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Mature Student on A2M. Advice Needed. UKCAT Gremlins and all sorts...

Posted: 30 Aug 2013 08:30 AM PDT

This is my first time posting on here and after reading much of the other threads, I decided to post to get some feedback on my situation as it does appear there are quite a few people here with a wealth of experience.

I have decided to return to study now in my 30s and am currently studying an access to medicine course.
GCSEs are Science A, Science + A, English A, English Literature A, Integrated humanities A, music B, history B, Maths C, French C, Business studies C.
I have decided to retake my maths as quite a few places require A or B. I was streamed at school and had an awful teacher, the highest grade I was allowed to get in that group was C.

I feel my PS is good. I have lived and worked abroad, learnt to read and speak Chinese, done voluntary work in Hong Kong and the UK, had a very successful career in publishing, volunteered at King's hospital and have work experience shadowing drs, and also have a musical background too.

I do have one big problem.
I am not keen on the UKCAT. I took it this month. I got super stressed, to the point I really messed up VR (430 :() got 85% of the newer, longer question types and only got half way through as I just took too long, although I do have to own it, hold my hands up and admit, I did panic. QR was average (620) and I could have done better but due to a technical error, which was witnessed by the staff there and logged as an incident, I ran out of time. :mad:
AR (680), DR (710) and SJ (band 2). I guess it just wasn't my day.

My average is 610, which I know could be worse, but it really doesn't help me as I would really like to go to King's and I know they are hot on the UKCAT and are looking for scores over 700 for the most part. I am sure given the right circumstances I could score in the 700s, although I find it a lot more stressful than other exams as you never know what you're going to get and I know a lot is riding on a few seconds.

I have tried calling Pearson to find out what's going on about the incident and they keep telling me it is 'being investigated' and won't elaborate on what that involves, how long it will take or what the ramifications or possible outcomes of this could be.
Has anyone had a similar experience? I'm not quite sure what they have to 'investigate' as their staff witnessed it happening, it was noted during the test and the details logged with the incident. :confused:

If the opportunity arises, should I take it again?

Is there even a possibility of doing that in these kinds of situations?

Just a supposition here, but what would happen if I took it again and things went badly and I scored even lower (God forbid!)?

Should I give up on King's and focus on Unis that don't put so much weight on a high UKCAT score?

Sorry for the long post and thanks if you made it this far and for any feedback! :)