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BMAT: Section 3 [The Definitive Guide]

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

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

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

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

What is BMAT Section 3 and why is it tested?

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

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

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

What will Section 3 look like in the BMAT?

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

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

BMAT Section 3 Example Questions (2019 Paper)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How Can I prepare for BMAT Section 3?

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

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

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

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

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

BMAT Essay Planning

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

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

The planning stage can be split into two clear parts.

Get everything down on paper.

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

Organise these ideas.

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

Before moving onto writing your essay make sure:

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

Writing Your Essay

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

THE INTRODUCTION

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

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

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

Your introduction is successful if it tells the reader:

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

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

THE MAIN BODY

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

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

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

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

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

THE CONCLUSION

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

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

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

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Examples of Successful Essay Plans

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

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

Fully Worked Essay Question [1]

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

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

Fully Worked Essay Plan [1]

Explain the statement..

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

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

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

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

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

Fully Worked Essay Question [2]

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

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

Fully Worked Essay Plan [2]

Explain what this statement means..

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

Argue that the publication of such statistics is necessary.

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

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

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

How will you be marked?

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

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

English quality is graded from A-E . 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Does the essay section even matter?

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

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

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

Top Tips For BMAT Section 3

Download the official practice and past paper examinations.

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

Don’t slack when you’re practicing!

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

Use the official answer sheet.

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

Only practice under timed conditions.

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

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

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

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

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

Discuss recent medical and political issues with friends & family.

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

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

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

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BMAT Past Paper Compilations with Free Worked Solutions

Unsure how much to revise for BMAT? Looking for free explanations for Official BMAT Past Papers? Struggling to find BMAT Section 3 Essay Plans? Welcome to Study mind's BMAT Past Paper Bank with BMAT Past Paper Compilations for BMAT Sections 1 and 2 along with detailed explanations and worked solutions. We also have BMAT Section 3 Essay Plans - your golden BMAT resource.

BMAT S1 Past Papers

• | BMAT Past Paper 2020 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2019 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2018 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2017 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2016 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2015 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2014 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2013 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2012 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2011 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2010 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2009 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2008 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2007 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2006 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2005 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2004 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2003 Section 1 Question Paper Mark Scheme

BMAT S2 Past Papers

• | BMAT Past Paper 2020 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2019 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2018 Section 2BMAT Past Paper 2018 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2017 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2016 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2015 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2014 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2013 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2012 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2011 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2010 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2009 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2008 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2007 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2006 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2005 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2004 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2003 Section 2 Question Paper Mark Scheme

Biology BMAT Past Papers

• 12 | Inheritance and Genetics Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 11 | Homeostasis Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 4 | Digestion Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 6 | Respiration Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 5 | Cell Division Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 6 | Nervous System Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 3 | Natural Selection Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 5 | Genetic Engineering Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 2 | Cell Structure Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 1 | Heart and Circulation Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 3 | Kidneys Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 1 | Carbon Cycle Question Paper Mark Scheme

Physics BMAT Past Papers

• 11 | Waves Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 10 | Electricity Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 3 | Speed, Distance, Time Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 1 | S.I. Units Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 9 | Energy and Work Done Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 6 | Forces Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 2 | Dentistry Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 2 | Electromagnetism Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 9 | Radioactivity Question Paper Mark Scheme

Chemistry BMAT Past Papers

• 4 | Atomic Structure Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 3 | Separation Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 14 | Calculations Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 1 | Electrolysis Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 5 | Structure and Bonding Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 1 | Equilibria Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 9 | Balancing Equations Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 3 | Reactions & Elements Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 4 | Rates Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 3 | Organic Question Paper Mark Scheme

Maths BMAT Past Papers

• 18 | Algebra Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 1 | Transformations Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 2 | Calculations Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 5 | Area & Length Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 4 | Trigonometry Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 6 | Probabilities Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 1 | Ratios Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 2 | Graphs and Gradients Question Paper Mark Scheme
• 1 | Means Question Paper Mark Scheme

Critical Thinking BMAT Past Papers

• | Assumptions Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | Conclusions Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | Flaws Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | Inferences Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | Strengthening Evidence Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | Weakening Evidence Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | Other Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | Conclusions (IMAT) Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | Conclusions 2 (IMAT) Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | Assumptions (IMAT) Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | Flaws (IMAT) Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | Effect of Evidence (IMAT) Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | Applying Principles (IMAT) Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | Matching Arguments (IMAT) Question Paper Mark Scheme

BMAT Section 3 Essay Plans

• | BMAT 2016 Q1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT 2016 Q2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT 2016 Q3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT 2017 Q1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT 2017 Q2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT 2017 Q3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT 2018 Q1 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT 2018 Q2 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT 2018 Q3 Question Paper Mark Scheme

BMAT S3 Past Papers

• | BMAT Past Paper 2019 Section 3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2018 Section 3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2017 Section 3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2016 Section 3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2015 Section 3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2014 Section 3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2013 Section 3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2012 Section 3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2011 Section 3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2010 Section 3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2009 Section 3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2008 Section 3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2007 Section 3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2006 Section 3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2005 Section 3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2004 Section 3 Question Paper Mark Scheme
• | BMAT Past Paper 2003 Section 3 Question Paper Mark Scheme

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→ What is BMAT?

BMAT stands for BioMedical Admissions Test. It is an aptitude test used for admission to undergraduate biomedical courses at certain universities in the United Kingdom.

→ What are BMAT past paper compilations?

BMAT past paper compilations are collections of previous years' BMAT papers that have been made available to students for practice and preparation. These papers provide an opportunity for candidates to familiarize themselves with the format and types of questions that they might encounter in the actual BMAT test.

→ Why are BMAT past paper compilations useful?

BMAT past paper compilations are useful because they provide candidates with an opportunity to practice and hone their skills before taking the actual test. By familiarizing themselves with the types of questions and format of the test, candidates can improve their performance and increase their chances of success.

→ What are free worked solutions?

Free worked solutions are explanations of the correct answers to questions that are provided with BMAT past paper compilations. These solutions help students understand the reasoning behind the correct answer and can aid in their understanding of the subject matter.

→ Are there any free BMAT past paper compilations with worked solutions available?

Yes, there are several websites that offer free BMAT past paper compilations with worked solutions. These resources are helpful for students who want to prepare for the BMAT test without incurring any additional costs.

→ How can I access free BMAT past paper compilations with worked solutions?

You can access free BMAT past paper compilations with worked solutions by searching online. There are several websites that offer these resources for free, including BMAT Ninja, The Medic Portal, and UniAdmissions.

→ How should I use BMAT past paper compilations with worked solutions?

To make the most of BMAT past paper compilations with worked solutions, you should start by taking a full-length practice test under test conditions. Once you have completed the test, you can use the worked solutions to check your answers and identify any areas where you may need to improve. You can then use this information to guide your study and preparation for the actual BMAT test.

→ Can using BMAT past paper compilations with worked solutions guarantee success in the BMAT test?

While using BMAT past paper compilations with worked solutions can be helpful, it is important to remember that there is no guarantee of success in the BMAT test. Success in the test depends on a variety of factors, including your overall preparation, knowledge of the subject matter, and test-taking skills. However, using these resources can certainly increase your chances of success and help you feel more confident and prepared on test day.

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The Ultimate Guide to the BMAT Essay (BMAT Section 3) 2022

Section 3 of the BMAT requires you to write a short essay that covers a maximum of one side of A4 paper. You are given a choice of three essay titles that are usually in the form of a statement or a direct quote.

Normally, you’ll be asked to explain the reasoning behind the statement, argue to the contrary and then make a conclusion, although the sub questions can vary.

The quality of your content is scored from 1 to 5 (5 being the highest) and the quality of your English is scored from A-E (A being the highest).

So how should you prepare for this? Here are our top tips on preparing for BMAT Section 3!

Every Sentence Needs a Purpose

In the BMAT, you need to make sure every sentence has a purpose and adds to your argument/counterargument.

You need to make sure nothing is “fluffy” and each sentence makes a standalone point that could not be taken out of the essay. In some ways, this is like a scientific paper, where you want to skip any unneeded adjectives and storytelling to give the most coherent writing style possible.

Remember, you also only have one side of A4 so your space is precious!

Planning is Key!

A big chunk of your essay time should be spent making a plan. Depending on your writing speed, this can be anywhere between 10 and 15 minutes. Every sentence must have a purpose. If you plan in bullet points, you can cover each of your bullet points sentence by sentence.

Make your essay really structured, answering every subquestion individually. Some students use paragraphs to split this up; however, it may be wise to use small indents, as this gives you a little more space on the paper to write more.

It is most logical to follow the structure given in the sub-questions, which is usually:

Explain the reasoning behind the statement

Argue to the contrary

To give a conclusion

When asking your point, you need to give examples. This could be a specific scenario that you think the quote relates to or it could be an example from the news, public figures, a book, or a particular case.

Examples don’t need to be completely unique to score you highly, but they should be entirely relevant to the point of the essay. Don’t try to fit the essay around the example, instead, fit the example to the essay.

Practice as Though it were the Real Thing

You need to make sure that you are practising in the most realistic way possible. It’s really tempting to skip the plan and head straight into the essay; however, it’s going to be more effective if you time yourself the full 30 minutes and force yourself to use 10-15 minutes of this time to adequately plan.

If the BMAT is on pen and paper, download and print some section 3 answer sheets, so you know exactly how much space you have.

Have Fun With It!

I know this is really easy to say and hard in practice but, your application journey is an exciting period of your life. You get to decide on your own future and decide where you’re going to spend the next 5 or 6 years. The BMAT, although tricky, is a part of this and it may open up some really exciting doors for you!

If you would like further help, BMAT tutors can guide you.

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How to write a bmat essay (section 3) [bmat series], what is bmat section 3 how to prepare for it and some of our top tips.

The third section of the BMAT exam is the “essay” writing section. I say “essay” (in quotations) as it is really nothing to be afraid of. This section of the BMAT assesses your essay writing skills by asking you to write a short piece of text that answers a question selected from several options provided to you. These skills include your ability to form clear and concise arguments, provide examples to support these and tie these together to form a logical conclusion in which your opinion is outlined.  Read on to find out more…

What is BMAT Section 3 composed of?

In this section you will be given the choice of three essay titles and you will have 30 minutes to answer the associated question. You are only given 1 A4 piece of paper, with some of the top being used to input candidate details (so it’s not even a whole page!).Therefore, it is not your typical essay – you will only have room to write around 3 paragraphs in total and therefore it will end up being a relatively short piece of writing.

The nature of each question varies. It will take the form of an opinionated statement that gives one point of view or sometimes as a quote, with three accompanying prompts. These prompts will be quite similar for each question: they often ask you to expand on the statement, provide arguments against it, and end with a conclusion. Whilst there is no specific content you need to learn for the essay, the questions are typically divided into the following themes (there is sometimes some variation): one healthcare related, one covering science more generally, and one that is unrelated to science or medicine – sometimes about politics, sociology, philosophy etc.

You may not be studying essay-based subjects, but please do not worry about this. With practice and adequate preparation, you will score well in this section! When choosing an essay question, it is always good to choose a topic you fully understand and have sufficient related knowledge of. Having an opinion on the matter might also be useful when forming a conclusion (although this is not required). In terms of the conclusion though, the examiner is less interested in what your opinion is (ie. whether it is considered right or wrong) but is more concerned with your ability to form logical ideas/arguments and provide evidence and examples to support these.

How is BMAT Section 3 scored?

Two examiners mark your essay. Their scores are then averaged and an overall score is given. If the scores given are very different, a third examiner might mark your essay. There are two parts to the score you are given. The first is a number between 1 and 5. Scores increase in increments of 0.5 and relate to the quality of the content of your essay. This considers how well you have explained your ideas, answered the questions and used the prompts, the structure of your answer and the quality of examples used to support your case. The other score goes from A-E and assesses the quality of English used. This includes grammar and spelling, fluency, and sentence structure.

How to prepare for BMAT Section 3?

As with the other sections of BMAT, hands-down, the best way to prepare for this section is practice. Use past questions and specimen questions to perfect your essay-writing skills. As you only have access to that one page for this section, you have to try and make your case in that space. It may be worth writing essay plans instead if you are running out of time, in order to try as many questions as possible. It is often recommended to spend 1/3 of your time during the exam (so 10 minutes) writing a plan so this will definitely be valuable revision (see below for reasoning why). However, saying this, it is still important to try to get as many proper timed practices in as possible when preparing.

What are some tips for BMAT Section 3?

1. answer all parts of the question..

‍ Make sure to answer all parts of a question, addressing all the prompts given. If you do not do this, you cannot get a high score – the criteria for a 3 is to address all the prompts so please make sure you take care to do this and make it clear you are doing so.

Regarding the questions, always plan your answers before starting. By generating a framework, you are much more able to form a strong structure for your response to the question you select. This will help you remain on the correct path and to ensure you don’t forget any points you make. Planning should take around 5-10 minutes and should include your points for each of your 3 or 4 paragraphs. You should also try to list your selected examples in your plan.

3. Useful knowledge.

It is a good idea to go over medical ethics as this is often relevant to the questions in Section 3. Make sure you know the four pillars of medical ethics and can explain them well enough to illustrate a point.

Also, ensuring you can explore politics and philosophy to answer questions is a great way to tackle Section 3 questions. To do this, it might be useful to read journals and blogs, particularly BBC health articles for examples and points to use. Staying on top of medical news can play to your advantage. Consider debating issues with friends to practise formulating opinions and arguments to answer a question/prompt.

How should you structure your BMAT essay?

You should organise your essay into 3 main parts: an introduction, main body (which can be subdivided further) and a conclusion.

Your introduction should always state what your essay is about and should briefly outline the points you are going to make ie. those for and against the statement. This is a reason why you need to plan - so you have these points ready from the get-go.

After this, you have the main body of the essay. Most will write a paragraph to address each prompt given. What is crucial here is presenting a balanced argument. The marking criteria states you cannot get higher than a 3 if you don’t do this. Use examples to support your points and make sure to start a new paragraph for every major point you make. I would personally recommend a PEEL structure – make your point, then explain it. Back up your explanation with examples, and finally link back to your point and the question to explain why your explanation is relevant.

Your conclusion should summarise the rest of the essay. You shouldn’t make any new points or give any new examples here, instead you should try to form a judgement on the question (if appropriate) and round off the essay.

Make sure to leave a few minutes to check your work after finishing your essay. Remember, you are marked on the quality of English used so ensure this is at a high standard. Being concise, clear and avoiding repetition are all crucial to scoring well in section 3.

How long should you spend preparing for BMAT Section 3?

How long you should spend preparing for this section will depend on the individual (as it does for the other sections). Consider your current ability to write clear and (importantly) concise essays. I would recommend spending 1-2 weeks writing essay plans and scattering a few times practices in the mix too – this will help you work on time management and structuring your essays well. It will also help you get used to the nature of the titles that tend to appear, helping you feel more prepared for the final exam. Try to go through every past paper and practice question you can find and write at least a plan for it. For the ones you struggle with most, challenge yourself to write a full essay - this will help you get used to answering difficult questions.

To Summarise…

This section is nothing to be afraid of. Using your current knowledge and reasoning skills to draw valid conclusions will serve you well in the exam. Make sure to practice, and if you have access to anyone who can mark your essays please make the most of this. Feedback is a goldmine in this instance. Focus on having a clear structure and please, please, please get into the habit of planning everything – you will thank me later! Best of luck to you all - you can do it!

Author: Chandan Sekhon

Editor: Allegra Wisking

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BMAT Section 3 Preparation Tips

What is bmat section 3.

In BMAT Section 3, you are given a choice of three essay titles and 30 minutes in which to answer one. You are only given a single side of A4 paper to do this, so you won’t be expected to write too much. Each essay title takes the form of a provocative or opinionated statement, sometimes in the form of a quote, with three accompanying prompts.

These prompts nearly always follow the same pattern, asking you first to explain the statement, next to provide counter arguments, and then to resolve or clarify the debate in some way with a conclusion of your own. While this is the most common format, don’t be surprised if a question doesn’t match this exactly as there is some variation.

What sorts of BMAT Section 3 essay titles should I expect?

According to the BMAT website , Section 3 “tests the capacity to develop ideas and to communicate them effectively in writing. It is not a test of knowledge’” In keeping with this, the essay titles do not have syllabus material and there isn’t any content you need to specifically learn for it.

Take a look at the many available past papers for guidance. Typically, the three titles include one statement on healthcare, one on science more broadly and one that doesn’t relate specifically to medicine at all – on human nature, society or politics, for instance.

Your instinct may be to prefer the healthcare or science titles on the grounds that they’re closer to home and feel more comfortable. But these titles can still be pretty abstract and philosophical, challenging you to think creatively under pressure. A broader title may prove easier to answer since it allows for a wider range of suitable examples to be introduced.

How is BMAT Section 3 marked?

Your essay will be marked by two examiners, each of whom gives two scores. One score, on a scale from 0 to 5, is for content: your grasp of logic, how well you’ve dealt with the prompts, the structure of your argument, your use of examples to support your case, and so forth. The other score, on the scale A-E, is for quality of English: fluency, spelling, grammar, sentence structure and vocabulary.

The examiners’ scores are then averaged – to use an extreme example, 4A from one and 3C from the other would become 3.5B. 5A represents the best possible score. In 2020, 3 was the most common score for content, with only less than 10% of candidates scoring 4 or more. Over 70% of candidates achieved an A for quality of English.

How do I prepare for Section 3 BMAT?

Attempting past or specimen essay questions is one of the best ways to prepare. You might want to start without time pressure, but should try writing under strict exam conditions nearer to the exam date. Practise writing your essays on the specimen answer sheet to get a feel for how much you can fit on the page. There is no extra pages available so you will have to fit everything you want to say into the examination sheet. When you’ve done an essay, ask someone to read over it and spot any room for improvement you can’t necessarily identify just on your own.

Wider reading on ethics, science and current affairs is valuable for learning case studies. These will boost your answers, but don’t go overboard. Rather than trying to cram your head with dozens of examples, you should practise working information you already know into your writing in an appropriate and concise way.

How will my Section 3 score be used by universities?

The way the score is used is complicated and varies among different universities. For instance, Brighton and Sussex (BSMS) creates an overall BMAT score, to which Section 3 contributes the most. They then apply a cut-off below which applicants are not considered for interview. Oxford , on the other hand, assesses suitability for interview according to a 50:50 weighting between GCSEs and overall BMAT score. Section 3 constitutes 20% of this, with Quality of Content given twice the weight of Quality of English.

These procedures can also change from year to year and so it’s important to check the website or prospectus of each BMAT medical school you’re considering applying to. Our medical schools guide has a section for BMAT detailing how each score is used to select candidates.

Section 3 essays may also be used as material for interviews. Candidates at UCL, for example, are often asked to review their essays and talk about them in more detail. You should make notes on the day of the BMAT about the question you answered and what you wrote. Otherwise you may not remember much by the time invitations to interview are sent out! 

BMAT Section 3: Top Tips

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

1. Answer the question – all of it!

Don’t, whatever you do, fail to answer the question you choose in its entirety . This means more than just sticking to the title. It means addressing all three prompts and giving proper attention to each. The reason for this is that the marking criteria make it difficult for an examiner to award a score of more than 2 to any answer that doesn’t consider all aspects of the question, even if it’s well written.

2. Pick the question you can answer best

This may sound like strange advice but candidates often admit they find it hard to decide which title to choose. Pick the question you can answer best, namely the one for which you can produce the best explanations and arguments, introduce the strongest examples and see yourself writing a solid, page-long essay the most comfortably. Don’t just pick a title because you’ve heard the quote before or because one specific example comes to mind.

Crucially, be careful if you like two of a question’s prompts but may have to largely ignore the other because you don’t quite understand it or just can’t think of anything to say. It’s really important that you respond to all three in your answer so that you can fully answer the question.

3. Master the art of planning

You’ve probably heard it before: don’t start writing until you’ve got a clear plan. Use the question sheet (don’t use the lined answer sheet as you need all the space for your answer!) for this. Planning should take at least five minutes. Some people suggest 10 or 15, because the writing itself can be quick when there’s a good plan to follow. If you don’t need at least five minutes to plan or don’t find that it makes you write faster, your planning technique probably needs improvement.

A plan should have structure. Break it down into the three or four paragraphs you will write, mirroring the question’s three prompts. Each planned paragraph should mark a distinct section of your argument and be associated with examples you want to use.

4. Practise under precise exam conditions

This is a really useful way to avoid disastrous timing mishaps on the day. Although not all of your essay practice should be under such strict limitations, it’s sensible to try writing some mock answers in only 30 minutes. Try to develop a precise 30 minute schedule that works for you. Make sure this contains time for choosing your question, planning, writing and proof-reading. It’s not a bad idea to take this a step further and attempt past Section 1s and 2s beforehand. This will mimic the full intensity of the real exam.

It’s advisable to print off blank specimen answer sheets from the BMAT website, which definitely don’t offer as much space as a standard side of A4.

5. Use examples intelligently

Much is made of the need for examples to justify your arguments in Section 3 essays. But thinking of examples is only half the battle – using them effectively is the real skill.

Examples should be relevant to your points and expanded upon to an appropriate degree. Don’t overdo a case study in a way that provides irrelevant or obvious detail, wasting time and precious space on the page; equally, don’t make throwaway references that need further explanation. It’s important to realise that not all examples should be given the same level of attention.

6. If you can’t write the right amount, you’re (probably) doing something wrong

If you tend to struggle for space, either your handwriting is too large or you’re trying to squeeze too much into the early stages of your responses.

On the other hand, if you feel daunted by the task of producing close to a page’s worth of writing (and your handwriting isn’t tiny), try to break the essay down into clear units. After all, a page fits only three or four paragraphs and a paragraph may only contain five or so sentences. This way, it doesn’t seem quite so scary.

Either way, many people find it helpful to lightly mark out the area of the page that will fit each paragraph, by way of guidance. 

7. Reach a synthesis or conclusion

A good BMAT essay will consider arguments for and against the title statement. A great essay will, in the words of the marking criteria for a score of 5, lead ‘to a compelling synthesis or conclusion’. 

This will need to be more nuanced than a declaration of your total support for one side of the debate. That said, there’s limited value in merely rephrasing earlier points. Consider offering a resolution between the two halves of your argument, even if this ends up closer to one side than the other.

8. Practise checking as a way to improve your writing skills

You should aim to save time at the end to check for mistakes in spelling and grammar. You can add finesse to your essay by inserting punctuation or adverbs that enhance the argumentative quality of your writing.

Employ this checking and refinement process during your BMAT preparation. You’ll find yourself making improvements in real time on the day. If there are grammar or spelling rules you don’t understand, you should be looking these up in advance. The more checking you do in practice, the less you’ll have to do in the BMAT itself.

9. Get feedback on your practice essays – from anyone

Painful though it might be, get someone to critique your practice essays and spot the room for improvement you may have missed. If you want experienced BMAT tutors to provide specific score indications, look no further than Medic Mind! But anyone – friends, family, teachers, neighbours – whoever takes time to read the official Section 3 marking criteria can be a decent starting point.

10. Work with the tools at your disposal

There’s no need to panic if you don’t feel English is your strong suit. You’re not trying to write a prize-winning piece of non-fiction. The bar is set relatively low, and you’ve been given a number of ways to improve your writing with practice.

11. Familiarise yourself with considering different points of views

The BMAT Section 3 wants to see your ability to consider different sides of an argument and articulate these various points of view simply and coherently. When you’re planning your essay consider what different groups of people could be impacted by the topic e.g patients, doctors, general public and highlight their points of view. Then consider counter-arguments to the points you have made to evaluate the points you’ve made so you have lots of material to work from.

12. Stay up to date with medical and social issues

The writing tasks in Section 3 usually have a general, scientific, or medical theme. Try to keep up with the news, particularly keeping an eye out for articles related to science and medicine. Consider discussing these articles with your family and friends to hear multiple points of view and practice articulating your thoughts. Doing this will make it easier to write down your thoughts in an essay format when presented with a question.

This can depend on the university. For example, some institutions weighted section 1 and 2 40% each, while section 3 was given a weighting of 20%. Although, this is not always the case. It is worth checking with the institution that you are applying to for a breakdown of their requirements.

A good score would be in Band A with a score of 4-5 for use of English. An average score would fall into Band C with a score of 2-4 for the use of English.

It is worth checking the requirements for your university as some will place greater emphasis on certain sections. Some universities will also impose a minimum requirement for specific sections to qualify for an interview.

In 2022, 75% of candidates scored an A in their use of English, with over 40% scoring 3 for content. These scores have not differed much from those in 2020 and 2021.

BMAT Section 3 is an essay-writing task that needs to be completed in  30 minutes . It tests your ability to formulate concise arguments and your use of grammar, spelling and punctuation.

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• Peer review
• Matt Green , medical careers consultant 1 ,
• Nicola Hawley , secondary school science teacher 2
• 1 BPP Learning media
• 2 Institute of Cell Signalling, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s Medical Centre Nottingham

This article will cover the format of the Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT) and explore the test in detail, examining the questions that will be asked and providing worked examples to show how to answer the questions.

Always bear in mind that the BMAT is not designed to trick you or to catch you out. You are being tested on ability rather than knowledge. Although some sections do test your knowledge, you will be questioned only on topics you should already know quite well.

Contents of the BMAT

The BMAT is a paper based assessment divided into three sections, each of which is designed to test specific knowledge and abilities. Unlike GCSE and A level exams, the BMAT will be testing you largely on basic skills and knowledge that you should already possess, rather than your academic ability. The test will examine a variety of qualities and abilities, including your ability to read formal English and follow written instructions, using different types of question throughout each section. You will have two hours to answer 63 questions from the following sections.

Aptitude and skills (1 hour)

During your degree, you will often face difficult problems which require you to assess a given set of information and draw conclusions based on your logic, reasoning, and understanding of raw quantitative data.

This problem solving section will test your ability to:

• Generalise or make logical deductions based on numerical or graphical data, or both

• Identify, extract, and understand meanings from long or complex texts

• Read and understand simple quantitative data, in numerical or graphic form, and produce simple graphs and diagrams based on these data.

It is important to note that each question in this section may test you on two or more of the above.

Section 1 will test your ability to analyse and reason through various mathematical, logical, and observational scenarios. You will have a total of one hour to complete 35 multiple choice questions. You will be given an answer sheet, where you will circle the correct multiple choice answer/answers or write short verbal or numerical answers directly into the spaces provided.

One important thing to remember is that you are not allowed to use a calculator for this section, so all working out must be done on the exam paper itself or in your head.

A maximum of 35 marks are available in this section.

Section 1 is divided into three subsections:

• Problem solving (30 minutes)

• Understanding argument (15 minutes)

• Data analysis and inference (15 minutes)

Problem solving

Five friends are queuing together for tickets to their favourite band. Darren is behind Andy, who is behind Brian. Edward is in front of Chris, but behind Andy.

Chris must be:

A Behind Brian and ahead of Darren

B Behind Andy, but not necessarily behind Darren

C Behind Darren and ahead of Edward

D Ahead of Brian, but not necessarily behind Andy

These questions are fairly self explanatory, but don’t be caught out by trying to work it out in your head. The best way to work through this is to draw it all out and work through it visually. This is where the blank pages in the exam paper come in useful. Based on what we’re given above, there are a number of constants: no one is ahead of Brian; Andy is behind Brian; and Chris, Darren, and Edward are behind Andy. This leads to three possibilities:

Brian, Andy, Edward, Chris , Darren

Brian, Andy, Darren, Edward, Chris

Brian, Andy, Edward, Darren, Chris

Now it’s just a process of elimination. At no point could Chris be ahead of Edward, so that rules out option C. He also cannot be ahead of Brian, which rules out option D. He is definitely behind Brian, but even though he is likely to be behind Darren, this isn’t definite, which rules out option A. The most likely answer therefore is option B.

Understanding argument

House price index inflation rose to 6.7% in December, up from around 3.2% in October. The major causes that influence the house price inflation index were comparable to those affecting the consumer prices index. However, there were additional major contributions from food and motor vehicle purchase costs and a moderately descending role from vehicle insurance.

What is the difference in house price index inflation between October and December?

A simple subtraction is required.

Inflation rate in December minus inflation rate in October

Therefore the correct answer is A: 3.5%

Data analysis and inference

The graph below shows the effect of an increasing carbon dioxide concentration on breathing. ⇓

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What was the average volume of air breathed in one minute at a concentration of 2% CO 2 ?

B 11 200 cm 3

D 12 000 cm 3

The question asks what volume of air was breathed in a minute.

We can determine from the graph that at 2% CO 2 a mean volume of 800 cm 3 is taken in at each breath. The graph also tells us that at 2% CO 2 a mean of 14 breaths are performed each minute. So to calculate how much air is breathed in a minute we need to multiply the volume of air taken in on one breath by the number of breaths taken in a minute.

=11 200 cm 3

Therefore the correct answer is B.

Scientific knowledge and applications (30 minutes)

Although your A level results will give your universities the best indication of your level of knowledge, they do not show how good you are at using that knowledge in the right way. Being able to remember and recite scientific or mathematical facts under exam conditions isn’t enough to succeed as a doctor. Being able to apply your knowledge, including knowledge that you may not have accessed or revisited for a long time, is key to passing your medical or veterinary degree and becoming a skilled and knowledgeable doctor or vet.

Section 2 of the BMAT will examine your ability to apply relatively basic scientific and mathematical knowledge to given scenarios.

You will have to answer 27 questions on subjects drawn from GCSE double science (including biology, chemistry, and physics) and mathematics. The difficulty of the questions will be anywhere up to higher level. Each question is worth one mark and you should expect to see six to eight biology questions, six to eight chemistry questions, six to eight physics questions, and five to seven mathematics questions.

In which of the following reactions is copper reduced?

A Fe+Cu 2+ Fe 2+ +Cu

B 2Cu+O 2 2CuO 2

C 2CuO+C 2Cu+CO 2

D CuO+H 2 Cu+H 2

E Cu+2Ag + Cu 2+ +2Ag

When faced with an oxidation/reduction question remember the acronym OILRIG: Oxidation Is Loss of electrons, Reduction Is Gain of electrons.

Reduction is where an element gains electrons. In A, copper gains two electrons as it goes from Cu 2+ to Cu (Cu 2+ +2e − → Cu), so A is a reduction.

A reduction reaction can also be defined as losing oxygen, as in C and D. The copper in CuO, is Cu 2+ and on reaction with carbon or hydrogen is reduced to Cu. So C and D are also reduction reactions of copper.

In B and E, copper is oxidised, as copper has lost two electrons (Cu → Cu 2+ +2e − ).

So the correct answers are A, C, and D.

Writing task (30 minutes)

This section of the test requires you to write a short essay (limited to one side of A4 paper) based on a statement or quote. You will be provided with four statements to choose from. Each will present an idea which you will have to assess, understand, and critically argue, both for and against. The basic format for each statement will follow a similar pattern.

• Understanding—what do you understand the statement to mean?

• Argument—can you provide an argument to oppose the statement?

• Resolution—can you resolve the situation or give examples to show why the statement may or may not be true?

Intuition does not in itself amount to knowledge, yet cannot be disregarded by philosophers and psychologists.

What do you understand this statement to mean within a medical context?

• Intuition and knowledge are separate concepts but are not completely independent of one another.

• Intuition is not knowledge in that it does not necessarily depend on proved or recognised factual information.

• Even though intuition cannot replace medical knowledge and training, it cannot be disregarded in terms of patient care.

• Intuition is what enables doctors to question situations and further the field of medicine.

Give examples to illustrate when intuition may be a beneficial influence on patient care and when it may be detrimental.

• Beneficial—emergency or trauma situations. For example, a patient may present with unidentified bleeding after a car accident. To save their life, a surgeon may have to act without ordering the standard tests (radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging scans) and perform surgery without being fully prepared.

• Detrimental—the doctor may be isolated and afraid to ask for help.

How much emphasis should a clinician place on using their intuition when treating a patient?

• Dependent on situation—that is, emergency department versus long term treatment plan.

• Where possible, facts should be established to make a decision. However, the patient’s care should be the priority above all, and sometimes doctors do not have the luxury of time.

• Where possible, intuition should be used to debate decisions with colleagues to ensure correct decisions are made.

Further preparation

• Read books on critical thinking and problem solving

• Work through old exam papers to improve your general knowledge on scientific and mathematical problems

• Keep an eye on the news and on journals to learn about new developments or current debates in medicine

• Complete mock BMAT papers and practise questions to familiarise yourself with the exam

This article is based on extracts drawn from Green M. Succeeding in your medical school application . 3rd ed, 2012. BPP Learning Media Limited, London. For more information on the book or to buy a copy, go to

www.nbninternational.com/checkout/landing/3/600/9781445381664/?original http://undergraduate.bppeloqua.com/medical-series .

Originally published as: Student BMJ 2015;23:h3502

Competing interests: None declared.

Provenance and peer review: Not commissioned; not externally peer reviewed.

How to prepare for BMAT Section 3

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

BMAT Section 3: What is It?

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

Each essay title takes the following format: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How is Section 3 of the BMAT scored?

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

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

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

How can I get ready for the BMAT Section 3?

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

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

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

How will universities utilise my Section 3 score?

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

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

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

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

BMAT Section 3: Top Tips

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

1. Answer the question – all of it!

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

2. Select the question that you can best answer

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

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

3. Develop your planning skills

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

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

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

4. Practice using realistic test circumstances

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

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

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

5. Definitely include examples in your essay

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

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

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

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

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

7. Have an opinion or conclusion in your essay.

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

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

8. Always check your work

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

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

9. Ask for feedback on your practice essays

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

10. Understand the mark scheme

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

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

11. Be more flexible in taking into account other viewpoints

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

12. Keep up to date with social and medical concerns

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Mastering the BMAT: Your Essential Guide to Oxford and Cambridge Medical Admissions

Importance of BMAT

Test structure and format.

How to Prepare for the BMAT

Are you looking to study biomedical sciences or medicine at Oxford or Cambridge? If so, sitting for the Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT) is compulsory! The BMAT is a key component of the application process, providing a level playing field for applicants to distinguish themselves. In this blog post, the BMAT will be detailed, along with insights and tips to aid adequate preparation. Read on!

Who Needs to Take the BMAT?

The Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT) is a critical requirement for those aspiring to enter certain medical, veterinary, and related health courses at a range of universities in the UK , including prestigious institutions like the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge . This standardised test is designed to assess fundamental skills and aptitudes crucial to succeeding in these demanding fields, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and scientific knowledge application. Its objective nature ensures that all applicants, regardless of their educational background, are evaluated fairly, making it a key step for anyone targeting a career in these medical and health disciplines.

In the context of Oxford and Cambridge’s highly competitive medical school admissions, the significance of the BMAT cannot be overstated. As a standardised test, it plays a pivotal role in assessing the aptitude and skills essential for success in medical school.

The admissions team at Oxford and Cambridge utilises the BMAT to differentiate among the large pool of strong applicants they receive each year. Specifically, the BMAT focuses on evaluating candidates' abilities in problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication — all vital competencies for thriving in medical school.

A strong performance in the BMAT can substantially enhance an applicant’s likelihood of being called for an interview and ultimately receiving an offer . In this way, a candidate’s BMAT score becomes a crucial component of the selection process, serving as a key criterion for shortlisting candidates for the interview stage.

The BMAT is structured into three sections , each focusing on different skill sets and question types. The time allocated for each section varies, with 30 minutes for sections 2 and 3 and 60 minutes for section 1.

In terms of scoring, the BMAT uses a 9-point scale , with each section being scored separately. For Sections 1 and 2, candidates earn one mark for each correct answer and 0 for incorrect answers.

These scores are then placed on the 9-point BMAT scale. Section 3, however, is scored differently. It's initially scored out of 5, and these raw marks are later adjusted to fit the 1.0 to 9.0 scale, aligning with the scores of the other sections. The average BMAT score typically falls between 4.0 and 6.0, with 6.0 and above considered strong.

BMAT Test Structure and Format Summary Table

Breakdown of the bmat test sections: understanding the core components.

In the first section, candidates are assessed on their understanding of fundamental biological concepts and principles through multiple-choice questions. This section is similar to the UCAT Verbal Reasoning section, necessitating a careful and logical approach. To excel, candidates must practice diligently, focusing on developing a deep understanding of various concepts and applying them in diverse and increasingly complex scenarios.

The second section evaluates candidates’ ability to apply scientific knowledge and skills to problem-solving . Often familiar to many, this section is generally considered the easiest to prepare for among the three. It specifically assesses problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills. Success hinges on sufficient practice to gain familiarity with the questions and tackling each problem logically.

The final section focuses on communication and wider reading, requiring candidates to discuss different viewpoints on given subject areas . This section tests the ability to present arguments, consider various perspectives, and reach reasoned conclusions. Effective preparation can involve reviewing past essay topics, engaging in discussions with others, and practicing writing argumentative essays. Throughout the practice, it's important to develop the skill of dissecting the question, planning responses in advance, and forming concise yet well-supported arguments.

How to Prepare for the BMAT?

Preparing for the BMAT requires a strategic approach to ensure comprehensive coverage of all topics and skills assessed in the test. Here are some refined tips and strategies to help you prepare effectively:

1. Start Early: Building a Strong Foundation

• Importance of Time Management: Beginning your preparation early provides ample time to thoroughly understand each topic.
• Gradual Learning: This approach allows for a more effective absorption of information, avoiding the stress of cramming.

2. Create a Study Plan: Structuring Your Preparation

• Daily/Weekly Goals: Establish specific goals for each day or week to monitor progress and maintain focus.
• Tailored Focus: Allocate more time to weaker areas, ensuring a balanced and comprehensive understanding.
• Week 1-3: Focus on mastering each section with regular reviews.
• Week 4: Intensive revision of weaker areas.
• Week 5-7: Practice under timed conditions to improve speed and accuracy.

3. Get Disciplined and Practice: The Key to Mastery

• Consistent Practice: Regular practice is essential for familiarity with the exam's format and types of questions.
• Diverse Resources: Utilize a range of study materials, including past papers and online resources.

4. Seek Feedback and Assistance: Leveraging External Help

• Peer Review: Collaborate with peers for new perspectives and problem-solving methods.
• Professional Guidance: Seek advice from tutors or teachers, especially for complex topics or essay writing.

5. Work Sustainably: Balancing Rigor with Rest

• Avoid Burnout: Integrate adequate rest into your study plan to maintain mental well-being.
• Active Breaks: Engage in relaxing yet active breaks, such as sports or hobbies.

6. Take Practice Tests: Simulating the Exam Experience

• Realistic Simulation: Timed tests help adapt to the exam's pressure and time constraints.
• Identifying Patterns: Regular tests aid in recognizing common mistakes and challenging areas.

Check out Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing’s free BMAT preparation materials

7. Stay Calm and Focused: Mental Preparedness on Test Day

• Mindfulness Techniques: Use techniques like deep breathing to stay calm during the exam.
• Time Management: Develop and adhere to a time allocation strategy for different test sections.

8. Book a Free Consultation: Seeking Expert Guidance from Crimson Education Advisors

• Expert Advice: Scheduling a free consultation with a Crimson Education advisor , especially one with experience at Oxford and/or Cambridge, can provide invaluable insights and practical steps for BMAT preparation.
• Tailored Strategies: These advisors can offer personalized advice to enhance your study methods and overall approach, significantly increasing your chances of success in the BMAT and your journey to gaining admission to Oxford or Cambridge.
• Comprehensive Support: They can help in identifying your strengths and weaknesses, providing targeted strategies that cater to your individual needs and aspirations.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. insufficient practice: emphasizing regular preparation.

• Consistent Effort: Consistent and thorough practice is crucial for success in the BMAT.
• Varied Exercises: Engage in diverse practice exercises to cover all test aspects.

2. Poor Time Management: Mastering the Clock

• Strategic Approach: Avoid spending excessive time on challenging questions and allocate your time wisely.
• Pacing Techniques: Practice pacing like in a marathon, ensuring steady progress throughout the test.

3. Overlooking the Essay Section: Honing Writing Skills

• Equal Importance: Balance your preparation to include significant essay writing practice.
• Structured Responses: Focus on structuring essays effectively with clear arguments and concise conclusions.

4. Neglecting Weak Areas: Addressing All Topics

• Comprehensive Review: Identify and work on weaker areas, not just on strengths or familiar topics.
• Seek Help: If certain areas remain challenging, seek additional help or resources.

5. Stress and Anxiety: Maintaining Composure

• Mindfulness Practices: Use techniques like meditation or deep breathing to manage stress.
• Simulated Conditions: Regular practice under exam-like conditions can help reduce anxiety.

6. Underestimating the Test: Respect the BMAT's Complexity

• Realistic Expectations: Recognize the BMAT's challenge and approach it with dedication.
• In-depth Study: Aim for a deep understanding of each topic, beyond superficial knowledge.

These tips address the common pitfalls encountered by BMAT candidates, offering strategies to improve preparation and performance in the test.

Essential Strategies for BMAT Test Day Success

1. prepare and arrive early.

Ensure you comply with all instructions and bring the required identification materials on test day. Avoid unnecessary stress before the test by arriving 15-20 minutes early for check-in. This allows you some quiet time to calm your nerves. The last thing you want is to enter the exam venue feeling anxious and flustered from having rushed.

2. Read Questions Carefully

It's crucial to read each question carefully and with precision. Answering questions incorrectly due to a misreading can be easily avoided with this careful approach.

3. Time Management

You may encounter questions that momentarily stump you. Don't dwell on these longer than your allocated time per question. Move to secure marks from other questions first, then return to the challenging ones. In multiple-choice sections, like sections 1 and 2, it's wise to eliminate options, make an informed preliminary guess, and revisit the question later.

4. Stay Level-Headed

Find ways to quieten and calm your mind. This could be through meditation, prayer, or any routine that helps you stay composed. Experiment with different techniques during your timed practices and replicate them on the day. Remind yourself that you have prepared diligently for the test and that it's simply a matter of executing it like another practice test.

Final Thoughts

As you receive your BMAT scores and reflect on the journey thus far, the next phase of your journey to Oxford unfolds. Here's a structured approach to navigating the post-test steps effectively:

• Understand where your score positions you in the competitive landscape. A high score can be a significant advantage, but don't be discouraged if it's not as high as you hoped. Every part of your application matters.
• If your BMAT score aligns with the requirements of your chosen course at Oxbridge, prepare for the possibility of being shortlisted for interviews. These interviews are a critical component of the selection process and demand as much preparation as the BMAT itself.
• Regularly check the official Oxford and Cambridge website for updates on the application process, interview schedules, and any additional requirements specific to your course.
• Take the time to reflect on your BMAT experience. What went well? What could have been better? Use these insights to improve and prepare for the next stages.
• Consider booking a free consultation with an expert Crimson Education counselor. These counselors, especially those with experience in Oxbridge admissions, can provide tailored advice to maximize your chances of success. They can help refine your interview skills, polish your personal statement, and provide insights into the Oxbridge admissions process.
• Remember, the journey to Oxbridge is a marathon, not a sprint. Maintain a positive outlook and stay prepared for each step of the process.

The journey to a top UK University is challenging but immensely rewarding. With the right preparation, mindset, and guidance, you can enhance your prospects and make your dream a reality. Remember, the effort you put in now can open doors to a world of opportunities. Stay focused, stay motivated, and take the first step towards your future at Oxbridge.

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Key Resources & Further Reading

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• Free eBooks and guides to help with the college application process
• How to Apply to UK Universities
• Oxford vs Cambridge: Which One is Right For You?
• How to get into Oxford?
• How to get into Cambridge?

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BMAT Section 3: Essay

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.

• Discover how to stand out with your BMAT essay
• Find out how to prepare for Secion 3
• Get the best BMAT essay 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.

BMAT Section 3: The BMAT Essay

In BMAT Section 3, you’re required to write a short essay. This will cover one side of A4, but it can’t be any longer, so timing and technique are crucial.

Each essay option is based on a short quote or statement. These can be scientific or medically-related but often aren’t. Typical examples might include a quote from Voltaire or Charles Darwin.

Section 3 Scores

Your Section 3 BMAT score will be split into two.

You’ll score between one and five for the quality of the content of your essay. Five is the highest, and awarded to those who have addressed the question in the way demanded, organised their thoughts clearly, and used general knowledge and opinions appropriately.

You’ll also get a score from A to E for the quality of your written English . A is the best, and will be given to students who express themselves clearly using concise, compelling and competent English.

BMAT Section 3 Prep, Tailored To You

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Section 3 Essay Questions

You’ll get to choose from three essay questions in Section 3 of the BMAT. You must fill one sheet of A4 in the 30-minute timeframe.

Each question may seem totally different, but the reality is that you’ll do the same three things no matter what question you pick.

When writing your Section 3 essay, you will:

• Explain the proposition, part of it, or its implications
• Produce a counter-argument
• Reconcile the two sides

You may not be studying essay-based subjects for A-Level , which can lead to a degree of trepidation. However, we have designed a clear and repeatable strategy for success in this section that you’ll learn in our BMAT Course – and we can review your BMAT essay practice  too.

How To Tackle Your Question

When it comes to selecting the best question to answer, we recommend you choose the one that:

• Has a statement you understand fully
• Has a question that you understand fully
• Covers a topic that you have good arguments and good general knowledge of

Once you’ve decided on the question, you should follow these steps:

• Write a clear explanation of the statement in one or two sentences
• Prepare your arguments and note them down
• Think about your conclusion
• Start writing once you have the structure planned

Learn score-boosting strategies for producing a 5A essay every time in our BMAT Course.

Bmat Section 3 Essay Tips

• Plan essay questions. Outline the key points, plan contrasting arguments and list points to make in the conclusion.
• Practise writing concisely, with clearly articulated points.
• Ask others to review your work. Send your BMAT essays to us to review – they’ll get marked by an expert Medicine Tutor!
• Read widely, to understand different arguments.

BMAT Preparation

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BMAT Questions

Our BMAT Question Bank allows you to answer and mark BMAT questions from every section of the test. See step-by-step solutions and discover your score for past papers.

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Who will write my essay?

On the website are presented exclusively professionals in their field. If a competent and experienced author worked on the creation of the text, the result is high-quality material with high uniqueness in all respects. When we are looking for a person to work, we pay attention to special parameters:

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• work examples. The team of the company necessarily reviews the texts created by a specific author. According to them, we understand how professionally a person works.
• awareness of a specific topic. It is not necessary to write a text about thrombosis for a person with a medical education, but it is worth finding out how well the performer is versed in a certain area;
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Only after a detailed interview, we take people to the team. Employees will carefully select information, conduct search studies and check each proposal for errors. Clients pass anti-plagiarism quickly and get the best marks in schools and universities.

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Mastering the BMAT Test in 2024: General Preparation Tips And Section Strategies

N.B. The BMAT test will be discontinued for those applying for 2025 entry. Students will take the UCAT .

In this blog, we provide students with general BMAT preparation advice (how to structure your prep, adjust your mindset and gear up for the test), as well as specific guidance on each of the three sections, including an overview of question types and tips/ resources for preparation.

General preparation for the BMAT

Tip 1: adjust your mindset.

The Biomedical Admissions Test is a completely different style of exam to GCSEs and A-levels as the marks are generally awarded in a roughly normal distribution. This means that most candidates will score between 4-5 on sections 1 and 2. Aiming for an 8 or 9 is not the same as aiming for an A*, and beating yourself up over what seems like an average mark isn’t going to help. Most good candidates will score in the 5-6 bracket with excellent candidates scoring 6-7, so this should be your aim.

Source: https://www.admissionstesting.org/Images/563514-bmat-explanation-of-results-2019.PDF

BMAT score distribution 2019

Tip 2. Do dress rehearsals

Make sure you do a few full length mocks near the end of your revision for two reasons. Firstly, as with most exams, it’s a bit of a marathon and practising focussing for that long is important, as well as getting used to the conditions (we don’t know if the BMAT will stay online or go back to paper after COVID). Secondly, the BMAT is essentially three exams back to back as each section is taken away before the next begins. If you have only been revising one section at a time then it’s a new skill to be able to switch mindset from logic/critical thinking to science to essay writing.

Tip 3. Use your time well

The start of year 13 is very stressful for medicine applications. Not only is the pace of your subject studies increasing, but you potentially also have to prepare for UCAT (unless you did it over the summer), the BMAT, and send in your personal statement. Make a timetable of when you want to start beginning BMAT revision based on how much work you want to do. We recommend doing a little bit most days and starting earlier than anticipated. This is going to be much less stress-inducing than cramming in the final two weeks. Additionally , have a plan of what you are covering each day to maximise efficiency e.g practice questions, wider reading, or science revision.

Tip 4. Look after yourself

This follows on from the last point; application time is a tough period but you can get through it! Give yourself a day off each week from anything and everything medicine and focus on your wellbeing. Don’t burnout before you even get an interview.

Tip 1. Read the question stem first

The questions have a lot of information in them and it can become very time consuming to attempt to assimilate the information before reading the stem and going back to find the relevant bits. If you read the question stem first you’ll be able to filter out the less relevant bits as you read the extra information. After you have glanced over everything, read the question stem again to make sure you have interpreted it correctly.

Tip 2. Not all questions are the same

Some questions will stump you; this test is not designed for you to get 100% on. However, the questions are all worth the same number of marks. If you have read through everything and don’t know where to start then move on and come back to it later, you’ll be subconsciously processing it as you continue so you might have better luck second time round.

Tip 3. Brush up on your critical thinking

A big part of section 1 involves critical thinking and identifying the logic or flaws in arguments. If you haven’t done any critical thinking courses in the past then invest some of your initial revision on learning argument structure as well as basic flaws and common fallacies. You can get extra practice at identifying these by reading opinion columns or even social media comment threads (I wouldn’t count this as “official revision” though). U2 also have a number of medicine mentors who support students with BMAT, and can guide you through vital critical thinking strategies. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss.

Tip 4. Utilise additional exam resources

BMAT practice questions are the gold standard as they show you the exact style of questions that come up. However, you can get extra practice from some of the aspects of the UCAT examination. For this reason, try to time your UCAT exam with the start of your BMAT revision. This way the skills you’ve learnt can stay fresh. Additionally, you can always use TSA (thinking skills assessment) practice questions for extra content as well.

Extra BMAT questions:

https://www.medify.co.uk/bmat

Tip 1: Double check the content

The BMAT science questions aim to cover the GCSE syllabus. This means they cover the content from every syllabus, and they aren’t all the same. The knowledge expected is in an assumed knowledge guide. Read it and make sure you have at least covered everything on there; the worst thing that could happen is getting caught out by an obscure module that was not in your GCSE specification.

Tip 2. Know your formulas

Physics seems to be the science that catches people out as a lot of people haven’t looked at it since GCSE. A lot of the physics questions comes down to knowing formulas and, unlike in GCSE (for some anyway), you won’t have an equations page at the front of the exam. Know them inside and out. It’s a step up from GCSE as some questions will require you to use two equations; using the first to get an intermediate answer to put into the second equation.

Tip 3. Understand the material

Another difference from GCSE: past questions don’t come up, but concepts do . It isn’t just about learning random morsels of scientific fact, many of the questions rely on the application of knowledge learned in GCSE. I remember being outraged that one of the chemistry questions in my exam was covering a topic we had learnt in year 13 as opposed to in GCSE. However, applying the basics of science from GCSE will allow you to answer any of the questions regardless of if you continued it at A-level. 

Tip 4. Learn to love estimating

There is no calculator in the BMAT, despite some of the questions seemingly deserving one. Work on your mental maths to whittle down the time spent working through the maths answers but, ultimately, estimating saves the most time . A few of the questions will have stupid calculations involved that will take too long to get an exact answer for, and you will probably make an error anyway. The multiple choices reflect this uncertainty and are different enough that rounding and estimating will still guide you to the right answer.

Tip 1. Read up on medical principles

To gain top marks in the essay you need to add additional facts . The chances are that, unless you have absorbed a medical library, you won’t have a specific stat or fact for the topics that come up. Instead, focus on general reading such as ethical principles in medicine , healthcare structures in the UK and abroad, and current medical news. This broad knowledge is often applicable to many BMAT essay questions in some form or another. Not only will this be helpful in your essay, it will also aid you in upcoming medical interviews.

Medical ethics

https://ollieburton.com/feed-articles/2017/7/19/interview-preparation-four-pillars-of-medical-ethics

https://www.medstoriesblog.com/blog/the-four-pillars-of-medical-ethics

NHS structure

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CSp6HsQVtw

Medical news

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health

N.B. Develop a mental library of ‘case study’ examples to work into your writing (rather than merely reading the news and hoping for the best)

Subscribe for free to our co-curricular division, Minds Underground™’s Curious Minds digest to be sent regular STEM resources (including Medicine)

MU Mind-Enhancing Articles Medicine section for blogs on the latest exciting medical developments written by our team of Oxbridge medics

We host a Medical Club every Saturday during term times, where you will discuss & critique the latest medical issues and news, hosted by our Oxbridge medics. The Club is a precursor to our Medicine Summer School , which takes place June-August, see PDF .

Tip 2. Don’t jump into writing

The essay questions are often quite vague or worded in a difficult way to understand. One point to include in your essay is usually to explain the statement/question and so people often let out a sigh of relief if they read a question that they actually understand (make sure not to just reword the statement though). However, there’s more to writing the essay than being able to understand what the question is about. Spend a minute or two sitting and reflecting on each option. It often quickly dawns on you what each question is asking and you may realise you can actually write a much better argument on the more abstract statements. Knowing you can write several solid points is better than being able to explain the question followed by floundering for content.

Tip 3. Plan out properly

Following on from the previous point, take the time to plan . Spend at least 5-10 minutes making a detailed plan. It does not take very long to write down an A4 page of work when you know exactly what you’re writing. The marks are partly awarded on the fluency of your argument and so taking a moment to narrow down your ideas to the best points will stop the examiner getting lost in mediocre waffle. Additionally, you only have one A4 page to write your points on, it’s way less than you think. You don’t want to be getting to your ground breaking conclusion to find you have one line to fit it onto.

Tip 4. Answer the whole question

When you choose your question, there will be guidance on what to include. If you include all of it then you have secured at least a mark of 3. This is nearly always enough to get an interview. Therefore, when you’re drawing up your plan, make sure it answers all aspects of the question. Even if you write university grade material, if you only answer 2 out of the 3 domains you will not satisfy the criteria for a 3 grade. Additionally, this criteria often includes choosing a side in your conclusion. Whilst you don’t have to go 100% in one direction, staying completely neutral does not score well.  

Finally, do not be disheartened, it is only natural that your scores in past papers will fluctuate. Practise, practise, practise and all will be okay! Remember that this is not the only part of the admissions process.

By Thomas (5th year medical student at Imperial College London performing in the top 5% of the year)

How can U2 help prepare you for the BMAT & wider medical application?

U2 offer admissions test preparation either as part of our wider Medical School / Oxbridge Mentoring programmes or as separate ad hoc tuition (book a free consultation to discuss options).

The Process:

1) We suggest a medicine graduate (Predominantly Oxbridge-educated, with experience of other top UK medical schools) as a mentor and send their full CV for review. Our mentors are deeply familiar with the admissions process to study Medicine at top UK Medical Schools and Oxbridge, and we have tutors who specifically specialise in BMAT admissions test preparation.

2) We typically suggest beginning with a 1.5 hour informal assessment/ taster session , where the mentor will informally assess the student’s current performance level for test (and interview if desired). Following this, we issue a report with feedback, and structure a plan to best prepare.

3) BMAT Session Components:

Our customisable BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test) course is five sessions of two hours each. N.B. This can be customised to the student depending on the level of support required, but gives an indication of what preparation with a BMAT tutor can involve/ how it would be structured.

Frequency of sessions can be decided between student and tutor. Honing the skills necessary to succeed in the BMAT test can begin early in Year 12. When the student and mentor run out of past papers, they will work through similar questions curated by the tutor. We offer BMAT practice online or in-person in London.

Individual sessions from £70/h.

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BMAT Essay Titles

To help you with your bmat preparation we have prepared a free list of every bmat essay title since 2010., from 2017 there have been 3 essays to choose from on section 3 of the bmat. prior to this there were 4 essays to choose from. remember you only need to do one in the exam, but it shouldn’t be longer than one side of a4.

1. ‘He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander’. (Aristotle)

Explain what you understand by this statement. Argue to the contrary. To what extent do you agree that someone cannot be a good leader without learning how to follow?

2.  The only moral obligation a scientist has is to reveal the truth.

What is the reasoning behind this statement? Present an argument to the contrary. To what extent do you agree that the only moral duty a scientist has is to reveal the truth?

3. The health care profession is wrong to treat ageing as if it were a disease.

What do you understand by this statement? Argue that it is not wrong to treat the effects of ageing as if they were a disease. To what extent do you agree with the statement?

1.  ‘You can resist an invading army; you cannot resist an idea whose time has come.’ (Victor Hugo)

Explain the reasoning behind this statement. Argue that, on the contrary, any idea can be suppressed with sufficient force. What do you think gives power to an idea?

2. Science is not a follower of fashion nor of other social or cultural trends.

Explain what you think the statement means. Argue to the contrary. To what extent do you agree with the statement?

3. The option of taking strike action should not be available to doctors as they have a special duty of care to their patients.

Explain what is meant by this statement. Argue that it should be possible for doctors to go on strike as other workers do. To what extent should doctors’ duty of care to patients affect the conditions of their employment?

4. If we truly care about the welfare of animals, we must recognise them as fellow members of our communities with their own political rights and status.

Explain the thinking behind this statement. Argue that it is not necessary to confer political rights or status upon animals in order to ensure their welfare. To what extent is it possible to incorporate the interests of animals into political institutions?

1.  “Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.” (Pablo Picasso)

Explain what is meant by this statement. Argue to the contrary. What are the real limits of technology?

2.  “That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.” (Christopher Hitchens)

Explain what you think Christopher Hitchens means. Argue to the contrary that some assertions do not require evidence. To what extent do you agree with the statement?

3.  When treating an individual patient, a physician must also think of the wider society.

Explain the reasoning behind this statement. Argue that a doctor should only consider the individual that he or she is treating at the time. With respect to medical treatment, to what extent can a patient’s interests differ from those of the wider population?

4.  Just because a behaviour occurs amongst animals in the wild does not mean it should be allowed within domesticated populations of the same species.

Explain what you think is meant by this statement. Argue to the contrary. To what extent should humans interfere with the natural behaviours of animals

1. There is no such thing as dangerous speech; it is up to people to choose how they react.

Explain the reasoning behind this statement. Argue to the contrary that there can be instances of dangerous speech. To what extent should a society put limitations on speech or text that it considers threatening?

2. Science has been a process of continuous advancement towards objective truth.

Explain what is meant by this statement. Argue to the contrary. To what extent do you agree that science is a continuous process of advancement towards objective truth?

3. There is money to be made from not curing disease.

What do you think is meant by this statement? Argue to the contrary. To what extent do you agree that there is money to be made from disease?

4. Modern veterinary medicine is more for the benefit of humans than the animals under its care.

Explain what you understand by this statement. Argue to the contrary that veterinary medicine is concerned more with the benefit of non-human animals. How might human and non-human interests diverge within the practice of veterinary medicine?

1. “When you want to know how things really work, study them when they are coming apart.” (William Gibson)

Explain what this statement means. Argue to the contrary. To what extent do you agree with the assertion?

2. Good surgeons should be encouraged to take on tough cases, not just safe, routine ones. Publishing an individual surgeon’s mortality rates may have the opposite effect.

Explain what this statement means. Argue to the contrary. To what extent do you think league tables should change a surgeon’s behaviour?

3. “Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science.” (Charles Darwin)

Explain what you think is meant by this statement. Argue to the contrary. To what extent do you think it is true?

4. In a world where we struggle to feed an ever-expanding human population, owning pets cannot be justified.

Explain what is meant by this statement. Argue that pet ownership is indefensible. How should moral or ethical concerns influence a decision to own a pet?

1.  “Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.” (Voltaire)

Explain what this statement means. Argue to the contrary that to be certain about something is not necessarily absurd. To what extent do you agree with Voltaire?

2.  “There is something attractive about people who don’t regard their own health and longevity as the most important things in the world.” (Alexander Chancellor)

Explain what this statement means. Argue that nothing is more important than one’s own health and longevity. To what extent do you agree with Alexander Chancellor?

3.   The scientist is not someone who gives the right answers but one who asks the right questions.

Explain what this statement means. Argue to the contrary that the right answers are more important than the right questions. To what extent do you agree that the right questions must be asked before science can progress?

4.  “… Dolphins are very intelligent and so similar to humans that they are worthy of a special ethical status: that of ‘non-human persons’.”

Explain what this statement means. Argue to the contrary that dolphins should not be given special ethical status. To what extent do you agree that intelligence and similarity to humans bestows special ethical status?

1.  Democratic freedom means there should be no restriction on what may be said in public.

Explain what you think democratic freedom means. Argue that there should be restrictions on what is said in public. To what extent do you agree that there should be limitations on what can be said in public?

2.  The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease. ( Voltaire)

Explain what this statement means. Argue to the contrary that medicine does in fact do more than amuse the patient. To what extent do you think Voltaire is correct?

3.  A scientific man ought to have no wishes, no affections – a mere heart of stone. ( Charles Darwin)

Explain what this statement means. Argue that scientific enquiry benefits from personal wishes and affections. To what extent do you think a scientist should have ‘a mere heart of stone’?

4.  Veterinary pet care in the UK should be free at the point of delivery, as human care is.

Explain the argument behind this statement. Argue to the contrary, that if people choose to keep pets they should pay for all aspects of their care. To what extent do you agree that there should be free pet care?

1.  Anyone who has a serious ambition to be a president or prime minister is the wrong kind of person for the job.

What is the reasoning behind this statement? Argue to the contrary that without serious ambition to be a leader a person would not be suited to the job. To what extent is ambition required to succeed as a political leader?

2.  People injured whilst participating in extreme sports should not be treated by a publicly funded health service.

Explain the reasoning behind this statement. Suggest an argument against this statement. To what extent, if any, does the statement justify a change in public attitudes to personal risk taking?

3.  A pet belongs to its owner – it is their property. Thus, if a client asks for their healthy cat to be painlessly euthanased, a veterinary clinician should always agree to this request.

Explain the reasoning behind the statement. Argue to the contrary that a veterinary clinician should never agree to such a request. To what extent should pet owners influence clinicians’ decisions?

4.  Science only tells us what is possible, not what is right.

Explain what this statement means. Argue to the contrary that science helps us to judge what is right. To what extent can decisions about what is right and wrong be informed by science?

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BMAT Study Tips

There’s only a small number of universities that require the BMAT, but those that do are often very high-achieving competitive medical schools.

What is the BMAT?

Like the UKCAT the British Medical Aptitude Test (BMAT) is another admissions test that some medical and veterinary schools use to assess the applicants’ abilities and approaches.

UCAT Study Tips

We know it can all sound a bit confusing. Another exam to revise for? And it’s not based on your school curriculum either? We’ve put together some useful tips to help you prepare for your UCAT!

What is the UCAT?

Many medical schools use the UCAT to select medical students. So what is the UCAT and how can I prepare for it?

To help you with your BMAT Preparation we have prepared a list of every Section 3 BMAT essay title since 2010.

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For a truly successful medical school application you must prepare in advance. Our team of medical students have put together a timeline on what the process was like for them.

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The process of applying to medical school can be confusing. So to help you kick-start the journey we have put together a short intro guide on the application process.