UCAT

The standard test is just under two hours. Verbal Reasoning gives you 44 questions in 22 minutes, Decision Making 35 questions in 37 minutes, Quantitative Reasoning 36 questions in 26 minutes, and Situational Judgement 69 questions in 26 minutes. Each subtest is preceded by a timed instruction section, and once the test has started it cannot be paused.

The official material does not describe a pass mark. The three cognitive subtests are scaled from 300 to 900 each, giving a total of 900–2700, and Situational Judgement is reported as band 1 to 4, band 1 highest. Universities use the result alongside academic qualifications and interviews, so competitive scores vary by course.

The source material does not state a retake or repeat-sitting policy, so this is not something to assume either way. Check the UCAT Consortium website directly for the rules covering the testing cycle you are applying in, since registration and booking arrangements are published per cycle.

There is no negative marking for incorrect answers, and the test is marked on the number of correct answers you give. That means an unanswered question can never earn you a mark, whereas a reasoned guess can. If a subtest is about to close, fill in remaining answers rather than leaving blanks.

Decision Making is the exception to the one-mark-per-question pattern. Single answer questions are worth 1 mark, multiple statement questions are worth 2 marks, and 1 mark is awarded to partially correct responses on the multiple-statement questions. So the yes/no statement grids carry more weight per item than single-answer items.

The UCAT is a computer-based test delivered in Pearson test centres throughout the UK and worldwide. Eligible candidates can apply for Access Arrangements to sit an extended version of the test, so if you have a documented need, sort that application early rather than leaving it until the booking deadline.

A simple on-screen calculator is available in Decision Making, and a basic onscreen calculator is available in Quantitative Reasoning. There is no mention of a calculator for Verbal Reasoning or Situational Judgement, so plan to handle those subtests without one. Familiarise yourself with the on-screen tool before test day.

There is no prescribed order. A practical approach is to work through the official question tutorials for all four subtests first, then run timed practice and rank your scaled performance, then spend most remaining time on your weakest cognitive subtest. Do not skip Situational Judgement, because its band is reported separately.

The published format, timing and scoring information applies to the 2026 testing cycle and may change for 2027; candidates are advised to check the website around March 2027 for the latest updates. Registration and booking for UCAT 2026 has closed, with the booking deadline having been 16 September 2026 at 15:00 UK time.