An overview

The UCAT
journey

• What is the UCAT?

• UCAT Universities
• Key Booking Dates
• Bursaries
• Access Arrangements
• UCAT Preparation
• Subtest Content
• Scoring
• Results
What is the
UCAT?
• An admissions test used as part of the
selection process by a consortium of UK
university medical and dental schools.
• Developed to achieve greater fairness
in selection.
• Assesses a range of mental abilities
identified by university medical and
dental schools as important.
• Multiple-choice, computer-based test sat
at your nearest Pearson VUE test
centre.
UCAT
Universities
• • • University of Sunderland
University of Aberdeen​ Imperial College London
• Anglia Ruskin University​ • Keele University • University of Surrey
• Aston University​ • Kent & Medway Medical School • Swansea University
• Bangor University​ • King's College London • University College London
• University of Birmingham​ • Lancaster University • University of Warwick
• Brighton and Sussex Medical • University of Leeds • University of Worcester
School​ • University of Leicester
If you are applying
• University of Bristol​ • University of Liverpool to medical or
• Brunel University of London​ • University of Manchester dental school at
• University of Cambridge​ • University of Newcastle one of our UK
• Cardiff University​ • University of Nottingham
• University of Central Lancashire​ • University of Oxford
universities, you
• University of Chester​ • Pears Cumbria School of Medicine will need to sit the
• University of Dundee​ • Plymouth University UCAT in the same
• University of East Anglia​ • Queen Mary, University of London
•
year you apply
Edge Hill University​ • Queen's University Belfast
• University of Edinburgh • University of Sheffield UCATthrough
is also used UCAS.
in selection to
• University of Exeter • University of Southampton courses at our international partner
• University of Glasgow • University of St Andrews universities- listed on our website.
• Hull York Medical School • St George's, University of London
• University of Hertfordshire
Timeline for 2026
entry
2025
13th May 17th June 7th July September
Account creation Test booking Testing starts Booking deadline
opens opens (19th)
Fees: Tests taken
Applications open in the UK: £70 Last day of
for: Access Outside the UK: testing (26th)
Arrangements £115
Bursary Scheme
Sit within the testing window.
You may only test once in any test
cycle.

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Bursaries
Eligibility Criteria:
• Free School Meals
• 16-19 Bursary/EMA
• Learner Support or
Equivalent • Bursaries that cover the full test
• Full Rate
Undergraduate fee are available to UK candidates
Maintenance from low-income households.
Loan/Grant
• Income Support • Details on eligibility and the
• Job Seekers or application process are available on
Employment and
Support Allowance our website.
• Universal Credit
• Asylum Support

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Access
Arrangements
• If you are normally entitled to
accommodations in exams due to a
documented special educational
need, disability or medical condition,
you may be entitled to access
arrangements when sitting the
UCAT.
• Applications for access
arrangements must be approved
by the UCAT Office before you
book your test.
• Details on how to apply are on our
website.
UCAT Preparation

• Allow around 25-30 hours to prepare

and start at least 6 weeks before your
test.
• Use the FREE materials on our
Use the FREE preparation website. We do not recommend or
materials on our website endorse any commercial preparation
including: the materials.
UCAT Preparation Plan,
Question Tutorials, Question • Check out our website to see what to
Banks and timed Practice expect on test day. Familiarise
Tests yourself with the test rules and our ID
policy.
Test Content

• 4 subtests:
• 3 cognitive subtests:
o Verbal Reasoning
o Decision Making
o Quantitative Reasoning

• And the Situational Judgement

Test
• Note: in 2025, Abstract Reasoning
will be withdrawn from the UCAT.

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Verbal
Reasoning

• Assesses your ability to read and think

carefully about information presented in
passages of text.
22 • 11 passages of text each linked to 4
minutes questions.​
44
questions • No prior knowledge is needed to answer
the questions​.
300-900 scaled
score

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Correct answer: B
Continual UV treatment is
portrayed as positive throughout
the text, particularly in the
highlighted sections in the third
paragraph.
Decision Making
• Assesses the ability to apply logic to
reach a decision or conclusion,
evaluate arguments and analyse
statistical information​.
• Different question types including logical
37 puzzles, syllogisms and Venn diagrams​.
minutes
• Knowledge of specific mathematical or
35 logical reasoning terminology is not
questions
required.​
300-900 scaled
score
• An on-screen basic calculator is available
for use​. You are also provided with a
notebook and pen to make notes.@UCATofficial
1st conclusion: no (does not follow) because one scenario
is that Potentilla and Daphne are the only two deciduous trees
that are objects of admiration and they are not 20 feet tall.
2nd conclusion: yes (does follow) because Potentilla and
Daphne are the only two deciduous trees in the forest that are
not 20 feet tall.
3rd conclusion: no (does not follow) because the
statement does not five any information about all the types of
trees/objects present in the forest
4th conclusion: yes (does follow) because it is stated
clearly that Potentilla and Daphne are deciduous trees that
are not 20 feet tall.
5th conclusion: no (does not follow) because the
statement clearly implies that some deciduous trees are not
objects of admiration so Potentilla and Daphne may not be
objects of admiration although they are surely either more
than 20 feet tall or less than 20 feet tall.
Quantitative
Reasoning
• Assesses your ability to use
numerical skills to solve
problems​.
• Assumes familiarity with ratios,
percentages, averages, fractions,
26 etc.
minutes
• Questions are focussed on problem
36
questions
solving rather than mathematical
ability. Using mental maths may
300-900 scaled save you time.
score
• An on-screen basic calculator is
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available for use​. You may make
Correct Answer: B (£78)
Cost of two mono 24 x 10 = 2 x £7,533 =
£15,066
Cost of one mono 22 x 5 = £3,836
Total cost = £18,902

Cost of 4 colour 8 x 10 = 4 x £4,706 =

£18,824
Difference = £18,902 – £18,824 = £78
Situational Judgement

• Measures your capacity to

understand real world
situations and to identify
critical factors and appropriate
behaviour in dealing with them.
26 • Assesses key traits of integrity,
minutes
empathy, team involvement,
69 resilience and adaptability​.
questions
• Questions do not require medical
Band 1-
4 or procedural knowledge​.

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Correct Answer: A (Very Appropriate)

In the absence of the consultant who

prescribed the medication, it is very
appropriate to discussion your concerns
with another doctor who is able to alter the
prescription.
Scoring
• The test is marked on the number of
correct answers; there is no negative
marking.
• For Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making
and Quantitative Reasoning, you receive
a scaled score ranging from 300-900.
• You will receive a total score of 900-
2700.
• In the Situational Judgement Test, scores
are expressed in Bands 1-4 (1 being the
highest).
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Results
• Available on the day of your test (from
the test centre), and within 24 hours via
your Pearson VUE account​.

• Preliminary mean scores will be published

in mid-September. Final mean scores will
be published after testing ends​.

• Check how universities use your

result to avoid wasting a UCAS
application.

• UCAT will deliver your result directly

to your chosen UK universities in
early November.
Thank You!
For more information go
to:
www.ucat.ac.uk

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