UCAT — University Clinical Aptitude Test (UK medicine)

UCAT Situational Judgement, Set 2

Take the UCAT Situational Judgement, Set 2: 20 multiple-choice questions (30 minutes) with instant scoring and a full answer review. Covers 20 UCAT…

What this test covers

20 UCAT Situational Judgement

Sample questions with answers

The first 5 questions of this test, with the correct answer and explanation.

Q1. A medical student on a ward round notices that a patient looks confused and frightened while the consultant explains a procedure using complex medical terms. How appropriate is it for the student to politely mention to the consultant, at a suitable moment, that the patient seems not to understand?
- A. A very appropriate thing to do ✓
- B. Appropriate, but not ideal
- C. Inappropriate, but not awful
- D. A very inappropriate thing to do
Answer: A. A very appropriate thing to do
Explanation: This puts the patient's understanding first and raises the concern respectfully.
Q2. A medical student on a ward round notices that a patient looks confused and frightened while the consultant explains a procedure using complex medical terms. How appropriate is it for the student to explain the procedure to the patient himself without telling the consultant?
- A. A very appropriate thing to do
- B. Appropriate, but not ideal
- C. Inappropriate, but not awful ✓
- D. A very inappropriate thing to do
Answer: C. Inappropriate, but not awful
Explanation: Wanting to help is good, but explaining a procedure without the consultant's knowledge may be beyond the student's role and could cause confusion.
Q3. A medical student on a ward round notices that a patient looks confused and frightened while the consultant explains a procedure using complex medical terms. How appropriate is it for the student to say nothing, because the consultant is in charge?
- A. A very appropriate thing to do
- B. Appropriate, but not ideal
- C. Inappropriate, but not awful ✓
- D. A very inappropriate thing to do
Answer: C. Inappropriate, but not awful
Explanation: The patient may leave without understanding the procedure; a polite word would be better, although staying quiet is not dangerous in itself.
Q4. A medical student on a ward round notices that a patient looks confused and frightened while the consultant explains a procedure using complex medical terms. How important is it, in deciding what to do, that patients should understand the procedures they agree to?
- A. Very important ✓
- B. Important
- C. Of minor importance
- D. Not important at all
Answer: A. Very important
Explanation: Understanding is central to informed consent.
Q5. A medical student realises she has accidentally taken home a printed patient list containing names and diagnoses. How appropriate is it for the student to return the list to the ward the next day and tell her supervisor what happened?
- A. A very appropriate thing to do ✓
- B. Appropriate, but not ideal
- C. Inappropriate, but not awful
- D. A very inappropriate thing to do
Answer: A. A very appropriate thing to do
Explanation: This is honest, secures the information and allows any necessary reporting.

The other 15 questions

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Q6. A medical student realises she has accidentally taken home a printed patient list containing names and diagnoses. How appropriate is it for the student to throw the list away in her household rubbish?
- A. A very appropriate thing to do
- B. Appropriate, but not ideal
- C. Inappropriate, but not awful
- D. A very inappropriate thing to do
Q7. A medical student realises she has accidentally taken home a printed patient list containing names and diagnoses. How appropriate is it for the student to shred the list at home and not mention it to anyone?
- A. A very appropriate thing to do
- B. Appropriate, but not ideal
- C. Inappropriate, but not awful
- D. A very inappropriate thing to do
Q8. A medical student realises she has accidentally taken home a printed patient list containing names and diagnoses. How important is it, in deciding what to do, that the list contains patients' names and diagnoses?
- A. Very important
- B. Important
- C. Of minor importance
- D. Not important at all
Q9. During a clinical skills session, a medical student's friend asks him to sign the attendance sheet on her behalf because she is running late. How appropriate is it for the student to sign the sheet for his friend?
- A. A very appropriate thing to do
- B. Appropriate, but not ideal
- C. Inappropriate, but not awful
- D. A very inappropriate thing to do
Q10. During a clinical skills session, a medical student's friend asks him to sign the attendance sheet on her behalf because she is running late. How appropriate is it for the student to tell his friend that he cannot sign for her and suggest she explains her lateness to the tutor?
- A. A very appropriate thing to do
- B. Appropriate, but not ideal
- C. Inappropriate, but not awful
- D. A very inappropriate thing to do
Q11. During a clinical skills session, a medical student's friend asks him to sign the attendance sheet on her behalf because she is running late. How appropriate is it for the student to report his friend to the medical school straight away?
- A. A very appropriate thing to do
- B. Appropriate, but not ideal
- C. Inappropriate, but not awful
- D. A very inappropriate thing to do
Q12. During a clinical skills session, a medical student's friend asks him to sign the attendance sheet on her behalf because she is running late. How important is it, in deciding what to do, that the friend might be upset with him?
- A. Very important
- B. Important
- C. Of minor importance
- D. Not important at all
Q13. A medical student feels exhausted and unwell but has an important teaching session on the ward that day. How appropriate is it for the student to inform the ward team and the medical school that she is unwell and stay at home?
- A. A very appropriate thing to do
- B. Appropriate, but not ideal
- C. Inappropriate, but not awful
- D. A very inappropriate thing to do
Q14. A medical student feels exhausted and unwell but has an important teaching session on the ward that day. How appropriate is it for the student to attend the session without telling anyone she feels unwell?
- A. A very appropriate thing to do
- B. Appropriate, but not ideal
- C. Inappropriate, but not awful
- D. A very inappropriate thing to do
Q15. A medical student feels exhausted and unwell but has an important teaching session on the ward that day. How appropriate is it for the student to stay at home without telling anyone?
- A. A very appropriate thing to do
- B. Appropriate, but not ideal
- C. Inappropriate, but not awful
- D. A very inappropriate thing to do
Q16. A medical student feels exhausted and unwell but has an important teaching session on the ward that day. How important is it, in deciding what to do, that the student might pass on an infection to patients?
- A. Very important
- B. Important
- C. Of minor importance
- D. Not important at all
Q17. A patient tells a medical student that he does not want to take his prescribed medication and asks the student not to tell anyone. How appropriate is it for the student to explain gently that he cannot keep this secret and that the patient's doctor should know, and encourage the patient to discuss his concerns?
- A. A very appropriate thing to do
- B. Appropriate, but not ideal
- C. Inappropriate, but not awful
- D. A very inappropriate thing to do
Q18. A patient tells a medical student that he does not want to take his prescribed medication and asks the student not to tell anyone. How appropriate is it for the student to promise the patient that he will keep the information secret?
- A. A very appropriate thing to do
- B. Appropriate, but not ideal
- C. Inappropriate, but not awful
- D. A very inappropriate thing to do
Q19. A patient tells a medical student that he does not want to take his prescribed medication and asks the student not to tell anyone. How appropriate is it for the student to ask the patient why he does not want to take the medication?
- A. A very appropriate thing to do
- B. Appropriate, but not ideal
- C. Inappropriate, but not awful
- D. A very inappropriate thing to do
Q20. A patient tells a medical student that he does not want to take his prescribed medication and asks the student not to tell anyone. How important is it, in deciding what to do, that the patient's refusal could affect his health?
- A. Very important
- B. Important
- C. Of minor importance
- D. Not important at all