Everything You Need To Know About UCAT 2026
3 weeks ago by Chris
Do you want to study medicine or dentistry in 2027? If so, you will need to sit UCAT 2026. This blog describes everything you need to know about UCAT 2026.
What is UCAT?
UCAT stands for University Clinical Aptitude Test. The UCAT is a 2-hour long computer-based exam that is required to gain entry into most medicine and dentistry courses across the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
Who is eligible to sit UCAT?
UCAT UK 2026 is open to anyone applying to a listed medicine or dentistry course in the UK. The earliest you can sit UCAT is in the year you are applying to university. Graduate applicants and those who have previously sat UCAT are also able to sit it again. If you are an international student applying to a UK university, check with your preferred university to confirm whether UCAT is required.
Which universities require UCAT?
A full list of courses that require UCAT 2026 can be found here: https://www.ucat.ac.uk/about-ucat/universities/
Each university varies in how it uses UCAT scores, but most use UCAT scores to select students for interview and for final offers of a medicine or dentistry place.
When will UCAT 2026 be held?
UCAT 2026 will take place from 3 July to 24 September. Students can choose their preferred testing date when booking their UCAT test. This date can also be changed if required.
UCAT account registrations open 20 May 2026 and UCAT test session bookings open 23 June 2026. It is advisable to book early, as popular testing dates and locations can fill quickly.
Where can I sit UCAT 2026?
UCAT 2026 will be held in a range of Pearson VUE testing centres across the UK and in some overseas locations. Most UCAT 2025 testing centres are located in major cities, and some regional areas, and at select internation locations.
To find your nearest test centre, please visit the following page and type in your address: https://wsr.pearsonvue.com/ukcat/locate/
How do I register for UCAT?
You can register for UCAT 2026 by first creating an online account with Pearson VUE, and then booking your preferred UCAT 2026 testing date.
UCAT Account creation opens on 20 May and bookings open 24 June. Bookings close 16 September 2026 (15:00 BST).
You can register for UCAT at: https://www.ucat.ac.uk/register/booking-your-test
What is the cost to sit UCAT 2026?
It will cost £70 to sit UCAT 2026 in the UK.
Sitting UCAT 2026 outside the UK will cost £115.
There is a bursary scheme to help those candidates who are in financial need. This allows candidates to take the test for free. Applications must be sent between 20 May 2026 and 24 September 2026 (15:00 BST).
How often can I sit UCAT?
You will first become eligible to sit UCAT in your final year of secondary school. You can sit the exam only once in that year and, if needs be, once a year every year after that.
You will need to sit the UCAT 2026 if you are applying for entry in 2027 (or deferred entry in 2028). UCAT scores are valid for one year.
What is being tested in UCAT? What is the content of UCAT?
The UCAT aims to assess qualities considered desirable in medicine and dentistry, such as problem solving, empathy and critical thinking.
The UCAT consists of four separately timed subtests, taken in order as follows:
- UCAT Verbal Reasoning: assesses your ability to quickly read a text and answer questions.
- UCAT Decision Making: assesses your ability to make decisions and judgements using complex information.
- UCAT Quantitative Reasoning: assesses your ability to evaluate information presented in a numerical form.
- UCAT Situational Judgement: assesses your ability to understand real world situations and to suggest appropriate behaviour in dealing with them.
What is the structure and timing of UCAT?
The four UCAT subtests are separately timed, and each contains several questions. There are 184 multiple choice UCAT questions distributed as follows:
| UCAT Subtest | # of UCAT Questions | Allocated Instruction Time | Allocated Test Time |
| UCAT Verbal Reasoning | 44 | 1 minute 30 seconds | 22 minutes |
| UCAT Decision Making | 35 | 1 minute 30 seconds | 37 minutes |
| UCAT Quantitative Reasoning | 36 | 2 minutes | 26 minutes |
| UCAT Situational Judgement | 69 | 1 minute 30 seconds | 26 minutes |
| Total | 184 | 6 minutes 30 seconds | 111 minutes |
Each UCAT subtest is preceded by 1.5-2 minutes for reading instructions.
UCAT is very different to traditional knowledge-based tests encountered in school and university. It is also highly time pressured. Therefore, undergoing preparation with quality UCAT 2026 courses are essential to succeed.
What do I need to take with me when sitting UCAT?
You must take acceptable identification and the email confirming your test appointment into UCAT. You cannot take anything else into UCAT, such as food, drink, your phone or a bag. All of these items must be left in a locker before entering the UCAT exam room.
You cannot take paper and pens into the UCAT test, but you will be provided with a small noteboard and marker pen so you can make notes during the test. You cannot take in a calculator, but you will be able to use the onscreen UCAT calculator.
What UCAT score do I need to get into medicine?
The UCAT score that you need to get into medicine or dentistry depends on the university to which you are applying and your personal circumstances (particularly if you are a Widening Participation candidate). In general, a good score for each UCAT UK cognitive subtest is above 700 (i.e. a total cognitive UCAT subtest score of above 2100) which equates to approximately the 80th percentile over the last few years.
More information can be obtained from our blog series: Applying to Medical School Strategically Part 1
When and how will I receive my UCAT score?
You will receive your UCAT score within 24 hours of sitting your test (usually within an hour). You will receive an email shortly after the test confirming that your results are available.
For the 2026 test cycle, interim mean scores and deciles will be published in mid-September on the Test Statistics page. Final 2026 mean score, deciles and percentages will be published after testing ends.
Pearson Vue does not release how it calculates UCAT scores, but you can find out more in our blog series about UCAT scoring.
Your UCAT results will automatically be sent to the universities – you do not need to do this yourself.
What is UCAT scored out of?
UCAT is marked based on the correct answers that you provide during the test. There is no negative marking in UCAT. As each UCAT subtest has a different number of questions, raw marks are converted into scaled scores that share a common range between 300 – 900. The total UCAT cognitive score ranges from 900 to 2700 and is derived from your combined scaled scores for UCAT Verbal Reasoning, UCAT Decision Making and UCAT Quantitative Reasoning. For the UCAT Situational Judgement test, full marks are awarded if your answer matches the correct answer, and partial marks if your answer is close to the correct answer.
The following table summarises scoring for each UCAT subtest:
| UCAT Subtest | Questions | Scaled Score Range | Question Marking |
| Verbal Reasoning | 44 | 300 - 900 | 1 mark per question |
| Decision Making | 35 | 300 - 900 | Single answer: 1 mark Multiple answer (drag and drop): fully correct; 2 marks partially correct: 1 mark |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 36 | 300 - 900 | 1 mark per question |
| Total Cognitive Scaled Score Range | 900 - 2700 | ||
| Situational Judgement | 69 | 300 - 900 | Your response matches answer = full marks; your response is a close answer = partial marks |
Is UCAT important?
Yes! UCAT is often as important, and in some cases is more important than your A-Levels/GCSE's in determining whether or not you will get into medicine. The way it is used is very variable between universities.
Is UCAT hard?
Yes! Many practising medical specialists believe that UCAT was the hardest test they ever sat. UCAT questions are completely different to those you will have encountered at school or university. While the difficulty of an individual UCAT question may not be significant, there is extreme time pressure which means that the vast majority of students do not finish the UCAT exam. It is a two-hour long test requiring high levels of concentration.
The good news? It is possible to prepare for and do well in UCAT.
How can I prepare for UCAT?
MedEntry provides a range of quality UCAT 2026 courses run by expert doctors, academics and psychometricians. These courses provide comprehensive preparation for UCAT 2026. Successful preparation for UCAT can be summarised in five key steps:
- Understand the importance of UCAT
- Familiarise yourself with UCAT-style questions
- Learn strategies for tackling each type of UCAT question
- Attempt full length UCAT practice exams under timed conditions
- Identify your weaknesses and work on them
These steps reflect how high-scoring students approach UCAT preparation. Simply doing practice questions is not enough – understanding why each strategy works, and systematically addressing your weak areas, is what separates good scores from great ones.
Will the UCAT make special arrangements for students who need them?
Yes, special arrangements are available for UCAT. You need to apply and be approved for access arrangements before your UCAT test can be booked.
Applications will need to be accompanied by suitable official documentation and such documentation needs to be submitted before 10 September 2026 (15:00 BST).
Access arrangements include extra time for the test or rest breaks between sections, access to medical items, access to medically necessary food and drink at your workstation, adjustable height desks, font size/colour scheme adjustments on the computer, wheelchair access and a separate room.
What happens if there’s a problem with my UCAT test?
If you need to reschedule your test, this can be done up to 24 hours before your appointment at no additional cost. However, if you do not attend your test and have not rescheduled, your fee will not be refunded.
If there’s an incident during the UCAT test, such as a technical problem, you must notify the invigilator immediately by raising your hand.
Where can I get more information?
You can find more information about UCAT from:
And by contacting MedEntry!
