Hey guys,
So I know it's getting close to the UMAT, and I remember at around this time (no - around 2.5 weeks before the UMAT) being really freaked out because I hadn't done any solid preparation work. I remember dying for something that could give me some kind of encouragement, and I want to be able to help anyone who is in the same position as I was. Also, at that point I wanted a bit of guidance about where I should start and what I should do, and looking around the forum I think several people are feeling a similar way.
I'm just writing a quick little set of things that I really wanted to say but didn't have the heart to at that point.
I'm getting really low scores at the moment OR my scores are all over the place!Don't focus on your scores. This is absolutely essential. I pretty much failed the ACER Practice Tests (I remember looking on AN, and everyone's scores, and thinking well there goes med), but just kept working. Also, when I was doing a prep course I was consistently attaining low percentiles, 2 weeks before the test. I only ever hit a hundred percentile in a section 2 exam, but in the end, section 2 was my lowest section score. Just keep climbing, and be proud that you're doing what you can right now to improve.
It isn't about what you're getting now, it's about what you can improve on in the meantime. If you're consistently getting full marks, either the preparation you're doing is too easy or something's going a bit wrong, because you want to be able to improve as much while you're practicing, rather than realising what you don't know in the exam.
Just remember that right now, nothing counts. So don't ever feel discouraged at your scores. Look at them and figure out what to improve on. IMPROVEMENT IS KEY. But note that this doesn't necessarily reflect in your scores as you progress along. Ultimately those scores mean nothing. They can predict nothing. Just do your best to improve right now, and do your best on the day.
I have done nothing so far and I'm really freaked out because I know that the UMAT is looming over me and I haven't prepared half as much as any of my friends and a;sldkjfa;sldkfj!!!!!!!I personally had less than a month to do legitimate preparatory work. In that time, I also had to prepare for several major SACS that were on the second and third weeks back at school. I also missed most of my holidays to prepare for the UMAT as I had literally gone away. However, I managed to pull myself up from shockingly low scores, and you can too.
The key at this point is to calm down. You need to chill out and relax, because you want every single minute of preparation time to be tackled with a clear mind. The UMAT is intense and requires a lot of focus. And you can't focus if you're stressed about it.
There's still lots of time - don't get flustered or stressed.
How can I calm down at this point?!Tell yourself that you'll be okay. Imagine yourself getting that hundred percentile. Tell yourself that the UMAT really doesn't matter in the long run.
Give yourself a legitimate backup plan that does not require the UMAT, if you have the time to think something up. I'm serious - it works!
I'm struggling with Section 1, and really need a quick-fix solutionThe truth is that the UMAT is highly skills-based, and skills take a while to develop. Furthermore, most of the preparation you would have done to this point involves doing questions, rather than looking at theory.
When I was preparing, I was thinking that I really didn't have the time to slowly train my brain to be skilful in things it had rarely done before. I needed something that I could cram, like in the VCE. And why is a VCAA exam so much easier than a UMAT one? Because you know that techniques. You know how to solve each question as it comes your way. This is what I decided was vital for fast improvement, to the point of cramming.
Basically, you need a method. You need tactics. In other words, learn your material before doing the questions. Get yourself a toolbox before attempting the real things, if that makes any sense. But this is a lot easier to say than it is to do, primarily because most preparation material is heavily questions-based.
I'm going to stop here for a shameless plug: my guide is full of methods and tactics for you to learn from. I've essentially done the categorisation and grouping for you, and given you a laid-out plan, like a VCE textbook.
However, you can do that yourself. Give yourself guidelines to answer each question as it comes, so that you will be able to solve almost anything they throw your way. Work with the question, analyse it, break it down.
I hate people. I hate Section 2. But I need to improve… humphSection 2 is slightly harder to improve on, given the timeframe. This section only has a few easy shortcuts and methods that are suitable for cramming (although it DOES have some and there ARE some easy ways to improve for general questions quickly).
However, there is 1 main way that I think many people would benefit from: notice your friends. Notice how they behave, and why they do what they do. Try to understand them. This can be done in your free time so it doesn't actually take any of your study time away.
Section 3 has my head spinning. I have no idea where to startSection 3 is the easiest to improve on. However, again, you need to change the focus on your preparation from questions-based to theory-based.
There are 2 main things to do.
1) Memorise patterns. There are several patterns that pretty much cover the entire Section 3, and if you get them, you'll get most of section 3. Another shameless plug: my guide is full of patterns that you can easily memorise. However, again, you can do this yourself.
2) Don't get confused. Never let yourself get sucked into the pattern. Tackle it bit-by-bit, element by element, and you'll slowly see the light
I'm really bad in a section - am I going to fail?Well firstly there is no pass/fail in the UMAT. Just putting it out there
Secondly, the UMAT is an unweighted average of the 3 sections. So it really doesn't matter how bad you are at one, provided that others compensate for that section. Just keep trying, keep pushing yourself.
DisclaimerSome of the things I said may be a little unclear, because I haven't been able to give too much information. Most of what I've said so far is elaborated on in my guide, which is more than 100 pages. I didn't think I would be able to post that much information here!
I hope this helps and feel free to ask any questions here - I'll do my best to answer them!
Good luck, and remember, ultimately just keep trying 
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