What is UCAT?
UCAT stands for University Clinical Aptitude Test. It is used by most universities in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to select students for entry into medicine and dentistry.
The UCAT is a computer-based test in multiple-choice question format. The UCAT is administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the UCAT Consortium of universities.
How important
is the UCAT?
The UCAT can be very important in determining entry into medicine or dentistry.
The UCAT is generally used along with your academic performance and your performance in medical interviews (and sometimes a personal statement) to select students for entry.
How hard is
the UCAT?
The UCAT is a very difficult test. The UCAT questions are completely different to those you will have encountered at school or university. The UCAT is highly time pressured, and the vast majority of students do not finish the test. The UCAT is a test requiring extreme concentration and quick thinking skills.
The good news? It is possible to prepare for and do well in the UCAT.
What is the format
of the UCAT?
The UCAT is a 2 hour, computer based test, which is very different to pen and paper exams that you are used to in school and university.
This video shows the key features of the UCAT platform, using MedEntry’s replica UCAT platform, which exactly simulates the live UCAT:
What will it be like sitting the UCAT?
If you have ever sat a driver’s licence theory exam, the UCAT environment will be similar. You will be in a room with other candidates, some of whom may be sitting tests other than the UCAT. You will be provided with a UCAT computer screen, keyboard and mouse. You can use headphones or earplugs to minimise distractions during the UCAT.
You will also have access to a UCAT Notebook and marker pen so you can make notes during the test.
There are timed instruction screens between each UCAT subtest. There are no scheduled breaks in the UCAT. If you need to go to the bathroom, the UCAT timer will keep ticking!
What are the
UCAT sections?
The UCAT is composed of four sections, known as UCAT subtests:
- Verbal Reasoning: assesses your ability to critically evaluate information presented in a written form and draw logical conclusions
- Decision Making: assesses your ability to problem solve and evaluate arguments
- Quantitative Reasoning: assesses your ability to use numerical reasoning to draw valid conclusions
- Situational Judgement: assesses your ability to identify critical factors and appropriate behaviour when dealing with real life situations
The first four subtests are known as ‘cognitive subtests’ and Situational Judgement is classed as a ‘non-cognitive’ subtest.
What is the structure of the UCAT?
The UCAT is composed of 184 questions, to be answered in just under 120 minutes. This table below displays the timing for each UCAT subtest:
| UCAT Subtest | Questions | Test Duration | Time Per Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 44 | 22 minutes | 30 seconds |
| Decision Making | 35 | 37 minutes | 63 seconds |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 36 | 26 minutes | 43 seconds |
| Situational Judgement | 69 | 26 minutes | 22 seconds |
Do I need to sit the UCAT?
Most UK medical schools require students to sit and succeed in UCAT. You will need to sit UCAT if you are interested in applying to any of the following courses in the UK:
| UCAS Code | Course or Programme |
|---|---|
| A100 | Medicine |
| A101 | Medicine graduate entry Medicine with a gateway year (Leeds, King’s) |
| A102 | Medicine graduate entry (King’s) Medicine with gateway year (Southampton) |
| A104 | Medicine with gateway year (Dundee, East Anglia) Medicine with preliminary year (Keele, Manchester) |
| A106 | Medicine (Manchester) |
| A108 | Medicine with gateway year (Bristol, Nottingham, Hull) |
| A110 | Medicine with gateway year (Edge Hill) Medicine (Queen Mary – Malta) |
| A10L | Medicine (Nottingham – Lincoln) |
| A18L | Medicine with gateway year (Nottingham – Lincoln) |
| A199 | Medicine with gateway year (Leicester) |
| A200 | Dentistry |
| A201 | Dentistry graduate entry |
| A202 | Dentistry graduate entry (King’s, Lancashire) |
| A204 | Dentistry with preliminary year (Manchester) |
| A205 | Dentistry (King’s) |
| A206 | Dentistry (Bristol, Newcastle, Manchester, Plymouth) Enhanced Support Dentistry (King’s) |
| A208 | Dentistry with gateway year (Bristol) |
| A300 | Physician Associate Studies (Manchester) |
| A301 | Physician Associate Studies (Manchester) |
| BB96 | Physician Associate Studies (St George’s) |
| A990 | North American Medical Programme (St Andrews) |
Registration opens in May for UCAT. Testing will take place between 7th July - 26th September. Therefore, it is important to start preparing early to be ready for the testing that occurs at the start of the new school year. More information is available at: https://www.ucat.ac.uk/about-ucat/universities/
When is the UCAT?
The UCAT takes place over the months of July, August and September. You choose the time, date and location that you wish to sit the UCAT. This video provides advice on how to choose a UCAT testing date:
You can only sit the UCAT once per testing cycle. The UCAT results are valid for one year.
How do I register to sit
the UCAT?
To register for the UCAT, you should visit the Pearson VUE website. You will need to first create an account with Pearson VUE, and then book your desired testing date, time and location.
Further detailed instructions can be found on the official UCAT UK website: https://www.ucat.ac.uk/register/booking-your-test/
How should I prepare for
the UCAT?
Successful preparation for the UCAT can be summarised in four key steps:
U – Understand the UCAT
C – Create a bank of UCAT strategies that work for you
A – Assess your UCAT performance, and target weak areas
T – Train for the UCAT by attempting simulated practice exams
MedEntry provides you with all the tools required to effectively prepare for the UCAT:
Understand:
MedEntry’s highly sought after workshops and online UCAT curriculum will cover everything you need to know about the UCAT, including inside knowledge about the UCAT testing process. By the end of our program, you too will be a UCAT expert!Create:
MedEntry’s workshops, guides and UCAT video instruction cover effective UCAT strategies for tackling each UCAT question type and subtest. This comprehensive program will allow you to easily develop a personalised approach to the UCAT that works for you.Assess:
MedEntry’s Personalised Adaptive Learning (PAL) technology analyses your responses and provides comprehensive UCAT feedback, allowing you to track your UCAT performance. It offers suggestions on where to focus your future efforts, allowing you to easily target weak areas and prepare for the UCAT efficiently.Train:
In addition to UCAT subtest mocks and drills, MedEntry provides 25+ full-length UCAT exams, delivered on a platform that exactly simulates the live UCAT. After undergoing MedEntry’s program, the live UCAT will just feel like another MedEntry practice exam!
From our decades of experience, we know that the best way to prepare for the UCAT is to do a little bit of practice on a regular basis. That’s why we allow unlimited access to all of our resources right up until the end of the UCAT testing period.
And it gets even better: you can access your resources anywhere, anytime, and any place – from your laptop, desktop, phone or tablet (via our exclusive, dedicated UCAT App).
It is important to choose the right UCAT preparation provider.
Look for an organisation which is run by leading doctors and academics, has helped tens of thousands of students become doctors, and which has hundreds of independent five star reviews.