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.

Information relating to 2025 testing may change slightly for 2026 test takers as we review our policies and processes. Our guide for 2026 test takers will be published by March 2026.

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 test centres throughout the UK and worldwide.

This step-by-step is designed to guide you through all the essential steps in completing your UCAT journey.

Check your eligibility

• Check your eligibility to sit the UCAT and confirm which universities and courses require the UCAT.
• Note the key 2026 test cycle dates and deadlines.
• Ensure that you have the correct photo ID required to sit your test.
• Familiarise yourself with the Fitness to Test Policy before booking or sitting a test.

Register and book

• Create a UCAT account
• If applicable, submit an application for Access Arrangements. These require approval before you can book a test.
• If eligible, apply for a UCAT Bursary. Do this before booking so that you can use your bursary to pay for your test.
• Book your test. Book as early as possible and avoid booking a late test date.

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 2026. Other courses and UCAT partner universities may have different deadlines.
• UCAT will deliver your result directly to your chosen UK universities in early November.