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UCAT Frequently Asked Questions
Registration and Booking
Why won’t the Pearson VUE system let me register and create a web account?
Registration for our tests is only open between certain dates. Outside of these times you will see a message that says "The feature that you are trying to access is blocked. Please try later". Please see your relevant test page for more details of registration periods.
I have forgotten my username and/or password
If you have forgotten your username or password there are options to retrieve these from the sign in page. Please do not set up a new account as multiple accounts are not permitted. If you continue to have problems signing in then you need to contact Pearson VUE Customer Services.
My registration email has not arrived
This email should arrive quickly and at the very latest within one working day. Please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as it may have been diverted there. If it has not arrived after 24 hours, then please contact Pearson VUE Customer Services.
What is my Candidate ID number and where can I find it?
You are assigned a unique Candidate ID number when you create an account with Pearson VUE. The Candidate ID number is in the format (UKCAT + 6 digits) and is given in the top left of your Pearson VUE account. Your Candidate ID number should be used in all correspondence regarding the test.
The test fee is payable at the time of booking by major credit card or UCAT bursary voucher.
- Tests taken in the UK: £75
- Tests taken outside the UK: £120
Our Bursary Scheme enables UK candidates in financial need to sit the UCAT for free. To see if you are eligible for a UCAT Bursary visit the Bursary Scheme page.
Can I reschedule my test to a different date?
Yes. Tests can be rescheduled without charge as long as you give appropriate notice. You can reschedule or cancel your test centre appointment through your web account up until the web booking deadline (noon BST on 22 September) or by phoning Customer Services up to 24 hours before your appointment time. However, if you miss the 24 hour deadline for rescheduling, you will need to pay a further fee for a rescheduled test.
You cannot cancel or reschedule your test by email.
If you have used a bursary voucher to pay for your test you can re-use the same voucher code.
Full information on rescheduling can be found on our Rescheduling and Cancelling web page.
Will I be penalised for taking the test more than once?
You can only sit the test once in any test cycle and any instances of multiple testing in the same year will be treated as an example of candidate misconduct. However, there is no penalty for taking the test again in subsequent years.
Practice Materials
How should I prepare for the test?
We advise you to prepare for the UCAT using the free official practice materials which have been developed by the UCAT Consortium. We believe that all everyone should have access to free preparation materials to support their test preparation. The resources and advice here have been produced by ourselves using feedback from previous high-scoring candidates.
We recommend you view these resources before moving on to the Practice Tests.
I’ve been told I should pay for a coaching course in order to do well in the UCAT, is this true?
No, whilst there are many commercial companies offering coaching for the UCAT, we do not work with any of these companies or endorse the use of their materials. These courses can cost candidates a great deal of money and we would advise you to be sceptical about their claims. Commercial organisations are not affiliated with UCAT. They may be using items that are not necessarily of the standard you will encounter in the UCAT and this may distort your performance whilst practising. We advise all students to prepare for the UCAT by using the free OFFICIAL practice materials available on the UCAT website.
Test Day
What do I need to take with me to the test centre?
You should make sure to arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time to complete the check-in process and bring the following:
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Official photographic identification from our list of permitted ID that meets the requirements of the country where you are testing. Please refer to the Photo ID Policy.
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A printed or electronic copy of your appointment confirmation email from Pearson VUE.
Additionally, all Pearson VUE company-owned test centres are following recommendations from the CDC and World Health Organisation for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting candidates and test centre staff and their third-party test centres are also encouraged to implement the same precautionary measures.
Candidates are asked to comply with the latest health and safety guidelines outlined on the Pearson VUE website.
I encountered an issue / incident during my test
If you have experienced a problem with sitting your test, please contact our Customer Services Team.
This way we can ensure your issue is logged and an incident number recorded (you may already have been given one of these but this does bot automatically trigger an investigation). Pearson VUE will then investigate the incident and report the outcome back to you by email within 5 working days. Please do not email the UCAT Office directly, as we cannot take any action until the initial investigation by Pearson VUE has been completed.
More information is available on our Incidents page (currently being updated for 2021).
Results
How do I get a copy of my score report?
When you leave the test centre you will be given a copy of your UCAT Score Report. Your score report will also be accessible online through your Pearson VUE account. You should allow approximately 24 hours after your test for this to be uploaded. If you need a copy of a score report from 2018 or earlier, these will be available for a fee of £25 GBP. You can order one by contacting Pearson VUE Customer Services.
Why are results not displaying properly on my online score report?
This might be because of the browser you are using. Please clear your cache and do not use Internet Explorer.
In mid-late September of each year we publish interim results which give candidates an early indication of the decile they are within (although this is subject to change until testing is completed). Once testing has ended and results are released a useful 'Percentile Look Up' facility is added to the Results page of our website to allow you to see your exact ranking within the current year's cohort of test takers.
UCAT ANZ
What is the UCAT ANZ and do I need to sit this test?
The UCAT, which is predominantly used as an admissions test for UK universities, has now been adopted by a consortium of universities in Australia and New Zealand. We refer to these universities informally as the UCAT ANZ Consortium and their test as the UCAT ANZ. However it is identical in format and content to the UCAT. Candidates should only apply to sit this version of the test if they are intending to apply to a relevant course at one of the UCAT ANZ Consortium member universities in Australia or New Zealand. Further details can be found on their website.
What if I want to apply to universities in Australia / New Zealand and in the UK?
If you are an Australian/New Zealand applicant applying to both Australian/New Zealand and UK universities for 2022 entry please refer to this information.
Can I sit both the UCAT and UCAT ANZ?
Candidates are not permitted to sit both the UCAT and the UCAT ANZ in the same year. In this event only the test result obtained at the first sitting will be valid.
Contact Us
Pearson VUE Customer Services
+44 (0)208 616 5106
The Pearson VUE Customer Services UCAT helpline is available 08:00 to 20:00 UK time, Monday to Friday excluding English Bank Holidays.