University Clinical Aptitude Tests, or UCAT (also known as UKCAT), are used by UK universities for admission into medical and dental degree programmes. We explore how they might impact your application and university entrance.
Updated: 29 Apr 2025If you want to study medicine or dentistry at university, sitting the UCAT test is likely to be one of the prerequisites. It’s designed to ensure that universities are choosing the right candidates capable of handling what their courses have to offer.
But if you’re stuck wondering ‘what is UCAT’ or whether you need to sit the test, fear not. We’ve broken down all that you need to know.
The UCAT test is a multiple choice test required for students looking to gain entry into medical or dental schools. It assesses a prospective student’s cognitive ability on different tasks.
The UCAT test features the following:
Verbal reasoning (44 questions) - how to critically evaluate written information
Decision making (29 questions) - how to make sound judgments and decisions
Quantitative reasoning (36 questions) - how to critically evaluate numerical information
Abstract reasoning (50 questions) - how to use both convergent and divergent thinking to infer relationships
The final section is the situational judgement test. This will assess how well you can interpret a real-world situation, identifying the critical factors and the appropriate behaviour to deal with them.
Two hours. The UCAT test is taken on the computer and is split into five multi-choice sections, each with a set amount of time to complete.
The time you have for each section is as follows:
Verbal reasoning - 21 minute test time
Decision making - 31 minute test time
Quantitative reasoning - 25 minute test time
Abstract reasoning - 12 minute test time
Situational judgement - 26 minute test time
To register for the UCAT, you will firstly need to create a UCAT login on the Pearson Vue website. Then, these are the key dates you need to know:
14th May 2024 (9:30am BST) - Account registration opens, as do bursary and Access Arrangement applications
18th June 2024 (6am BST) - Test booking opens
8th July 2024 - Testing starts
15th September 2024 (11:59pm BST) - Access Arrangement application deadline
19th September 2024 (11:59pm BST) - Test booking deadline
26th September 2024 - Final testing date
27th September 2024 (4:00pm BST) - bursary applications close
15th October 2024 - UCAS application deadline for most medicine and dentistry courses
Results are delivered to universities in November.
The UCAT test cost will vary, depending on both where you choose to take the test. Currently, tests taken in the UK cost £70. Those taken outside of the UK are £115.
If you are a UK candidate, you can apply for a UCAT bursary. This can be used to cover the entire UCAT cost. Once your application for a bursary has been accepted, a voucher code will be provided that you can use when booking your test.
The UCAT test is carried out at Pearson Vue test centres around the UK. When booking your test, you will be able to see what test centres are near you.
Before you sit the UCAT test, ensure that you have prepared by doing UCAT practice tests. These will not only allow you to anticipate what’s expected, but give you the opportunity to time yourself to see whether you can complete each section in the given time - as each section has a time limit.
Any UCAT practice test can be found through the free UCAT practice materials. You should also have a thorough read through of the UCAT test format so you’re not left with any surprises.
If you choose to sit the test at a Pearson Vue test centre, upon leaving you will receive your UCAT Score Report. UCAT scores are also delivered online, up to 24 hours after sitting the test. You will be able to access these results through your Pearson Vue account.
This will mean that you have your UCAT score before any UCAS application deadlines, in order to help inform your decision-making. UCAT scores will be passed to universities in early November by Pearson Vue.
The average UCAT score varies year-to-year. In 2023, the average sat at 2516 with the average in 2022 being 2500 – this being the average score for the first four sections.
When it comes to scoring on the UCAT test, students are given a score for each of the first four sections. For these four sections – the cognitive subtests – students are given a score for each section in the scale range of 300-900. From these four sections, an overall score is generated in the scale range of 1200-3600.
For the fifth section of the UCAT – the situational judgment test – you're awarded into either Band 1, Band 2, Band 3 or Band 4, based on however many marks you receive. Band 1 is the highest band you can achieve.
The UCAT score you will need to enter your studies will vary depending on the course you’re applying to. It may be the case that your course has a score threshold you need to meet.
Some courses are only concerned with your total score on the four cognitive sections, while others may weigh your score on one section more heavily than another. It may be the case that your course likes to consider your score alongside your interview performance, personal and other academic feats.
To find out, make sure that you check the university’s website to see how they, and the course you’re applying to, use UCAT scores.
The following are a list of universities that use the UCAT test:
University of Aberdeen
Anglia Ruskin University
Aston University
Bangor University
University of Birmingham
Brighton and Sussex Medical School
University of Bristol
Brunel University London
University of Cambridge
Cardiff University
University of Central Lancashire
University of Chester
University of Dundee
University of East Anglia
Edge Hill University
University of Edinburgh
University of Exeter
University of Glasgow
Hull York Medical School
Imperial University
Keele University
Kent and Medway Medical School
King’s College London
University of Lancaster
University of Leeds
University of Leicester
University of Liverpool
University of Manchester
Newcastle University
University of Nottingham
University of Oxford
University of Plymouth
Queen Mary University of London
Queen’s University Belfast
University of Sheffield
University of Southampton
University of St Andrews
St George’s, University of London
University of Sunderland
University of Surrey
Swansea University
University of Warwick
University of Worcester
UCAT past papers and mocks will contain all of the practice questions you need. These are available through the free UCAT practice materials and are the best means of preparation.
Once UCAT test booking opens on 17th June, 2025, at 9am BST, you should book your spot as soon as possible. From there, we recommend starting to do your preparation as soon as you can.
Don’t stumble into the pitfall of only leaving your preparation a week before your UCAT test date. Start the study process weeks, or even better, months, before.