If you’re applying for a degree in medicine, universities will most likely require you to sit an entrance exam as part of your application. Medicine is a complex, far-reaching subject that ranges beyond the school curriculum, so it’s important to check that it’s the right course for you.
The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) forms part of the UCAS application process in the UK. Universities use it to help select the applicants that are best suited for medical and dental degree programmes.
These may sound daunting, but there’s no need to worry! With sufficient preparation, you can enter the exam room with confidence. We’ve put together this guide on how to ace the UCAT exam to give you the best chance of success in your application.
The UCAT: An Overview
The UCAT exam is divided into five sections. You’ll have a total of two hours to complete 228 questions that test a variety of skills and abilities.
Section 1: Verbal reasoning
44 questions
21 minutes to complete
The first section asks you to read eleven short passages, answering four questions on each piece. This section tests your comprehension skills and includes true-or-false and free-text questions.
Section 2: Decision making
29 questions
31 minutes to complete
This section tests your ability to evaluate, analyse and make a decision. It includes multiple-choice questions and yes-or-no statements with corresponding data.
Section 3: Quantitative reasoning
36 questions
24 minutes to complete
This section tests your numerical skills. It includes data-based scenarios, including tables, graphs and charts, and multiple-choice questions.
Section 4: Abstract reasoning
55 questions
13 minutes to complete
The fourth section tests your ability to spot patterns while ignoring irrelevant material. You should be able to evaluate your thinking and change direction if needed.
Section 5: Situational judgement
69 questions
25 minutes to complete
The final part focuses on medical ethics, testing personal skills like empathy and integrity, and helping you consider how you’d react in different medical scenarios. With each scenario, you’ll be asked to rate a range of actions by their appropriateness and importance for each individual context.
Preparing for the UCAT
Practice is an important part of preparing for the UCAT. Past papers aren’t released, but you can find a number of example questions and UCAT practice tests on the official website.
You may come across UCAT preparation packages online, however these can be quite expensive, so this isn’t always the best option. It’s also key to remember that UCAT’s examining body does not associate with or endorse these packages, and they may not meet a reliable standard.
Start familiarising yourself with the UCAT format and type of questions at least one month before the exam date. As the exam approaches, you may want to start doing some of the unofficial past papers online.
It’s also helpful to create a study schedule. Try to regularly allocate some of your time each day to UCAT preparation.
Exam Day
On the day of the exam, try to answer every question. You won’t lose points for answering wrong, so take your best guess! If you get stuck on a question you can’t answer, just move on and go back if you have spare time at the end.
The UCAT happens at several different times throughout the year, so you can sit it at a time that suits you. You’ll need to travel to a Pearson Vue testing centre and pay the relevant fee to cover the cost of the test: £70 in the UK or £115 in other countries. Bursaries are available for eligible students and you can find out more about these on the UCAT website.
After the UCAT, your results are ready immediately so you can walk out of the test centre with your results in hand!
Medical school entrance exams can be tricky, but with the right amount of preparation, you’ll give yourself the best possible chance to ace them!
By Jamie Emerick
Jamie is a recent law graduate of Trinity College, University of Oxford. Alongside his writing work, offering first-hand advice for those looking to study law at university, Jamie works at a MedTech firm as an IP Law Assistant, helping to manage their IP portfolio.
