UCAT ANZ cheat sheet

Format: 44 questions in 21 minutes across 11 passages of about four questions each, so roughly 28-29 seconds per question.

True = the statement follows from the passage; False = the passage directly contradicts it; Can't Tell = the passage neither supports nor contradicts it, so the needed information is absent.

Only information stated or directly implied in the passage counts; outside knowledge, even if correct, is never used to break a tie.

Main idea, tone and most/least likely items require weighing the whole passage rather than matching one sentence.

Extreme qualifiers in an option (always, never, all, only) are harder to support than hedged wording (some, may, tends to).

For attitude items, scan for evaluative adjectives and adverbs and for concession words such as although, however and surprisingly.

For vocabulary-in-context items, substitute each option into the sentence and test it against the surrounding lines only.

For detail items, read the stem first, then scan for a keyword or paraphrase instead of reading every word in order.

When two options both look supported, choose the one whose scope matches the passage; broader or narrower restatements are usually wrong.

Format: 29 questions in 31 minutes; some items carry two marks because two independent statements must each be judged correctly.

"All A are B" combined with "All B are C" validly gives "All A are C"; "All A are B" never converts to "All B are A".

"Some A are B" implies "Some B are A" but does not imply "Some A are not B"; "No A are B" converts directly to "No B are A".

Two 'some' premises can support only a 'some' conclusion; any 'all' or 'none' conclusion drawn from them is invalid.

A conclusion is invalid if any single arrangement of the sets makes the premises true and the conclusion false; test by sketching a Venn diagram.

Necessary condition: Y implies X (Y → X). Sufficient condition: X implies Y (X → Y). Swapping the two is the most common trap.

Probability of independent events: P(A and B) = P(A) × P(B); P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A and B).

In argument items, the unstated assumption is the missing premise the author must hold for the conclusion to follow; denying it breaks the argument.

In 'select all that apply' items more than one option can be correct, so judge each statement independently rather than assuming a single answer.

Format: 36 questions in 24 minutes (about 40 seconds each) with an on-screen calculator; questions arrive in sets of four sharing one data source.

Percentage change = (new − old) ÷ old × 100. To reverse a rise of p%, divide by (1 + p/100); to reverse a fall, divide by (1 − p/100).

Percentage points differ from percent: 20% rising to 25% is 5 percentage points but a 25% relative increase.

A ratio a:b divides a total T as a/(a+b) × T. To combine a:b and b:c, scale both so the shared term matches (2:3 and 4:5 become 8:12:15).

Average speed = total distance ÷ total time; for equal distances at speeds x and y the average is 2xy/(x+y), not (x+y)/2.

Rates add, times do not: combined rate 1/t = 1/t₁ + 1/t₂, so workers taking 6 h and 3 h together finish in 2 h.

Conversions: 1 km = 1000 m; 1 m³ = 1000 L; 1 hectare = 10 000 m²; 1 km/h = 5/18 m/s.

Compound growth: final = initial × (1 + r)^n, where r is the decimal rate per period and n the number of periods; simple interest = P × r × n.

Pie chart sector angle = (value ÷ total) × 360°. If lengths scale by k, areas scale by k² and volumes by k³.

Format: 69 items in 26 minutes, using four item types: appropriateness 1-4, importance 1-4, most/least appropriate of three, and choose three of eight.

Scoring gives full credit only for the exact response and partial credit for being one point away on the four-point scale; the result is reported as a band, not added to the cognitive total.

Patient safety and dignity outrank personal comfort, embarrassment and collegiality; the safest immediate action protects the patient.

Confidentiality: share information only with staff directly involved in care, with the patient's consent, or where there is a serious risk of harm.

Escalation order: raise it with the person concerned if safe, then the immediate supervisor, then a senior clinician or dedicated reporting line; going straight to the top is rarely 'very appropriate'.

Honesty: never conceal a mistake; disclose it promptly to the patient and a senior, record it through the incident system, and act to prevent recurrence.

Valid consent needs capacity, adequate information about risks and alternatives, and freedom from pressure; a competent adult may refuse even life-saving treatment.

Professional boundaries: decline gifts or personal relationships that could compromise care, and do not give personal contact details to patients.

In importance items, only considerations that would materially change the correct action rate as very important; generic courtesies rate low.