaning all the information you will be using is contextualised into a real-world situation rather than a basic equation. The answers will typically be presented in a real-world measure as well, be it time, currency, weight, etc. 

The issue you may find when working through these questions is finding the relevant information. These questions will usually provide more information than is necessary to find the answer, whether it be by adding extra people to the scenario or including red herrings in the figures provided. Part of the challenge of these questions is to determine what is important and what is not in order to get the questions right. 

Not every question will be a purely mathematical problem, as some will be more logic-based, requiring the process of elimination to determine the true or false statement or organise a selection of samples based on their requirements. 

Here’s an example question:

Michael, a taxi driver, charges a call our rate and a rate per mile for taxi rides. For a 4-mile ride, he charges £11 and for a 5-mile ride, £13. How much does he charge for a 9-mile ride?

The correct answer is E. 

Working algebraically, using the call out rate as C, and rate per mile as m.

So, C + 4m = 11

C + 5m = 13

Hence; (C + 5m) – (C + 4m) = £13 – £11

Substituting this back into C + 4m = 11

C + (4 x 2) = 11

Hence, C = £3

Thus, a ride of 9 mile will cost £3 + (9 x £2) = £21.

Tables and Graphs

As the name suggests, these questions are all about interpreting data from tables and graphs. Although the actual content of these won’t be too complicated, the challenge comes from the sheer amount of data you may have to work through and the limited amount of time you have to do so. 

If the Traditional Problem Solving questions sometimes provide you with unnecessary information, these questions always will. You are never going to need to use all of the data in the table for these questions, so you will need to read the question thoroughly in order to ensure yu understand exactly what you are looking for. 

The actual questions are usually written in a similar manner to the first kind, with the major difference being the larger amount of data you now need to sort through. You will also need to use basic arithmetic most of the time.  

Sarah has a jar of spare buttons that are a mix of colours and sizes. The jat contains the following assortment of buttons:

Sarah wants to use a 25mm diameter button but doesn’t mind if it is cream or yellow. What is the maximum number of buttons she will have to remove in order to guarantee picking a suitable button on the next attempt? 

E) None of the Above

The correct answer is A. 

The total number of buttons is 71 + 86 + 83 = 240. The total number of suitable buttons is 22 + 8 = 30. Thus, she will have to remove a maximum of 210 buttons in order to guarantee picking a suitable button on the next attempt.  

Spatial Reasoning Questions

These last questions are the most different out of the three as they are more dependent on visual capabilities compared to mathematical skill.

Essentially, these questions will task you with answering a question relating to an image or images of a shape. One common example of this is determining the correct image of a die based on example images. In this case, you would need to look at the numbers displayed on the side of the die to see which of the potential answers matches with the example. 

While mathematics can be involved in the questions sometimes, these are much more dependent on your ability to visualise a shape in order to determine a transformation or alternate view. You won’t be measuring angles or diameters here, you simply need to determine the correct answer based on the image you are provided. 

How many different positions can you place an additional tile to make a straight line of three tiles? 

The correct answer is C. 

Tiles can be added at either end of the 3 lines of 2 tiles horizontally or at either end of the 2 lines of 2 tiles vertically. This is a total of 10, but in two cases these positions are the same (at the bottom of the left-hand vertical line and the top of the right-hand vertical line). So, the answer is 10 – 2 = 8.  

Tips and Tricks for BMAT Problem Solving

• Calculators aren't allowed in the BMAT, so you will be limited to your own mental arithmetic. You're not going to need to calculate complex equations in your head, but poor mental arithmetic and really slow you down unnecessarily.
• You will often have to deal with three-dimensional shapes such as cubes during the spatial awareness questions, so make sure you revise the concepts behind these.
• When a question includes a graph or table, take a look at the heading first in order to help you understand exactly what you're looking at before analysis.

Finally, the worked solution to the example question at the start – how did you do?

Now that you know more about BMAT Section 1, it’s time to move on to Section 2 and Section 3 , so be sure to check out our expert guides for both. If you want to find out how you can triple your chances of BMAT success,  discover our BMAT Tuition Programme today and book a free consultation session. You can also view our collection of past papers for the BMAT to help you in preparation for upcoming admissions tests.

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10 Tips for Acing BMAT Section 1

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.

Ultimate Guide to the BMAT Section 1

Table of Contents

BMAT Section 1: What is it?

Section 1 of the BMAT lasts 60 minutes and it broadly tests candidates’ thinking skills, which is described by The Cambridge Admissions Assessment Testing as a test of general skills often required for undergraduate studies. For some candidates, Section 1 might seem like the hardest section and is their biggest obstacle in achieving a high BMAT result because it emphasises more abstract intellectual ability than scientific expertise. However, the silver lining is that Section 1 could instead help certain applicants pull up their BMAT scores, especially those who struggle with time restrictions. This is because there are only 32 questions in the test, and an hour to answer them. Hence, BMAT Section 1 could be advantageous with the proper preparation technique.

What kind of questions are tested?

For candidates who are more familiar with the older BMAT format, BMAT Section 1 has undergone slight changes since then. There are fewer questions than previously (down from 35), and questions relating to Data Analysis and Inference, which frequently included evaluating graphs and statistical data, are now no longer tested for future papers. These points would be handy to remember especially when practising BMAT past papers! 

However, although there have been some changes, most of the content and specifications remain the same. For example, no calculators are allowed for this section, all questions are multiple-choice, and the other type of questions still remain.

The 32 questions that would be tested in Section 1 can be categorised into two groups of 16 questions. The first type of question is that of problem solving, and the other type is critical thinking. The questions are not categorised by their type, but rather, they are organised in ascending order of difficulty. Hence, this means that there would be a mixture of questions from the two groups, with questions from the two groups interspersed throughout.

Problem Solving

This type of question examines four different ways in which you process numerical information:

• Selection of relevant information: This tests your ability to sieve through a large amount of data and eliminate information that may be redundant or irrelevant. You would then be required to derive conclusions from the relevant material. 
• Determining mathematical operations: Using a small amount of information, you would have to come up with a mathematical process and apply that to produce an answer.
• Finding similarity: You would be expected to analyse complementary data sources that are often presented in different ways, such as tables or various chart styles, identify parallels, and draw conclusions that are consistent amongst all the data sources.
• Spatial reasoning: You will be tested on your ability to identify how patterns or objects look in 3-dimensional space. 

Although no prior scientific or general knowledge is required, the BMAT Section 1 problem-solving tasks need the following fundamental mathematical abilities:

• Area, perimeter, and spatial understanding
• Being able to interpret graphs and tables
• Calculating averages and percentages

An example of a BMAT Section 1 Problem solving question that tests on Spatial reasoning is as below:

Critical Analysis

This tests your comprehension of key logical argument characteristics, specifically:

• Finding the Main Conclusion: From a paragraph given, you would have to identify what is its main purpose or point. This tests your ability to sieve through statements or sentences that are not the main point, and/ or your ability to understand statements that hint at the purpose of the paragraph even if it is not explicitly stated.
• Drawing a Conclusion: This tests your ability to internalise the information in a paragraph and interpret the meaning and point behind it. Even though the conclusion might not be explicitly stated in the paragraph, it would be consistent with the information given.
• Identifying an assumption: You would be required to find an assumption that is not mentioned but is assumed to be true, in order for the information presented to make sense. 
• Assessing the impact of new information: After reading and understanding the text provided, you would then be provided with an additional piece of information and you would have to determine if it would strengthen or weaken the existing argument. 
• Detecting reasoning errors: You would be made to find faults or incorrect underlying assumptions that prohibit the conclusion from making sense.
• Matching arguments: Between two different passages, you would have to find a logical process that is used in both texts. The logic would be parallel, even though it is employed in different situations. 
• Applying principles: This involves identifying the fundamental idea or principle in the passage and choosing an answer from the multiple choice that is consistent with it.

How do I prepare for BMAT Section 1?

Undoubtedly, the best method to prepare for BMAT Section 1 is to practise previous years’ examination papers and sample questions, ideally in a timed environment that stimulates examination conditions. Although no former papers completely reflect the new format due to the recent specification change mentioned before, you can simply skip the Data analysis and inference questions. This would still provide you with a bank of useful questions that are relevant and would help you hone your answering skills.

For some great tips and tricks on preparing for and scoring in BMAT Section 1, you can read our list of advice below. One important takeaway is that Section 1 preparation cannot be rushed and would be more useful if more time was allocated to it because it often requires more in-depth textual research than Section 2, which is more science-based. Feel free to ask one of our Medic Mind BMAT teachers for assistance if you are struggling with any part of either Problem solving or critical thinking.

How is BMAT Section 1 marked?

No marks are removed for wrong responses, and each question is worth one mark. The total raw marks are then converted to scores between 1.0 (low) and 9.0 (high).

The median score often falls in the range of 5.0 and would represent around half of the marks. Around 10% of test takers have a score of 6.0 or more, which is good, and very few applicants receive a score of 7.0 or higher. 9.0 is the maximum score that you can receive. However, as the scale is based on the range of marks of all the candidates, you can answer a few questions incorrectly and still score a 9.0!

What are your top tips for BMAT Section 1?

Section 1, which makes up half of the BMAT’s duration, can be somewhat scary, especially as it does not cover the same familiar territory as Section 2 in terms of scientific aptitude. Due to this, we have produced our top ten Section 1 tips.

1. Learn the rules of critical thinking

When preparing for Section 1 of BMAT, you should try and familiarise yourself with the features of logical arguments. This would allow you to recognise and identify them more easily when attempting the questions in Section 1. The features that would be tested have been outlined above, but you should take special care in understanding how to identify conclusions from supporting evidence that is given, how to identify assumptions and logical flaws, and how to identify strengths and weaknesses in an argument. 

Although some people think that critical thinking is abstract and generally an acquired skill, it is actually more than just a vague term. It is a legitimate academic field, and there are plenty of introductory books on the topic available in libraries and online. If you struggle with being able to do the questions in Section 1 of BMAT, feel free to approach us for 1-to-1 BMAT tutoring from our skilled BMAT tutors. 

2. Structure your reading properly

As Section 1 of BMAT is a timed examination, every minute counts and is precious. Hence, you should approach the examination by having a reliable method for answering questions that include lengthy text passages. For example, after reading the question, you can choose between reading the excerpt directly before or after the answer choices.

Both techniques have their advantages, and they should definitely be tailored to your learning and answering style, but we recommend reading the paragraph first. This is because it allows you to develop a response solely based on the passage, without having your judgement clouded by knowledge of the possible answers. Reading the multiple choices first may also cause you to forget what was in the passage, which is not ideal. Hence, always attempt multiple practice papers first to figure out a reading method that works for you to use on exam day.

3. Do not be thrown by large amounts of information

As mentioned earlier, from 2020, Section 1 will no longer contain questions that explicitly assess data analysis and inference. Although this would reduce the number of questions that test your ability to analyse large amounts of information, there are still questions that test this. For example, questions in Section 1 that have long passages will continue to test your ability to identify important details buried inside a sea of extra information.

Therefore, it is important to keep in mind that most of the information you receive will be meaningless and is just provided as a diversion. Hence, it is key for you to focus on the information that really matters and not be distracted.

4. Try and skim read when you can 

Building on the advice from the previous tip, we would strongly encourage you to develop the practice of skim reading. When we are under pressure, we often try to read every word of every sentence. This takes up valuable time that we cannot afford to lose, and is not even constructive as research has shown that it does not improve understanding.

Hence, you should try and maximise the amount of time you have whilst not compromising on your understanding by skim reading. You can do so by acquiring a quick overview of the information on your first read, before paying close attention to any keywords, and lastly, only focus more intently on the section of text or data set that contains the answer.

5. Practice Maths skills to help with problem-solving

Although simple arithmetic skills might sound like something that you are already familiar with, it is still important for you to review your timetables and basic arithmetic skills. For example, you should try practising basic mental mathematics such as the ability to square and cube numbers, as well as the ability to convert between decimals and fractions. This would not only help you save valuable time but would also prevent you from making any simple careless mistakes.

6. Use a process of elimination

Using the simple process of elimination would not only enhance your chances of being correct, it would also help you save valuable time as you would not need to go through the lengthy process of actually deriving the correct answer. It comes in particularly handy when the BMAT questions ask you to pick out combinations of true and false statements from a given selection.

7. Move straight on after answering a question

Rereading questions or checking them in order to ensure that you have answered them correctly before continuing might be tempting. However, this would only cause you to waste valuable time. Answering all the questions with a lower rate of accuracy would generally give you a higher score than answering half the questions with a higher rate of accuracy. 

Furthermore, as you are most likely to have answered correctly, the questions that you have already completed should be the last questions that you would want to look at again. This advice is included in our guidance for Section 2 of the BMAT, but it’s especially helpful for the lengthy and challenging questions of Section 1, which are best tried with a fresh set of eyes if you want to re-read them.

You can also check your answers once you have completed the whole section, in order to ensure that you have minimally filled in all possible answers!

8. Develop an overall game plan and stick to it

Make a schedule for how you will split your time in the examination and put it into practice. You can do so by calculating the average amount of time you intend to spend on each question and then establishing strict benchmarks for how many questions you must have answered by specific points in the test. You can also decide on whether or not you would like to factor in time for checking your answers into this schedule.

9. Find a revision strategy that works for you

Do not anticipate your Section 1 revision to be as effective as your Section 2 or A Level revision because, as a future doctor, you probably prefer statistics and charts over long blocks of text. Hence, in order to ensure that you are consistent with your revision, you can consider adding more breaks, developing a longer-term preparation approach, and being realistic about how much time you can devote to Section 1 each day.

10. Use the full range of practice materials

In order to improve, just like other examinations, you must practice, practice, and practice! The best way to do so is to use the official BMAT Section 1 sample papers that can be found on the official Cambridge Admissions Assessment Testing website, as well as the fully prepared mock questions and sample papers from Medic Mind. Last but not least, keep in mind that critical thinking talents are meant to be applicable to daily life: try using your newly acquired analytical skills to the argument made in newspapers and publications, or even in words from your friends and family!

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Guides & Info

BMAT Section 1: Practice Questions and 16 Expert Tips

BMAT will be withdrawn from 2024. Keep an eye on our TikTok channel and live updates article to find out what's happening with BMAT universities after next year.

BMAT Section 1 is known as 'Thinking Skills' and tests your critical thinking and problem solving skills against the clock.

To understand the whole exam, read this BMAT overview .

Here's a breakdown of BMAT Section 1.

Section 1 is often compared to the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections of the UCAT . You need considerable practice to master the timing. Practising for one of these exams will help you with the other.

This section requires excellent command of the English language and sharp mental maths skills, but does not generally exceed GCSE level.

Learn more about the differences between the UCAT and the BMAT.

NOTE: BMAT will take place on 18 October 2023 and will be a pen-and-paper test.

32 multiple choice questions in 60 minutes. 

The questions are a mixture of critical thinking and problem solving (a 50:50 split). There are five options for each question.

Timing differs between the sections, so learn about timing for BMAT Section 2 and BMAT Section 3 to ensure you're aware of the different sub-skills and specifications.

Problem solving questions

These are designed to assess your ability to select relevant information, identify similarity, and determine and apply appropriate procedures.

They require the use of basic maths operations:

• Simple fractions
• Percentages operations
• The four rules of number 
• Everyday calculations 
• Time and the calendar
• Basic measures

Tables and graphs

Types of problem solving questions

There are three main types of problem solving questions: relevant selection, finding procedures, and identifying similarity.

1. Relevant selection

You’ll be presented with lots of information and you have to work out the answer by picking out the relevant information.

2. Finding procedures

Sometimes all the information you have will be relevant to the question but you still can’t find the answer. 

For this type of question, you’ll have to work out what mathematical operations you need to perform to get your answer.

3. Identifying similarity

For this type of question, you’ll normally be given some information or data in the form of a table or a graph and you have to identify patterns and similarity in the data.  

Critical thinking questions

Critical thinking is a lot like UCAT Verbal Reasoning. You are given a large amount of text and have to reach a conclusion in a short amount of time. It’s important not to consider any prior knowledge of the topic you may have.

There are seven types of critical thinking questions:

1. Identifying the main conclusion

You’ll be given an argument and you have to identify which, out of the five options, is the main conclusion.

‍ 2. Drawing a conclusion  

You’ll be given a passage and then five conclusions. You need to identify which conclusion is best followed by the passage. This is different to identifying the main conclusion because the conclusion won’t be written in the passage.

‍ 3. Identifying assumptions 

You’ll be given an argument and you have to identify the assumption that has been made.

4. Assessing the impact of additional evidence 

You’ll be given an argument and you have to decide which out of the five options would strengthen or weaken the argument if it were true.

‍ 5. Detecting reasoning errors 

For this type of question, you need to find the flaw in the argument. 

6. Matching arguments

You need to choose an argument that matches the pattern or structure of the first argument.

7. Applying principles

You’ll be given an argument and you have to choose which of five statements best summarises the argument’s underlying principle.

How is BMAT Section 1 marked?

You’ll get a raw score out of 32, which will then be scaled into a score out of 9, with 9 being the maximum. Typically a good score is above 6 and exceptional students will get above 7.

To find out more, check out our article: What is a good BMAT score?

16 tips to prepare for BMAT Section 1

1. read the testing guide.

The testing guide has a lot of useful information about BMAT section 1. You’ll be able to use this information to improve your understanding of the section and of the style of questions. The testing guide also comes with worked examples. Use the worked examples to get an understanding of what examiners are looking for and how an examiner would approach the section.

2. Have a strategy

Critical thinking questions tend to be quite similar from year to year in the sense that there are only seven types of questions, as mentioned above, and there isn’t much variation within the question types. If you have strategies to nail each style of question, you’ll be in an excellent position to ace this section. 

3. Use the practice papers

The official BMAT website releases past papers from previous years to help guide your preparation. Doing the past papers will allow you to measure your progress. They’ll help you to see what kind of questions you need to focus on and how to tailor your plan. There are around 18 years worth of practice papers available to you on their site.

You could also do Section 1 practice papers of the TSA (Thinking Skills Assessment) . The questions for this section are very similar to questions in Section 1 of the BMAT. Doing these practice questions will mean that you have access to an even wider range of questions. 

4.  Be careful about which past papers you use

The content and style of exam questions have changed over the years. To get the most realistic understanding of how you’re doing, use the most recent papers. They’ll be closer to what you’ll face.

There are some specific changes to BMAT Section 1 from 2020:

• The number of questions has been lowered from 35 to 32 multiple choice questions. The length of time to answer them has not changed, so you get a bit longer to spend on each question.
• There will no longer be any long passages followed by four questions. It will still be multiple choice but with five options to choose from.
• Section 1 no longer includes the use of data analysis or inference questions.

5. Nail the maths

These are the maths skills you’ll need for the problem solving section.

Number concepts 

• Basic fractions 
• Place value 
• Percentages 

Numerical operations

• Subtraction 
• Multiplication 
• Percentage calculations
• Calculating means

Quantities 

• Times and dates 

- 1 km = 1000 m 

- 1 m = 100 cm 

- 1 cm = 10 mm 

- 1 kg = 1000 g

Space and spatial reasoning

• Working out information from graphs
• Working out information from tables

You won’t have a calculator in the BMAT so it’s important to be confident in your mental maths. This will help you save valuable time. Doing mental maths quizzes will help you work on your speed. 

6.  Estimation

To help speed up your mental maths, use estimation. If there are big differences between the answer options, then round the numbers you need to use to make the calculations easier.

Be careful how you are rounding. If you round all your answers up, then you might have a larger answer than the actual answer. If the differences between answer options aren’t that big, then don’t use estimation. For example, if the answer options are:

A) 1,000,000

B) 2,000,000

C) 3,000,000

D) 4,000,000

You can use estimation. But if the answer options are:

Then the differences are too small for you to use estimation.

7.  Know when to move on

It’s okay to not know the answer. The BMAT is supposed to be challenging and this section is no different. You don’t need to get every question right to do well in the BMAT. Some questions are there to slow you down. Don’t let them do their job. 

If you realise that the question is difficult, guess an answer, note the question number, and move on. This will make sure you can get through the whole paper. Once you’ve finished the section, you can then come back and use all the time you have remaining on the questions you’ve guessed.

8. Don’t use prior knowledge

If you see a passage on something you know really well, it can be tempting to use your own knowledge. You need to focus on what’s in the passage and the arguments in the passage.

For example, if a passage is discussing a scientific topic like sound waves, you need to make sure you set aside all the knowledge you have about sound waves and focus purely on the passage.

9. Question first, then passage

Read the question first and then read the passage. If you read the passage first, it’s likely you’ll have to read the passage again once you’ve read the question. This is just a waste of time. Reading the question first will keep you focussed on what you actually need to find.

Look for keywords in the question and scan for them in the passage. Once you’ve found the keyword in the passage, read a little above and below to understand the context.

10. Know your keywords

Although you won’t be tested on your knowledge of these words, knowing what they mean will help you to answer critical reasoning questions. 

• Conclusion: This is the summary of the argument that is being made.
• Premise: Statements that support or give a reason for the conclusion.
• Assumption: An idea that’s not stated in the passage that’s required for the conclusion to follow.

11. Don’t let the data scare you

It’s likely that you’ll be given a lot of information and a lot of data. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by it all. Remember, some problem solving questions are assessing your ability to pick out relevant information, so not all the information before you is relevant.

Quickly skim through the information. Reading the headings of graphs and tables will give you a good idea about what is involved in the data. 

12. Educated guesses

You don’t lose marks for incorrect answers, so it’s always worth guessing if you’re not entirely sure about the answer.

If possible, use the process of elimination to narrow down your answer options before guessing.

13. Read newspaper and magazine articles 

Reading newspaper and magazine articles will help you to familiarise yourself with the style of passages in the BMAT. You can use the articles to practise your skim-reading technique. You can also use them to practise critical thinking. While reading, ask yourself:

• What are the conclusions in this?
• What are the premises?
• What assumptions are being made?

You could also use A-level critical thinking textbooks. These textbooks have a range of exercises on reading passages critically.

14. Underline the conclusion

When you’re reading the passage, underline the conclusion in the argument. This will act as a reminder when you’re trying to work out assumptions or reasoning errors. 

15.  Draw diagrams

Some problem solving questions will involve spatial reasoning. Drawing diagrams will help you visualise the problem and make it easier to solve. Practise drawing diagrams during your preparation so you can draw them quickly in the exam. 

16. Use algebra

Some problems become much easier to solve when you turn them into an algebraic equation. Often simple algebra can be the key to solving a question. It’s important that you’re comfortable with algebra. Being able to convert information into algebraic equations will usually be the first step to solving some of the questions.

For example, 'David is three times older than Jane. Jane is 6 years younger than Alex' can be written as 'D=3J' and 'J=A-6'.

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BMAT Section 1

Please note that the BMAT is now discontinued. Most universities that used the BMAT will use the UCAT from 2024 onwards. See our comprehensive UCAT guide.

BMAT Section 1 Explained

• Understand Section 1 of the BMAT
• Learn more about the key skills being tested
• Get the best Section 1 tips

Jump to Section

Please note that the BMAT is now discontinued, and most universities will switch to the UCAT admissions test from 2024 onwards. See our comprehensive UCAT guide.

Section 1 of the BMAT uses multiple-choice questions to assess your problem solving and critical thinking skills. You’ll be given either a passage of text or piece of information in the form of a diagram, data set or graph. You’ll then be asked a question and you have to pick from five potential answers.

You’ll have one hour to answer 32 questions in BMAT Section 1. You won’t be penalised for getting a question wrong, so you should attempt to answer every question.

This section is divided into 16 problem-solving questions and 16 critical thinking questions. The types are mixed together in the test, with questions presented in order of difficulty.

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Key Skill: Problem-Solving

There are no pure mathematical questions in BMAT Section 1. Instead, these BMAT questions are designed to test problem-solving abilities using basic mathematical skills. You are not allowed a calculator so the questions rely on you using mental arithmetic, pen & paper and problem-solving to get around the need for complex calculations!

You will be required to solve problems using simple numerical and algebraic operations.

Problem-solving questions might cover:

• Speed, distance and time calculations
• Logical reasoning
• Spatial reasoning
• Deductive reasoning
• Partial table questions
• And more…

Key Skill: Critical Thinking

The verbal questions in BMAT Section 1 are designed to assess your critical thinking and your ability to understand arguments. The BMAT test will ask you to identify conclusions, assumptions and flaws in arguments presented in short passages of text, as well as identify which options might strengthen or weaken the argument.

This got updated in 2020, when all questions became ‘single answer’ format. The structure of critical thinking questions is:

• 100 – 150 word argument
• Five answer options to choose from

Previously there were combination answer options, which meant you’d see the argument and the question, followed by three different statements and you could choose from five to seven answers.

With critical thinking, you’ll need to identify things like:

• Conclusions
• Assumptions
• Argument flaws
• Strengthening points
• Weakening points
• Reasoning or structural errors

Section 1 Tips

• Prepare your mental maths. Practise with past GCSE maths papers and try to build your speed with calculations.
• Read widely to boost your comprehension. Practise until you can quickly identify unreliable or ambiguous information in data.
• Treat Section 1 like the UCAT Verbal Reasoning section. Read the question, look out for trick words, don’t make assumptions.
• Practise with past papers. Use our BMAT Question Bank and read our detailed guide on how to use BMAT past papers .

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BMAT Section 1​

Advice & Insight From BMAT Specialists

2 Components ​

Problem Solving Critical Thinking

BMAT Section 1 Problem Solving

​These questions involve reasoning using numerical and spatial skills, and require application of one or more of the following skills: Selecting Relevant Information Recognising Analogous Cases Applying Appropriate Procedures

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BMAT Problem Solving Tips & Advice

These questions vary in difficulty, and it is important not to panic when faced with more challenging questions. Instead: Highlight/underline key information Display key information in a diagrammatic form Exclude irrelevant and inaccurate answers Attempt one calculation at a time (even if this does not directly lead to the answer)   Due to the varied requirements in these questions, it is often difficult to know where to start. Fortunately, many different approaches can result in the same correct answer. Hence, make the most of the information provided and as you use this information, more avenues will appear, helping you to reach the correct answer.   Separate information provided from information known, ensuring that you do not distort your understanding of the question by utilising pre-existing knowledge that you may have prior to attempting the questions.

Understanding Arguments (Critical Thinking)

These questions require you to read a passage in order to select a statement which best reflects one of the following:

Conclusion Strengthen Weaken Flaw Assumption Intermediate Conclusion Parallel Reason Implication

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BMAT Critical Thinking Tips & Advice

The 6 Step Approach to Critical Thinking Attend a BlackStone Tutors BMAT Course and we’ll be happy to teach you our tried and tested  6 step approach  to help you excel in this challenging BMAT Section. Always Consider the Conclusion Whether being asked to identify a strength or flaw, keep in mind that you are not looking for a general strength or flaw in the passage, instead you are searching for a strength/flaw in the conclusion. Conclusion v Intermediate Conclusion Many passages will have a conclusion as well as intermediate conclusion(s). It is essential to be able to differentiate between these, and not assume that an intermediate conclusion will be in the middle of the passage, with the conclusion in the final paragraph. Attend a  BlackStone Tutors BMAT Course , and you’ll learn essential information to differentiate between these two important descriptors. ​ Additional Practice There are a range of additional practice resources to help you improve your Critical Thinking Score; review our  BMAT Section 1 Tips & Techniques  for further details.

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BMAT Timetable

• 10:00 - 11:00: BMAT Section 1 Techniques & Practice Questions
• 11:00 - 11:15: BMAT Section 1 Mock Exam
• 11:15 - 11:30: BMAT Section 1 Feedback
• 11:30 - 11:45: Morning Break
• 11:45 - 12:45: BMAT Section 2 Key Content & Practice Questions
• 12:45 - 13:00: BMAT Section 2 Mock Exam
• 13:00 - 13:15: BMAT Section 2 Feedback
• 13:15 - 14:00: Lunch Break
• 14:00 - 15:00: BMAT Section 3 Techniques & Implementation
• 15:00 - 16:00: BMAT Section 3 Mock Exam, Feedback & Further Discussion
• 16:00 - 16:30: Exclusive Interview Insight

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Top tips on how to prepare for BMAT Section 1

What is Section 1?

Section 1 of the BMAT is a 60-minute test of Thinking Skills, described officially as a test of the ‘generic skills often required for undergraduate study’. Since it constitutes half the duration of the entire aptitude test and focuses on more abstract intellectual capabilities over scientific understanding, it can seem like a pretty daunting first hurdle on the road to a strong BMAT score. On the other hand, with only 32 questions and an hour in which to answer them, Section 1 arguably gives candidates a lot more room for maneuver if you don’t get your timings quite right.

Table of Contents

What sorts of questions come up?

The section has been given something of a makeover for 2023, leaving fewer questions than before (down from 35) and none covering ‘Data Analysis and Inference’, which tended to involve interpreting graphs and statistical information. Plenty hasn’t changed, though: as in previous years, all questions take a multiple-choice format and calculators may not be used.

Questions will fall into two categories, with 16 questions in each of Problem Solving and Critical Thinking. They will be presented in rough order of difficulty, with questions from the two groups interspersed throughout.

Problem Solving

This looks at how you handle numerical information in three different ways:

• Relevant Selection – filter through a large amount of information, some of which may be redundant or simply irrelevant, and draw conclusions from the details that matter
• Finding Procedures – determine and apply appropriate mathematical operations to generate an answer, usually from a relatively small amount of information
• Identifying Similarity – interpret complementary data sources, typically presented in different ways (e.g. tables or different chart types), and make compatible inferences

There are some basic mathematical skills needed for the problem-solving questions in the BMAT Section 1 including:

• Space and spatial reasoning e.g area, perimeter
• Extracting information from graphs and tables
• Calculating percentages and averages

Critical Thinking 

This assesses your ability to recognise important features of logical arguments, namely:

• Identifying the Main Conclusion – as opposed to statements that are not made in the passage or statements that are made but are not the main point of the argument
• Drawing a Conclusion – something that isn’t stated explicitly in the passage but is consistent with the force of the argument
• Identifying an Assumption – not stated but taken as a given to enable the conclusion to be drawn
• Assessing the Impact of Additional Evidence – statements that would significantly strengthen or weaken the argument in the passage
• Detecting Reasoning Errors – identifying flaws that prevent the conclusion from following coherently from the evidence and underlying assumptions
• Matching Arguments – spotting identical logical processes between the passage and one of the answer options, even when they relate to different subjects
• Applying Principles – working out the underlying principle or opinion in the passage and selecting an answer that is consistent with it

How do I prepare?

Of course, the best way to prepare for Section 1 is by looking through sample questions and past papers, ideally under timed conditions as exam day approaches. The recent specification change unfortunately means that no past papers are entirely representative of the new format – but if you ignore the Data Analysis and Inference questions, previous years’ papers still contain many suitable questions.

Take a look at our list of tips below for some excellent specifics on preparing for and sitting Section 1. One key message is that longer-term preparation will be especially valuable for Section 1, since the close textual analysis it involves is usually further from an aspiring medic’s comfort zone than the science of Section 2 . If you have any persistent difficulties with any aspect of either Problem Solving or Critical Thinking, don’t hesitate to ask for help from one of our Medic Mind BMAT tutors.

How is it marked?

Each question carries one mark, with no marks deducted for an incorrect answer, and total raw marks are converted to scores between 1 (low) and 9 (high). The median score tends to be around 5.0 and normally corresponds to roughly half marks. 6.0 or more is an excellent score, achieved by around 10% of test-takers, and very few candidates score more than 7.0. Even so, you can get a few questions wrong and still achieve a perfect 9.0!

What are your top tips for BMAT Section 1?

Taking half the total duration of the BMAT, Section 1 can seem pretty intimidating, especially as it doesn’t sit in the more familiar territory of scientific aptitude like Section 2 . That’s why we have prepared our top 10 tips for Section 1. Be sure to check out what is in Section 1 of the BMAT in our previous post, so you fully understand what is required. 

1 Learn the rules of critical thinking

It is important that you are able to understand and identify factors within arguments such as conclusions, supporting evidence, assumptions made, flaws, strengths and weaknesses. In order to do so, you must be able to understand the argument at hand. Luckily, ‘critical thinking’ of this sort is more than just a nebulous concept – it’s an academic discipline in its own right, and there are many introductory materials on the subject in libraries and online.

2 Structure your reading

Develop a consistent technique for tackling questions based on long passages of text. Read the question first; then decide whether you prefer reading the passage itself before or after the answer options. Both have their merits; we advocate reading the passage first because it gives you the opportunity to form an answer based on the passage alone without having prior knowledge of the answer options potentially cloud your judgement or even affect your memory of what was actually in the passage. Whatever you do, practise your technique and stick to it on exam day.

3 Don’t be thrown by large amounts of information

As of 2020, Section 1 has been updated so that you’ll no longer be faced with questions directly testing data analysis and inference. Even so, Section 1 will still be all about your ability to spot key details hidden among lots of extra information. So it’s worth reminding yourself that most of the information you’re given will be useless and is there as a distraction! Your task is simply to hone in on the stuff that matters.

4 Skim read 

Building on the psychological advice of the last tip, we specifically advise that you get into the habit of skim reading. You’ve probably heard of it and may do it to some extent already, but in exam situations we tend to stress and try to read every single word of every sentence, which takes time and is proven not to increase comprehension. Try to get a basic overview of what you read, looking particularly for keywords,  and then look in more depth at the section of text or data set that contains the answer.

5 Practise maths tricks to help you with problem solving

It may sound silly but brush up on your times tables and your ability to square and cube numbers in your head. As well as being able to convert between fractions and decimals. These simple things will save you valuable time in your exam. 

6 Use a process of elimination

As with any multiple choice exam, you’ve simply got to use a process of elimination, which both increases your chances of being correct and saves you time. It’s especially useful when the BMAT examiners ask you to identify combinations of correct or incorrect statements from a given selection.

7 Move straight on after you’ve answered a question

It’s tempting (and comforting) to re-read questions you think you’ve answered correctly before moving on. In fact, these are the very last questions you should think about looking at again since they’re the ones you’re most likely to have got right. You’ll spot this tip in our advice on Section 2 of the BMAT, but it’s particularly useful for the long and complex questions of Section 1, which, if you want to re-read, are best attempted with a fresh pair of eyes.

8 Develop and overall gameplan, and stick to it

Plan how you’re going to divide your time and practise sticking to it rigorously. Work out how many seconds you intend to spend on each question on average and set yourself strict benchmarks for the number of questions you need to have completed by certain points during the paper. This may or may not include time for checking, and that’s up to you.

9 Find a revision strategy that works for you

As a future medic, you probably prefer numbers and charts to blocks of text – so don’t expect your Section 1 revision to work in the same way as your Section 2 or A Level revision. Factor in extra breaks, plan a longer-term strategy to your preparation and be sympathetic to yourself in terms of the amount of time you’ll be prepared to spend on Section 1 each day!

10 Use the full range of practice materials

As with many exams, ultimately to get better you need to practice, practice again, and then practice some more! Make use of the official BMAT Section 1 specimen papers, as well as Medic Mind’s specially-prepared mock questions and full papers. Finally, when it comes to critical thinking, remember that these skills are supposed to be relevant to everyday life: try applying your newfound analytical capabilities to the argument made in newspapers and magazines, or even by your friends and family..!

Frequently Asked Question

→what is the bmat.

The BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test) is an admissions test used by universities in the UK, Europe, and Asia for courses in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science.

→What is BMAT Section 1?

BMAT Section 1 is a multiple-choice aptitude test that measures problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and data analysis.

→How can I prepare for BMAT Section 1?

Some tips for preparing for BMAT Section 1 include practicing with sample questions and tests, reviewing basic mathematical concepts and formulas, developing effective time management strategies, and improving your critical thinking and analytical skills.

→What types of questions are included in BMAT Section 1?

BMAT Section 1 questions are usually based on numerical, verbal, and spatial reasoning, and may involve interpreting data, solving problems, and analyzing arguments.

→How important is time management for BMAT Section 1?

Time management is very important for BMAT Section 1, as you will have a limited amount of time to answer a large number of questions. Practice pacing yourself and developing effective time management strategies, such as quickly eliminating answer choices that are obviously incorrect.

→Is BMAT Section 1 hard?

BMAT Section 1 can be challenging for some test-takers, as it requires strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills, as well as an ability to analyze and interpret data. However, with proper preparation and practice, it is possible to do well on this section of the test. Many resources are available to help students prepare for BMAT Section 1, including official practice materials and third-party study guides. By familiarizing yourself with the types of questions that are included in BMAT Section 1 and developing effective test-taking strategies, you can increase your chances of success on this section of the test.

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Problem Solving for BMAT (Section 1) Study Material

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Problem solving for bmat (section 1) exam pattern 2024-2025.

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BMAT Crash Course Online Section 1 - problem solving & data analysis. 359 IMAGES BMAT 📚 BMAT Section 1: An Overview BMAT 📚 tables and graphs question bmat section 1 question 1 BMAT Section 1: Practice Questions & Expert Tips tables and graphs question bmat section 1 question 2 VIDEO BMAT SECTION 3: ESSAY PLANNING AND STRUCTURE BMAT Preparation 2017 8. Triple Integrals BMATS101 Module 2 BMAT Section 2 Physics [21MATCS41] Model Question Paper 1 (Q.1c) COMMENTS PDF Problem Solving Guide BMAT Section 1 - Problem Solving Overview In one BMAT exam, there will be approximately 16 questions that will test your ability to solve problems. These questions may test your ability to: Understand and process numerical information. Encode information Use simple numerical and algebraic equations to solve problems. PDF BMAT Section 1 question guide BMAT Section 1 consists of 32 multiple-choice questions to be taken in the time allowed of 60 minutes. Marks are not deducted for incorrect answers, so candidates should attempt all questions. The test contains 16 Problem Solving questions and 16 Critical Thinking questions. The questions are presented roughly in order of difficulty, with the ... BMAT Section 1 Guide Section 1 of the BMAT is, of course, your first step into the medicine admissions assessment. This section is all about Thinking Skills which, unlike Sections 2 and 3, you should be familiar with from the UCAT. ... Problem Solving questions in the BMAT are essentially numerical based questions that require some form of mathematics or spacial ... BMAT Section 1 Problem Solving: The Complete Guide Spatial Reasoning. Reflection, rotation and rearrangement. Practice transformations, familiarise yourself with 3D shapes and cones. BlackStone Tutors provides specialised preparation services for the BMAT Medicine assessment, including free resources. Here, we provide an overview of the Problem Solving component of BMAT Section 1. BMAT SECTION 1: CRITICAL THINKING & PROBLEM SOLVING BMAT Section 1! I walk you through all the general tips and tricks that I used for the section as well as go in depth solving many different questions live o... BMAT 2022 In this video, we explain how to approach tabular questions in Section 1 of the BMAT.This is one of many upcoming BMAT videos on our channel, so subscribe to... BMAT In this video, we explain how to approach date and time questions in Section 1 of the BMAT.This is one of many upcoming BMAT videos on our channel, so subscr... PDF BMAT Section 1 question guide SECTION 1. In Section 1, you will have a range of skills and aptitudes tested. These are all skills that are useful in any undergraduate study. They are referred to as Problem Solving, Understanding Argument and Data Analysis & Inference. Here we will guide you through the different types of question, look at some examples, and give some advice ... BMAT Section 1 Tips & Techniques BMAT Section 1 Additional Practice. 4 Step Approach to Critical Thinking. Award Winning BMAT Preparation Course. BMAT Past Paper Worked Solutions . BMAT Section 1 Notes from BlackStone Tutors. We've compiled an overview of the knowledge of problem solving and critical thinking skills that you will require in order to succeed in BMAT Section 1. The Complete BMAT Section 1 Guide This is the second question type within Section 1 of the BMAT and can seem pretty generic on first impressions. In actuality, Problem Solving essentially means questions linking to mathematics, data interpretation and spatial awareness skills, the kind of things you would see in a typical maths test. 10 Tips for Acing BMAT Section 1 An example of a BMAT Section 1 Problem solving question that tests on Spatial reasoning is as below: Section 1 Problem Solving BMAT Question. 1:1 BMAT Tutoring. Book Your Free Consultation Now. Free. Critical Analysis. This tests your comprehension of key logical argument characteristics, specifically: BMAT Section 1: Practice Questions and 16 Expert Tips BMAT will be withdrawn from 2024. Keep an eye on our TikTok channel and live updates article to find out what's happening with BMAT universities after next year. BMAT Section 1 is known as 'Thinking Skills' and tests your critical thinking and problem solving skills against the clock. To understand the whole exam, read this BMAT overview. BMAT Section 1 Key Skill: Problem-Solving. There are no pure mathematical questions in BMAT Section 1. Instead, these BMAT questions are designed to test problem-solving abilities using basic mathematical skills. You are not allowed a calculator so the questions rely on you using mental arithmetic, pen & paper and problem-solving to get around the need for complex calculations! BMAT Section 1 methods You'll Remember Number of questions in BMAT Section 1 - 16 questions for Problem Solving - 16 questions on Critical Thinking *For 2020, the test has been made more straightforward; there will only be questions now with 5 options, and only 1 is correct (there aren't anymore choose which 2 of the 5 options is correct etc.) PDF BMAT preparation guide problems, make notes, draw diagrams and, for Section 3, plan your response. • Each section has a time limit. You cannot use any time from one section to work on other sections. Section 1 and Section 2. There is an element of time pressure in BMAT; however, you should try to . answer all the questions. If you get stuck on a question in ... Doctor's guide to BMAT Section 1 (Problem solving) In this video we discuss the problem solving questions in Section 1 of the BMAT exam for medical school admission in the UK. These make up around 50% of the ... BMAT Section 1 BMAT Section 1 Problem Solving These questions involve reasoning using numerical and spatial skills, and require application of one or more of the following skills: ... 10:00 - 11:00: BMAT Section 1 Techniques & Practice Questions; 11:00 - 11:15: BMAT Section 1 Mock Exam; 11:15 - 11:30: BMAT Section 1 Feedback; 11:30 - 11:45: Morning Break; BMAT Section 1: An Overview BMAT Section 1 can be challenging for some test-takers, as it requires strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills, as well as an ability to analyze and interpret data. However, with proper preparation and practice, it is possible to do well on this section of the test. Problem Solving for BMAT (Section 1) EduRev's Problem Solving for BMAT (Section 1) course is designed to help students excel in the Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT). This comprehensive course focuses on developing problem-solving skills specifically for Section 1 of the BMAT exam. 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