Babylon Tutor’s UCAT Series: A Comprehensive Guide
It’s UCAT season again!
Every year, thousands of aspiring medical and dental students get ready to take the UCAT test. This time, let Babylon Tutors be your guide to mastering the UCAT. This series aims to enhance your understanding and skills, sharing secrets to acing the UCAT and much more. Stay tuned for more chapters, with one released every week!
Key information about the Situational judgement section of the UCAT
- It assesses a candidate’s capacity to understand real-world situations and to choose the most appropriate actions to take in response to them.
- The scenarios presented often revolve around ethical, professional, and interpersonal dilemmas in healthcare settings.
The structure of the Situational judgement section of the UCAT
| UCAT Subtest | Questions | Duration | Score Range |
| Situational Judgment | 69 | 26 minutes | Bands 1 – 4 (1 is the highest, 4 is the lowest) |
Question Types:
Type 1: Candidates are required to rank response options based on their perceived importance. Options are:
- Very important
- Important
- Of minor importance
- Not important at all
Type 2: Candidates are asked to rate the appropriateness of a response. Options are:
- A very appropriate thing to do
- Appropriate, but not ideal
- Inappropriate but not awful
- A very inappropriate thing to do
Type 3: Candidates are prompted to select both the most appropriate and the least appropriate actions from a list of 3 response options.
TOP tips and tricks to succeed in the Situational judgement section of the UCAT
- Remember that patient safety should always be the foremost concern in any scenario.
- Understand the roles of individuals mentioned in the scenarios, especially the responsibilities and limitations of medical/dental students. They should ALWAYS act under supervision and avoid making treatment decisions.
- Start by determining whether a response is appropriate or inappropriate first, then:
Determine whether it is very appropriate or appropriate OR
Whether it is slightly inappropriate or very inappropriate.
- If you’re uncertain between “very appropriate” and “appropriate,” make a decision and move on to avoid wasting time .
- Familiarise yourself with common themes in the SJT, such as medical ethics pillars, confidentiality, consent, and capacity. Discussed below.
- Review “Good Medical Practice” by the General Medical Council (GMC) to gain insight into professional standards and expectations in medical practice.
- Recognise the importance of communication and teamwork skills in the medical and dental professions.
Common Situational judgement themes
Theme 1:
4 Pillars of Medical Ethics
- Autonomy – Granting patients the freedom to make their own decisions, provided they are deemed capable.
- Beneficence – Prioritising the well-being and best interests of the patient above all else.
- Non-maleficence – Committing to do no harm to the patient.
- Justice – Ensuring equitable treatment for all patients, regardless of individual differences.
Theme 2:
Confidentiality
Medical and dental professionals are required to keep patient’s information private. As such, they must not divulge any patient-specific information unless a patient has consented for them to do so, or in special-case circumstances where the information must be shared to protect the patient, or others, from potential danger. When answering a situational judgement question, maintaining confidentiality is of utmost importance.
Theme 3:
Consent
SJT scenarios often involve situations where obtaining informed consent is essential. You might encounter scenarios where patients are hesitant or unwilling to consent to treatment. Assessing the appropriateness of responses involves considering whether patients have been provided with all necessary information (informed), whether their consent is voluntary, and whether they have the capacity to make informed decisions.
Theme 4:
Capacity
This theme links with consent, as capacity is the ability of a patient to give consent. Capacity is the idea that a patient must be able to understand information provided by medical and dental professionals, and make their own decisions.
For example, young children lack the capacity to make their own decisions, so decisions regarding medical and dental treatments are made by their parent or guardian.
Example Situational judgement question
Dr. Patel, a cardiologist, is mentoring Dr. Nguyen, a newly graduated resident, during a cardiac procedure. Dr. Patel introduces a new technique that Dr. Nguyen didn’t learn during her residency. A few days later, another patient requires a similar procedure, and Dr. Patel asks Dr. Nguyen to perform it under supervision. Dr. Nguyen feels uncertain about using the new technique.
How important is it:
For Dr. Nguyen to consider that Dr. Patel may not be aware of the techniques she learned during her residency when deciding how to respond to the situation?
- Very important
- Important
- Of minor importance
- Not important at all
For Dr. Nguyen to consider alternative approaches or procedures if she feels uncertain about using the new technique?
- Very important
- Important
- Of minor importance
- Not important at all
The impact of the new technique on the efficiency and effectiveness of the cardiac procedure?
- Very important
- Important
- Of minor importance
- Not important at all
Answers:
- Very important. Dr. Nguyen should communicate openly about her training and experience.
- Very Important. Patient safety is paramount, and if Dr. Nguyen feels uncertain or uncomfortable with a new technique, it’s crucial to explore alternative approaches.
- Important. Thorough consideration should be given to any potential risks associated with the new technique.
Relevance to medicine & dentistry
The SJT assesses candidates’ professionalism, ethical decision-making, and communication skills in scenarios reflective of real-world healthcare settings. These qualities are essential for providing centred patient care, working with colleagues, and addressing the needs of patients in medical and dental setting.
How can Babylon Tutors support you?
Look out for regular posts featuring handy tips and tricks on our social media accounts. Our aim is to share insights that will boost your confidence and performance on your test day.
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Keep in mind, Chapter 9 is coming soon…