UCAT Practice Test
Updated for October 2026Latest Updates (September 2026): what changed for the UCAT
- The UCAT now has four separately timed subtests: Verbal Reasoning (44 questions, 22 minutes), Decision Making (35 questions, 37 minutes), Quantitative Reasoning (36 questions, 26 minutes) and Situational Judgement (69 questions, 26 minutes) — 184 questions in total. Abstract Reasoning is no longer part of the test (removed from 2025). (source)
- Scoring: each of the three cognitive subtests is scaled 300–900, giving a total score of 900–2700; Situational Judgement is reported as Band 1–4. There is no negative marking. (source)
- UCAT 2026 registration and bursary applications opened 20 May 2026 (14:00 UK time); test booking opened 23 June 2026 (14:00 UK time). (source)
- The 2026 testing window runs 13 July – 24 September 2026. The booking deadline (and registration close) is 16 September 2026 at 15:00 UK time; the last test day is 24 September 2026. (source)
- Access Arrangement applications closed 10 September 2026; the Bursary Scheme application deadline is 24 September 2026 (15:00 UK time). The UCAS deadline is 15 October 2026 and results are delivered to universities in early November. (source)
- 2026 test fee: £70 for tests taken in the UK and £115 for tests taken outside the UK, payable by card at booking; an approved UCAT Bursary waives the fee automatically at checkout. (source)
- You register through a UCAT Account on ucat.ac.uk and book via the Pearson VUE booking system; you may sit the UCAT only once per test year. Rescheduling is free up to 24 hours before your appointment. (source)
- Free official practice tests and question banks for all four subtests are on ucat.ac.uk and are best used on a desktop to mirror the live test software. (source)
Last verified: 19 September 2026 against the UCAT Consortium (ucat.ac.uk).
Did you know? The UCAT exam does not contain any curriculum content or science questions. It focuses entirely on cognitive attributes. This means you cannot revise for it in the traditional sense, but you can significantly improve your score through familiarity with the UCAT questions and timed practice. Try our MCAT practice test.
Note: the Abstract Reasoning quiz below is legacy practice — Abstract Reasoning was removed from the live UCAT from 2025 onward, so treat it as optional pattern-recognition warm-up and focus your timed practice on the four current subtests.
If you are searching for a UCAT mock test, start with the free questions on this page: every answer comes with an explanation, and the study notes below cover the UCAT exam topics in order.
UCAT Practice Test Questions
Prepare for the UCAT - University Clinical Aptitude Test exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
UCAT Abstract Reasoning
UCAT Exam Questions covering Abstract Reasoning. Master UCAT Test concepts for certification prep.
UCAT Decision Making Practice
Free UCAT Practice Test featuring Decision Making Practice. Improve your UCAT Exam score with mock test prep.
UCAT Decision Making Test
UCAT Mock Exam on Decision Making Test. UCAT Study Guide questions to pass on your first try.
UCAT Practice Test Quantitative
UCAT Test Prep for Practice Test Quantitative. Practice UCAT Quiz questions and boost your score.
UCAT Quantitative Reasoning Test
UCAT Mock Test covering Quantitative Reasoning Test. Online UCAT Test practice with instant feedback.
UCAT Situational Judgement
Free UCAT Quiz on Situational Judgement. UCAT Exam prep questions with detailed explanations.
UCAT Situational Judgement Practice
UCAT Practice Questions for Situational Judgement Practice. Build confidence for your UCAT certification exam.
UCAT Situational Judgement Test
UCAT Test Online for Situational Judgement Test. Free practice with instant results and feedback.
UCAT Exam Study Guide
Our comprehensive UCAT preparation guide breaks down everything you need to know. From the basic structure to detailed UCAT tips for each subtest, this resource is designed to help you maximize your UCAT score.
UCAT Score Calculator
Total Scored Questions
184
129 out of 184 correct
70%
Required to Pass: ~70% (Estimated)
UCAT Score Interpretation
Understanding your UCAT score is vital. The three cognitive subtests are each scaled 300–900 (total 900–2700) and Situational Judgement is reported as Band 1–4; there is no pass mark, and universities compare you against the cohort in deciles. The bands below are approximate guidance only.
| Total Score (approx.) | Interpretation | Standing (approx.) | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⭐ 2600+ | Excellent | Top decile | Apply to High UCAT Unis |
| ✅ 2400-2599 | Good | Upper-middle deciles | Strong Application |
| 🆗 2200-2399 | Average | Middle deciles | Check Uni Requirements |
| ⚠️ 2000-2199 | Below Average | Lower-middle deciles | Strategic Applications |
| ❌ <2000 | Low | Bottom deciles | Consider GAMSAT / non-UCAT routes |
How to Register for the UCAT Exam
The UCAT registration process is strict. Missing deadlines means you cannot sit the UCAT test for that year's admissions cycle.
You can continue preparing with the ucat practice test pdf, which includes answer explanations for every question.
You can continue preparing with the ucat practice, which includes answer explanations for every question.
- Create a UCAT Account - Register on ucat.ac.uk when registration opens (20 May in 2026); booking then runs through the Pearson VUE booking system from 23 June.
- Apply for Bursary - If eligible, apply for the UCAT bursary through your UCAT Account before booking; an approved bursary waives the £70 fee at checkout (2026 deadline 24 September).
- Book Your Test - Select a test centre and date within the 13 July – 24 September window (2026 booking deadline 16 September). Early dates (July/August) allow time for rescheduling if ill.
- Prepare - Use UCAT practice test resources and official question banks.
- Sit the Test - Take the roughly 2-hour, 184-question computer-based exam (four subtests) at your chosen centre.
- Receive Results - You get your UCAT score report immediately after the test.
- Apply to Universities - Submit your UCAS application by 15 October; UCAT sends your result to your chosen universities in early November.
UCAT Test Day Checklist
- ✓Valid Photo ID (Passport/License)
- ✓Confirmation Email
- ✓Arrive 15 Mins Early
- ✓Know Test Center Location
- ✓Read Candidate Rules
- ✓Practice with Whiteboard
- ✓Rest Well Night Before
- ✓No Personal Items in Exam
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UCAT: Pros and Cons
- +No curriculum content to revise — the UCAT tests aptitude, so timed practice alone moves your score
- +Free official question banks and practice tests for all four subtests on ucat.ac.uk
- +Results are available immediately after the test, so you know where you stand before the UCAS deadline
- +Scaled 300–900 scores per subtest mean one weak section can be offset by strong ones
- +A UCAT Bursary waives the £70 test fee for eligible UK candidates
- −Only one sitting per test year — a bad day cannot be corrected until next cycle
- −Extremely tight timings (e.g. 44 Verbal Reasoning questions in 22 minutes)
- −Scores are valid for one admissions cycle only; you must retake if you reapply
- −Fee is £70 in the UK / £115 outside the UK and is forfeited if you miss the 24-hour reschedule cut-off
- −Universities use scores differently (cut-offs vs. weighted points), so a "safe" score varies by school
🧩 What subtests are on the UCAT in 2026?
Since 2025 the UCAT has four separately timed subtests: Verbal Reasoning (44 questions, 22 minutes), Decision Making (35 questions, 37 minutes), Quantitative Reasoning (36 questions, 26 minutes) and Situational Judgement (69 questions, 26 minutes). Abstract Reasoning has been removed, so ignore any UCAT practice questions that still drill shape patterns.
START VERBAL REASONING PRACTICE TEST📊 How is the UCAT scored?
Each of the three cognitive subtests is converted to a scaled score of 300 to 900, giving a total of 900 to 2700. Situational Judgement is reported separately as Band 1 (highest) to Band 4. There is no negative marking, so never leave a question blank on your UCAT practice test or on the real exam.
START DECISION MAKING PRACTICE TEST🏅 What do the Situational Judgement bands mean?
Band 1 means your judgement matched the expert panel in most cases; Band 2 is a good, solid performance with many responses matching the model answers; Band 3 is modest, with substantial differences on some items; Band 4 is low. Full marks are given for the exact answer and partial marks when your response is close.
START SITUATIONAL JUDGEMENT PRACTICE TEST📅 What are the key UCAT 2026 dates?
Registration opened 20 May 2026 and booking opened 23 June 2026. Testing runs from 13 July to 24 September 2026, and the booking deadline is 16 September 2026 (15:00 UK time). Results reach universities in early November, after the 15 October UCAS deadline. You may only sit the UCAT once per year.
START UCAT PRACTICE TEST💷 How much does the UCAT cost and who gets a bursary?
The fee is £70 for tests taken in the UK and £115 outside the UK, paid by card at booking. UK candidates who receive free school meals, a 16-19 bursary or EMA, or similar support can apply for the UCAT Bursary Scheme through their UCAT account; an approved bursary waives the fee automatically at checkout. The 2026 bursary deadline is 24 September.
START QUANTITATIVE REASONING PRACTICE TEST🖥️ Where are the official UCAT practice tests?
The UCAT Consortium publishes free question banks for all four subtests plus full-length practice tests on ucat.ac.uk, in standard timing, 25% extra time and untimed versions. Use the official tests nearer your date under timed conditions, and use the practice questions on this page for extra volume and explanations.
START SITUATIONAL JUDGEMENT QUIZ🧠 What question types appear in Decision Making?
Decision Making mixes single-answer multiple-choice items with five-statement items where you mark each statement yes or no. Single-answer questions are worth 1 mark; multiple-statement questions are worth 2 marks with 1 mark for a partially correct set. A simple on-screen calculator is available, and no formal logic terminology is needed.
START DECISION MAKING PRACTICE TEST⏱️ How much time do I get per question?
Roughly 30 seconds per Verbal Reasoning question (44 in 22 minutes), about 63 seconds per Decision Making question (35 in 37 minutes), about 43 seconds per Quantitative Reasoning question (36 in 26 minutes) and about 23 seconds per Situational Judgement question (69 in 26 minutes). Practise to these targets, and each subtest starts with a short timed instruction screen.
START QUANTITATIVE REASONING PRACTICE TEST🎓 Which universities require the UCAT?
The UCAT 2026 is required for 2027 entry (or deferred 2028 entry) to medicine and dentistry at UCAT Consortium universities across the UK, including Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Imperial, King's College London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Queen Mary, Sheffield and UCL. Check each course's entry page before booking.
START VERBAL REASONING PRACTICE TEST🎯 What is the best strategy for a UCAT mock test?
Sit the full mock test in one go with no pauses, since the real test cannot be paused. Flag hard items and guess rather than dwell, because every question carries equal weight within its subtest and wrong answers are not penalised. Review every explanation afterwards and retake the UCAT practice test until your timing is stable.
START UCAT MOCK TESTSample UCAT Practice Questions
Try these questions from our free UCAT practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
Passage: 'Reading speed under UCAT Verbal Reasoning time pressure (roughly 30 seconds per question) is a key limiting factor for many candidates, more so than vocabulary knowledge, according to test-prep tutors who have reviewed thousands of practice attempts.' Statement: 'Vocabulary knowledge has no effect on UCAT Verbal Reasoning performance.' True, False, or Can't Tell?
- A. True
- B. False
- C. Can't Tell
- D. Vocabulary is irrelevant to the test
Answer: B. False
The passage says reading speed matters 'more so than' vocabulary, which implies vocabulary still has some effect, just a smaller one. Claiming 'no effect' is False.
Passage: 'The UCAT exam consists of five sections in its historical form, though Abstract Reasoning was removed as a scored component starting with the 2025 admissions cycle, leaving four scored subtests: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, and Situational Judgement.' Statement: 'Before 2025, UCAT candidates sat an Abstract Reasoning section.' True, False, or Can't Tell?
- A. True
- B. False
- C. Can't Tell
- D. Abstract Reasoning was never part of UCAT
Answer: A. True
The passage explicitly says Abstract Reasoning was removed starting the 2025 cycle, implying it was present before then. True.
Passage: 'Decision Making questions often include syllogisms, probabilistic reasoning, and Venn diagram interpretation, and unlike Verbal Reasoning, marks are awarded for partially correct answers on certain multi-part questions.' Statement: 'Some Decision Making questions can award partial credit.' True, False, or Can't Tell?
- A. True
- B. False
- C. Can't Tell
- D. No UCAT section awards partial credit
Answer: A. True
The passage directly states marks are awarded for partially correct answers on certain multi-part Decision Making questions. True.
Passage: 'Situational Judgement Test items are designed by panels of practising clinicians and medical educators, drawing on real incidents reported through NHS clinical governance systems, then piloted on trainee doctors before being scored for the live exam.' Statement: 'Every Situational Judgement scenario used in the live exam is based on a real NHS incident.' True, False, or Can't Tell?
- A. True
- B. False
- C. Can't Tell
- D. No SJT scenario is based on real events
Answer: C. Can't Tell
The passage says items 'draw on' real incidents in general, but does not confirm that literally every single scenario originates from one. Can't Tell.
UCAT Questions and Answers
Official Resources
- UCAT Test Format and Scoring – the UCAT Consortium's official breakdown of the four subtests, question counts, timings, the 300–900 scaled scores and the Situational Judgement bands.
- UCAT 2026 Test Dates – registration, booking, testing-window and bursary deadlines for the current cycle, straight from the exam provider.
- Official UCAT Practice Tests and Question Banks – free question banks for every subtest plus timed, extra-time and untimed practice tests that mirror the live test software.
About the Author
Registered Nurse & Healthcare Educator
Johns Hopkins University School of NursingDr. Sarah Mitchell is a board-certified registered nurse with over 15 years of clinical and academic experience. She completed her PhD in Nursing Science at Johns Hopkins University and has taught NCLEX preparation and clinical skills courses for nursing students across the United States. Her research focuses on evidence-based exam preparation strategies for healthcare certification candidates.
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