Explainer: Unifrog's Applying to Medicine toolkit: FAQs
Our Applying to Medicine toolkit supports students with the process of applying to medicine in the UK - here’s what it includes.
What is the ‘Applying to Medicine toolkit’?
The new toolkit is a comprehensive resource designed to support students through the process of applying to medicine in the UK, giving them the best possible chance of securing a place.
The toolkit is made up of:
- The UCAT practice tool: A new tool on Unifrog which allows students to practice and build confidence in answering the different question types they will face in the official UCAT exam.
- The 'Applying to medical school in the UK’ course: A new course on Unifrog which breaks down the different requirements of a medicine application and how best to approach it.
- The ‘How to ace the UCAT’ course: A new course which gives students techniques for all the different types of questions on the UCAT, along with detailed worked examples.
What is the UCAT?
The UCAT is a key part of the application process for many medical schools in the UK, as well as some universities in Australia and New Zealand.
It’s used to assess students’ aptitude and suitability for the challenging nature of a medical degree. Unlike school-based academic qualifications that measure subject knowledge, the UCAT assesses cognitive abilities, like problem solving, logical reasoning, and decision making.
The UCAT is a computer-based test that takes just under two hours. Each subtest is timed separately, and you’re given a specific time limit per section. The subtests are:
- Verbal reasoning
- Decision making
- Quantitative reasoning
- Situational judgement
What is the UCAT practice tool?
Getting familiar with the types of questions asked in the UCAT is one of the key ways of making sure students feel confident going into the exam. The practice tool allows them to do exactly that.
The UCAT practice tool provides students with a bank of practice questions to work through in untimed conditions, helping them to identify and address any weaknesses in their own time.
- Format
The tool allows students to either take a full test that covers all four subtests that make up the official UCAT exam, including all of the different types of questions asked within each subtest. They can also choose to just answer practice questions from any one of the four subtests. All tests are untimed, and students can take each multiple times, helping them to build their confidence.
- Questions
The practice tests are shorter than the official UCAT exam, with 32 questions in the full test, and 12 questions in each individual subtest. This makes taking one a reasonable time-commitment, meaning students can fit their practice in more easily around other work, until they feel ready to move on to full-sized tests. Students will see different questions each time they retake the tests.
- Results
Students can view their latest results at any time on the tool homepage, including detailed results of which questions they got correct and incorrect the last time they took the test. In an upcoming development of the tool, they will also see feedback on how to approach any questions they get incorrect, allowing them to apply this when they next take the test.
Here's how the tool looks: 
What is the ‘Applying to medical school in the UK’ course?
The course walks students through every stage of the medical application process, offering top tips on how to prepare academically, ace the UCAT, and showcase their experience in their application and interview.
The course is made up of four sessions:
- What makes a great medical application
- Acing the UCAT
- Mastering your UCAS application
- Preparing for medical interviews
Students will learn more about each of these topics, and answer questions based on what they’ve read. The questions relate to how prepared they feel for applying to medical school, any areas they feel less confident in, and help to start them off on a draft a version of their personal statement. 
Who should use the toolkit?
This toolkit will benefit students in Y11/G10, Y12/G11, and Y13/G12 who are interested in learning more about, or are in the process of, applying to medical school in the UK.
How can I find out more about the tool?
Read our UCAT practice tool guide here for further information about how the tool works.
How much does the toolkit cost?
The toolkit can be added to your package for an annual cost of £90.
How can I have the toolkit switched on for my school / college?
If you're a teacher/adviser/counselor and you don't have the Applying to Medicine toolkit at your school or college, message The Unifrog team at info@unifrog.org