Becoming a UCAT NINJA..You’ve
You’ve probably heard by now how tough the UCAT is - tons of questions, crazy time pressure, and four tricky sections! But don’t stress! With the right strategies, you can train like a UCAT ninja and get into the top 2-3 deciles.
While we cover UCAT prep in tons of detail here, this bite-sized guide trains you to become a UCAT ninja, breaking down the best techniques for each section so you can be confident on test day. Let’s go!
Step 1: train like a UCAT ninja – general strategies
Before getting into specific sections, you need to understand the fundamentals of UCAT success:
Speed + accuracy = success
The UCAT is all about working quickly but accurately. You’ll have less than a minute per question, so there’s no time to waste. The trick? Learn when to guess and move on.
Practice smart, not just hard
Doing tons of practice questions is great - but only if you’re learning from your mistakes. Review what went wrong, tweak your approach, and keep improving. Have a go at some sample questions here.
Think like a ninja: stay cool under pressure
The UCAT is designed to stress you out, but remember, you’ve come prepared. Train your brain to stay calm and focused, even when the clock is ticking. Try mindfulness techniques or breathing exercises beforehand if test anxiety gets too much.
Step 2: Master each section like a UCAT pro
Now, let’s break down exactly how to tackle each UCAT section with ninja-level precision.
Verbal Reasoning (VR) – read like a ninja
The Challenge: Long, dense passages + tricky questions = a reading nightmare.
The Strategy: Don’t read the whole passage - skim for keywords.
Answer ‘True/False/Can’t Tell’ questions first - they’re the easiest.
If stuck, guess and move on (don’t waste time!).
Decision Making (DM) – think like a detective (and future doctor or dentist)
The Challenge: Logic puzzles, arguments, and Venn diagrams.
The Strategy: Learn common argument flaws (e.g., correlation ≠ causation).
Use the process of elimination—if an answer feels off, it probably is.
Learn the basics of probability (yes, you do need some maths here!).
Decision Making (DM) – think like a detective (and future doctor or dentist)
The Challenge: Maths problems with barely any time to solve them.
The Strategy: Prioritize easy questions—some are way quicker to solve.
Use mental maths and estimation to speed up calculations.
Know your percentages, ratios, and averages inside out.
Situational Judgement test (SJT) – what would a good doctor do?
The Challenge: Ethical dilemmas and professional scenarios.
The Strategy: Remember: patient safety ALWAYS comes first.
Be professional, but realistic—some actions are important but not urgent.
If two answers seem right, go for the one that’s the most professional.
Step 3: Final training – mock time management
Now that you’ve got the techniques down, it’s time to put them into action by:
Scheduling full mock tests – the more realistic practice you do, the better.
Simulating real timing – always practice under exam conditions.
Refining your weak areas – Spend extra time on sections where you lose the most marks
And finally...You’ve got this!
Becoming a UCAT Ninja isn’t about being a genius—it’s about using smart strategies, quick thinking, and starting early to get lots of practice. Train hard, stay focused, and you’ll smash the UCAT like a pro.
Ready to start your UCAT training? Grab some practice questions and let’s go!