University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) Guide

How to register for the UCAT Test

WHEN IS THE UCAT TEST IN 2023?

The UCAT does not have to be sat on the same day by every applicant. Test slots run from the 10th of July until the 29th of September. We recommend registering as soon as possible and booking your test date well in advance, as tests can book up quickly.

Test centres are located around the country, but for some there may not be a convenient or close location at which to take the UCAT, meaning that advanced planning is required. We recommend checking the UCAT website, where a list of dates and test centres is available, for more detailed information.

WHEN IS THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION?

The UCAT Website opens for account registration on the 16th May 2023, with test booking opening on the 20th of June. The deadline for booking is the 21st of September (with the earlier deadline of the 19th September for students with any access arrangements).

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TAKE THE UCAT?

Registration for the UCAT costs £70 for applicants within the UK, and £115 for applicants outside of the UK. Head over to the UCAT website for more details on paying for and booking your test.

Tips from a successful top UK university medicine student

HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR THE UCAT?

1. Familiarise Yourself with the UCAT Format: Understand the format and structure of the UCAT by reviewing official practice materials and past papers.
2. Practice Under Timed Conditions: Regularly practise answering UCAT questions under timed conditions to improve your time management skills. For access to bespoke, true-to-life mock papers with which to practise your timing skills, head to our Admissions Test Resources hub and browse our exclusive collections.
3. Improve Critical Thinking: Engage in activities that promote critical thinking, such as reading diverse materials and engaging in discussions.
4. Stay Calm and Composed: Approach the UCAT with confidence in your abilities and trust in your preparation.
5. Seek Support: Consider seeking guidance from teachers or mentors experienced in UCAT preparation to receive valuable feedback and insights. Previous UK Medical Students who sat the UCAT themselves, such as our mentors here at Oxbridge Applications, are also a great source of knowledge to draw on, as they can give you an accurate picture of what it means to perform like a real top Medical Student.

UCAT PREPARATION MATERIALS

In addition to official UCAT practice tests, we at Oxbridge Applications have written a series of additional mock papers. Our students have 33% more questions to practise with. Our mock UCAT papers can be found here and are included with our admissions test tuition. All of our UCAT tutors are highly-trained Top UK University medicine graduates who can share their personally insights of having sat the test. You can contact our Oxbridge-graduate Consultants on +44 (0) 20 7499 2394 or email [email protected] to discuss which of our test training would suit you best. We also have an online testing portal for students who want to sit the exam in timed, test conditions.

WHAT IS THE BEST STUDY GUIDE FOR THE UCAT?

At Oxbridge Applications, we pride ourselves in providing up-to-date advice and unrivalled expertise. As well as collating information from publicly available sources, we also conduct our own research into the application process; for example, by surveying the thousands of students we support each year. Speak to an Oxbridge Applications expert today for advice on your specific situation!

How to Pass the UCAT Test?

The best advice we can offer to pass the UCAT exam is to begin exam preparation early and practise often.

Most students who don’t get through the UCAT to be invited to interview tell us that they didn’t spend enough time familiarising themselves with the type of questions that can arise. They typically say that they were caught off guard by a particular question and it put their timings off for the rest of the test.

START EARLY

Although you may require scientific concepts studied later on in your school studies, challenge yourself to get ahead of the syllabus so you can begin practising UCAT questions, especially the skills-based questions. Some students also find it necessary to build up their skills for the situational judgement part of the exam in particular, since this is usually a new skill to get used to.

REFLECTION

Reflect on your personal strengths and weaknesses. No two students should have the same revision strategy for the UCAT, since you all have varying abilities. Try to identify which part of the syllabus you find easiest or more difficult so that you can strategically target your revision to the weaker sections.

DON'T RESTRICT YOUR PRACTICE MATERIALS

Don’t restrict your practice materials: Once you have tried all of the real past papers, and have moved on to additional materials like our bespoke UCAT papers, you should then look wider at similar materials. For example, take a look at past papers for the BMAT or other medicine admissions tests as an additional challenge.

COLLABORATION 

Work with a friend or teacher to discuss questions and identify your own personal revision goals. Working with others can be a huge motivation and keep you on track in the weeks and months leading up to the test. We have specialist UCAT tutors who can work with you one-to-one to refine your test technique.