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Do you want admission to a medical or dental school in the UK? Then, you will have to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT). This is a mandatory exam required for all students who are seeking admission to UK partner and consortium Universities. For example, institutions such as Anglia Ruskin University, the University of Oxford, King’s College London, Imperial College London, the University of Cambridge, and others. This is a computer-based examination that tests your verbal reasoning, decision-making, Quantitative Reasoning, and situational and judgmental skills.
In this blog, we have covered everything you need to know about the UK clinical aptitude test. You will learn about the difference between it and UCAT ANZ, the exam format, exam registration dates, results, scoring, and universities accepting the score, and tips for preparing for the examination.
This Blog Includes:
- University Clinical Aptitude Test: An Overview
- Difference Between UCAT and UCAT ANZ
- UCAT Format 2025
- What is a Good UCAT Score?
- UCAT Fees in India
- In Which Month Does the UCAT Registration Open in the UK?
- Which of the Universities Will Accept the UCAT Exam Scores?
- How Soon Do You Get Your UCAT Results?
- UCAT Exam Centres in India
- How Difficult is the UCAT?
- How to Prepare for the UCAT Exam?
- FAQs
University Clinical Aptitude Test: An Overview
The University Clinical Aptitude Test is a computer-based admissions test for students enrolling in medical or dental programmes. The test was started in 2006 for greater fairness in the admission process. Today, if you want to enrol in a UK partner and consortium of Universities, you have to sit for this exam. Every year, about 37,000 candidates take the test.
You have to sit for the exam in 2025 (between 7 July and 26 September) if you want admission in 2026 (or deferred entry in 2027) to a relevant course. You must check the entry requirements for each course with the relevant university before you book this test. The examination can be taken at a Pearson VUE test centre across the UK or in 130+ countries worldwide. You are only allowed to sit for this exam once a year.
Difference Between UCAT and UCAT ANZ
The University Clinical Aptitude Test is of two types. These test types are explained in more detail below:
- UCAT: The exam is held for admission to UK universities.
- UCAT ANZ: It is for admission to universities in Australia and New Zealand. You can choose to give the UCAT ANZ and apply for selected UK universities simultaneously.
They are similar papers. They have the same content and format. Keep in mind that the Australian and UK deadlines are earlier than the UK.. Therefore, the difference mainly lies in which country you want to study in. You can only give the test once.
In this blog, we have covered what you need to know about the UK clinical aptitude test.
| Did you know? UCAT and UK UCAT mean the same! The United Kingdom University Clinical Aptitude Test (UK UCAT) was the old name of UCAT. |
UCAT Format 2025
The University Clinical Aptitude Test format is provided below. The exam consists of 5 sections. That is, verbal reasoning (evaluating your written material), decision making (assessing how you can decide in complex situations), quantitative reasoning (numerical ability is tested), and the Situational Judgement Test (assesses your reasoning skills in real-life medical situations).
The examination consists of a total of 184 MCQ questions across these sections. The exam takes about 2 hours. This includes the one-minute allocation for reading the instructions.
| S.No | Section | Time Allocation | Number of Questions |
| 1 | Verbal Reasoning | 22 minutes (+1 minute for instructions) | 44 questions on 11 passages |
| 2 | Decision Making | 37 minutes (+1 minute for instructions) | 35 questions |
| 3 | Quantitative Reasoning | 26 minutes (+1 minute for instructions) | 36 questions |
| 4 | Abstract Reasoning | 13 minutes (+1 minute for instructions) | 50 questions |
| 5 | Situational Judgement | 26 minutes (+1 minute for instructions) | 69 questions |
| Did you know? Those who have an affiliation with a UCAT coaching business. For example, a content developer or tutor or a person with a financial interest in is ineligible to sit for this exam. |
What is a Good UCAT Score?
The UK universities set their score. Therefore, a good score is relative. It depends on the university you are applying to. Your raw scores are converted to scaled scores (300-900). In general, a score above 2780 (above the 80th percentile) is considered competitive. An outstanding score is a score above 2920.
| S/N | Score Range | Description | Percentile Rank |
| 1 | 2520 – 2589 | Average Score | Around 50th percentile |
| 2 | Above 2780 | Good Score | Around 80th percentile |
| 3 | 2920 or higher | Very Good Score | Around 90th percentile |
Also Read: What is the Physics Aptitude Test for Oxford?
UCAT Fees in India
The exam fees vary depending on the location of your test centre. Those giving the test from the UK have to pay lower fees compared to international applicants. The exam fees are payable online via major debit or credit cards.
| S.No. | Test Location | Fee (EUR) |
| 1 | Outside the UK (including India) | EUR 115 |
| 2 | Within the UK | EUR 70 |
In Which Month Does the UCAT Registration Open in the UK?
The University Clinical Aptitude Test registration had started on 13th May 2025 (09:30 BST). The test booking is currently open. The test booking opened on 17 June (06:00 BST). It will close on 19 September (noon BST). You should book the test as soon as possible.
To start your registration process, create a UCAT account (you do not have to provide a UCAS ID). Thereafter, set up a Pearson VUE account and add a test card. When the test booking opens, you can book your test date and centre, and pay the application fees. Thus, your test registration will be complete.
Which of the Universities Will Accept the UCAT Exam Scores?
As mentioned earlier, the University Clinical Aptitude Test is a part of the admission process for a consortium of UK universities and partner universities. Therefore, all these universities will accept your test scores. That’s a total of 41 universities and 6 partner universities!
UK Consortium of Universities Accepting UCAT
About 41 universities in the UK recognise your test scores. The following are some of the UK universities accepting the exam scores. The Universities and their course code are provided below. The course code is used to identify the subject.
| S/N | University | Course Codes |
| 1 | University of Oxford | A100, A101 |
| 2 | University of Cambridge | A100, A101 |
| 3 | Imperial College London | A100 |
| 4 | King’s College London | A100, A101, A102, A103, A202, A205, A206 |
| 5 | University of Edinburgh | A100 |
| 6 | University of Glasgow | A100, A200 |
| 7 | University of Bristol | A100, A108, A206, A208 |
| 8 | University of Manchester | A101, A104, A106, A204, A206, A300, A301 |
| 9 | University of Birmingham | A100, A200 |
| 10 | University of Leeds | A100, A101, A200 |
| 11 | University of Sheffield | A100, A101, A200 |
| 12 | Queen Mary University of London | A100, A101, A110, A200 |
| 13 | University of Nottingham | A100, A108 |
| 14 | University of Southampton | A100, A101, A102 |
| 15 | Newcastle University | A100, A101, A206 |
| 16 | University of Leicester | A100, A199 |
| 17 | Hull York Medical School | A100, A108 |
| 18 | St George’s, University of London | A100, BB96 |
| 19 | University of Exeter | A100* |
| 20 | University of Dundee | A100, A200 |
Partner Universities Accepting UCAT Scores
The following are the partner universities (or the universities that have collaborated with the UK universities) that accept the exam scores. There are only six partner universities. The university name and the subject for which they require are provided below:
| S/N | University | Course Title |
| 1 | American University of the Caribbean | Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program |
| 2 | National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) | Medical Degree English Program |
| 3 | University of Kurdistan Hewlêr | Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) |
| 4 | Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (NTU, Singapore) | Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) |
| 5 | Thammasat University (Thailand) | Doctor of Medicine (International & English Programs), Doctor of Dental Surgery |
| 6 | Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS, Singapore) | Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) |
How Soon Do You Get Your UCAT Results?
Do you know that you will get a copy of your score before you even leave the Pearson VUE test centre? If that is not fast, we don’t know what is. However, it will take 24 hours to upload your test scores to your account. After 24 hours of taking the test, you can view your test results through your account. Internet Explorer is not recommended for checking the results. You will have to use browsers like Safari, Chrome or Edge. The results are provided in early November.
Also Read: What is the Mathematics Admissions Test for Oxford?
UCAT Exam Centres in India
The examination is taken at a Pearson VUE authorised test centre. The Pearson VUE test centres are located worldwide, including in India. There are about 20 test centres in India where you can take the test. We have provided a list of some of the test centres below:
| S.No. | Test Centre Name | State | City | Address |
| 1 | Pearson Professional Centres-Hyderabad | Telangana | Hyderabad | Vamsiram Jyothi Valencia, Road no 2, 4th Floor, Banjara Hills |
| 2 | Pearson Professional Centres-Pune MAH | Maharashtra | Pune | 517, Fifth Floor, Tower 2, World Trade Centre, Kharadi |
| 3 | Pearson Professional Centres-Mumbai | Maharashtra | Mumbai | Building No.9, 1st Floor, Solitaire Corporate Park,167 Andheri, J B Nagar |
| 4 | Pearson Professional Centres-Chennai | Tamil Nadu | Chennai | 6th Floor, Calavalas Centenary Centre, Plot-9, Club House Road |
| 5 | Pearson Professional Centres-Bangalore | Karnataka | Bangalore | Pride Hulkul, 004B, Ground Floor, No. 116 Lalbagh Road |
| 6 | Pearson Professional Centres-Gurugram HAR | Haryana | Gurugram | Second Floor, Unit No. 214, Times Tower, M G Road |
| 7 | Pearson Professional Centres-New Delhi | Delhi (NCT) | New Delhi | 302/305, Ashoka Estate, 24, Barakhamba Road, Fire Brigade Lane |
How Difficult is the UCAT?
The UK clinical aptitude test is considered a difficult examination. This is mainly because of the type of cognitive skills that are accessed and the time constraints. Several test-takers find it difficult to complete the paper in the time allotted. This is because you have to answer a large number of questions across various sections in a short period.
Moreover, the questions asked might be unfamiliar to students. Since skills like problem solving, critical thinking, verbal reasoning, etc, are tested, you have to think differently to solve problems. An intense mental effort is required to process information quickly and accurately. However, there are individual differences that have to be considered. Some students can find certain sections more difficult, while others can find them easy.
How to Prepare for the UCAT Exam?
The UK University Clinical Aptitude Test is considered a challenging exam. However, it is not impossible to clear. Many students clear this paper with the right strategy. After all, how else have they got admission to medical and dental school? Here are some tips that can help you prepare for the UK clinical aptitude test.
- Use the official resources for preparing for the University Clinical Aptitude Test. The official website provides you with the main resources you need. For example, practice tests and previous year papers.
- Have a structured preparation plan and practice times questions every day
- Focus on one section at a time, prepare it well, and after that, move on to the other section
- Understand your weaknesses and strengths, and work on the questions you find the most difficult.
- Get a mentor to provide you with constructive feedback
To learn the latest updates about the UK clinical aptitude test, watch this video:
FAQs
The examination is open to anyone who wants admission to a medical school or dental school in the UK. However, clearing the exam is not enough; you have to meet the individual university’s admission eligibility criteria. Therefore, go to the university’s eligibility requirements for the selected course and ensure that you meet the same.
The UK clinical aptitude test is an exam that tests your skills, not just your knowledge. NEET just focuses on the test subject knowledge. Therefore, if you excel in aptitude and reasoning, you can take the UK clinical aptitude test and the NEET if you have a thorough understanding of the syllabus. The difficulty level depends on your strength.
No. This is considered a challenging paper for all students, including students from India. The paper goes beyond rote memorisation. It is an aptitude-based test. Hence, you may find it difficult.
The syllabus covers five important sections. They are: verbal Reasoning, decision making, abstract reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and situational Judgement. However, it will be an MCQ paper.
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