If you are planning to study medicine or dentistry, the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) may be an important part of your university application. The UCAT is an admissions test used by a consortium of UK and partner universities to support the selection of applicants for medical and dental degree programmes.
The UCAT is a computer-based aptitude test delivered through Pearson test centres across the UK and internationally. It is designed to assess the mental abilities and professional attributes considered relevant to success in healthcare education and practice.
The UCAT is not assessed in isolation. Universities may consider your UCAT performance alongside other selection criteria, including academic qualifications, work experience, personal statement and interview performance. As universities use the test in different ways, understanding the UCAT requirements and selection process can help you make informed application choices.
What Is the UCAT?
The University Clinical Aptitude Test, commonly known as the UCAT, is a standardised admissions test used by universities to assess applicants for undergraduate medicine and dentistry programmes. The test was previously called the UKCAT, or United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test, before being renamed the UCAT in 2019.
The UCAT is designed to assess a candidate’s aptitude rather than subject-specific academic knowledge. It evaluates mental abilities and attributes that are considered important for healthcare-related study and professional practice.
Universities use the UCAT as part of a wider admissions process. Your test score may be considered alongside your academic record, work experience, personal statement and interview performance. The importance given to the UCAT varies between universities, courses and applicant groups.
The UCAT is delivered as a computer-based examination at Pearson test centres. Candidates can take the test at centres throughout the UK and in more than 130 countries worldwide.
Why Is the UCAT Important for Medicine and Dentistry Applicants?
The UCAT helps universities compare applicants using an additional measure alongside academic qualifications and other parts of the application. Medical and dental programmes often receive a large number of applications, and the UCAT can support universities during the initial selection process.
A strong UCAT score may improve your chances of progressing through the admissions process, particularly at universities where the test is given significant weight. However, a high score does not guarantee an offer because universities also consider other selection criteria.
Different universities use UCAT results in different ways. Some place considerable importance on the overall score, while others combine the score with academic achievement or use it only in specific situations.
Applicants should therefore review the admissions information provided by every university they are considering.
UCAT 2026 Eligibility: Who Needs to Sit the Test?
You are required to sit the UCAT 2026 if you intend to apply for entry in 2027 or deferred entry in 2028 to an eligible medical or dental course at a UCAT Consortium University.
Applicants must take the UCAT during the official testing period, which runs from 13 July to 24 September. Candidates are permitted to sit the test only once during a test cycle.
Before booking the test, applicants should check the entry requirements for every course they plan to apply to. Universities may have different requirements, and alternative entry routes may be available to certain applicant groups.
When Should You Take the UCAT?
The UCAT has the same level of difficulty throughout the testing cycle. Choosing a test date is therefore a personal decision and should be based on your preparation schedule.
Some candidates prefer to take the UCAT in July while they are still accustomed to an examination routine. Others choose to prepare during the summer and sit the test later in the testing period.
Your chosen test date does not make the examination easier or harder. The most suitable date is one that allows enough time for preparation while ensuring that you meet all relevant application deadlines.
Who Is Not Eligible to Sit the UCAT?
Certain individuals are not eligible to take the UCAT because of their affiliation with a UCAT coaching business.
This may include individuals who work as UCAT tutors, develop UCAT preparation content or have a financial interest in a UCAT coaching organisation. Checks may be carried out to identify ineligible candidates, and tests booked by individuals who do not meet the eligibility requirements may be cancelled.
Where Can You Take the UCAT?
The UCAT is delivered through Pearson test centres across the UK and in more than 130 countries worldwide. Candidates can use the Pearson Test Centre Locator to identify an available test centre near them.
Applicants should check test-centre availability and make suitable travel arrangements before booking. Some international candidates may need to travel to another country if a suitable test centre is not available locally.
If travelling to a test centre is difficult because of distance, a pandemic, war, civil unrest or a natural disaster, candidates should review the available information about online proctored testing through OnVUE before making a booking.
UCAT Test Format and Scoring: Sections, Timing and Marking Explained
The UCAT test format is designed to assess a range of mental abilities and professional attributes identified by university medical and dental schools as important. The computer-based test uses multiple-choice questions and is divided into four separately timed subtests.
Each UCAT subtest measures a different area of aptitude. The first three sections are cognitive subtests and contribute to the overall UCAT score. The fourth section, Situational Judgement, is reported separately using performance bands.
The standard UCAT takes just under two hours to complete. Once the test has started, it cannot be paused. However, every subtest is preceded by a timed instruction section, allowing candidates to review the relevant information before beginning that part of the test.
UCAT Test Format: Questions, Timing and Score Range
| UCAT Subtest | Number of Questions | Timed Instruction Section | Test Time | Scoring |
| Verbal Reasoning | 44 | 1 minute 30 seconds | 22 minutes | 300–900 |
| Decision Making | 35 | 1 minute 30 seconds | 37 minutes | 300–900 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 36 | 2 minutes | 26 minutes | 300–900 |
| Situational Judgement | 69 | 1 minute 30 seconds | 26 minutes | Bands 1–4 |
The four subtests are completed separately, and each has its own time limit. Candidates cannot pause the examination after it begins, so effective time management is important throughout the test.
UCAT Verbal Reasoning: Written Information and Critical Evaluation
The Verbal Reasoning subtest assesses your ability to critically evaluate information presented in written form.
This section contains 44 questions and must be completed within 22 minutes. Before the subtest begins, candidates are given a timed instruction section lasting 1 minute and 30 seconds.
Verbal Reasoning is one of the three cognitive UCAT subtests. Its score is reported on a scaled range from 300 to 900. Each question is worth one mark.
UCAT Decision Making: Complex Information and Sound Judgement
The Decision Making subtest assesses your ability to make sound decisions and judgements using complex information.
Candidates have 37 minutes to complete 35 questions. The subtest is preceded by a timed instruction section lasting 1 minute and 30 seconds.
Decision Making uses more than one marking approach. Single-answer questions are worth one mark each. Multiple-statement questions are worth two marks, and candidates may receive one mark for a partially correct response to these questions.
The Decision Making score is converted to a scaled score between 300 and 900 and contributes to the overall UCAT cognitive score.
UCAT Quantitative Reasoning: Numerical Information and Critical Evaluation
The Quantitative Reasoning subtest assesses your ability to critically evaluate information presented in numerical form.
This section includes 36 questions and has a test time of 26 minutes. Candidates are given a two-minute timed instruction section before the subtest begins.
Quantitative Reasoning is scored on the same 300–900 scale as Verbal Reasoning and Decision Making. Each question is worth one mark.
The scaled score from this subtest is added to the scores from the other two cognitive subtests to calculate the overall UCAT score.
UCAT Situational Judgement Test: Real-World Scenarios and Appropriate Behaviour
The Situational Judgement Test, commonly known as the SJT, measures your capacity to understand real-world situations, identify critical factors and recognise appropriate behaviour when responding to them.
The SJT contains 69 questions and must be completed within 26 minutes. Candidates receive a timed instruction section lasting 1 minute and 30 seconds before beginning the subtest.
Unlike the three cognitive sections, the Situational Judgement Test does not contribute to the UCAT total score. Instead, SJT performance is reported using one of four bands, with Band 1 representing the highest level of performance.
How Is the UCAT Scored?
The UCAT is marked according to the number of correct answers given. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers, meaning candidates do not lose marks for an incorrect response.
Your performance on one question does not influence the questions presented later in the test. Each question is assessed independently, and the test does not adapt its questions according to previous answers.
Candidates receive two main results: a total cognitive score ranging from 900 to 2700 and a separate Situational Judgement Test band.
The total cognitive score is calculated by adding the scaled scores from Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning. Each of these three subtests is scored on a common scale ranging from 300 to 900.
UCAT Cognitive Subtest Scoring Explained
The three cognitive subtests contain different numbers of questions. As a result, their raw marks cannot be compared directly.
To create a common scoring range, the raw marks achieved in Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning are converted into scaled scores. Each cognitive subtest is reported on a scale from 300 to 900.
| UCAT Cognitive Subtest | Number of Questions | Scaled Score Range | Marking Method |
| Verbal Reasoning | 44 | 300–900 | Each question is worth 1 mark. |
| Decision Making | 35 | 300–900 | Single-answer questions are worth 1 mark. Multiple-statement questions are worth 2 marks, with 1 mark available for partially correct responses. |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 36 | 300–900 | Each question is worth 1 mark. |
| Total UCAT Cognitive Score | — | 900–2700 | Calculated by adding the three scaled cognitive subtest scores. |
The UCAT total score does not include the Situational Judgement Test. The SJT is reported separately using performance bands.
UCAT Total Score: How Is the 900–2700 Score Calculated?
The UCAT total score is calculated by adding the scaled scores from the three cognitive subtests:
Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning.
Each subtest has a scaled score range of 300 to 900. Therefore, the lowest possible combined cognitive score is 900, while the highest possible total score is 2700.
The total score provides a combined measure of performance across the three cognitive sections. However, universities may use UCAT results differently. Some may focus on the total cognitive score, while others may also consider individual subtest performance.
UCAT Situational Judgement Scoring: Bands 1 to 4 Explained
Situational Judgement Test performance is expressed using one of four bands. Band 1 is the highest performance band, while Band 4 is the lowest.
Candidates receive an interpretation alongside their SJT band to explain how their judgement compared with the expected responses.
UCAT SJT Band 1: Excellent Performance
Candidates in Band 1 demonstrate an excellent level of performance. Their judgement is similar to that of the expert panel in most situations.
Band 1 represents the highest level of Situational Judgement performance.
UCAT SJT Band 2: Good and Solid Performance
Candidates in Band 2 demonstrate a good and solid level of performance. They show appropriate judgement frequently, and many of their responses match the model answers.
UCAT SJT Band 3: Modest Performance
Candidates in Band 3 demonstrate a modest level of performance. Appropriate judgement is shown in some questions, but there are substantial differences from the ideal responses in other situations.
UCAT SJT Band 4: Low Performance
Candidates in Band 4 demonstrate a low level of performance. Their judgement tends to differ substantially from the ideal responses in many situations.
Within the Situational Judgement Test, full marks are awarded when a candidate’s response matches the correct answer. Partial marks may be awarded when the selected response is close to the correct answer.
Key Facts About the UCAT Test Format and Scoring
The UCAT consists of four separately timed, multiple-choice subtests: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning and Situational Judgement.
The standard test takes just under two hours, including the timed instruction sections that appear before each subtest. Once the examination begins, it cannot be paused.
The three cognitive subtests are scored on a common scale of 300 to 900. Their combined score produces a UCAT total score ranging from 900 to 2700.
The Situational Judgement Test is scored separately and reported in one of four bands. Band 1 represents the highest level of performance, while Band 4 represents the lowest.
There is no negative marking in the UCAT. Candidates are assessed on the number of correct answers, and incorrect responses do not result in a deduction of marks.
Which Universities Require the UCAT?
In the UK, the UCAT is used by more than 40 universities for undergraduate medicine and dentistry programmes. One UK university also uses the test for an undergraduate veterinary science programme.
University requirements are not identical. Applicants should check whether the UCAT is required for their chosen course and confirm that they are registering for the correct examination.
UK Universities Requiring the UCAT
- University of Aberdeen
- Anglia Ruskin University
- Aston University
- Bangor University
- University of Birmingham
- University of Greater Manchester
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School
- University of Bristol
- Brunel University of London
- University of Cambridge
- Cardiff University
- University of Lancashire
- University of Chester
- City St George’s, University of London
- University of Dundee
- University of East Anglia
- Edge Hill University
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Exeter
- University of Glasgow
- University of Hertfordshire
- Hull York Medical School
- Imperial College London
- Keele University
- Kent and Medway Medical School
- King’s College London
- Lancaster University
- University of Leeds
- University of Leicester
- University of Lincoln
- University of Liverpool
- University of Manchester
- Newcastle University
- University of Nottingham
- University of Oxford
- Pears Cumbria School of Medicine
- University of Plymouth
- University of Portsmouth
- Queen Mary University of London
- Queen’s University Belfast
- University of Sheffield
- University of Southampton
- University of St Andrews
- St Mary’s University, Twickenham
- University of Sunderland
- University of Surrey
- Swansea University
- University College London
- University of Warwick
- University of Worcester
Partner Universities That Require the UCAT
- American University of the Caribbean
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- University of Kurdistan Hewlêr
- Nanyang Technological University (Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine)
- Thammasat University
- National University of Singapore (Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine)
- University of Nicosia
UCAT 2026 Registration, Test Booking and Access Arrangements
Before booking or sitting a test, ensure:
UCAT Test Centre Photo ID and Fitness to Test
You must bring an accepted government-issued photo ID to the UCAT test centre. Your UCAT photo ID must be original, valid and unexpired. It must include a clear photograph, your signature and the exact name registered in your UCAT account and shown in your appointment confirmation.
UCAT Fitness to Test
By attending the UCAT, you confirm that you are “Fit to Test” and have no circumstances likely to affect your performance. These may include illness, injury, bereavement, a serious crisis or safeguarding concerns.
Step 1: Create Your UCAT Account
All new and returning candidates must create a new UCAT account from 20 May 2026 before registering or booking the test.
After creating your account, you can access the UCAT dashboard to:
- Apply for a UCAT bursary, if eligible.
- Apply for access arrangements, if required.
- Complete UCAT registration.
- Book and manage your test appointment.
If you need access arrangements, apply early and wait for approval before booking. Approved arrangements cannot be added to an existing test booking.
Step 2: Register for the UCAT 2026
To register:
- Sign in to your UCAT account dashboard.
- Select “Start Test Registration.”
- Check your personal details.
- Read and accept the testing policies.
- Tick the acknowledgement and select “Register.”
Once your registration is complete, your dashboard will confirm that you are authorised to sit the UCAT.
Register early so you are ready when test booking opens.
Step 3: Book Your UCAT Test
UCAT 2026 test booking opens on 23 June 2026 at 14:00 BST.
You must complete registration before booking. Candidates may take the UCAT only once per year. Taking the test more than once is treated as candidate misconduct.
To book:
- Sign in to your UCAT account.
- Select “Book Your Test.”
- You will be transferred to the Pearson booking system.
- Under “Schedule an Exam – Pre-approved Exams,” select the UCAT test.
- Choose your preferred test date, time and test centre.
After booking, your appointment details will appear on your candidate dashboard. You will also receive:
- A booking confirmation email with your test appointment details.
- A payment confirmation email as proof of payment.
UCAT 2026 Test Fees
The UCAT test fee must be paid when booking using a major debit or credit card.
UK test centres: £70
Test centres outside the UK: £115
UCAT Bursary recipients (UK candidates who meet the UCAT eligibility and bursary criteria): The test fee is automatically waived at checkout.
UCAT Test Booking Tips
The UCAT 2026 test window runs from 13 July to 24 September 2026.
Book early to secure your preferred date, time and test centre.
September appointments are in high demand and may have limited availability.
Consider booking a test in July or August.
Avoid booking during the final weeks where possible, as rescheduling options may be limited if you miss your appointment.
UCAT Access Arrangements
Eligible candidates with disabilities can apply for access arrangements to take an extended version of the UCAT.
Available arrangements may include extra test time, rest breaks and special test-day accommodations. All access arrangements must be approved by the UCAT Office before you book your test. Some arrangements, such as rest breaks and extra time, are applied automatically during online booking.
If your approved arrangements cannot be booked online, such as a separate test room, your UCAT dashboard will instruct you to contact Pearson Customer Services to complete your booking.
Supporting Evidence for UCAT Access Arrangements
Do not submit an access-arrangements application until you have the required supporting evidence.
The evidence needed depends on your education status and must include your name, relevant qualifications or professional details and the signature of an appropriately qualified specialist assessor or recognised medical practitioner.
The UCAT Office may request additional evidence if the documents provided are not sufficient.
Evidence Requirements for School or College Candidates
If you are studying at a school or college in 2026 and receive access arrangements in examinations, submit a signed letter dated 2026 on official school or college headed paper.
The letter must confirm your disability, the reason for the requested arrangements, the support approved for your public examinations, and the professional or medical basis for these arrangements. This should include details of any extra time, rest breaks or additional support.
Incorrect or incomplete evidence will result in automatic rejection and may delay your test booking by up to two weeks.
UCAT 2026 Test Dates and Key Deadlines
Keep track of the important UCAT 2026 dates and set reminders to avoid missing any deadlines. UCAT deadlines are strictly followed, and exceptions are not available.
| Date | UCAT 2026 Deadline or Event |
| 20 May 2026, 14:00 UK Time | UCAT registration opens. Applications for the UCAT Bursary Scheme and access arrangements also open. |
| 23 June 2026, 14:00 UK Time | UCAT test booking opens. |
| 13 July 2026 | UCAT testing begins. |
| 10 September 2026, 15:00 UK Time | Deadline to apply for UCAT access arrangements. |
| 16 September 2026, 15:00 UK Time | UCAT registration and test booking close. |
| 24 September 2026 | Final day of UCAT testing. |
| 24 September 2026, 15:00 UK Time | Deadline to apply for the UCAT Bursary Scheme. |
| 15 October 2026 | UCAS application deadline for medicine and dentistry courses. |
| Early November 2026 | UCAT results are sent directly to selected UK universities. |
Note: Add these dates to your calendar and set reminders well in advance. Missing a UCAT deadline may affect your ability to complete the application process.
How Do UK Universities Use UCAT Scores?
UK universities use UCAT results in different ways during their admissions and selection processes. Every university provides information about how it uses the UCAT, and the approach may vary by programme and applicant group.
Candidates receive their UCAT result before the UCAS application deadline. This gives applicants an opportunity to consider their score when selecting universities and avoid submitting applications that may not align with a university’s published requirements.
Some universities treat the UCAT score as a significant part of the application assessment. Others place less emphasis on the score or use it only when making decisions between applicants with similar profiles.
Most universities consider the UCAT total score. This is the combined score from the cognitive subtests. However, some institutions also assess individual subtest scores and may set a minimum score requirement for a particular section.
UCAT Cut-Off Scores and Thresholds
Some universities use a UCAT threshold or cut-off score. Candidates may need to achieve the required score before their application is considered further.
Where a university uses a fixed threshold, the score may be published on its website. Other universities set their threshold annually and may provide information about the scores used in previous application cycles.
Applicants should not assume that a score used in a previous year will remain unchanged. It is important to review the latest admissions information before submitting an application.
How Universities Combine UCAT Scores With Academic Results
Some universities consider UCAT performance alongside academic achievement, including qualifications such as GCSEs.
The weighting given to the UCAT can vary considerably. At some institutions, the test score may make a significant contribution to the selection decision. At others, it may represent a smaller part of the overall assessment.
Universities may also use different approaches for different courses and applicant groups. Reviewing each university’s admissions policy is essential because the same UCAT score may be evaluated differently by different institutions.
How to Prepare for the UCAT: A Step-by-Step UCAT Preparation Guide
Effective UCAT preparation starts with using reliable resources and becoming familiar with the computer-based test format. The official UCAT preparation materials are free and designed to help candidates understand the test structure, question types and on-screen tools.
A structured preparation plan can help you build familiarity with all four UCAT subtests and practise answering questions under timed conditions. The following steps explain how to prepare for the UCAT using the official resources.
Step 1: Create a UCAT Preparation Plan
Start by planning your UCAT preparation before beginning practice. Set aside enough time to work through the official preparation materials and become familiar with each subtest.
A clear preparation plan can help you organise your practice and ensure that you cover all areas of the test. It can also help you progress from understanding the test format to completing questions and practising under timed conditions.
Step 2: Complete the UCAT Tour Tutorial
The UCAT Tour Tutorial introduces the functions used during the computer-based test. It explains how to:
Answer questions.
- Use the on-screen calculator.
- Move between different screens.
- Use the flag and review functions.
Understanding these tools before test day can help you use the test interface more efficiently and avoid spending valuable time learning how the system works during the examination.
Step 3: Use the UCAT Question Tutorials
The UCAT Question Tutorials provide guidance on approaching the different question types across all four subtests. These tutorials include:
Strategies for answering different types of UCAT questions.
Practical tips for approaching the test.
Worked examples that demonstrate the guidance.
The examples are designed to explain selected strategies and approaches. However, they do not cover every aspect of the UCAT, so candidates should also use the official question banks and practice tests.
Step 4: Practise With the UCAT Question Banks
The official UCAT Question Banks help candidates become familiar with the types of questions they may encounter in the test.
Use these resources to practise questions from each subtest and improve your understanding of the test format. Regular question practice can help you recognise the different question styles before sitting the live examination.
Step 5: Complete the Official UCAT Practice Tests
The UCAT provides four official practice tests. These should be completed closer to your test date to assess your preparation under timed conditions.
The practice tests are representative of the live UCAT. They can help you review your performance and become more familiar with completing the test within the available time.
Key UCAT Preparation Tips
Use the official UCAT preparation resources throughout your study period. Begin by understanding the computer-based test interface, then work through the question tutorials and question banks before attempting the timed practice tests.
Completing the four practice tests closer to your examination date can help you review your performance under conditions that reflect the live test. Following this structured approach can help you become familiar with the UCAT format, question types and test tools before test day.
UCAT Test Day: What to Expect
Arrival and Check-In
Arrive at the test centre 15 minutes before your appointment.
Check your appointment details through your UCAT Account.
Staff will verify your photo ID, take your photograph and ask you to accept the UCAT Test Rules.
During check-in, you must read the UCAT Test Rules carefully and sign to confirm that you understand and agree to follow them.
You will be shown where to store your personal belongings.
A routine security check may include a visual inspection and handheld scanner screening.
During the UCAT Test
After check-in, you will be taken to the testing room and assigned a desk.
Exam conditions begin once the invigilator starts your test.
You will be monitored throughout the examination, and CCTV may be recorded.
Other candidates may be testing in the same room.
You may bring non-electronic ear defenders or earplugs, or request earplugs at the test centre.
Taking a Break
Raise your hand if you need to leave the room, such as to use the toilet.
Unless you have approved rest breaks, the test timer will continue while you are away.
Taking breaks between subtests may help reduce lost test time.
Reporting a Problem
Report any issue to the test-centre staff immediately.
Follow the UCAT test rules and test-incident procedures for further guidance.
After the UCAT Test
Raise your hand when you have completed the test.
The invigilator will provide your UCAT score report.
Your results will also be available in your UCAT Account approximately 24 hours after testing.
UCAT Results and University Applications
Your UCAT result is usually available on the day you take the test. If you complete the test online, your result may be issued shortly afterwards.
Preliminary candidate scores are published in mid-September, followed by final scores after the testing period ends. You can also review previous years’ average scores on the UCAT Test Statistics page to understand how your performance compares with other candidates.
Before submitting your application, check each university’s website to understand how it uses UCAT results during the selection process. This can help you make informed choices about where to apply.
The UCAS deadline for medicine and dentistry applications is 15 October 2026. However, deadlines may differ for other courses and UCAT partner universities.
The UCAT will send your test result directly to your selected UK universities in early November.
UCAT ANZ: Important Information for Australia and New Zealand Applicants
What Is UCAT ANZ?
UCAT ANZ is the version of the University Clinical Aptitude Test used by a consortium of universities in Australia and New Zealand. It is used for admission to undergraduate medicine, dentistry and clinical science programmes. In Australia, the UCAT is used by 12 universities for undergraduate medicine and dentistry courses.
The UCAT ANZ is identical to the UCAT in its content. It has the same format, duration and level of difficulty.
However, candidates must select the correct test according to the universities they intend to apply to. Australian and New Zealand universities accept UCAT ANZ results and do not accept UCAT results from the UK testing route.
Applicants should check the entry requirements of each university before registering because requirements may differ between institutions and alternative entry requirements may apply to some candidates.
UCAT vs UCAT ANZ: What Is the Difference?
The UCAT and UCAT ANZ have identical content, format, duration and difficulty. The main difference is how the results are used by universities in different countries.
UCAT ANZ results can be used for applications to Australian and New Zealand consortium universities. They may also be provided to selected UK universities when candidates complete the required online process.
In contrast, UCAT results from the UK testing route are not accepted by universities in Australia and New Zealand. Therefore, UK residents who plan to apply to Australian or New Zealand consortium universities must take the UCAT ANZ.
Australian and New Zealand admissions deadlines are generally earlier than UK university deadlines. This is another reason why applicants targeting universities in those countries should register for the UCAT ANZ rather than the UK UCAT.
Can You Sit Both the UCAT and UCAT ANZ?
Candidates are not permitted to take both the UCAT and UCAT ANZ in the same year under any circumstances.
Taking both tests is considered candidate misconduct, and all results may be withdrawn. Applicants should therefore confirm which examination is required before making a booking.
Candidates can take only one of the two tests during the relevant testing year. If both tests are taken, only the first result may be considered valid.
How Are UCAT ANZ Results Sent to UK Universities?
Candidates who take the UCAT ANZ and intend to apply to UK universities must complete an online form. This allows the UCAT Office to deliver the UCAT ANZ result to the candidate’s selected UK universities.
Applicants should complete the required process carefully and confirm the specific admissions requirements of every university on their application list.
Can You Get Into Medicine Without the UCAT?
A high UCAT score may strengthen an application to medical school, but there are alternative pathways for medicine applicants with a lower score or those who do not meet the UCAT requirements of their preferred universities.
Not every medical school requires an admissions test. The University of Central Lancashire and the University of Buckingham do not require an admissions test for their medical programmes.
Applicants may also consider taking a gap year and sitting the UCAT again during the following test cycle. As candidates can take the UCAT only once in each test cycle, a future attempt would require applying in a later admissions year.
Another option is to complete an undergraduate degree in a medicine-related subject and later apply for medicine through the graduate-entry route.
UCAT 2026: Key Takeaways
The UCAT is one of the important admissions tests in the UK for applicants seeking entry to relevant medicine and dentistry programmes at UCAT Consortium Universities. It is a computer-based test delivered through Pearson test centres in the UK and internationally.
For applicants targeting entry in 2027 or deferred entry in 2028, the UCAT 2026 testing period runs from 13 July to 24 September. Candidates can take the test only once during the test cycle.
The UCAT is used differently by each university. Some institutions apply score thresholds, while others combine UCAT performance with academic qualifications or use individual subtest scores and SJT performance during selection.
Before booking the test, applicants should confirm the entry requirements for every university and course they plan to apply to. Understanding how each institution uses the UCAT can help candidates make more informed UCAS choices and develop a focused application strategy.
Ready to Begin Your Medicine or Dentistry Journey?
Planning to study medicine or dentistry and preparing for the UCAT? Book a Free Consultation with ScholarshipKart today. Our expert counsellors can help you explore suitable universities, understand admission requirements and make informed study choices. Get expert guidance and take the next step towards your healthcare career with confidence.
UCAT 2026 FAQs
1. What Is the UCAT and Why Is It Required?
The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is a computer-based admissions test used by UK and partner universities for medicine and dentistry applications. UK Universities use the UCAT alongside other selection criteria, such as academic qualifications and interviews.
2. Is the UCAT Compulsory for Medicine and Dentistry?
The UCAT is required for applicants applying to relevant medicine and dentistry programmes at UCAT Consortium Universities. However, applicants should check the entry requirements for each university and course before applying.
3. When Is the UCAT 2026 Test Date?
The UCAT 2026 testing period runs from 13 July to 24 September 2026. UCAT registration opens on 20 May 2026, and test booking opens on 23 June 2026.
4. How Many Times Can You Take the UCAT?
Candidates can take the UCAT only once during a test cycle. Taking the test more than once in the same year is considered candidate misconduct.
5. How Long Is the UCAT Test?
The standard UCAT takes just under two hours. It includes four separately timed subtests and timed instruction sections.
6. Is There Negative Marking in the UCAT?
No. The UCAT does not use negative marking. Incorrect answers do not reduce your score, and marks are awarded based on the number of correct answers.
7. When Do UCAT Results Come Out?
UCAT results are generally issued on the day of the test. Candidates who take the test online may receive their results shortly after completing the examination.
8. How Do Universities Use UCAT Scores?
Universities use UCAT scores differently during the selection process. Some use minimum score thresholds, while others assess UCAT performance alongside academic qualifications. Certain universities may also consider individual subtest scores and Situational Judgement Test performance.