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Guide
Thu 12 Dec 2024 • 6 min read
Discover the UCAT 2025 guide with key changes, scoring insights, and strategies to ace your medical admissions test.
Contents
Explore our comprehensive UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) guide for 2025, covering everything from test structure to preparation strategies. Discover how Dukes Plus can support your success in this critical admissions test.
The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is a computer-based admissions test widely used by medical and dental schools in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. It evaluates critical skills like decision-making, situational judgment, logical reasoning, and verbal reasoning.
The 2025 UCAT introduces significant changes, including the removal of the Abstract Reasoning section, reflecting updated requirements for assessing candidates’ suitability for healthcare professions. To find out more about the upcoming changes, read our blog post UCAT Changes Coming in 2025.
UCAT complements academic qualifications, allowing universities to assess applicants beyond grades. The test is held annually, with multiple testing windows for flexibility.
Most medical and dental programmes in the UK and beyond require the UCAT as part of their admissions process. Examples include Medicine (e.g., MBBS or BMBS) and Dentistry (e.g., BDS). Some allied health courses may also incorporate UCAT scores. Specific details should be confirmed on individual university websites.
The UCAT is a key requirement for many prestigious universities. With the discontinuation of the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) after the 2024 cycle, most UK medical and dental schools now use the UCAT for admissions. Notable universities requiring the UCAT include:
Candidates should check individual university websites for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding entry requirements.
UCAT results are used by universities to shortlist candidates for interviews. Some institutions establish minimum score thresholds, while others consider the UCAT as part of a broader, holistic review of the application. The weighting of the UCAT score varies between universities, and strong performance can significantly enhance an applicant’s prospects.
The meaning of a “good” UCAT score varies by institution and year. Based on trends, the following ranges provide a general guideline:
Candidates aiming for highly competitive programmes should target the upper ranges. If you would like to know how your raw UCAT scores are scaled to give your final result, try our UCAT score calculator.
Yes, your UCAT results are sent directly to the universities included in your UCAS application. You can access your scores immediately after completing the test, but universities will receive them automatically during the application process.
The 2025 UCAT structure reflects major updates:
Verbal Reasoning: Tests comprehension and critical analysis of written text, focusing on healthcare-specific content to ensure relevance.
Decision Making: Assesses logical reasoning and problem-solving capabilities, incorporating realistic ethical dilemmas and data evaluation tasks.
Quantitative Reasoning: Measures numerical and statistical reasoning skills, with expanded scenarios based on healthcare data.
Situational Judgement: Tests ethical reasoning and professional attitudes through scenario-based video clips and detailed questions.
The Abstract Reasoning section has been removed for 2025 to streamline the assessment and focus on skills directly relevant to medical and dental professions. Each section is preceded by a timed introduction screen to clarify expectations and improve focus.
The UCAT primarily assesses non-academic qualities essential for success in healthcare roles. These include:
These attributes align closely with the professional standards expected of healthcare practitioners.
The UCAT scoring system is designed to rank candidates based on their performance:
Situational Judgement is graded separately, with most universities preferring Band 1 or Band 2 for their applicants.
Preparation is key to achieving a high UCAT score. Candidates should begin by understanding the test format and practising under timed conditions. Mock exams simulate the test environment and help build confidence. Resources, such as the official UCAT practice tests and question banks, provide realistic preparation opportunities.
Dukes Plus offers personalised tutoring to help students navigate the UCAT and get into their dream med school. Our experienced tutors tailor sessions to address individual strengths and areas for growth, to ensure thorough preparation. Our UCAT tutors have access to a wealth of resources, including mock tests and study guides. You can also benefit from our comprehensive study materials – from our practice test to our UCAT Question Bank with thousands of realistic questions.
Registration for the UCAT is completed via the official UCAT website. Candidates must create an account, select a test date, and book a location.
For 2025 admissions, registration typically begins in May and closes in September. Testing is conducted between July and October. It is crucial to check exact dates on the UCAT website to avoid missing deadlines.
The cost of the UCAT varies based on location:
Eligible UK candidates can apply to the UCAT Bursary Scheme to sit the UCAT for free.
Are you aiming for an exceptional UCAT score? Our world-leading UCAT tutors are here to help you succeed. Designed by doctors and education experts, our UCAT tutoring is tailored to meet your needs and help you excel.
Here’s how we can support you:
Our one-to-one sessions focus on the updated UCAT subtests: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, and the Situational Judgement Test.
Our UCAT learning plans are designed by qualified doctors and education experts to offer comprehensive prep for every aspect of the test. With more than a decade’s experience tutoring medicine applicants, we know exactly how to get you ready for test day.
Learn from tutors who have excelled in the UCAT themselves and have a deep understanding of the test. We offer tutoring from hand-picked, highly experienced tutors, or fully qualified doctors. Our students rate our tutors 4.9/5 on average.
Succeeding in the UCAT is just one part of the journey. We also offer comprehensive support for your medical or dental school applications, including interview preparation and personal statement advice.
Discover why 50,000 Medicine applicants have trusted us to guide them through the application process. Read more about our services or book a free consultation to get started.
Navigating the process of getting into medicine can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. At Dukes Plus, we provide tailored support at every stage of the journey – from academic tutoring to personal statement reviews and interview coaching.
Our Pathway to Medicine e-learning course is the perfect place to start. It’s structured to help you successfully and easily navigate the journey to medical school, equipping you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to excel in the competitive application process and prepare for your future studies.
To find out how Dukes can assist with your medical school application, book a free consultation today.
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