BMAT Section 1

Section 1 Explained

Section 1 uses multiple-choice questions to assess your problem solving and critical thinking skills. You’ll be given either a passage of text or piece of information in the form of a diagram, data set or graph and then asked a question and you have to pick from five potential answers.

You’ll have an hour to answer 32 multiple-choice questions. You won’t be penalised for getting a question wrong, so you should attempt to answer every question.

This section is divided into 16 problem-solving questions and 16 critical thinking questions. The types are mixed together in the test, with questions presented in order of difficulty.

Key Skill: Problem Solving

There are no pure mathematical questions in Section 1. Instead, the questions are designed to test problem-solving abilities using basic mathematical skills. You are not allowed a calculator so the questions rely on you using mental arithmetic, pen and paper and problem-solving to get around the need for complex calculations!

You will be required to solve problems using simple numerical and algebraic operations.

Key Skill: Critical Thinking

The verbal questions are designed to assess your critical thinking, and ability to understand arguments. They ask you to identify conclusions, assumptions, and flaws in arguments presented in short passages of text, as well as identify which options might strengthen or weaken the argument.

How To Prepare For Section 1

Watch Daniel’s top tips for BMAT Section 1: