UCAT: University Clinical Aptitude Test

What it is and who sets it

The UCAT is a computer-based admissions test used by UK universities to help select applicants for medicine, dentistry and some related courses. It has four separately timed multiple-choice subtests and takes just under two hours. For 2027 entry it was sat in summer 2026, and results go directly from the UCAT Office to universities.

Set by: UCAT Consortium of UK universities (established 2006); sat at Pearson VUE test centres

Which universities and courses use it

• About 50 UK universities

  • Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and UCL (Medicine)
  • King’s College London, Bristol, Birmingham and Leeds (Medicine and Dentistry)
  • Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews (Medicine)
  • The full list is on the official UCAT universities page (see Sources)

Always confirm on the course page of each university you apply to.

Format, timing and scoring

• Computer-based, four separately timed multiple-choice subtests, sat at Pearson VUE test centres
• Verbal Reasoning: 44 questions, 22 minutes (plus 1 min 30 s instruction time)
• Decision Making: 35 questions, 37 minutes (plus 1 min 30 s instruction time)
• Quantitative Reasoning: 36 questions, 26 minutes (plus 2 min instruction time)
• Situational Judgement: 69 questions, 26 minutes (plus 1 min 30 s instruction time)
• Standard test is 'just under 2 hours' (listed timings add up to 117.5 minutes)
• Eligible candidates can apply for Access Arrangements to sit an extended version of the test

Scoring: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning are each scaled 300-900, giving a total of 900-2700. Situational Judgement is reported separately in Bands 1-4, with Band 1 the highest. UCAT 2026 results are valid only for the 2027 UCAS cycle (2027 entry or 2028 deferred entry).

Practising for the UCAT

• Pace varies sharply by subtest: about 30 seconds per question in Verbal Reasoning, 63 in Decision Making, 43 in Quantitative Reasoning and 23 in Situational Judgement.
• Each subtest is timed separately, so practise sections on their own before full mocks.
• Speed comes from many timed attempts, so start practice weeks, not days, before the test.

Start with the official format and practice material: the test owner's page (opens in a new tab). Then work through timed sections, full mock papers, and a review of every mistake.

Booking, test centres and changes

Where you sit it: Pearson VUE test centres, on computer. Online testing (OnVUE) is offered only in limited circumstances, such as when travel to a centre is not possible.

Register and book your date as early as you can.

• UCAT 2026, for 2027 entry, has finished. Dates for UCAT 2027, for 2028 entry, are not yet published; the pattern below is this year's.
• Create your UCAT account when registration opens: 20 May 2026 for this cycle.
• Book as soon as booking opens (23 June 2026). The registration and booking deadline was 16 September 2026, and the last test day 24 September 2026.
• Book early: appointments in the final week of testing are extremely limited.
• Find your nearest test centre with the official locator, then contact the centre to check it is open and has appointments during your test window.
• Some schools and colleges are registered Pearson VUE test centres, but most are not. Ask your school as early as possible.

Find a UCAT test centre (Pearson VUE) (opens in a new tab)

Changing your date: You can reschedule free of charge up to 24 hours before your appointment, subject to availability.