UCAT UK 2025 Access Arrangements

Did you know that if you have educational needs, psychological needs, disabilities or medical conditions you may be entitled to access arrangements (special conditions) when sitting the UCAT UK 2025?

You must:

• apply and be approved for access arrangements in advance of your test day

• accompany applications with suitable official documentation

• submit your application before 16 September 2025 (12 noon BST)

UCAT access arrangements that do not require approval

Pearson VUE has a ‘Comfort Aid List’. Any items on this list can be taken into the UCAT testing room without seeking prior approval (though they will be inspected by UCAT test centre staff at check-in).

Some UCAT arrangements should be made at least 5 working days before your UCAT test. You will need to call Pearson VUE Customer Services. These arrangements include:

• Wheelchair access or adjustable height desk (subject to UCAT test centre availability)

• Screen magnification and colour contrast features

• Coloured overlay (which you provide) for a 24” flat screen monitor

 
UCAT access arrangements for which you need to apply

You should apply for the following access arrangements when sitting UCAT:

• Different versions of UCAT which offer additional time and/or rest breaks during UCAT:
  • OnVUE UCAT (117 minutes 30 seconds) - standard online UCAT test timing sat at home and proctored online
     
  • OnVUE UCATSA (137 minutes 30 seconds) - extra 20 minutes for breaks, split evenly and added before the start of each subtest, sat at home and proctored online
  • UCATSA (137 minutes 30 seconds) - extra 20 minutes for pause-the-clock breaks
     
  • onVUE UCATSEN (145 minutes 15 seconds) - 25% extra time for UCAT test, sat at home and proctored online
  • onVUE UCATSENSA (170 minutes 15 seconds) - 25% extra test time, extra 25 minutes for breaks, split evenly and added before the start of each subtest, sat at home and proctored online
  • UCATSENSA (170 minutes 15 seconds) - 25% extra test time, extra 25 minutes for pause-the-clock breaks
     
  • onVUE UCATSEN50 (173 minutes) - 50% extra test time, sat at home and proctored online
  • UCATSEN50SA (203 minutes) - 50% extra test time, extra 30 minutes for pause-the-clock breaks

(Note: extra time for UCAT is not given for extra reading in cases where English is not your first language.)

• Access to medical items

• Access to medically necessary food / drink (must be according to the rules, e.g. transparent water bottle, transparent bag for food, no wrapping on sweets, placed away / consumed away from UCAT workstation)

• A separate UCAT testing room (subject to UCAT test centre availability; your evidence must state that you need separate UCAT invigilation)

Applying to sit UCAT online

If you have a documented disability, medical condition, or other reason (e.g. you live in a country without access to a test centre) which would prevent your needs from being met in a test centre, you may be eligible to sit UCAT online using OnVUE online proctored testing.

Test timing accommodations for OnVUE proctored testing are outlined in the previous section (for example, OnVUE UCATSA, OnVUE UCATSEN, etc). Note that OnVUE UCAT testing has a different testing window to the standard UCAT, taking place from 7 July to 19 September.

Applications to sit OnVUE UCAT open on 17 June and close on 16 September.

Access arrangements not provided for UCAT

Due to the nature of UCAT the following accommodations cannot be provided:

• A reader or computer reader

• Paper and pen (you will be provided with a laminated notebook and marker pen at the UCAT test centre)

• A paper version of the UCAT test

• A scribe

 
Supporting evidence needed

You will need to provide the following evidence when applying for UCAT access arrangements:

• A letter from your school or college that shows that you currently receive accommodations for exams. This will need to be on official letterhead and dated to the current year. It must contain the date plus the title, name, signature and contact details of the person issuing the letter. The letter should clearly explain the access arrangements you need for UCAT. That is, it should state the amount of time, rest breaks, separate invigilation, or other accommodations you are entitled to in public examinations and confirm the diagnosis that this is based on.

OR

A copy of an approved:

• ‘JCQ Form 8: Application for Access Arrangements’ (all pages); or

• ‘JCQ Form 9: Profile of need'; or

• equivalent form

This should be completed and signed by the Head of Centre / SENCo / Assessor.

For more details on exact requirements, please visit https://www.ucat.ac.uk/register/access-arrangements
 

Applying for UCAT access arrangements

To apply for UCAT access arrangements, visit https://www.ucat.ac.uk/register/access-arrangements

Here you will be able to fill out your details and upload your documents. This site will open from 13 May 2025 (09:30 BST).

Don’t forget that if you are applying for access arrangements for UCAT UK 2025 the cut-off date is 16 September 2025!

MedEntry’s online learning portal provides an exact replica UCAT platform, including provision for UCATSA, UCATSEN, UCATSENSA and UCATSEN50 timing to help with your preparation.
 

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