UCAT ANZ 2021 ONLINE TESTING CONFIRMED!
2 years ago by Rob
The UCAT Consortium has confirmed that UCAT ANZ 2021 will take place online for some students who have not yet been able to sit UCAT due to lockdowns.
What does this mean for me?
All candidates will be given the chance to sit UCAT by the end of September.
Students who have a current UCAT test booking at a UCAT testing centre in the next week should continue with their scheduled UCAT testing appointment. This applies to students who are residing in a lockdown area and have their UCAT test booked at a testing centre which is open, and which they can attend safely. These UCAT candidates will need to wear a facemask when sitting UCAT.
Students who have been unable to sit the UCAT because they reside in lockdown areas where test centres have closed will sit UCAT as an online test. The UCAT online test will be supervised by remote online proctors under strict conditions. UCAT online testing has not previously been offered in Australia or New Zealand, but it was used in the UK UCAT in 2020.
What do I need to know about UCAT online testing?
UCAT online testing will take place between 23rd and 30th September 2021.
To sit the UCAT online 2021, you will need:
- A device that meets certain minimum technical requirements (a computer which has a webcam and microphone; further specific instructions and guidelines will be provided)
- Access to a quiet room (normally at home) where you will not be disturbed for the duration of the UCAT test
- A stable internet connection
- A parent / guardian (with approved ID) to be present when you begin your UCAT test, if you are under the age of 18 (this is to provide consent for you to sit UCAT online)
What will it be like sitting UCAT 2021 online?
The content, subtests and style of questions will be the same as students who sat their test at a UCAT testing centre. You will need to book in a UCAT testing date and time. During the check in process, you will need to show your identification.
Before the test begins, you will need to run a systems test to check that your internet connection is strong enough to support the UCAT online test. You will also need to ensure that you have the necessary equipment to sit UCAT online, including a computer with a webcam and microphone.
You need to ensure that your UCAT testing environment is suitable. This generally means sitting the UCAT test in a room with walls, a closed door and a clear workspace. No one will be able to enter or be present in the room while you are taking UCAT. The UCAT test supervisor will ask you to show your UCAT testing room before you begin, to check that it meets the requirements.
You will be allowed to make notes, just like students who sat UCAT in a testing centre. The exact materials allowed will be communicated to UCAT online candidates, but as an indication, UCAT UK 2020 students were able to use an erasable whiteboard (maximum size 30cm x 50cm), two marker pens and one dry eraser.
During the UCAT, you will not be able to open any other windows or use other software. You will have a UCAT test supervisor watching you via your webcam and listening to you via your microphone to ensure that you do not break UCAT testing rules. If the invigilator suspects you may be cheating, they can end the UCAT test at any point. It is likely that UCAT ANZ 2021 online students will be monitored using Pearson VUE’s online proctoring service (OnVUE).
What should I do now?
For students who have not yet sat their UCAT test due to lockdowns, the past few weeks will have been stressful and uncertain. Now, students have been provided with certainty regarding UCAT testing, and can be confident that they will be given the opportunity to sit UCAT by the end of September.
Students who have not yet sat UCAT should ensure they regularly check the email address they used to register an account with Pearson VUE for updates. The UCAT Consortium and/or Pearson VUE will contact these students to provide full instructions on how to book their UCAT test and exactly what they will need to sit UCAT online.
Students should also keep up their UCAT preparation on a steady and regular basis to ensure they are well prepared when UCAT test day arrives.
