The BPTC is the vocational stage of a barrister’s training which follows on from academic training and precedes the practical stage of training – known as pupillage.

The Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT) is based on the established and recognised Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test which is used by some law firms in recruitment assessment and by the Graduate Management Admissions Council. It assesses five areas of critical thinking:
  • Inference
  • Recognition of assumptions
  • Deduction
  • Interpretation
  • Evaluation of arguments

It is proposed that the aptitude test should commence with the cohort of candidates applying from November 2012 to start the course in September 2013. Further, it is also proposed that students will be allowed to take an unlimited number of re-sits.

This consultation follows two pilots of the aptitude test, which were carried out between September 2009 and July 2011. The results have shown a strong correlation with successful completion of the course. A copy of the consultation can be downloaded at:

www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/about-bar-standards-board/consultations/ope....