UCAT Frequently Asked Questions

Please refer to the UCAT 2025 page for further details.

Please refer to the information on our UCAT Test Dates page.

Please refer to the information on Eligibility.

When you log into your UCAT account after successfully completing the account registration process you will see a box that asks for a Private Access Code (PAC). A PAC is only issued to candidates approved to sit an extended version of the test or the OnVUE online proctored UCAT and are only valid for use once booking opens. Candidates booking the standard UCAT do not need a PAC.

You do not need to register (create an account) each year you wish to sit the test. If you have previously created a UCAT account please use this to book your test. Please do not set up a new account as multiple accounts are not permitted. Please refer to the information for Returning Candidates.

If you have forgotten your username and/or password there are options to retrieve these from the sign in page. If you continue to have problems signing in then you need to contact Pearson VUE Customer Services.  

Please refer to the FAQs at the bottom of the ID Policy page.

Account creation opens in advance of booking. Please check the test dates to see if booking is open.

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 to have your account access reset.

Occasionally, account details must be validated before your account set up can be completed. You may need to wait (up to 1 working day) for an email from Pearson VUE with additional instructions.

If this email has not arrived (after checking junk/spam folders) please contact Pearson VUE Customer Services.

Delays to account registration will not be accepted as a mitigating circumstance for missing the booking deadline.

The email from Pearson VUE containing your username, confirming your UCAT account has been created may have been diverted into your junk/spam folder. This email is only for your records. 

If you can sign in to your UCAT Account using the username and password you set up during registration, you have successfully completed the registration process. You are now ready to book your test when booking opens. 

You are only assigned a candidate ID (in the format UKCAT123456) after successfully registering. You can find your candidate ID in the left corner of your account.

Registration for the UCAT 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 the UCAT Test Dates for details.

You are assigned a unique Candidate ID number when you create a UCAT account with Pearson VUE. The Candidate ID number is in the format (UKCAT + 6 digits) and is given in the top left of your UCAT account.

Your Candidate ID number should be used in all correspondence regarding the test. If you are struggling to find your Candidate ID please refer to this guide.

The test fee is payable at the time of booking by major debit/credit card or UCAT bursary voucher. 

• Tests taken in the UK: £70
• Tests taken outside the UK: £115

Our Bursary Scheme enables UK candidates in financial need to sit the UCAT for free.

Check to see if you are eligible for a UCAT Bursary.

You may only test once in any year; multiple testing will be treated as misconduct. There is no penalty for taking the UCAT again in subsequent years.

Candidates are not permitted to sit both the UCAT and UCAT ANZ in the same year under any circumstances. This is considered candidate misconduct and all results may be withdrawn.

Yes, overseas test centres are available in many countries. Use the test centre locator to find your nearest centre.

Yes. Tests can be rescheduled or cancelled without charge as long as you give appropriate notice. The full policy is on the Rescheduling and Cancelling page.

Please refer to the section on 'Missed Tests (No-Shows)' on the Rescheduling and Cancelling page.

It is not possible to change the length of an existing test appointment. Any existing booking needs to be cancelled (giving appropriate notice) before a different test version can be booked.

For example, if you book a standard test appointment and then receive approval to sit the UCATSEN (25% extra time), you must first cancel your UCAT appointment before the booking system will allow you to book a UCATSEN (using your Private Access Code).

If you have used a bursary voucher to book your test you may re-use the same code. The date, time and location of your new booking will depend on availability.

It may be because you have missed the deadline to reschedule. You cannot book again until the status of your missed appointment changes to a ‘no-show’ state (usually within 24 hours).

After this, you may book another appointment (subject to availability) but the standard test fee will be charged again.

Rescheduling tests with accommodations

If your test appointment includes an arranged accommodation (e.g. testing in a separate room or permission to take in a coloured overlay), you cannot reschedule or cancel through your UCAT account. You will need to phone Pearson VUE Customer Services (+44 (0) 208 616 5106) to reschedule your test (and rearrange any accommodations).

Rescheduling after the booking deadline

Once booking closes (12 noon BST on 19 September) you need to phone Pearson VUE Customer Services (+44 (0) 208 616 5106) to reschedule your test.

• You still need to give the appropriate amount of notice, taking into account the helpline opening hours (Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 17:00 UK time).
• For example, if your test centre appointment is on a Monday at 10:00, in order to reschedule (without losing your fee), you need to contact Pearson VUE Customer Services before 17:00 (UK time) on the preceding Friday.

Refunds are normally completed within 5 working days but this is dependent on your card issuer.

Yes, you can still apply for a bursary if you have already paid for your test. You will be given instructions on how to obtain a refund of your test fee if your application is approved.

If you have already paid for your test, you can arrange a refund up to 17:00 (BST) on 25 October by emailing Pearson VUE Customer Services. Please complete ALL fields and quote your Bursary Voucher Code for the refund to be processed. You cannot obtain a refund from the UCAT Office.

Once your request has been processed, refunds are normally completed within 5 working days but this is dependent on your card issuer.

We do not keep evidence or applications from previous test years for data protection reasons. You must make a new application for a bursary and provide evidence that meets the requirements of the year of testing.

Please contact the UCAT Office with these queries.

Details of the access arrangements available for the UCAT and how to apply for them, can be found on the Access Arrangements page.

At the bottom of the Access Arrangements page is a list of specific FAQs which may answer your query.

If that information does not answer your query, please contact the UCAT Office.

Please contact the UCAT Office with these queries.

Each year several test forms are created. The test form that a candidate sits is selected at random and within each subtest questions are presented randomly. This ensures that every candidate's test experience is different.  

All test forms are equated and balanced to ensure that the scaled scores that candidates receive are equivalent between forms. Questions in the UCAT have been pretested and have passed rigorous data analysis and statistical screening. Analysis of test performance is done regularly throughout the test window and after testing ends.

Details of the format of the UCAT including timings can be found on the Test Format page.

Eligible candidates can apply for Access Arrangements to sit an extended version of the test.

Candidates should use the free, official preparation materials to support their test preparation. 

Start by using the UCAT Preparation Plan to create a personalised study plan. 

We recommend you begin your preparation with the Tour Tutorial and Question Tutorials before you move onto the Question Banks, and finally progress to the timed Practice Tests. 

Read our statement on commercial preparation materials.

Please read our statement on commercial preparation materials.

You must arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time to complete the check-in process and bring photographic ID that meets the Photo ID Policy.

Please refer to the Test Day page for details of the check-in process.

You must bring photographic identification to your test which meets all the requirements detailed in the Photo ID Policy and is accepted in the country where you are testing.

If you do not have the correct photo ID you will not be allowed to test and you will lose your test fee.

You will be asked to store personal belongings in a designated area before you enter the test room.  There are exceptions permitted for religious, cultural and medical apparel.

For clarity, nothing is allowed into the testing room apart from the indoor clothes you are wearing, your photo ID, permitted comfort aids and approved access arrangements.

Food and drink (including water) is not permitted in the testing room (unless approved as an access arrangement) as it may damage technical equipment. If brought it must be stored in a designated area and used outside the testing room.

Staff will conduct a routine visual inspection of your clothing, hands/arms, ears (if covered) and any comfort aids or approved access arrangements. This is for security purposes.

Please read the UCAT Test Rules before your test. These also explain what to do if you experience a problem during testing.

If you need a break (e.g. to use the toilets), raise your hand to notify the invigilator. Unless you have been approved for pause-the-clock breaks, the test cannot be paused. You will lose time when out of the room. You may want to take breaks between subtests to limit impact on test time.

Please refer to the Test Rules and the information on the Test Incident page which explain what to do if there is a problem during your test.

Our ‘Fitness to Test’ Policy means if a candidate attends their test, they are declaring themselves fit to take the test.

If you are concerned that illness, injury or personal circumstances mean you are unable to declare yourself ‘fit to test’, please refer to the Fitness to Test Policy for advice before booking or sitting a test.

If you report a problem during testing that you believe has not been satisfactorily resolved at the test centre or when testing online, you may request an incident investigation.

Please refer to the Test Incident page for advice on how to proceed.

Please refer to the information on Scoring.

You will receive a copy of your UCAT score report before you leave the Pearson VUE test centre.

Your score report will also be accessible through your UCAT account. Please 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.

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Preliminary mean scores and deciles will be published in mid-September. Final mean scores, deciles and percentiles will be published on the Test Statistics page shortly after testing ends.

UCAT will deliver your result directly to your chosen UK universities in early November.

Universities will only accept results provided directly by the UCAT Office.

You do not need to pass your test result to your university choices or include it on your UCAS application.

After the 15 October application deadline, UCAT works with UCAS on a data matching exercise to obtain your application choices that require a UCAT result. You do not need to tell us your UCAS PID or application choices as we obtain this data directly from UCAS.

The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT ANZ) is used by a consortium of universities in Australia and New Zealand for their medical, dental and clinical science degree programmes. The UCAT ANZ is identical in format and content to the UCAT.

Candidates intending to apply to Australian/New Zealand consortium universities and UK/Partner Consortium Universities (for 2026 entry) should sit the UCAT ANZ for the following reasons:  

• Australian and New Zealand admissions deadlines are earlier than in the UK.
• Australian/New Zealand universities only accept UCAT ANZ results. 

Please refer to the information on Eligibility. 

Candidates are not permitted to sit both the UCAT and UCAT ANZ in the same year under any circumstances. This is considered candidate misconduct and all results may be withdrawn.