VR - 27th July

Verbal Reasoning UKCAT Course Book Theory & Technique Mock Questions Step-by-Step Guides Detailed Explanations Motivate. Mentor. Maximise.

Table of Contents Page 4 Lesson 7Lesson 1: Introduction to Verbal Reasoning 11Lesson 2: True, False, Can’t Tell 13Lesson 3: Using Inferences 16Lesson 4: Extreme Language 21Lesson 5: Keyword Approach 24Lesson 6: Passage Adjustments 28Lesson 7: Writer Questions 32Lesson 8: Type 1 Statement Questions 34Lesson 9: Type 2 Statement Questions 35Lesson 10: Scientific and Factual Passages 38Lesson 11: Timing Strategies 39Lesson 12: Reverse Questions 41Lesson 13: Timing Contingencies 43Lesson 14: Causation vs. Correlation 45Lesson 15: Verbal Reasoning - Test Day 47Lesson 16: Tips from the Experts 55Lesson 17: Summary & Overview 84Verbal Reasoning Mock 90Answers and Explanations - Tutorial QuestionsAnswers and Explanations - Mock Test

Introduction to Verbal Reasoning Lesson 1 To gain a brief understanding of the different question types in Verbal Reasoning and the timing for this intense section.What is Verbal Reasoning?The Verbal Reasoning subtest assesses your ability to read and think carefully aboutinformation presented in passages and to determine whether specific conclusions can bedrawn from information presented.Why do they test it?Doctors and dentists need excellent verbal reasoning skills in order to understand complexinformation and communicate this clearly and simply to patients is essential. Medicalpractitioners must also be able to interpret findings from published materials and apply thisto their own practice. It is essential they are able to critique such materials and draw theirown conclusion as to the validity of any findings.What are the different question types?There are 5 types of Verbal Reasoning Question:••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 4 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Introduction to Verbal Reasoning Lesson 1• True, False, Cannot Tell- the question stem is a statement, and you have to choose either True, False or Cannot Tell• Type 1- the question stem has a specific question, and you have to choose which of the four similar statements is correct.• Type 2- the question stem is generic, and you have to choose which of the four unrelated statements is correct.• Writer- the question asks something related to the author of the passage, whether it be his overall opinion, strongest point, or something else. Question format can be Type 1, 2 or TFCT.• Reverse- the question involves a negative, e.g. which of the following is least likely, or not true. Question format can be Type 1, 2 or TFCT.What are the main challenges of Verbal Reasoning?• Timing- you have under 2 minutes to answer four questions relating to a fairly large passage. Therefore you have to be efficient, quick and decisive.• Reading the passage- at normal reading pace it would take you 2 minutes to read the passage alone, so you need to use our Keywords Approach to succeed in the questions.• Variety of questions- the huge range of verbal reasoning makes it very difficult to apply a single approach. There is a different Medic Mind approach specific for each question type, and without lots of practice this can at first seem intimidating.External KnowledgeA general rule for all Verbal Reasoning questions is that you should not use any externalknowledge to answer the questions. You should only use the information in the passage.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 5 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Introduction to Verbal Reasoning Lesson 1Consider the question statement:“Barack Obama was elected as President of the USA inNovember 2008”.You may know that this is true from your own knowledge. You canuse this to help you knock out the option ‘False’, but the answercan still be ‘Can’t Tell’ if there is no explicit mention of this fact inthe passage.You can still use external knowledge, however, if you are careful.If you know this fact is true in real life, then it is quite likely that itwill not be False in this UKCAT passage, as most passages arederived from real articles. But we cannot rule out Can’t Tell.
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True, False, Can’t Tell Lesson 2Be able to define True, False and Can’t Tell statements and knowhow to differentiate between themTrue, False, Can’t TellTrue means that the statement is correct based on the passage.• A statement can be true if it is directly stated in the passage. This is the simplest to find, and should be an easy mark.• A statement can be true if it is an inference from the passage, even if it is not directly stated. Here there is a blur between True and Can’t Tell.False means that the statement contradicts the passage. Again, it may not beexplicitly shown to be wrong, but instead you can detect it using an inference.• A statement might go against the passage, either factually or in terms of general opinion• A statement could take something in the passage and extend it too far - e.g. the passage says ‘one of the few suppliers in the market’ and the statement says ‘the only supplier’. Can’t Tell means that you cannot be certain based on the information on the passage. • A statement could go beyond the information in the passage. • A statement may be True or False from your own knowledge, but you cannot choose based on your external knowledge. If it is not in the passage, it has to be Can’t Tell.These definitions might seem quite abstract for now and difficult to visualise, but we will gothrough examples step by step.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 7 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

True, False, Can’t Tell Lesson 2Types of True1. Directly StatedA statement can be true if it is directly stated in the passage. This is the simplest to find,and should be an easy mark.Statement: WhatsApp is owned by Facebook.Passage: ‘Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, sanctioned the acquisition ofWhatsApp’.2. InferenceA statement can be true if it is an inference from the passage, even if it is not directlystated. Here there can often a blur between True and Can’t Tell.Statement: ‘Altitude are one of the better social media management firms in the UK’Passage: ‘Altitude has grown significantly since its launch. To date, a vast number of firmsare using Altitude to boost their online marketing strategy’Types of False1. ContradictionA statement might go against the passage, either factually or in terms of general opinion.2. Statement Goes Too FarA statement could take something in the passage and extend it too farStatement: ‘Krandon are the only supplier of Amaroo Extract left to date’Passage: ‘With raw materials for Amaroo Extract becoming scarce, customers are forcedto buy from dominant retailer Krandon, one of the very few suppliers left.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 8 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

True, False, Can’t Tell Lesson 2Types of Can’t Tell1. External Knowledge“Barack Obama was elected as President of the USA in November 2008”.You may know that this is True from your own knowledge. You can use this to help youknock out the option ‘False’, but the answer can still be ‘Can’t Tell’ if there is no explicitmention of this fact in the passage True Direct Can’t Tell Match False Inference Beyond Passage Contradiction Statement Too Extreme••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 9 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

True, False, Can’t Tell Lesson 2Practice 1: True, False, Can’t Tell Questions Sports in UK Schools On 17th February 2013, at the annual Sports Conference conference, Government has been accused of \"turning its back on school sport\" and undermining the Olympic legacy six months after the Games. Shadow Sports Minister Clive Efford MP told the BBC: \"What has gone on in school sport is absolutely disastrous.” Education Secretary Michael Gove is expected to announce a new strategy for school sport later this month. Efford continues: ‘We need a long-term strategy blueprint to get sport into our schools. If we don't, we're storing up a huge problem for ourselves, for the economy and for the NHS. Doing nothing isn't an option’. Despite record investment in elite and community sport, the Government has made some cuts in schools sports. Ministers say they are spending £1bn on youth sport over the next five years through Sport England. But the government has abolished ring-fenced funding for the national School Sport Partnerships (SSPs) and ended recommendation for two hours of PE in schools each week. The SSP network enabled well-equipped 'hub' secondary schools to lend PE teachers to those that needed them, especially primary schools. 1. The Olympic Games began in August 2012. A. True B. False C. Can’t tell••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 10 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Using Inferences Lesson 3Know when you can and can’t use inferences to judge whethersomething is True or Can’t Tell.Using InferencesThere is a fine line between True and Can’t Tell. Consider this passage and the fourassociated statements: Example Passage “UCL Medical School has become one of the most popular institutes in the UK. With recent investment in a new Medical Library, and development of the lecture theatres UCL is becoming a genuine dream medical school for any UK applicants”• “UCL Medical School is one of the best in the UK”True- you can infer from the positive comments that UCLmedical school is one of the best in the UK.• “UCL Medical School used to be worse than it is now”True- the passage references recent investment in a library andmore modern lecture theatres as reasons for UCL’s development,so we can infer that it has improved.• “UCL Medical School is the best in the UK”Can’t tell- we can suspect this based on inferences from the passage, but we cannot besure. The statement is going beyond the terms of the passage.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 11 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Using Inferences Lesson 3• “The recent project to build a new Library has been a full success”Can’t tell- we can tell that it has made a difference to UCL and the quality of the medicalschool, but it is too far to say that it has been a ‘full success’. We do not know about costs,how long the project took based on estimations, or other related issues.Using Inferences••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 12 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Extreme Language Lesson 4 Learn to use the Medic Mind Extreme Language approach to help you predict and guess answers wherever appropriate.Analysing the Type of LanguageFor True, False, Can’t Tell questions you can look at the type of language used to help youdecide on the answer. You can look for extreme and mild phrases.Examples of extreme phrasesExtreme phrases tend to be False or Can’t Tell.“Will always”“Definitely”“Always”“Every time”“Biggest”Examples of mild phrasesMild phrases tend to be True.“Might”“Could”“One of the (best)”“Sometimes”
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Extreme Language Lesson 4• “Seeing a product used in a popular television programme will always increase the demand for the product” ‘Will always’ is very definitive language, so the answer is more likely to be Can’t Tell or False. If the statement said ‘might’ or “sometimes’ then the answer is more likely to be True.• “Nike running shoes are the best shoes in the sports market” ‘Best’ is again extreme language. If the statement said they are ‘one of the best’, it is less extreme and more likely to be true.Practice 2: Extreme Language QuestionsSports in UK SchoolsOn 17th February 2013, at the annual Sports Conference conference, Government hasbeen accused of \"turning its back on school sport\" and undermining the Olympic legacy sixmonths after the Games.Shadow Sports Minister Clive Efford MP told the BBC: \"What has gone on in school sportis absolutely disastrous.” Education Secretary Michael Gove is expected to announce anew strategy for school sport later this month.Efford continues: ‘We need a long-term strategy blueprint to get sport into our schools. Ifwe don't, we're storing up a huge problem for ourselves, for the economy and for the NHS.Doing nothing isn't an option’. Despite record investment in elite and community sport, theGovernment has made some cuts in schools sports. Ministers say they are spending £1bnon youth sport over the next five years through Sport England.But the government has abolished ring-fenced funding for the national School SportPartnerships (SSPs) and ended recommendation for two hours of PE in schools eachweek. The SSP network enabled well-equipped 'hub' secondary schools to lend PEteachers to those that needed them, especially primary schools.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 14 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Extreme Language Lesson 42. Two hours of PE are no longer done at any UK schoolsA. TrueB. FalseC. Can’t tell3. Michael Gove has some control over sports in schools.A. TrueB. FalseC. Can’t tell••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 15 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Keyword Approach Lesson 4 Learn Medic Mind’s Keyword Approach and how to apply it.Medic Mind Method: Keyword ApproachYou will not have the luxury of being able to read the passage. The biggest mistakestudents make is trying to read too much, and therefore falling heavily short of time.We teach our students to follow the Keyword Approach:1) Read only the first two lines of the passage.By reading the first part of the passage you can gauge the topic ofthe passage, which will help you when choosing a relevant keyword.You will see the value in this later.2) Read the question and pick a keywordPick a keyword from the statement or question. This keyword willhelp you find the information you are looking for in the passage.3) Search for the keyword in the passageLook for the keyword in the passage. When you find it, read from the sentence before thekeyword, to the sentence after. This small section of the passage should contain youranswer.4) Eliminate the wrong answersKnock out the wrong answers, and select the correct one.Choosing a Good Keyword• Key words should not appear all over the passage, because it won’t narrow down any information for you!• Dates, numbers and nouns (with capitalised letters) make very good keywords because they are easy to find by visual inspection••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 16 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Keyword Approach Lesson 5• The keyword does not necessarily have to be a ‘word’. It can instead be a ‘phrase’, or a selection of two words.Importance of Step 1 of the Keyword ApproachImagine you had a passage about the growing popularity magazines. Each paragraphdiscussed different types of publication, such as sport magazines, travel magazines, orcooking magazines. “Magazines relating to football are becoming increasingly popular” • True • False • Can’t TellFrom the passage topic, we know that ‘magazine’ will not be a good keyword as it appearsin most paragraphs. Whereas ‘football’ would be a brilliant key word.Now reverse the situation.…Imagine the passage was all about football. Each paragraph explored different elements ofthe sport, such as football on TV, local academies, football literature and magazines. Inthis scenario, a good keyword is ‘magazine’, and a weak keyword is ‘football’.This shows you the value of reading the first 2 lines of the passage to gauge the generaltopic and help you pick the right keyword. Keyword Pick a keyword which doesn’t appear too often in the passage••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 17 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Keyword Approach Lesson 5Keywords appearing multiple timesWhen you find the keyword, look for the answer in the sentences around it, as per theKeyword Approach:• If you find a reference to the question information, then you can be generally satisfied that you have found the right section of text. Choose the answer and move on.• If you do not find a reference to the question information, then you may be inclined to choose ‘Can’t Tell’ and move on. But the keyword may appear again later on in the passage, so do a quick scan to see if there are multiple referencesKeywords that do not appear in the passageSometimes the keyword will not appear in the passage. In this situation you have toassess the passage and decide on your approach appropriately.If you believe that the answer is ‘Can’t Tell’, choose this and move on.If you feel that the answer is still hidden somewhere, try a different approach to find it:• Check again- if you have rushed your search, it is sometimes worth scanning the passage again for the keyword.• Synonyms- you should search for synonyms or rephrasing of the keyword. For example, the keyword ‘holiday’ may instead appear as ‘vacation’ or ‘trip’.• Alternative keyword- you can choose a different keyword if you are confident the passage will have a reference to the information in the question.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 18 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Keyword Approach Lesson 5Practice 3: Spotting Keywords The Final Straw for Recyclers A waste disposal firm has stepped into the row over hard-to-recycle products by demanding a tax on plastic drinking straws. The firm, BusinessWaste, says manufacturers should revert to old-style paper straws, which biodegrade. Plastic straws were described as \"the ultimate in human wastefulness\" by the firm. It follows news that the most hated products for recyclers are Pringles and Lucozade Sport. BusinessWaste's spokesman Mark Hall said: \"A plastic straw has a lifespan of around 20 minutes, and then it's thrown away. \"Where recycling facilities exist, most pubs and bars don't bother separating out used straws to recycle because it's fiddly, and - frankly - they've been in the mouth of a stranger. They are pretty much the ultimate in human waste, and a problem that can so easily be solved with very little effort.” The firm suggests a 5p plastic straw tax, in the footsteps of the plastic bag tax, which has radically cut the use of single-use bags. It also takes aim at adults who use drinking straws. Mr Hall added: \"Face the facts, you're not eight years old. Only kids need a straw with their fizzy pop. Why on earth do you need a straw in your Gin and Tonic? A plastic bottle tax was considered by the government earlier in the year but abandoned after manufacturers pointed out the costs in establishing proper recycling schemes. 4. Which of the following is true? A. Plastic straws are non-biodegradable B. Gin and Tonic is normally served with a plastic straw. C. Lucozade Sport are against the move to tax plastic straws D. Restaurants do not re-use plastic straws.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 19 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Keyword Approach Lesson 5Practice 4: Spotting Keywords The Rise of Contactless Payment The use of contactless payments in the first half of the year outstripped use in the whole of 2015 as consumers switched from cash to cards. Spending and the number of transactions on contactless were higher in January to June than all of last year, figures from the UK Cards Association show. Contactless now accounts for 18% of card spending - up from 7% a year ago, the data shows. The average contactless transaction is for £8.60. This suggests that marketing by the card companies to encourage the use of contactless for small retail purchases - particularly food and drink - has worked. Use is high in London, reflecting the common use of contactless by commuters on the capital's transport system. Cash is still the most common method of payment despite the increasingly popularity of contactless card use and online shopping. \"Contactless cards are firmly entrenched as the preferred way to pay for millions of consumers, who expect to be able to use them for everyday purchases,\" said Richard Koch, head of policy at the UK Cards Association. The one-off spending limit on contactless cards rose from £20 to £30 in September last year, but some major retailers do not accept this method of payment. Research by Barclaycard earlier this year suggested that Britons over the age of 60 were the fastest growing group of people taking to contactless card payments. 5. The majority of people spend above £8 on a contactless transaction. A. True B. False C. Can’t tell••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 20 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Passage Adjustments Lesson 6 Remember that passage and statement can have a slight adjustment that changes the interpretation of the answer entirely.Spotting Slight AdjustmentsQuestion statements may be very similar to phrases in the passage, and this can oftentrick you into choosing the wrong answer. Therefore it is essential to read the sentencesaround the keyword carefully, word to word, from the start to end.Remember, you are skim reading to find the keyword. But once you have found thekeyword, you are reading the sentence before to sentence after very carefully. Example Passage “The number of speeding tickets issued in the UK has grown significantly with the implementation of new technology in modern cars. The technology enables cars to accelerate much more efficiently, and often the driver does not realise the high pace they are travelling at. Mark Watson, in the Road and Traffic Incidents Report, described his shock that ’65% of electric cars have been built with this new technology’. With the media fixation on modern safety and with widespread scrutiny of any single accident, it is becoming more important than ever to drive safely and carefully.” Nearly two-thirds of cars have been built with the new technology discussed in the passage. A. True B. False C. Can’t tellA good keyword would be ‘two-thirds’, bearing in mind that you may have to look out for anumerical figure. This takes us to the line ’65% of electric cars have been built with thisnew technology’.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 21 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Passage Adjustments Lesson 6You could easily fixate on the terms ’65%’ and ‘cars’, and be tricked into thinking thisstatement is True. However, there is a slight adjustment in the passage, because thepassage discusses ‘electric cars’ whereas the statement is generic to all ‘cars’. Theanswer is therefore Can’t Tell.Other Examples of Passage AdjustmentsPassage Question Statement Analysis“2015 brought a rise in “In 2015, temperatures Can’t Tell - the statementtemperature in London” in the UK increased’ is true for London, but not the whole of the UK“With new features such asfingerprint detection and a wider “The iPhone has the Can't Tell- it has a bigscreen, the iPhone is slowly biggest share of the share, but we do not knowbecoming one of the key dominant market” that it is the biggestplayers in the mobile phonemarket”“Ristorante Pizza has a received “Ristorante Pizza has Can't Tell- even though theglowing reviews in this morning’s easy-to-use first point is right, and theBBC Food Blog. The blog packaging, and is second could be plausible,described the quality standard of easy to cook quickly” we cannot be sure that it isthe pizza, and cited the user- easy to cook rapidly.friendly packaging as a big bonus”How can I spot a Passage Adjustment?• If you ready very carefully around the keyword, you should avoid the trap of a Passage Adjustment.• If you see the exact same wording between statement and passage, be on the alert. In most cases the passage will have synonyms and reworded the correct answer. If the statement is ‘The annual increase in interest rates has led to…’, and the passage has the exact same wording, then there may be a slight one word adjustment.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 22 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Passage Adjustments Lesson 6Practice 5: Passage Adjustments
The Final Straw for RecyclersA waste disposal firm has stepped into the row over hard-to-recycle products bydemanding a tax on plastic drinking straws.The firm, BusinessWaste, says manufacturers should revert to old-style paper straws,which biodegrade. Plastic straws were described as \"the ultimate in humanwastefulness\" by the firm. It follows news that the most hated products for recyclersare Pringles and Lucozade Sport. BusinessWaste's spokesman Mark Hall said: \"Aplastic straw has a lifespan of around 20 minutes, and then it's thrown away. \"Whererecycling facilities exist, most pubs and bars don't bother separating out used strawsto recycle because it's fiddly, and - frankly - they've been in the mouth of a stranger.They are pretty much the ultimate in human waste, and a problem that can so easilybe solved with very little effort.”The firm suggests a 5p plastic straw tax, in the footsteps of the plastic bag tax, whichhas radically cut the use of single-use bags. It also takes aim at adults who usedrinking straws. Mr Hall added: \"Face the facts, you're not eight years old. Only kidsneed a straw with their fizzy pop. Why on earth do you need a straw in your Gin andTonic?A plastic bottle tax was considered by the government earlier in the year butabandoned after manufacturers pointed out the costs in establishing proper recyclingschemes.6. There are currently no proper recycling facilities for plastic straws.A. TrueB. FalseC. Can’t Tell7. The government had considered enforcing a tax on plastic straws in 2017.A. TrueB. FalseC. Can’t Tell••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 23 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Writer Questions Lesson 7 Adapt your approach for Writer Questions to help you find the writer’s strongest opinion, the overall conclusion or simply identify an opinion.Introduction to Writer QuestionsWriter Questions are centred around the writer’s opinion. For example:• Which of the following would the author most likely agree with?• Which of the following does the author cite as a reason for the recession?• The author’s strongest stated opinion is…For these questions we should only worry about the view of the author, not facts orstatistics unless the writer has given an opinion on them.Writer Question ApproachYou can use the keyword approach again for Writer Questions. Itis, however, particularly important to do step 1 thoroughly, and it isoften worth reading the last few lines of the passage too:1. Read the first two lines and last two lines of the passage to understand the general author opinion2. Pick a keyword from the question statement3. Search the passage to find the keyword. Read from the sentence before to the sentence after.4. Eliminate the incorrect answers and select the correct one.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 24 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Writer Questions Lesson 7Finding the Conclusion of the PassageThe conclusion is the overall opinion of the passage. It can often be found at the end in thelast paragraph, but the writer may also mention it in the first sentence of the passage andgo on to discuss and justify the conclusion throughout the passage.Finding the Writer’s Strongest Opinion• The writer’s most strongly stated opinion will tend to be found in the conclusion of the passage, so that is the best place to look.• The strongest stated opinion may be mentioned the most number of times, or it could be a topic discussed in the most detail.• When a question asks you for the writer’s strongest opinion, all of the options may be views held by the author. Therefore if you find a reference to statement A, for example, do not automatically assume that is the answer. You should check each option and find the strongest view.• Ideally the strongest view will be surrounded by an indicator phrase:‘Most important of all…’‘The most pressing issue…’‘…. is very important’Timing for Writer QuestionsAuthor questions can be quite time-consuming because to understandthe writer opinion you sometimes have to read several lines. Therefore bewary not to spend too much time on them if you cannot reach the answer.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 25 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Writer Questions Lesson 7Official UKCAT Passage: Writer QuestionsUnlike the rest of the questions in the book, this is not a Medic Mind Question. Instead it isan official past UKCAT Question from the UKCAT website. We want to show you how toapply our techniques to a past exam question beyond just the Medic Mind Questionswhich fill the rest of this book. Decline in Golf The team turned up at the usual time — 9:15 on Saturday morning. Though it had rained for most of the summer, leaving the ground soft and very muddy, the course was still open for play. Under these conditions the green keepers would have normally closed the course in order to preserve the greens. However, due to the economic downturn, many ‘normal’ things no longer happen. Golf clubs have been hit hard in these financially difficult times, with many now offering huge discounts to encourage membership. Many clubs are forced to keep the grounds open when they may have normally closed so that ‘pay and play’ members can support the club and add to the takings. More affluent clubs are surviving by diversifying and opening their facilities for private hire and various other functions and events. Traditionally golf has always been seen as the sport for those with more time and money on their hands. It has very much been the domain of the male population, in particular those who have clinched important business deals while playing 18 holes. In more recent years it has won favour with a wide variety of people from different walks of life, and involved more women than ever before. However it is a leisure activity and when finances are tight, people are choosing not to spend large sums on membership fees and even on ‘pay and play’. Even older retired people are feeling the pinch of financial uncertainty and golf is once again seen as a luxury that people can live without in order to save money. This is unfortunate as we have a larger population of older people than ever before. If more affordable, golf is a beneficial activity in terms of exercise and social interaction, both of which are so important to an ageing population who may suffer from loneliness and depression.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 26 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Writer Questions Lesson 7 8. Which change would the author most likely make in order to increase the popularity of golf? A. Extend opening hours B. Returf the green C. Reduce membership rates D. Introduce discounts for businesses 9. According to the passage, the author believes that golf: A. Is accessible to everyone B. Should be a luxury C. Is a man’s game D. Improves well-being 10. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage? A. Playing golf is now the best exercise for elderly people B. Playing golf is cheaper now than it ever has been C. Fewer people play golf now than have done previously D. More women play golf now than businessmen 11. The author suggests that which of the following is happening as a result of the economic downturn? A. Golf clubs are looking for alternative ways of generating income B. Only the more affluent golf clubs are surviving financially C. All the clubs are now staying open when conditions are unfit for play D. More of the population are suffering from loneliness and depression••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 27 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Increasing Time PressureType 1 Statement Questions Lesson 8 Be able to approach Type 1 Questions by selecting a single keyword in the question stem, but working quickly to assess 4 statements in time.Variety of Questions in Verbal ReasoningOne of the trickiest aspects of Verbal Reasoning is the sheer variety of questions you get.This requires you to continually adjust your approach.• Type 2 Statements are the most time pressurised because you have to pick multiple keywords. We will explore these in Lesson 8.• Type 1 Statements are still very time pressurised, although you can normally find a single keyword in the question stem. We will explore these in this lesson.• Writer Questions require lots of reading, and they can be quite tricky. To find a fact you might have to read one line, but to find an opinion you might have to read a whole paragraph, so Writer Questions are time pressured.• Scientific and Factual Passages tend to have good keywords, even if the passages seem quite abstract. They are therefore less time pressured than Writer Questions.• True, False, Questions are the least time pressurised type of question. Type 2 Statement Questions Type 1 Statement Questions Scientific and Factual Passages Writer Questions True, False, Can’t Tell ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 28 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Type 1 Statements Lesson 8True, False, Can’t Tell questions have 3 options (True, False, Can’t Tell).Statement questions have 4 options (all different statements).Type 1 QuestionType 2 Question••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 29 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Type 1 Statements Lesson 8Challenges of Statement Questions• You have to read 4 statements = time-consuming• The statements can be unrelated = confusing• Each statement may need its own keyword = time-consuming• There are four options instead of three = difficult to eliminate or guessType 1 Statement QuestionsAlthough tougher than True, False, Can’t Tell questions, General Questions aremanageable if you follow our step-by-step approach.The Type 1 Statement question has a question with four statements relating to the topic.There is a common theme amongst the four answer options, as they all relate to thequestion in a similar way.Type 1 Question ApproachWe have learnt the Keyword Approach so far. This is the same technique we will use foreach question type, although we have to adapt it slightly.For a Type 1 question the challenge is greater because you have more information toassess - 4 statements instead of 1.Yet again, follow the same approach:1. Read the first two lines of the passage to understand the general topic2. Pick a keyword from the question statement3. Search the passage to find the keyword. Read from the sentence before to the sentence after.4. Eliminate the incorrect answers and select the correct one.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 30 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Type 1 Statements Lesson 8Sometimes the route to the correct answer will be by eliminating the wrong answers. Thisis a particularly useful tactic for General Questions. Be on the look out for anything thatdoesn’t seem right for a statement. Once you see a slight doubt, be quick to eliminate.Practice 6: Type 1 Questions
The Final Straw for RecyclersA waste disposal firm has stepped into the row over hard-to-recycle products bydemanding a tax on plastic drinking straws. The firm, BusinessWaste, saysmanufacturers should revert to old-style paper straws, which biodegrade. Plastic strawswere described as \"the ultimate in human wastefulness\" by the firm. It follows news thatthe most hated products for recyclers are Pringles and Lucozade Sport. BusinessWaste'sspokesman Mark Hall said: \"A plastic straw has a lifespan of around 20 minutes, andthen it's thrown away. \"Where recycling facilities exist, most pubs and bars don't botherseparating out used straws to recycle because it's fiddly, and - frankly - they've been inthe mouth of a stranger. They are pretty much the ultimate in human waste, and aproblem that can so easily be solved with very little effort.”The firm suggests a 5p plastic straw tax, in the footsteps of the plastic bag tax, which hasradically cut the use of single-use bags. It also takes aim at adults who use drinkingstraws. Mr Hall added: \"Face the facts, you're not eight years old. Only kids need a strawwith their fizzy pop. Why on earth do you need a straw in your Gin and Tonic?A plastic bottle tax was considered by the government earlier in the year but abandonedafter manufacturers pointed out the costs in establishing proper recycling schemes.12. Which of the following is not a view expressed by Mark Hall in the passage?A. Plastic straws do not get recycled enough by pubs and barsB. The plastic bag tax is a successful example of a scheme which should also be used for plastic straws.C. In reality no one needs a plastic straw for their beverageD. The waste of plastic bottles is a smaller problem than the issue of plastic straws.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 31 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Type 2 Statement Questions Lesson 9 Be able to approach Type 2 Questions by selecting a keyword for each statement, and decide tactically which statement to assess first.Type 2 Statement QuestionsIn Type 2 Statement Questions there will be no keyword in the statement of the question.Instead, the statement will be generic, for example:• Which of the following statements is true?• Which of the following statements is the author most likely to support?Type 2 Question ApproachAs the statement is generic, you won’t be able to find a keyword in the question stem.Therefore you have to look at the statements to find your keywords.1. Read the first two lines of the passage to understand the general topic2. Find a keyword for the first statement, and search.3. Repeat for each statement, knocking them out one by one until you find the answer.• If two statements are remotely related, you may be able to use a single keyword for each.• Start with the statement which you suspect is right using your gut instinct, rather than always starting with A.• If you cannot find a keyword for a statement be ruthless and move on to the next statement. Unlike the previous question types, with Type 2 you have multiple keywords, so you do not have time to check again, look closely for synonyms or try a different keyword for the same statement. 
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Type 2 Statements Lesson 9Practice 7: Type 2 Questions
The Rise of Contactless PaymentThe use of contactless payments in the first half of the year outstripped use in the wholeof 2015 as consumers switched from cash to cards. Spending and the number oftransactions on contactless were higher in January to June than all of last year, figuresfrom the UK Cards Association show. Contactless now accounts for 18% of cardspending - up from 7% a year ago, the data shows. The average contactless transactionis for £8.60. This suggests that marketing by the card companies to encourage the use ofcontactless for small retail purchases - particularly food and drink - has worked.Use is high in London, reflecting the common use of contactless by commuters on thecapital's transport system. Cash is still the most common method of payment despite theincreasingly popularity of contactless card use and online shopping. \"Contactless cardsare firmly entrenched as the preferred way to pay for millions of consumers, who expectto be able to use them for everyday purchases,\" said Richard Koch, head of policy at theUK Cards Association.The one-off spending limit on contactless cards rose from £20 to £30 in September lastyear, but some major retailers do not accept this method of payment. Research byBarclaycard earlier this year suggested that Britons over the age of 60 were the fastestgrowing group of people taking to contactless card payments.13. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage?A. People use contactless cards more often than cash payments.B. London has the highest number of contactless users in the UK.C. The majority of Britons using contactless payment are over 60.D. Contactless payment is often used for purchasing transport14. Which of these statements about contactless payment is false?A. Many people consider contactless as their ideal payment methodB. Transport for London have security concerns over contactless transactions on the underground.C. The one-off limit on contactless spending rose by one-third to £30.D. Contactless is a common payment method for food and drink.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 33 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Scientific and Factual Passages Lesson 10Be able to recognise factual passages, and ensure you do not getoverwhelmed by abstract facts and difficult language.What is a Factual Passage?Some passages will be very factual heavy, often based onscientific topics.• These passages can be quite abstract and difficult to understand. Therefore it is more important than ever to not waste time reading too much• Keywords can be much easier to find, because factual passages include more figures, dates and specialised terms.Timing for Factual PassagesScientific passages will be easier to handle than opinion based writer questions, even ifthey are harder to understand.With opinion passages, you have to read several lines to grasp a single point, but withscientific passages the answers tend to be concentrated in single lines.Medic Mind Tip for Factual PassagesDo not get bogged down in the technicalities of factual or scientific terms. The UKCATloves to throw difficult terms and language at you, but often these terms are distractors.Focus on the keyword and essential information.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 34 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Timing Tips Lesson 11Learn Medic Mind’s Timing Strategies to save you time in the exam.Guessing and Moving OnSome questions will require more than 30 seconds, and it can be worthspending those extra few seconds to secure the mark.But how do you know whether you should invest the extra time?• If you have eliminated 1 option by the 30 second mark, then guess out Pressure of Time! of the remaining 3 and move on• If you have eliminated 2 options by the 30 second mark, you have done most of the work so it is worth spending an extra 15 seconds to get the right answer.First Question in a Set 1 2If you are doing the first question in a set, bear in mind two things: 3 4• Spending extra time on the first question in a set will help you understand the passage more, which will help you for the remaining three questions. Whereas spending extra time on the fourth question in a set will have no future benefit, so be more stringent.• If you are stuck on the first question, you can always move on to the next three and you might discover the answer as you learn more about the passage.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 35 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Timing Tips Lesson 11Flagging QuestionsIn the UKCAT you can flag a question and return back to it later. However, you should becareful when you use this function:• Never flag without putting in an answer, even if it is a guess. If you do not get time to come back, at least you will then have an answer prepared• If you flag the 1st or 2nd question in a set, try to come back to it quickly when you have finished the 4th question in that set. This will save you time, because it can be quite difficult to re-familiarise yourself with a passage at the end. Flagging Function••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 36 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Timing Tips Lesson 11Using the whiteboard for flaggingBefore you start the test, number your white board 1 to 44. During the exam when you flagquestions you want to distinguish between the questions you completely guessed, and theones you would ideally like more time over:• If you completely guessed a question, put an G (guess) next to the relevant number. You want to return to these first.• If you answered a question but were not 100% sure over the answer and would like more time to re-check, put an U (unsure) next to the relevant number. You want to return to these last, only if you have luxury time (quite rare).By doing this, you avoid having a situation whereby you finish with lots of flaggedquestions, and unsure on what to return to first.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 37 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Reverse Questions Lesson 12 Recognise Reverse questions and understand the variation that can present in this question type.What is a Reverse Question?In the UKCAT most Statement Questions will ask you to pick the ‘true statement’ or the‘author’s opinion’. However, sometimes you might see a Reverse Question, whereby thequestion is flipped on its head.For example:Which of the following is ‘not true’?Which of these is not an opinion held by the author?Reverse Question ApproachReverse Questions can be tricky. Here are some tips from the Medic Mind Experts forquestions asking you to find the ‘False’ Statement:• Identify the reverse- first and foremost make sure that you detect the reverse question, and realise that you are looking for a ‘false’ statement rather than a ‘true’ one. Many UKCAT candidates barely read the question stem and hence miss this crucial point.• Work by elimination - try to find Statement A in the passage, if it is present and true, knock it out. Do this for every statement, and the one left could be your answer.• Time pressures - with normal statement questions you are looking to match one statement with the passage. Here you might have to find 3 statement references to knock them all out. This is very time consuming, so don’t be scared to flag and move on after 30s.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 38 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Reverse Questions Lesson 12Variation in Reverse QuestionsThe approach can vary depending on the type of reverse question.The below table can get slightly theory-heavy, so don’t get bogged down by it. In effect, itis showing you that the correct answer can either be False (and be found in the passage),or Can’t tell (and not necessarily found in the passage).Question Stem Correct option Incorrect options Advised Method“Which of the Can’t Tell True Work by eliminationfollowing is not The statement will The other 3 onlymentioned by the probably not be statements will beauthor?” mentioned in the mentioned in the passage. passage.\"Which of the False True or Can’t Tell Work by eliminationfollowing is false?” You might find a These can be True + finding which reference in the or Can’t Tell. In statement is passage which effect, they don’t all contradicted in the contradicts the have to be passage statement. mentioned in the passage. Cant’ Tell or False True or Can’t Tell Work by elimination + finding which This is a blend of the Again this is a blend statement is contradicted in the“Which of the first two. It may not of the above. The passagefollowing is not anopinion held by the be mentioned or author may mentionauthor?” could be these 3 and not the contradicted. correct answer,••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 39 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Timing Contingencies Lesson 13 Learn Medic Mind’s Timing Contingencies for when you are really short of time, and develop a guessing strategy.What if you are running out of time?With the techniques you have learnt today, we hope that you will not run outof time on the Verbal Reasoning. But from our research a huge proportion ofcandidates fail to finish Verbal Reasoning each year, even if they havefinished during most mock tests.Therefore we have devised two contingency strategies for you. It is to beprepared for a situation where you have to do 10 questions in 2 minutesincase it does arise.Contingency Strategy 1: Rabbit PaceYou have 5 minutes left to answer 15 questions.• Extreme Language- use this technique and the Keyword approach together. You can still look for keywords, but be much more ruthless and answer based on Extreme Language if the passage doesn’t give you quick hints.• Be unforgiving- you cannot hesitate with knocking out now. You don’t have time to double-think your answer.• No time to check incorrect options- if you think A is the answer, then you can double check A with the passage, but do not go through the incorrect options to make sure they are false.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 39 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Timing Contingencies Lesson 13Contingency Strategy 2: Cheetah PaceYou have 5 minutes left to answer 20 questions.In this scenario you have to use the above approaches, but beeven more ruthless and fast. In addition to the Rabbit Pace tips,here are our tips to get to Cheetah pace:• No time to check even correct answer- if you think A could be the answer, then you do not even have time to make 100% sure. Just go on the hint or gut instinct and move on.• Do not leave any question unanswered- if you have 10 questions in one minute, then make sure you have at least put an answer down for each one.Random Guess vs. Quality GuessMany UKCAT candidates would spend 4 minutes rush answering 12question, and then 1 minute choosing option A for each of theremaining 8 questions. This is a random guess.We would suggest spending 3 minutes rush answering, and then spend extra timeguessing. You can then have a few seconds per question to guess based on ExtremeLanguage, common sense, and your gut instinct. This is a quality guess, and it can makea huge difference to your score.For example, for the question below, we can use extreme language to knock out A and B,and general knowledge to knock out D. Of course this is a far from fool-proof method forgetting the correct answer, but it is the best way to guess effectively.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 40 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Correlation vs. Causation Lesson 14Be able to distinguish between Causation and Correlation.Correlation and CausationCorrelation vs. Causation ExampleCausation is when X has caused Y “Since 2002, the rise in smoking has led to an increase in the number of patients suffering heart attacks”Correlation is when X and Y have both “Since 2002, there has been a rise in thechanged in a certain way, but they could be number of smokers and the number ofcompletely unrelated. patients suffering heart attacks”In the UKCAT they will try to trick you by putting two sentences next together which are notactually related. This emphasises the importance of reading carefully once you have foundthe keyword.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 41 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Correlation vs. Causation Lesson 14Opinion vs. FactIn the UKCAT you need to distinguish between the use of opinion and fact. Of course,every passage has a writer, and technically you can say that nothing is fact as it is basedon the credibility of the author. However, we always assume that the passage is correct.So only consider something opinion if it is quoted or shown to be someone’s opinion. Laptops in Classrooms “Mark Alderwield has expressed his concern about the use of laptops in school classrooms. With the technological advancements of the modern era, we are seeing students bringing laptops, iPads and other gadgets to the school classroom. Originally a place for the traditional pen and paper, many are questioning the effect these gadgets are having on classroom concentration. Mr. Alderwield says ‘Concentration in classes has declined significantly due to the use of laptops. Many students play games or explore the internet, whilst the teacher assumes they are making notes on the lesson content. It is essential that the government places a ban on laptops in school classrooms to prevent a predictable decline in student grades’. “The use of laptops in classrooms affects concentration”. A. True B. False C. Can’t TellThe answer to this question is Can’t Tell. The passage cites acorrelation, but it is an opinion of Mark Alderwield rather thansomething based on research. Additionally, the language used in thestatement is quite extreme, so even if research has been done wecannot be sure there is causation.In the UKCAT, they will often use a person’s opinion toexpress a link or trend. Be careful, as this does not meanthat a link exists - it is just one person’s opinion.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 42 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Verbal Reasoning - Test Day Lesson 15 Be prepared for Test Day and plan your Verbal Reasoning revision effectively using our week by week revision plan.When will this section be?Verbal Reasoning is the first section on test day. You will most likely be very nervous, sosettle yourself down before you click ‘Start’.What will I get in the test?• Whiteboard - as with all other sections you get your whiteboard the write on. Re-visit the section on Timing Tips for our guidance on how to use it effectively.• Flag Function - you can mark the question to re-visit after. Again, refer back to Timing Tips for guidance on how to optimise this feature.• Breaks - between each section you can take a break, and as the Instruction Time only begins once you click ‘Start’. Take a deep breath before you start Verbal Reasoning. 
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Verbal Reasoning - Test Day Lesson 154 weeks 
 Consolidate techniques3 weeks Consolidate the techniques you have learnt on with us. Read through this course guide in detail, and make sure you understand each tutorial.2.5 weeks Use questions to supplement the theory. 2 weeks 3 weeks to go - Practicing Questions1.5 weeks It is time to really work on the theory with hundreds of questions. Initially, you do not want to worry too much about timing, but instead on getting 1 week the theory correct. Make sure you are using the Keyword Approach 3 days correctly, spotting Passage Adjustments, looking for Extreme Language. 3 days 1 day 2.5 weeks to go - Focus on TimingTest Day You now want to work to the UKCAT timer. Verbal Reasoning is the most time pressured section, so you need to become disciplined and learn to work fast. You can also work on the skill of skim reading by using newspapers or journals. 2 weeks to go - Full Mock Work on doing mock after mock for Verbal Reasoning. You need to get into the rhythm of working to the UKCAT time pressures. 1.5 weeks to go - Revisit Theory Use our online tutorials and course booklet to re-visit theory before the course day. You will find that you understand and visualise the techniques in a completely different way than before, and you will realise how far you have come! 1 week to go - Build Concentration Verbal Reasoning requires intense concentration, so you need to build up your concentration. Practice doing three Verbal Reasoning mocks back-to-back. 3 days to go - Adapt to Test Conditions You should have been working to UKCAT timing before, but now you should really replicate the exact format. Use a whiteboard or A4 sheet of paper. Go to your local library and do a section on the old-fashioned computers they tend to have there - it is harder to read and navigate on these, and this is what the UKCAT computer will be like. 1 day to go - Consolidate and Relax Consolidate the techniques by scanning through the 20 tutorials (hopefully you will be good at scan reading by now!), and then relax! Test Day - Do three practice passages You need to get yourself into the right mindset for Verbal Reasoning. You will be nervous going into the test, so reading 3 passages before will help you settle down and be ready for the challenge. Do this in the car on the way there, or before you leave home.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 44 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Tips from the Experts Lesson 16 Here is some advice from the Medic Mind Experts.1. Do Not Panic“When you first do a mock and barely finish half thequestions in the time it is terrifying”Verbal Reasoning can be very overwhelming at first due to thetime pressures you face. When you first begin, you are probablynot applying the correct techniques and are falling in to the timingtraps the UKCAT springs. Do not panic. Along with AbstractReasoning, Verbal Reasoning is the section which sees the mostimprovement with practice.2. Use the Keyword Technique“To begin with I was stubborn and insisted on reading thepassage. I soon realised this was a recipe for disaster”It is not in your nature to skip the passage in a comprehensionquestion. And it feels uneasy at first. But the Keyword approachis the only way to success in Verbal Reasoning.Remember to adapt the approach based on the question typeyou have. For example, for Type 2 Statement questions youhave to pick a different keyword for each statement.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 45 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Tips from the Experts Lesson 163. Don’t be Afraid to Guess“I found myself spending 2 minutes on a single question dueto my stubborn desire to answer every question correctly”You may be used to answering every question in an exam. And thiscan be the biggest downfall for some very bright candidates,because they are often unwilling to move on after 30 seconds. Bestrict with yourself throughout - it is in your own good!4. Have a Flexible Approach“Having specific theories for each question type is invaluable,but each question is different so you have to adapt”Each question you face will be different. We suggest using thekeyword approach throughout, but if you have a statement questionfor a 7 line passage, it may not be time efficient to pick a separatekeyword for each option and search. It could be faster to read thepassage to find the answer. On Test Day the Medic Mindtechniques will be of incredible use to you, but also have room forflexibility.5. Be Ready for the Start“I began the test a nervous wreck, and all the techniques Ilearnt went out of the window for the first 10 minutes. Once Ifinally settled down, I had wasted half my time!”Before you begin you have to calm yourself down. Revisit thetechniques in your head. Do not panic and resort to newtechniques you have never used before. The ‘Verbal Reasoning -Test Day’ tutorial has some useful tips, such as reading somepassages before you enter on test day, to get your mind in the flowof reading huge chunks of text. 
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Summary and Overview Lesson 17 Summarise and review each tutorial to achieve your Medic Mind.Lesson Objective ?1 Gain a brief understanding of the different question types and the timing of the section.2 Be able to define a True, False and Can’t Tell statement.3 Know when you can and can’t use inferences to judge whether something is True or Can’t Tell.4 Be able to spot extreme phrases by looking at qualifiers such as ‘might’ and ‘always’ to help you determine whether something is True, False or Can’t Tell.5 Learn Medic Mind’s Keyword Approach6 Understand that the passage and statement will have a slight adjustment that changes the meaning and interpretation of the answer entirely.7 Be able to know how to approach writer questions8 Be able to know how to approach Type 1 Statement Questions.9 Be able to know how to approach Type 2 Statement Questions.10 Be able to differentiate between a scientific and factual passage and adapt your approach accordingly.11 Learn Medic Mind’s Timing Strategies to save you time in the exam.12 Be able to know how to approach Reverse Questions13 Learn Medic Mind’s Timing Contingencies when you are really short of time.14 Be able to differentiate between correlation and causation.15 Know how to approach Test Day16 See what the experts have to say on how to approach Verbal Reasoning ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 47 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Summary and Overview Lesson 17Lesson 1: Introduction to Verbal Reasoning
Timing Different Question Types• 21 minutes • True, False, Can’t Tell• 11 passages • Type 1 Statement• 44 questions • Type 2 Statement• 30 seconds per question • Writer • Reverse
Lesson 2: True, False, Can’t Tell• A statement can be True if it is directly stated or it is an inference from the passage• A statement can be False if it is directly contradicted or you it has gone beyond the information of the passage.• A statement can be Can’t Tell if you cannot be certain based on the passage. You cannot use external knowledge.Lesson 3: Using Inferences• You can infer from the passage information to deduct that a statement is true, even if it is not directly stated.• Often there can be a split between True and Can’t Tell• Use the wording of the question to help you determine whether an inference can become true, or whether it is too big an assumption.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 48 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Summary and Overview Lesson 17Lesson 4: Extreme Language Mild Phrases Extreme PhrasesTend to be True Tend to be False or Can’t TellMight, could, sometimes, one of the best Will always, definitely, every time, the best“Sea levels will rise in the next 10 years” “Sea levels will most likely rise in the next 10 years”Lesson 5: Keyword ApproachStep by Step Technique1. Read the first two lines of the passage2. Pick a keyword from the question stem3. Find the keyword in the passage, and read from the sentence before to the sentence after4. Eliminate the wrong answers and select the correct one.Using the Keyword Approach• Good keywords are dates, numbers and nouns.• Keywords should not appear all over the passage• The keyword can be a phrase or a synonym of the statement word• If a keyword doesn’t appear in the passage, you can: Search again for the same keyword Pick and alternative keyword Look for synonyms Choose can’t tell••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 49 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS

Summary and Overview Lesson 17Lesson 6: Passage Adjustments• Sometimes the passage and statement will be very similar but there will be a slight adjustment, as small as one word, which changes the answer completely.• If you see the exact same wording for most of the sentence in both the passage and statement be on alert for a passage adjustment• Remember - scan quickly to find your keyword, but once you have found it read very carefully.Lesson 7: Writer Questions• An example of a Writer question is “Which of the following would the author most likely agree with?”.• Spend slightly more time reading the passage if required for Step 1• The last paragraph is the most likely place to find the conclusion or strongest opinion of the passage• Writer questions can often be time consuming and it can be difficult to pick good keywords. So if you have to move on after 30s, do so.Lesson 8: Type 1 Statement Questions• In Type 1 questions you can find a keyword in the question stem, and the statements are related around the question stem• Statement questions are time consuming so be careful not to spend too long• Elimination is particularly useful for statement questions.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Page 50 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••UKCAT BMAT www.medicmind.co.uk Interview UCAS