UCAT UK 2026: A Student's Experience
2 days ago by Stan
I have just completed UCAT 2026! What a relief to have it done. There were no surprises and I felt well prepared thanks to MedEntry’s UCAT preparation. Here’s how the day went:
Arrival and registration
I sat UCAT in a morning session. My confirmation email from Pearson VUE said that I should arrive at least 30 minutes before my UCAT testing appointment, which I did. The building was well signed and when I arrived there were already some other UCAT candidates sitting in the waiting area. I was asked to have a seat and read through some UCAT test instructions.
I was given a locker to place all my belongings in, and I was asked to empty my pockets. After a few minutes, I was called to the registration desk. I was asked to provide my ID, and my photograph and digital signature were taken. I was then told I could go to the bathroom or have some water before waiting another 10 or so minutes for a space in one of the exam rooms.
I was given a notebook and two marker pens. I tested the UCAT marker pens to check that they were working. I was also given some disposable foam earplugs. They then checked my arms, ears and pockets, and I had to stand with my legs and arms spread out whilst they ran a metal detector over me.
I was told that if I needed to go to the bathroom during the test, the clock would keep running, and that if I needed anything, I should raise my hand. The test supervisors were really nice and friendly. I was then led into the UCAT testing room.
Sitting the UCAT test
There were about seven other people in the room who had already begun sitting their UCAT tests. I was led to a testing station which had a desktop computer, keyboard and mouse. I spent a minute or so getting my station ready; arranging the noteboard, marker pens, keyboard and mouse, and adjusting my chair.
I was asked to confirm that my name displayed on the screen was correct, and then my UCAT test was loaded up. I took a couple of deep breaths, said a little mantra to myself (like what was recommended by MedEntry) and then clicked Start.
The UCAT Verbal Reasoning section began with a bang. The questions were very similar in style and difficulty to what I had been used to on MedEntry’s platform. UCAT Decision Making was also similar, and all the usual question types appeared. UCAT Quantitative Reasoning was reasonably challenging, but probably a bit easier than MedEntry’s questions. UCAT Situational Judgement was very similar to MedEntry, and I feel like I did well.
I really liked the earplugs as they helped me to concentrate and avoid getting distracted (for example when people were entering or leaving the room and when the UCAT test supervisor was cleaning the used computers, or that person who had a sniffle).
Although I found the UCAT test to be fair and without any unexpected challenges, I did notice that the official exam was slightly more sluggish compared to MedEntry's platform. The delay wasn't significant, but there was a noticeable lag when moving between questions and using the calculator. Otherwise, the experience closely resembled the MedEntry exams I had previously completed. Despite that, I was still exhausted by the end and busting for the loo!
Leaving the UCAT test
When the test finished I raised my hand and a supervisor came over straight away. I had to sign out, return the UCAT notebook and marker pens, and collect my belongings. As I was leaving, I saw the next round of UCAT candidates in the waiting room.
I got my results before I left… I was really happy! My UCAT score was better than what I had been getting on MedEntry’s platform, so I was really pleased. Fingers crossed I get some interview offers. But for now, it’s time to celebrate the UCAT test being over!
Note: this is one student's experience of the UCAT test. As testing centres and UCAT tests vary, your own experience may be slightly different.
