University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
The UCAT is a test taken by students applying for medical school and dentistry, but what does the UCAT involve and how can you prepare for it?
Unlike academic exams, the UCAT sets out to determine students’ aptitude
Timing is an especially challenging aspect of the UCAT and each year many students do not finish the exam
The UCAT test is an integral part of the admissions process for medical or dental courses
What is the UCAT?
The UCAT is used by medical school admissions teams as a tool to shortlist applicants. The results of the test are considered alongside other aspects of students’ applications, i.e. academic grades, personal statements, and interviews. Currently, in the UK 50 medical schools ask applicants to submit a UCAT score. This is not to be confused with the BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test) which six medical schools historically asked for instead. In Australia and New Zealand it is called the UCAT ANZ.
A full list of UCAT universities can be found here.
By scoring highly in the UCAT, you have a greater chance of getting an interview at these universities, so it is important for you to prepare well and devote time to revising and acquainting yourself with the format of the assessment.
Unlike academic exams, the UCAT sets out to determine students’ aptitude – their potential to thrive in professions such as medicine and dentistry where qualities and skillsets such as good communication, empathy, integrity, numerical skills, and cognitive abilities are key. It is not a test of learnt knowledge or IQ.
BMAT vs UCAT
Previously, six medical schools (Cambridge, Oxford, Brighton and Sussex, Lancaster, UCL, Imperial, Leeds) used the BMAT instead of the UCAT as part of their admissions requirements.
In 2024 the BMAT was discontinued, and relevant schools moved to the UCAT.
In addition to Aptitude Skills, the BMAT included Scientific Knowledge and Applications which tested knowledge gained from students’ GCSE/A-Level curriculums as well as the Writing Task in which students would be asked to write an essay on an unseen topic. Its varied nature led many to consider the BMAT more challenging.
While all medical schools have since stopped the BMAT, students should not consider themselves off-the-hook. The UCAT exam is still incredibly challenging owing to there being many more questions and stricter time constraints.
What does the UCAT involve?
The UCAT is a multi-choice exam which lasts for two hours and incorporates 184 questions split into four timed subtests:
1. Decision-making
2. Verbal Reasoning
3. Quantitative Reasoning
4. Situational Judgement
For each section you will have between 35-69 questions to answer. It is important to pay close attention to timings on each of these subtests as questions must be answered quickly. For example, the Verbal Reasoning subtest requires you to answer 44 questions in just 22 minutes.
In 2025, the Abstract Reasoning subtest was withdrawn from the test, removing 50 questions from the test. The total score available was reduced from 3600 to 2700 to reflect this change.
How to prepare for the UCAT
It is vital that students prepare well for the UCAT exam and make time for revision in order to achieve the best score possible and put forward a competitive application. Going over past UCAT papers and example questions can help students to familiarise themselves with the timings and style of questions within each section.
Timing is an especially challenging aspect of the UCAT and each year many students do not finish the exam. So, it is incredibly important that you practise prior to taking the exam so as not to allow poor time management to undermine your performance.
Establishing a consistent study schedule working with a UCAT tutor will greatly improve your performance in the months leading up to the UCAT and will bring visible results on the day.
Where to take the UCAT
Although taken online, you will need to arrange to take the UCAT at your local Pearson VUE test centre, these can be found in most UK cities. If you are an international student, there will likely be a test centre in your home country.
See here for Pearson’s VUE test centre locator.
How to register for the UCAT
Candidates must register online through the UCAT website using your full name as it appears on your ID and UCAS application. Once you have created an account you are able to book your test date and start preparing for the UCAT exam. If you are eligible for access arrangements or a bursary, you can apply for these through your account before you book your test.
How much does the UCAT cost?
The UCAT costs £70 within the UK and £115 if testing overseas. However, UCAT bursaries are available for those eligible in the UK.
UCAT Exam dates
UCAT exam cycles usually run from July until late September; key dates for UCAT are typically published in January. Exam and key dates for the 2026 UCAT can be found here.
Registration for the 2026 UCAT opened 12 May 2026.
Registration closes on 16 September 2026.
When it comes to choosing a date, it is advisable to book your UCAT early in the test cycle to allow time to reschedule should you face unforeseen circumstances. This also gives you time to prepare for other admission criteria such as writing your personal statement and obtaining necessary work experience.
Should you feel as though you need more time to prepare for the exam, however, or have other commitments (for example, a booked holiday) it is also okay to select a date later in the UCAT cycle. Our experienced team of tutors can help you create a study programme adapted to the UCAT while working around your schedule.
Enlisting an experienced tutor who holds expertise in this area can improve students’ chances of performing well. Simply Learning Tuition offer an array of experienced UCAT tutors from a variety of specialisms who help students to realise their strengths and weaknesses, and develop strategies to tackle each section, getting students a head start on their preparation, feeling confident to take on the UCAT exam, and ultimately achieving their desired results. We are proud of the fact that 96% of our University Placement students receive an offer from one of their top two choices.
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How to get UCAT results?
UCAT results will be given as you leave the test centre on the day of your exam, providing scores for each subtest, an overall score, and your Situational Judgement Band level.
They will also be accessible online through the UCAT Candidate Portal under the Results section. Percentile range is released later in the year.
The UCAT Consortium will pass on your score to the universities you apply for, it is not necessary for you to forward it manually.
What is a good UCAT result?
The UCAT is divided into two scoring systems. One covers the cognitive tests which comprise all the subtests except for Situational Judgement. For these, 300-900 points are available per subtest and averaged out to give an overall score of between 1200 and 2700. However, it should be noted that scoring the top UCAT grade is almost unheard of. In 2025, the 90 percentile (top 10%) was scored at 2220 and above, nearly 500 marks below the theoretical maximum; candidates are not expected to score perfectly.
For Situational Judgement, students are marked out of four bands. Those who fail to achieve bands one or two in this will not be considered regardless of their mark in the cognitive subtests.
Some universities place more emphasis on UCAT than others within the application process. Therefore, a good score depends on where and what course you are applying to. For most universities, however, students achieving a UCAT percentile of 80-90 have the best chances of being successful; from past years, this translates to roughly 2100-2300 (an average of 700 in each section). Nevertheless, these numbers can be subject to change year on year depending on the average mark of other candidates.
UCAT Grade boundaries
The scaled scoring system used when marking UCAT assessments means that there aren’t traditional grade boundaries as you may have experienced when taking exams at school or college. Universities assess prospective students often according to which rank or percentile they perform at. Often those who score above the 80th percentile should feel confident that they have done well.
Different universities have different expectations, however, which, owing to how performance is ranked relative to other test-takers, changes year on year.
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It should be noted that scoring the top grade is almost unheard of
We are proud of the fact that 96% of our University Placement students receive an offer from one of their top two choices
It is not a test of learnt knowledge or IQ
How can Simply Learning Tuition Help?
Simply Learning Tuition offers expert, personalised support across all stages of medical school applications.
Services include:
- Academic tutoring in Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics
- Guidance on university selection and application timelines
- UCAT preparation, study schedules, and section practice
Our university assessments tuition is delivered by expert tutors who have extensive experience in helping students prepare and succeed in the UCAT. Enlisting one-to-one support from a Simply Learning Tuition UCAT tutor gives students a head start to prepare adequately, feel confident about tackling the UCAT, and ultimately help them achieve the results they need.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UCAT test for?
The UCAT test is an integral part of the admissions process for medical or dental courses and must be taken by all students looking to enrol. Since 2024, it is the standard admissions test for all medical schools in the UK.
It is a non-academic exam which tests students’ overall aptitude for medical careers further than simply their ability to memorise a curriculum.How hard is UCAT?
The UCAT is a challenging exam and must be prepared for accordingly. Experienced UCAT tutors at SLT can offer one-to-one sessions which help to make the exam more accessible, enable students to match their potential and achieve the highest possible outcome.
Who needs to take the UCAT?
Most medical and dentistry schools use the UCAT as part of their entry requirements. Therefore, if you are looking to be accepted into a medical school, it is highly likely that you will need to take the UCAT.
You must be at least in your final year of secondary school (or equivalent) and if you have taken the UCAT in the past and not been successful you are also required to take the test again as results are valid for one year only.
Is 1800 a bad UCAT score?
In general, a score of 1800 on your UCAT would be considered low, however this can fluctuate each year. It does not necessarily mean that you won’t be offered an interview, but it will likely be below the 80th percentile so you may want to consider applying to a university that places less emphasis on UCAT.
Enlisting the help of SLT reduces the risk of disappointment by pairing pupils with expert UCAT tutors who can help them achieve scores which give them a competitive advantage in the application process.