Is it true that BMAT has no passing criteria but a scoring scale?
Yes, BMAT had no universal pass or fail mark. Sections 1 and 2 were scored 1.0 to 9.0, and Section 3 was graded on content, 1 to 5, and English, A to E, with universities judging competitiveness, though BMAT is now discontinued and replaced by tests like the UCAT.
Yes, that's correct historically: BMAT never had a fixed pass or fail mark, and instead reported your performance on a numeric scoring scale that universities interpreted individually.
How BMAT Scoring Worked
| Section | Scoring Scale |
|---|---|
| Section 1 (Thinking Skills) | 1.0 to 9.0, typically to one decimal place |
| Section 2 (Scientific Knowledge) | 1.0 to 9.0, typically to one decimal place |
| Section 3 (Writing Task) | Content scored 1 to 5, English quality graded A to E |
An Important Update for Current Applicants
- BMAT is discontinued: Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing stopped delivering it, and universities have used alternative tests since the 2024/25 admissions cycle onward.
- New test used instead: Cambridge Medicine, for example, now uses the UCAT rather than BMAT.
- No fixed threshold historically: even under BMAT, a 5.0 did not mean pass and a 4.9 did not mean fail. Each university judged competitiveness on its own admissions cycle.
My Advice
If you are preparing for UK medicine admissions now, do not study from older BMAT focused material, since the test has been replaced. Check your specific university's current admissions test page, because Cambridge, Imperial, and others have each set their own requirements under the new system.
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