As of 2024, the BMAT will no longer operate for Medicine applicants. Applicants for all UK medical schools will be required to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) for 2025 Entry. Find out more in our BMAT/UCAT 2025 Guide.
Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing have announced that the September BMAT test session will not be going ahead as of new information provided on 01/06/20.
This is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and keeping students and other candidates sitting the test’s safety as a top priority.
Source: https://www.admissionstesting.org/campaigns/coronavirus/
What if I was planning on booking onto the BMAT September session?
If you were planning on booking onto the BMAT September session for 2020, then you’ll need to book a place on the BMAT November session if you’d still like to sit the BMAT in 2020.
What if I am planning on booking onto the BMAT November session?
As it currently stands, Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing do not foresee the November BMAT session being cancelled. Since the COVID-19 pandemic is an ever-changing situation with decisions and new legislation being brought in almost daily, candidates should keep in touch with Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing to ensure they are up to date with the latest developments.
What are the differences between the BMAT September and November?
| Difference | BMAT September | BMAT November |
|---|---|---|
| Timing Of Results | The BMAT September is sat before the UCAS 15th October application deadline. Students also get their results earlier than the UCAS deadline. Because of this, candidates are able to know their BMAT scores before choosing the universities they wish to apply for. This extra window of time and knowledge of their score can allow candidates to apply to universities more strategically. For example, if you sat the BMAT in September and got a Section 3 (essay section) score of 2D (a lower end score), you could choose to apply to universities that don’t operate a Section 3 cut-off score or don’t take Section 3 into consideration. Alternatively, if you scored highly on the BMAT, you could factor that into your choices. | The BMAT November is sat after the UCAS application deadline of 15th October. This means candidates cannot see their results before applying. This doesn’t give them the opportunity to apply strategically as you could with the BMAT September. |
| Registration/Booking | You are able to register yourself for the BMAT September session through the Metritests booking system. There is only one deadline for the booking, and no late entry option available. | Your school or test centre must register you. The November session has two booking deadlines; standard and late entry. For the late entry, you pay higher fees. |
| Access Arrangements | If you require access arrangements, you must request these upon your point of booking the BMAT September. | Access arrangements must be sorted out by the school or test centre who registered you. |
| Results | You must share the results of your BMAT exam with universities through the online system. | Your results will automatically be sent to the universities your school/test centre selected when registering you. |
| Other | The BMAT September costs more than the BMAT November to book. This is because the test centre add a fee for running the test. | Sitting the BMAT in November is required by applicants to the A100 Oxford Medicine course – the university will not accept BMAT September results. |
If you are applying to medical school this year and are sitting the BMAT – make sure your preferred booking is still available and action any changes that need making if it’s not. You can only sit the BMAT once a year, and with only one session available in 2020, it’s imperative you book your space correctly.
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