UCAT UK 2026 Preliminary Test Statistics Now Available!
Posted: September 17, 2026 by Stan
The interim test statistics for UCAT UK 2026 are now live on the UCAT UK website. If you've already taken your UCAT or are preparing to sit it, this data will help you understand where you stand compared to other students applying for medicine and dentistry this year.
In this blog, we'll break down what these numbers mean and how to interpret them.
What Data is Available?
The UCAT UK 2026 preliminary statistics show you several key pieces of information:
- Mean total cognitive UCAT score (1970): this is your combined score from the three cognitive UCAT subtests - Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, and Quantitative Reasoning
- Decile rankings: the overall cognitive UCAT score required to achieve a particular UCAT decile
- Mean scores for each cognitive subtest: to show how candidates performed in each individual section
- Situational Judgement (SJT) results: the percentage of candidates who achieved each UCAT Situational Judgement subtest band (1-4)
Important note: These are preliminary statistics based on the scores of 20,794 candidates who have already taken the test. Around 22,000 more candidates are yet to sit UCAT UK 2026, so these numbers will change as the testing cycle progresses.
Total cognitive score decile ranking
| Decile Rank | Score Needed (13 July - 13 September 2026) | Interpretation |
| 1st | 1630 | You scored better than 10% of candidates |
| 2nd | 1750 | You scored better than 20% of candidates |
| 3rd | 1840 | You scored better than 30% of candidates |
| 4th | 1910 | You scored better than 40% of candidates |
| 5th | 1980 | You scored better than 50% of candidates |
| 6th | 2040 | You scored better than 60% of candidates |
| 7th | 2110 | You scored better than 70% of candidates |
| 8th | 2190 | You scored better than 80% of candidates |
| 9th (top 10%) | 2300 | You scored better than 90% of candidates |
Mean scaled scores per cognitive subtest
| Cognitive Subtest | 2026 (13 July - 13 September 2026) |
| Verbal Reasoning | 614 |
| Decision Making | 657 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 699 |
Situational Judgement results
| 2026 Candidates (13 July - 13 September 2026) | |
| Number of candidates | 20,794 |
| Band 1 (best) | 16% |
| Band 2 | 42% |
| Band 3 | 32% |
| Band 4 (lowest) | 10% |
What does the data mean?
The data provides some indication of how your UCAT UK score compares to other candidates who sat UCAT in 2026. If, for example, you achieved a UCAT overall cognitive subtest score of around 1980, your score was about average (5th decile) compared to other candidates who sat UCAT UK 2026. On the other hand, if you achieved a UCAT overall cognitive subtest score of around 2110, you will have achieved around the 7th decile – that is, you will have been in the top 30% of UCAT UK 2026 candidates.
The UCAT Situational Judgement table shows that 16% of UCAT candidates achieved band 1, 42% of candidates achieved band 2, 32% achieved band 3, and 10% of UCAT candidates achieved band 4 in the UCAT Situational Judgement subtest.
What interpretations can be made from the UCAT UK 2026 preliminary statistics?
Comparing this year's preliminary data against UCAT UK 2025's preliminary statistics reveals a few notable trends candidates should be aware of:
How the overall score has moved
| Decile | 2025 Preliminary | 2026 Preliminary | Change |
| 1st | 1620 | 1630 | +10 |
| 2nd | 1730 | 1750 | +20 |
| 3rd | 1810 | 1840 | +30 |
| 4th | 1870 | 1910 | +40 |
| 5th | 1940 | 1980 | +40 |
| 6th | 2000 | 2040 | +40 |
| 7th | 2070 | 2110 | +40 |
| 8th | 2150 | 2190 | +40 |
| 9th | 2270 | 2300 | +30 |
The 2026 mean (1970) is 31 points higher than 2025 (1939). As the table shows, the rise has been more even across the middle of the field (4th to 8th deciles, all up 40 points) than at the top and bottom ends (1st and 9th, up 10 and 30 points).
How each subtest has changed
| Cognitive Subtest | 2025 Preliminary | 2026 Preliminary | Change |
| Verbal Reasoning | 614 | 614 | No change |
| Decision Making | 642 | 657 | +15 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 683 | 699 | +16 |
Verbal Reasoning stayed flat, with the overall rise is coming from Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning. Possible factors for this could include differences in subtest difficulty this year, the level of preparation committed by each respective cohort for each section, or a combination of the two.
How Situational Judgement bands have shifted
| SJT Band | 2025 Preliminary | 2026 Preliminary | Change |
| Band 1 (best) | 25% | 16% | -9 |
| Band 2 | 40% | 42% | +2 |
| Band 3 | 27% | 32% | +5 |
| Band 4 (lowest) | 8% | 10% | +2 |
Fewer candidates landed in Band 1 this year, so a Band 1 result may stand out more.
A word of caution
It's important to remember that both years' figures are based on about half the total candidate pool, so they will shift. In 2025, the mean dropped 48 points between the preliminary and final statistics. If 2026 sees a similar trend, the final mean could end up somewhat lower than 1970.
What score do I need to get into medicine?
A good UCAT score depends on a number of factors, including the university and course to which you are applying, and whether you are a widening participation applicant. Universities place different emphasis on UCAT depending on their admissions criteria - some weight UCAT heavily when determining entry, while others focus more on academic grades or interview performance. Some universities may instantly reject applicants who achieve Band 4 in the Situational Judgement Test, regardless of their cognitive subtest scores. It's also worth noting the level of competition in a particular year can affect the threshold scores required.
In general, achieving a UCAT UK 2026 decile of 7 or above would be sufficient to obtain an interview at most UCAT-requiring medical schools.
What should I do now?
Research university entry requirements
The deadline to apply to UCAS is October 15th. Given there are many medical schools in the UK and you are only allowed to place four on your UCAS form, you should use your UCAT score strategically when applying. Remember that universities place different emphasis on the various entry criteria (academic achievement, UCAT, personal statement and interview).
If you have achieved a high UCAT score, it is advisable to apply to universities that weight UCAT significantly when determining entry into medicine. If you have achieved a low UCAT score, it is advisable to apply to universities that place less emphasis on UCAT.
Start researching each university’s requirements to see how they weight UCAT, and what UCAT scores are generally required. You can find information on entry criteria in our university admissions guide. MedEntry students also have access to an interactive course guide on the Online Learning Platform.
Write your personal statement
Some universities use personal statement as a criterion for determining whether students will obtain an interview offer for medicine. If this is the case for your preferred universities, it is important to craft an effective and powerful personal statement.
Look out for final UCAT test statistics
Remember that these are preliminary numbers! As the 2026 testing cycle progresses, the averages and decile cut-offs will shift. Therefore, it is important to check the UCAT website regularly, and follow MedEntry's social media for updates.
Last updated: September 2026
