UCAT ANZ 2020 AND CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): SHOULD I WEAR A MASK AND GLOVES?
3 years ago by Rob
UCAT ANZ 2020 candidates who are sitting UCAT in Australia and New Zealand have been advised that they may wear a mask and gloves if they wish when sitting UCAT. This is not mandatory.
Note that UCAT testing centres will not supply a mask and gloves. Masks and gloves brought by candidates to UCAT testing centres will be inspected by UCAT testing staff for security purposes.
Candidates sitting UCAT ANZ 2020 in an overseas testing centre (outside of Australia and New Zealand) have been advised to bring a facemask, as some testing centres require students to wear one when sitting the UCAT.
Why wear a mask and gloves when sitting UCAT?
Although the jury is still out, there is some evidence that wearing a facial mask and using gloves appropriately may reduce the risk of acquiring coronavirus (COVID-19). However, it does depend on the facial mask used, and how you utilise the gloves.
Should I wear a mask and gloves when sitting UCAT?
This is a personal decision. In most states and territories of Australia, the number of cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) is very low, with extremely low rates of community transmission. This means that the risk of acquiring coronavirus is low.
Furthermore, Pearson VUE have adopted various strategies to further reduce the risk of transmission of coronavirus when sitting UCAT, including adopting social distancing and extra hygiene measures.
However, if you are a person who is at increased risk of complications from coronavirus, you may wish to wear an appropriate facial mask and gloves. Also, if you are undertaking UCAT testing in an area with confirmed cases of community transmission, you may also wish to take these precautions.
Are there any problems with wearing a mask and gloves?
The main issue that may arise with wearing a mask and gloves is that the UCAT testing experience may feel different. Wearing a mask for 2 hours during a stressful examination may be uncomfortable. Some people who wear glasses may find their facial mask leads to fogging of their glasses, reducing visibility of the UCAT testing screen. Sweaty hands are a common symptom of stress, which may be exacerbated by wearing gloves.
We therefore strongly suggest that if you do intend to wear a mask and gloves, that you practice doing so when completing full length UCAT practice exams. Do not let UCAT test day be the first time you wear a mask and gloves!
