What is the clinical aptitude test?

UCAT ANZ is a standardised, computer-based exam assessing reasoning skills and professional judgement for medicine, dentistry, and related courses in AU/NZ. It complements (doesn’t replace) academics and interviews.

How hard is the UCAT exam?

It’s fast and unforgiving on time, but learnable. Candidates who drill timing, review mistakes systematically, and master the on-screen tools tend to improve the most. Start with the official tutorial, question banks and timed practice tests.

Are UMAT and UCAT the same?

No. UMAT ended in 2018. UCAT ANZ replaced it from 2019 with a new format and delivery model through Pearson VUE.

What’s the difference between UCAT and UCAT ANZ?

UCAT is the overall test family. UCAT ANZ is the Australian/NZ version and currently uses three cognitive subtests (VR/DM/QR) for the total, plus SJT as a separate scaled score. The UK version keeps four cognitive subtests (includes Abstract Reasoning) and reports SJT in Bands 1–4. Don’t confuse UK-specific advice with ANZ rules.

What happens if you fail the UCAT?

UCAT doesn’t have pass/fail. Each university sets its own thresholds or uses UCAT as part of ranking. You can apply to courses that weight ATAR more, choose programs that don’t use UCAT, or re-sit next year.

How many attempts at UCAT?

Once per year only. Multiple tests in a single cycle are treated as misconduct. You may re-sit in future years if still eligible.

Has anyone got 3600 in UCAT?

“3600” is a UK total (4 subtests × 900). In UCAT ANZ, the total is 900–2700 (3 cognitive subtests). So 3600 doesn’t apply to the current ANZ format.

How much does UCAT cost?

Recent UCAT ANZ cycles list a standard fee for AU/NZ centres, a concession fee for eligible Australian candidates, and an overseas centre fee, with surcharges for late booking. Check the year’s official fee table before booking.

Is it better to do UCAT or GAMSAT?

Choose based on your target programs. Undergraduate/direct-entry courses generally use UCAT ANZ; graduate-entry MD programs use GAMSAT. Some pathways are exceptions—always read the program’s page.

Which universities don’t use UCAT?

A few routes select without UCAT. James Cook University confirms it does not use UCAT or GAMSAT. Bond University runs its own process that includes psychometric testing and interviews. Check each program’s admissions page for the latest rules. (James Cook University)

Is the UMAT still used?

No—UMAT was retired. UCAT ANZ is the current test.

How many times can you retake the UCAT?

As many years as you remain eligible, but once per test cycle only. Scores are valid for that year’s admissions round.

Can I do medicine with a low UCAT score?

Often, yes—through smart preferences. Options include programs that place heavier weight on ATAR/GPA, non-UCAT selection (e.g., JCU, Bond), or applying for a feeder degree and re-sitting UCAT the next year. We can help map realistic combinations based on your profile. (James Cook University)

University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)

The University Clinical Aptitude Test or the UCAT is a medical and dental admission examination for aspiring candidates from Australia and New Zealand. It focuses on verbal and non-verbal communication; decision-making and judgement; numeracy and computation; and evaluates the ability to multi-task. It is done on a computer and takes 2 hours to complete. There are UCAT centers throughout the regions and it is done annually from the end of June to the end of August since registrations are done using the Pearson VUE.

On this guide you’ll find explanations of the test, sections, scoring, fees, key dates, prep plans, and which universities use it—plus how PickMyUni can help you plan your shortlist and lift your UCAT game.

What is the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)?

Most universities in Australia and New Zealand require that prospective Physicians, Dentists, and Clinical Scientists undertake the USCAT ANZ in addition to ATAR scores, GPAs, and oral examinations, which are equally weighted in the admission process.

Why it exists: No program has enough seats for every qualified applicant. UCAT does not assess school science curriculum but evaluates reasoning, decision making, numbers under time constraints, and judgement for a professional context.
Who runs it: UCAT ANZ Consortium with Pearson VUE offers the test in person in Australia, New Zealand and a few other countries.
UMAT vs UCAT: UMAT was officially replaced by UCAT ANZ in 2019. The test is taken in July/August the year before starting university.
UCAT vs GAMSAT: Like the GAMSAT for postgrad study which ACER administers, UCAT is for provisional pathways and direct entry medicine and dentistry undergraduate programs. They are both, unlike the GAMSAT and UCAT, interchangeable along with programs that allow interswapping.

UCAT ANZ member universities: The member universities of UCAT ANZ are Adelaide, Curtin, Monash, UNSW, UQ (provisional), UWA (specific underlying pathways), Western Sydney, Charles Sturt, Newcastle, UNE, Tasmania, and in New Zealand, Auckland and Otago. As always, check the entry requirements, as they vary by course.

UCAT Structure and Sections

Current UCAT ANZ format:

Subtest	Questions	Time	Score	Notes
Verbal Reasoning	44	22 min	300–900	Read the stem first; scan for claims.
Decision Making	35	37 min	300–900	Logic/arguments/diagrams; partial credit on multi-statement items.
Quantitative Reasoning	36	26 min	300–900	Calculator speed matters; unit discipline.
Situational Judgement	69	26 min	300–900	Professionalism, safety, honesty; pick appropriate actions.

Official timings/marking from UCAT ANZ.

Total test time is just under two hours (each subtest has its own timer).

What each section measures

VR: Evaluate written passages quickly and judge claims (True/False/Can’t tell + multiple-choice).
DM: Logic, argument evaluation, statistics, probability, Venn diagrams and multi-statement puzzles.
QR: Data tables, charts, ratios, rates; mental maths under strict time.
SJT: Judgement in clinical/education scenarios—appropriateness/importance of actions and most/least appropriate responses.

Tools you’ll use in the test

On-screen calculator, flag/review, keyboard shortcuts (e.g., Alt+F to flag, letter keys to select options), laminated noteboard and pen. Practise these before test day—they save seconds per question.

UCAT Registration and Key Dates

How to register for UCAT Exam

Create/log in to your Pearson VUE UCAT ANZ account.
Book a test slot at your chosen centre.
You’ll get two emails: booking confirmation and payment receipt.

Typical timeline (example cycle):

Bookings open: early March
Bookings close: mid-May
Late booking windows: late May to early June (higher fee)
Testing window: early July to early August
Exact dates are published each year—always follow the official cycle for your year.

Fees (example recent schedule):

Standard test (AU/NZ): AUD $325
Concession (eligible Australian candidates): AUD $240
Overseas test centre: AUD $395
Late fee(s): published each year (final-late carries a larger surcharge)
Refund/reschedule: policies apply with set cut-offs and small admin fees
Check the official fee page for the live cycle before you pay.

UCAT Scoring Explained

Scales and totals

Each cognitive subtest (VR, DM, QR) is scaled 300–900.
The Total Cognitive Score is VR+DM+QR (range 900–2700).
SJT is reported separately on a 300–900 scale (not Bands in ANZ).

UCAT Marking quirks

No negative marking.
DM multi-statement items award full or partial credit.
SJT can also award partial credit for near-best responses.

Percentiles and “What’s a good score?”

Percentiles are published after the test window. The official Percentile Look-Up lets you enter your total and see how you compare that year. For 2025 (≈16,950 candidates), the mean totals and subtest means are shown in the UCAT ANZ summary stats.

2025 preliminary/summary figures (ANZ): Mean VR 620, DM 642, QR 679, Total 1,941; SJT mean 586. Use percentiles rather than raw means to judge competitiveness, since cut-offs vary by university.

UCAT Preparation Guide

At PickMyUni, we see three things move the needle: timed practice, section-specific drills, and early familiarity with test tools. Build these into your week, then stretch to full mocks in the last month.

A simple 6–8 week plan

Weeks 1–2:

Do the Tour Tutorial; learn calculator shortcuts; practise flag/review.
Drill 15–25 mins per day in VR and QR to build speed; 2× 30-min DM sessions a week.

Weeks 3–4:

Add SJT scenarios 3–4 times a week; summarise why each best/least option wins.
Start mini-mocks (one subtest at a time) under time.

Weeks 5–6:

Two full practice tests per week; review every error pattern (e.g., VR inference slips, DM “partially correct” traps, QR unit conversions).

Weeks 7–8 (if available):

Full mocks only. Re-read Question Tutorials for weak subtests. Focus on sleep and routine in the final 5–7 days.

UCAT Exam Section tips

VR: Read the question stem first, then scan the passage for the claim; avoid importing extra knowledge. Use “Can’t Tell” when information is missing.
DM: Sketch Venns, label probabilities, and use the calculator for ratio trees; for multi-statements, eliminate contradictions first to bank partial credit if needed.
QR: Standardise units; round smartly; if a set looks grindy, flag + move and come back. Practise Alt+C to pop up the calculator.
SJT: Think “patient safety, honesty, escalation when needed.” Rate appropriateness/importance rather than what you’d personally do.

Popular prep platforms for UCAT Exam

Official UCAT ANZ: free Question Banks, Practice Tests, Question Tutorials, Tour Tutorial—start here.
Medify UCAT: large item bank, timed drills, and analytics. (Use their ANZ resources.)
MedEntry UCAT: question bank, app, and workshops; long-running provider in AU/NZ.

UCAT Practice and Study Resources

Official Official UCAT ANZ Practice Material

Practice Tests A–D (timed, UCATSEN, and untimed versions) — identical interface to the real exam, with answer rationales on review. Use these in the final 2–3 weeks.
Subtest Question Banks (VR, DM, QR, SJT) — large, free banks you can drill daily.
Tour Tutorial — walk-through of the test screen: how to answer, call the calculator, flag/review, move between items. Run this before your first practice.
Test Tools — exact keyboard shortcuts (Alt+N/P/C/F/V), on-screen calculator behaviour, noteboard/pen, timer rules. This page saves minutes on test day.

UCAT Test-day must-reads (and downloads)

Booking instructions (PDF) — step-by-step Pearson VUE booking guide, including common eligibility prompts. ucat.edu.au
ID Policy — exactly which ID is accepted at check-in. Print or save to phone. ucat.edu.au
Examination Rules — what’s allowed, what isn’t, and conduct expectations in the room. ucat.edu.au

Third-party practice Materials:

Medify UCAT (ANZ stream) — large question bank, full mocks, analytics. Good for high-volume timed drilling.
MedEntry UCAT (AU/NZ) — bank + app + workshops; long-running provider in Australia/NZ.

UCAT Statistics and Trends

How many sit UCAT ANZ? Around 16,950 candidates were reported for the 2025 cycle.
Performance : mean Total 1,941, with subtest means of VR 620, DM 642, QR 679; SJT mean 586. Expect distributions to shift year-to-year, so rely on that cycle’s percentile look-up to interpret your mark.
Percentiles & timing of release: preliminary stats usually appear late August, then summary statistics + percentiles land in September. Universities may compute their own applicant-pool percentiles.

UCAT vs GAMSAT – Which Test Should You Take?

	UCAT ANZ	GAMSAT
Purpose & audience	Primarily for direct-entry undergraduate medicine, dentistry, and some provisional pathways into MD programs. Sat mid-year (July–August).	Graduate-entry admissions test run by ACER; now split across two test windows (Written Communication online, then two reasoning sections in-centre). Held twice per year.
Structure & scoring	VR, DM, QR, SJT; Total (VR+DM+QR) on 900–2700, SJT separately 300–900. Duration ~2 hours.	Section 2 (essays) via remote proctoring; Section 1 (Humanities) and Section 3 (Biological/Physical Sciences) at test centres ≈ 4h10m test time in-centre; you receive section scores and an overall scaled score.
Which universities use which?	Many undergraduate programs in AU/NZ require UCAT ANZ (see the UCAT Consortium list).	Most graduate-entry MD programs use GAMSAT, typically via the GEMSAS system (plus USyd & Flinders outside GEMSAS). Always confirm on each school’s page.
Bottom line	If you’re finishing Year 12 or in an undergrad route aiming for direct entry or a provisional pathway, UCAT is your lane.	If you’re applying to a graduate-entry MD, plan for GAMSAT.

How PickMyUni Can Help You Succeed

One-to-one UCAT prep planning: We’ll map your weekly schedule, choose the right mix of official practice + commercial banks, and set up mock-review templates that force proper post-test analysis.
University/course shortlist: We’ll match your ATAR/GPA and your practice test range to entry schemes that fit (e.g., provisional pathways that weight academics higher or courses that publish clear UCAT thresholds). We keep a live tracker of published requirements and cut-offs so you don’t waste preferences.
Score review & re-test strategy: We’ll interpret your official percentile using the year’s UCAT ANZ data, highlight realistic application options, and set a re-sit plan if needed.
Transfer support: If you decide your current course isn’t the right fit, our team can advise on transfer pathways that keep you competitive for medicine or dentistry later.

After You Test

Score Report: Available in your Pearson VUE account typically within 24 hours.
Official percentiles: Released later in the cycle (prelim late August, final in September). Use the Percentile Look-Up once published.
Universities receive results automatically; don’t send them manually unless a program instructs you otherwise. (Always read each course’s directions.)

Final word from PickMyUni

Your UCAT plan doesn’t need to be fancy—just honest and consistent. If you want a second set of eyes, our team can build a realistic week-by-week schedule, check your mock reviews, and help you prioritise universities where your numbers compete. Then you can focus on two things that matter most: speed and decision quality.

Ready to prepare for UCAT—or switch to a better-fit university?
👉 Contact PickMyUni today for free expert guidance.

University Clinical Aptitude Test