BMAT Biology Checklist & Specification

Advice & Insight From BMAT Specialists

The BMAT test is divided into 3 sections. Section 2: Scientific Knowledge and Applications, comprises 27 multiple choice questions to be answered in 30 minutes. These questions are divided into 7 questions on each of the scientific disciplines; Biology, Chemistry and Physics, followed by 6 questions on Mathematics.

Questions for each discipline can be drawn from a range of topics. The Biology section has 10 areas from which questions are formed. These questions draw upon topics that an applicant would normally encounter at secondary level and provide a test of deduction and analysis of both verbal and visual MCQs.

The 10 topics in the Biology section would be classed as follows:

Cells: Knowing the structure of cells and their individual components as well as the organisations of cells into tissue structure and organ systems.
Movement across membranes: Understanding diffusion, osmosis and active transport in living and non-living systems.
Cell division and sex: Understanding Mitosis and the cell cycle, understand cancer is uncontrolled growth and division, understand the cell cycle includes interphase. Asexual and sexual reproduction
Inheritance: Understand the nucleus and understand the following genetic terms: a. gene b. allele c. dominant d. recessive e. heterozygous f. homozygous g. phenotype h. genotype i. chromosome Interpret genetic diagrams. Understand the concept of inherited conditions. Know phenotypic features.
DNA: Understand the DNA genome polymer is made of two strands forming a double helix. Know the four DNA nucleotides. Know Protein synthesis and Gene mutations.
Gene technologies: Understand genetic engineering and related risks. Understand Stem cells and benefits and risks of stem cell application.
Variation: Understand Natural selection and evolution. Understand genetic/inherited and environmental phenotype variation.
Enzymes: Understand enzymes as biological catalysts and the role of the amylases, proteases and lipases in digestion.
Animal physiology: Respiration, Organ systems, Homeostasis, the regulation of blood glucose levels, Hormones, including thyroxine and adrenaline, Disease and body defence, Communicable and Non-communicable diseases, forms of cancer, medication , surgical procedures and lifestyle changes.
Ecosystems from individuals through to populations. Understand predation, mutualism and parasitism. Know photosynthetic organisms function in biomass. Understand Material cycling and the importance of the water cycle to living organisms.

An applicant would be expected to have a working knowledge of the above topics along with common quantitative formats such as the SI units and negative indices when referring to multiples of numbers. A methodical revision of each of these areas would provide a firm foundation to complete the biology questions in section 2 of the BMAT test.