UCAT Essentials - What do I need to know?
The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is an admissions test, used by a consortium of UK and partner Universities to help select applicants to their medical and dental degree programmes.
Refer to the UCAT 2025 page for details about the changes which were announced ahead of the 2025 test cycle.
The test is used alongside other selection criteria such as your academic qualifications and interviews.
The UCAT is a computer-based test, delivered in Pearson VUE test centres throughout the UK and worldwide.
This 2025 step-by-step is designed to guide you through all the essential steps in completing your UCAT journey.
Prepare for your test
- Use the UCAT Preparation Plan to create a personalised study plan.
- Familiarise yourself with test functionality by looking at the Tour Tutorial.
- The Question Tutorials are really useful before you move onto the Question Banks, and finally progress to the timed Practice Tests.
- Practise using the onscreen calculator and get used to the timings of each section.
- Find out how UCAT is scored.
Check what to expect on Test Day
- Find out what to expect on your Test Day and watch a video tour of a Pearson VUE Test Centre.
- Read the Test Rules and statement on Candidate Misconduct.
- Familiarise yourself with what to do if you experience a problem during your test.
Sit your test
- Check the location of your test centre and allow plenty of time for arrival.
- Take the correct photo ID with you to the test centre.
- Report any problems during your test to the test centre immediately. Obtain an incident number and consult the Test Incident page for next steps.
Receive your results
- UCAT results are issued on the day of your test (or shortly after if testing online).
- We publish preliminary candidate scores in mid-September and final scores after testing ends so you can see how your result relates to overall candidate performance. Mean scores from previous test cycles are available on the Test Statistics page.
Apply to university
- Make an informed decision about where to apply by checking the information on university websites to see how they use UCAT in their selection process.
- The UCAS application deadline for medicine and dentistry is 15 October 2025. Other courses and UCAT partner universities may have different deadlines.
- UCAT will deliver your result directly to your chosen UK universities in early November.
UCAT 2025 Test Dates
UCAT 2025 testing has ended. Dates for UCAT 2026 will be published in January 2026. Registration and booking for the 2025 UCAT closed at 12 noon BST on 19 September 2025. You can no longer register or book to sit the test this year. We do…
UCAT Universities
You are required to sit the UCAT 2025 if you are applying for entry in 2026 (or deferred entry in 2027) to a relevant course at a UCAT Consortium University. All applicants should check the entry requirements for each course with the rele…
How to prepare for the UCAT
Candidates should use these free, official UCAT preparation materials to support their test preparation. We advise candidates to be cautious about using resources from any commercial providers, as these are not affiliated with UCAT in any…
