What is the UCAT?
The UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) is an aptitude test used by universities in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand as part of the admissions process for medical and dental schools.
It is a computerised test that’s split into four subtests – verbal reasoning, decision-making, quantitative reasoning and situational judgment – and takes just under two hours to complete.
What does the UCAT assess?
The exam assesses various essential skills need for a successful career in healthcare, including logical reasoning, numerical ability, and ethical decision making.
Which universities require me to take the UCAT?
If you’re applying to study medicine or dentistry at a UK university, below are the universities that require you to take the UCAT. You cannot exempt yourself from taking the UCAT, as it forms a mandatory part of the application process for many universities:
[Insert drop down universities table here from the UCAT website: Universities | UCAT Consortium] .
How long does the UCAT take?
The standard UCAT test is just under two hours long. Each subtest has a separate timed instruction section, as shown below:
-
Verbal Reasoning - (44 Questions)
Instruction Section - (1 minute 30 seconds)
UCAT Subtest Time - (22 minutes)
-
Decision Making - (35 Questions)
Instruction Section - (1 minute 30 seconds)
UCAT Subtest Time - (37 minutes)
-
Quantitative Reasoning - (36 Questions)
Instruction Section - (2 minutes)
UCAT Subtest Time - (26 minutes)
-
Situational Judgement - (69 Questions)
Instruction Section - (1 minute 30 seconds)
UCAT Subtest Time - (26 minutes)
If you’re eligible for extra time, you can find out about extended test times here.
How many questions are in the UCAT?
There are a total of 184 questions in the UCAT exam.
How is the UCAT scored?
The UCAT is scored based on the number of correct answers you give; but the good news is, you don’t lose marks for incorrect answers.
This is why it’s better to guess an answer than leave a question blank! Each question you answer is independent, so your performance on one question won’t affect which questions you see next.
Let's Talk About Cognitive Subtest Scoring
Each cognitive subtest has a different number of questions, so it isn’t possible to compare your scores across these sections. Instead, your raw marks (the number of questions you answer correctly) are converted into scaled scores for each subtest, ranging from 300 to 900.
Your score for each subtest will be added together for your overall UCAT score, which can range from 900 to 2700.
Cognitive Subtest -> Verbal Reasoning
Questions -> 44
Scale Score Range -> 300 - 900
Marking -> Questions are worth 1 mark each.
Cognitive Subtest -> Decision Making
Questions -> 35
Scale Score Range -> 300 - 900
Marking -> Single answer questions are worth 1 mark. Multiple statement questions are worth 2 marks. 1 mark is awarded to partially correct responses on the multiple-statement questions.
Cognitive Subtest -> Quantitative Reasoning
Questions -> 36
Scale Score Range -> 300 - 900
Marking -> Questions are worth 1 mark each.
Situational Judgment Test (SJT) Scoring
For the Situational Judgment Test, scoring is a little different. In this section, you get full marks if your answer matches the ideal response and partial marks if your answer is close to the right one. Scores are expressed in one of four bands, with band 1 being the highest and band 4 the lowest.
Band 1
Those in Band 1 demonstrated an excellent level of performance, showing similar judgement in most cases to the panel of experts.
Band 2
Those in Band 2 demonstrated a good, solid level of performance, showing appropriate judgement frequently, with many responses matching model answers.
Band 3
Those in Band 3 demonstrated a modest level of performance, with appropriate judgement shown for some questions and substantial differences from ideal responses for others.
Band 4
The performance of those in Band 4 was low, with judgement tending to differ substantially from ideal responses in many cases.
The Medic Life (Pro Tip): Remember, different universities use UCAT results in different ways during their selection processes. Make sure to check out the detailed information provided on their websites to learn more about this before applying and contact them if anything is not clear.
When will I get my UCAT result?
You’ll get a paper copy of your UCAT score report before you leave the test centre – it's pretty fast! You’ll also be able to access your score report through your UCAT account, but this can take up to 24 hours after your test.
How do I send my UCAT result with my application?
UCAT directly sends your UCAT result to your chosen UK universities in early November. Universities will only accept results sent directly by the UCAT Office, so you don’t need to pass your test result to your university choices or include it on your UCAS application.
How much does the UCAT cost?
The fee is £70 for tests taken in the UK, and £115 for tests taken outside the UK. You need to pay the test fee at the time of booking by debit/credit card. If you're a UK candidate in financial need, you can find out more about applying for a UCAT bursary voucher.
Can I resit the UCAT if I get a low score?
Yes, you can resit the UCAT, but not in the same application cycle. This means that once you have taken the UCAT 2025 and got your score, if you then want to resit it, you will have to reapply to do it in the 2026 application cycle.
How do I register for UCAT 2025?
Registration for UCAT 2025 opens on 13 May 2025, where you will need to create a UCAT account. You will then be able to book your test slot from 17 June 2025. You must register online via the UCAT website, which you can do by clicking here.
How do I prepare for the UCAT?
Starting early is key! We’ve got tons of tips, advice and free practice resources to get you started on your UCAT success journey.
Get helpful UCAT advice and everything you need to kickstart your UCAT 2025 prep now.