UCAT Calculator: 6 Tips for Using the UCAT Calculator
I know what you’re thinking, the UCAT Calculator is such a pain isn’t it? I found it a real challenge to get used to when I was revising for the UCAT so I’ve written a few tips to help you succeed in the 2022 UCAT ANZ.
1. Get familiar with the UCAT calculator
One of the key ways to both maximise your UCAT performance and your practise for the test, is to become familiar with using the on-screen UCAT calculator. The calculator may be required in both the quantitative reasoning and decision making parts of the test.
The UCAT calculator, while being a very useful tool, is slow to operate and does not have all of the functions of a scientific calculator. For these reasons it is crucial that you take the time familiarise yourself with it so that it does not take you by surprise on test day.
The easiest way to do this is to use UCAT official website. You can access the calculator from the official practice tests and use this when doing your own practice. Alternatively, the basic calculator on many smartphones is a good substitute too. It’s important not to rely too much on a hand-held scientific calculator as many of the functions these have won’t be available to you on test day.
You will also become familiar with the short cuts and using the keyboards and mouse to operate it. Together this will allow you to work quickly and accurately through the questions, allowing for you to get the best score possible.
2. Learn the Shortcuts
To speed up using the UCAT calculator there are a number of keyboard shortcuts that are worth learning. These will help you to open the calculator and to move through the questions more efficiently. Although they may only save you a couple of seconds per question, this can add up to make quite a large difference over the course of the whole test.
Keyboard | Shortcut |
---|---|
Num Lock | Before using keyboard |
Alt + F | Flag the question |
Alt + P | Previous question |
Control + C | Open the calculator |
Essential UCAT Calculator Shortcuts
Keyboard | Shortcut |
---|---|
Alt + S | Go to Review Screen |
Alt + E | End Review |
Alt + V | Review Flagged Questions |
Alt + A | Review of Every Question |
Alt + I | Review of Incomplete Questions |
Additional Shortcuts
3. Know when not to use it
Just as important as knowing how to use the UCAT calculator, is knowing when not to use it. A lot of the calculations you will be required to do are possible using just mental maths alone. If you can build up your mental arithmetic skills and trust yourself to use them over the calculator you can save time overall.
So, if you can do part (or all) of a calculation using your own mental maths this will again save you valuable seconds that may be otherwise wasted inputting the values into the calculator.
4. Brush up your Mental Maths
In the run up to the test it is also worth taking some time to brush up on your mental maths. Learning up to your 20 times table could prove to be incredibly helpful on test day as once again, knowing that 15 x 17 is 255 could save you ten seconds of time not having to input it into the calculator.
5. Know your Powers
One of the short comings of the onscreen calculator is that it does not have a squared, cubed or power function button. You’ve probably become accustomed to the easy power functions of a scientific calculator. One of the most common topics in the Quantitative Reasoning section is tax and interest questions, which can be difficult without power functions. To tackle this, it is useful to know your square numbers, again up to 20. Or if you are required to work out the cube of a number or more, then it is useful to use the memory functions.
6. Use the Memory Functions
To use the memory function of the UCAT calculator, press the M+ button to add the number on the screen to the calculator’s memory. And then the MRC button to recall this number. In the case of doing powers this is particular useful.
So, for 17.85 you would type 17.8 and press the M+ button. Then type 17.8 x MRC x MRC x MRC x MRC to get the answer. Again, this is a function of the UCAT calculator that requires a little practice to get used to.
Bonus: Get used to the number pad
During practice, we recommend getting used to the number pad on the right. Once you’re used to it, its a much faster typing method. If you’re practicing on a laptop, it might be worth getting a separate keyboard or heading to your local library to practice using this.
Let’s do some practice!
First thing you need to do is open the UCAT calculator which you can do by clicking here
Question 1:
Calculate 17.8 to the power of 5
- Type 1.035
- Press M+
- Click x then MRC then x then MRC then x then MRC then x then MRC
Question 2:
Melons cost £1.20 each. Apples cost 54p each. What is the price of buying 14 melons and 22 apples?
- Calculate 1.20 x 14 = 16.8
- Click M+
- Calculate 0.54 x 22 = 11.88
- Press + and then M+
Final Note
I hope you found those tips useful! If maths is a weakness of yours and you want some extensive preparation, take a look at our online 1-1 tutoring and learn from UCAT experts who have scored in the top 10% themselves.
Try UCAT Tutoring today:
UCAT Tutoring
FAQs
The UCAT Calculator is a calculator provided for use during the UCAT exam to help with calculations.
The UCAT Calculator has basic functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and square root.
Some UCAT calculators may be free, while others may require a fee to use. It is important to research different UCAT calculators and their costs before choosing one to use. Additionally, it is important to be cautious of scams and fraudulent UCAT calculators that may charge high fees without providing accurate results.
Some tips for using the UCAT Calculator more efficiently include using the memory function to store numbers, practicing mental math to reduce reliance on the calculator, and learning shortcuts for common calculations.
No, you are not allowed to bring your own calculator to the UCAT exam. You must use the UCAT Calculator provided during the exam.
No, not all UCAT calculators are the same. Some calculators may be more accurate than others, and the way they calculate a candidate’s UCAT score may differ. It is important to choose a reputable UCAT calculator to ensure accurate results.
To avoid making mistakes when using the UCAT Calculator, make sure you enter the numbers correctly, double-check your calculations, and be aware of the order of operations.
Related Articles
Related links
Personalised lessons and regular progress updates to support you in acing the UCAT
With over 1000 questions, mock paper walkthroughs, timing tips, and more!
Live day, packed full of UCAT advice and tips from the experts. Taking you through all UCAT sections with worked examples