UCAT ANZ exam-day guide
UCAT ANZ · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Original photo ID
Bring the original, current photo ID you used when booking (commonly a passport or driver's licence). The name must match your booking exactly; photocopies, expired documents and digital copies are generally not accepted. Confirm the accepted ID types and name-match rules with UCAT ANZ / Pearson VUE before test day.
Appointment confirmation
Bring a printed copy of your booking confirmation (appointment number, date, time, test centre address). You will not have access to your phone in the test room, so a paper copy is useful at check-in.
Confirmed test centre location and travel plan
Know the exact address, the entry point in the building and how long the journey takes at that time of day. Do a trial run beforehand if the centre is unfamiliar.
Arrival plan with a buffer
Plan to reach the centre well before your appointment slot so check-in, ID verification and locker storage are not rushed. Confirm the required arrival time with the provider, as late arrival can lead to refused entry.
Do NOT bring your own calculator, notes, pen or paper
An on-screen calculator is provided in the sections that permit it, and the centre supplies scratch material. Bringing prohibited items risks them being confiscated or your result being voided.
Phone off and stored
Switch your phone off before entering the test room and store it in the locker provided. Smart watches and other wearable devices should be removed and stored too.
Small bag for the locker
Bring only what you need; everything except your ID and locker key goes into the storage provided.
Water and a snack for before/after
There is generally no scheduled break during the test, so hydrate and eat beforehand. Consumables are for outside the test room only unless the centre advises otherwise.
Layered clothing
Test rooms can be warm or cold and you cannot leave mid-section to adjust; dress in layers you can remove at your seat.
Accessibility or special-arrangement confirmation
If you applied for adjustments (extra time, separate room, medical accommodation), confirm in writing that they are attached to your booking and arrive early to set them up.
Knowledge of the test structure
Be clear on the five subtests, their order and their timing, and on the on-screen calculator and flag/review functions, so nothing is new to you on the day. Check the current section timings on the official UCAT ANZ site.
Sleep and a normal routine
Prioritise sleep over extra study in the last 24 hours; performance on a timed reasoning test degrades quickly when you are tired.
Plan the day
Re-check your appointment date, time and centre address against your confirmation. Verify your ID is current and that the name matches your booking exactly; if it does not, contact the provider immediately. Do one final full-length timed practice under exam conditions, then stop doing new full mocks. Shift your sleep schedule so you are alert at your appointment time.
Review your strategy notes only: pacing rules, when to flag and skip, how you handle a bad section, and your default approach to each question type. Do short, targeted timed sets rather than full papers. Stop intensive study by the evening.
Pack your ID and printed confirmation. Confirm your travel route and leave time, including a buffer for delays. Check the centre's parking or public transport options. Do not attempt to learn new content. Eat a normal meal and go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Eat breakfast and drink water. Re-check you have your ID and confirmation. Leave with a buffer. Avoid discussing questions or cramming in the waiting area, as it raises anxiety. Switch your phone off before check-in.
Present your ID, confirm your details, store all belongings in the locker, and follow the invigilator's instructions. Use the on-screen tutorial/instruction screens to settle in and check the calculator and flag functions before the first timed section begins.
Treat each subtest as a separate game: reset after a poor section rather than carrying it forward. Keep an eye on the clock and the question counter, flag and move on from anything that stalls you, and never leave a question blank unless the format penalises incorrect answers (the UCAT ANZ does not apply negative marking). Use the review screen at the end of a section if time allows, and remember the sections run back-to-back with no break, so manage your pacing accordingly.
Rules to check
Bring original, current photo ID with a name that matches your booking exactly. Photocopies, expired documents and digital IDs are generally not accepted, and entry can be refused without valid ID. Confirm the accepted ID types with UCAT ANZ / Pearson VUE before test day.
Arrive before your appointment time. If you arrive after the permitted cut-off you may be refused entry and lose your fee. Confirm the exact arrival window with the provider rather than assuming it.
Do not bring notes, textbooks, your own calculator, smart watches, phones or other electronic devices into the test room. Phones must be switched off and stored; a breach can lead to your result being voided.
Use only the scratch material and on-screen calculator provided by the test centre. Write nothing down to take away, and hand back all materials at the end of the session.
Do not expect scheduled breaks during the test. Plan hydration and food around the session and confirm the current break policy with the provider.
You may sit the UCAT ANZ once per testing year, and your result is valid only for the year in which you sit it. It cannot be carried over to a later admissions cycle.
Scoring: the four cognitive subtests are each scored on a 300-900 scale (total 1200-3600), and the Situational Judgement Test is reported as a band rather than a scaled score. There is no negative marking, so an educated guess is better than a blank response on any item you cannot finish.
Follow all invigilator instructions and centre rules. Misconduct, attempting to remove materials, or disruptive behaviour can result in your test being terminated and your result withheld.