How to Master the BMAT

Unbeatable Preparation for Success in the BioMedical Admissions Test

Christopher See, Chris John Tyreman

• Publisher: Kogan Page
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9780749471873
• eBook ISBN: 9780749471880
• Edition: 3
• Topic: Study Aids
• Subtopic: Medical Theory, Practice & Reference

How to Master the BMAT will help you to maximize your UK BMAT test score in the shortest time possible with the least possible effort. With over 400 practice questions including six mock tests, it focuses on core knowledge in six key areas: -aptitude and skills
-maths
-physics
-chemistry
-biology
-writing tasksAt the end of each section, a set of review questions enable you to identify and improve your weak areas before you sit the test, then once you are ready you can complete the practice papers that reflect the BMAT test. Candidates are supported throughout the book, and, where possible, every question comes complete with its revision topics indicated in brackets, useful hints and expanded answers.

Part One

Reviews

Chapter 1

Aptitude and skills review

---

A1. Understanding argument 1: basic aspects

A2. Understanding argument 2: flaws; types of questions

A3. Understanding argument 3: example argument

A4. Critical thinking: Venn diagrams and logic statements

A5. Shape symmetry

Aptitude review questions

---

A1. Understanding argument 1: basic aspects

a) Argument

An argument is a short passage of prose that usually contains a conclusion and the evidence (reasons) supporting it. The evidence is presented in one or more premises (statements) that appear plausible within the context of the argument. A conclusion is often expressed at the end of the passage or at the beginning, and its validity depends upon: i) the truth of the premises, including any assumptions that the reader is expected to take for granted, and ii) the soundness of the reasoning from the evidence to the conclusion.

b) Conclusion, evidence and assumptions

i) The conclusion is a judgement based on reasoning from premises; the following words are indicators: therefore, consequently, in summary, so, hence, infer, shows, should, will.

ii) The evidence is the knowledge required to support the conclusion; the following words are indicators: obviously, because, for example, in support of, due to, since, as a result of.

iii) The assumptions provide the link between the evidence and the conclusion as long as they are true. Assumptions are not stated but are deemed to ‘go without saying’; in other words, proof is not given, so you have to read between the lines.

c) Reasoning

i) Deductive: the conclusion is deduced from generally accepted facts and a minor premise. For example: all planets orbit the sun; Mars is a planet so Mars must orbit the sun.

ii) Inductive (most arguments): the conclusion is drawn from minor premises (ie inferred from observation and patterns) that are believed to support the general case of something (eg a theory) but do not provide conclusive proof; for example, Mars moves around the sun and the earth moves around the sun so the sun is at the centre of all the planets (probable). There are three key possibilities: the conclusion is true with true premises and sound (valid) reasoning; the conclusion is false with sound reasoning (but false premises); the conclusion is false with true premises (but unsound reasoning).

A2. Understanding argument 2: flaws; types of questions

a) Flaws

These are errors in arguments leading to misleading or unsafe conclusions:

• Confusing correlation with causation. For example, death rates are higher in cancer patients receiving complementary therapies, so complementary therapies must be harmful to health (untrue: when orthodox medicine fails, patients are more seriously ill).
• Confusion over percentages and numbers. For example, 15 per cent of road fatalities involve motorbikes and 75 per cent involve cars so it is five times safer to ride a motorbike than to drive a car (untrue: fewer than one in 50 vehicles are motorbikes).
• Over-generalizing. For example, nine out of 10 people interviewed said they would buy a small car next time so there is little market for the large car (sample too small or unrepresentative; all those interviewed drove small cars).
• Logical fallacy: the premises are true but do not support the conclusion (though it may be true). For example, if A follows B (true) then so must C, D and E (false). Note that a true conclusion can be arrived at (accidentally) with false premises.

b) Question types

Questions in the BMAT take various forms:

• A short paragraph that contains a conclusion and the evi...

Table of contents

• Cover page
• Title page
• Imprint
• Table of contents
• Introduction
• Part One: Reviews
• Part Two: Tests and answers
• Full imprint