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.

Can my school register me for the test?
You need to register for your test personally – this cannot be done by your school/college.

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 please contact Pearson VUE Customer Services.

Why do you collect information about my parent(s)/carer(s) when I register?
UCAT seeks to minimise bias in the test due to factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic background. In order to do this, we ask you for information about your nationality, ethnicity, parents' occupation and experience of healthcare settings. For clarity, this data is not passed to any University. By parent(s)/carer(s), we mean the people who have fulfilled the role of parents in the household in which you grew up, who may or may not be your biological parents.  More information about how we use your data can be found here.

Please print and answer this questionnaire with the assistance of your parent(s)/carer(s). You can then use the information to help answer the questions during registration.

How can I pay for my test?
The test fee is payable online at the time of booking by major credit card (Visa, Mastercard or UK Visa debit card). The fee is always charged in GBP (pounds sterling).  If you or your parents do not have access to a Visa, MasterCard credit card or UK Visa debit card to pay for the test fee, you can pay by purchasing a Prepaid Visa or MasterCard. You can also check with your local bank for prepaid credit card options.  If you are struggling to pay for your test using any of these options please contact Pearson VUE Customer Services to discuss.  Candidates may like to check whether they are eligible for a bursary to cover the full cost of the fees.

Why is the test fee higher for the September/October UCAT?
There is no difference in content between the UCAT sat during the Summer or Autumn period. The increased price reflects demand on resources at particular times of the year. We recommend candidates sit the test during the Summer period and pay the lower test fee.  Test fees depend on the test centre location, not on your place of residence or nationality.

Can I book to sit the test at my school?
No, our tests can only be taken at Pearson VUE test centres throughout the UK and internationally.  Please check the test locator for your nearest centre.

Access Arrangements

What should I do if the access arrangements on offer do not meet my needs?
You should still submit a request with supporting evidence and the UCAT Office will advise you on your options.  You should aim to do this at least 10 working days before the close of registration for your test.

Bursary Scheme

My bursary application has been rejected but I think I should be eligible, what should I do?
This could be because you have not supplied the correct form of supporting documentation or enough evidence of your entitlement. You should refer to the email you will have been sent for more information regarding required documentation including examples.  If you have any queries regarding this decision please email the UCAT Office with additional supporting documentation if necessary. 

Do bursary vouchers expire?
Yes, there is an expiry date.  In 2019 this is 16 October.

Can I apply for a bursary if I have already paid for my test?
Yes, you can still apply as long as you do so before the bursary deadline.  Once you have your bursary voucher code you will need to contact Pearson VUE Customer Services to arrange for a refund.  You must redeem your voucher before it expires.  

Can I apply for a bursary after I have tested? 
Yes, you can still apply as long as you do so before the bursary deadline.  Once you have your bursary voucher code you will need to contact Pearson VUE Customer Services to arrange for a refund.  You must redeem your voucher before it expires.  

Where do I enter my bursary voucher?
During the checkout process there is the option to 'Add a voucher or promo code'.  Enter your bursary voucher code here and click apply.

Practice Materials

Are there any practice questions or preparation materials available?
Yes, there are extensive resources available on the Practice Tests page which are available to everyone, regardless of whether you have registered or booked your test yet. These have been developed so that you have everything you need to support your preparation, including a Question Tutorial, a Question Bank with over 1,000 free example questions and 3 free fully timed Practice Tests which mimic the live test environment.

Do I have to pay for these preparation materials?
No, all resources contained on the UCAT website are FREE.  Candidates should be aware that whilst there are many commercial companies publishing books and offering coaching for the test, we do not work with any of these companies or endorse the use of their materials.

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.

Complaints

How do I make a complaint about my test
Please refer to our Complaints and Appeals Policy for details.

Results

How do I get a copy of my score report?
When you leave the test centre you will be given details of how you can log-on to the Pearson VUE system and retrieve your UCAT Score Report.  Results will be uploaded within 24 hours of completing your test, and can be accessed through you Pearson VUE UCAT account at any time after this.  If you need a copy of a score report from a prior testing year (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.

Do I need to tell you my UCAS PID or the universities/courses I have applied to?
You do not need to tell us this information.  After the UCAS application deadline has passed, we work with UCAS to match our data with theirs to obtain your university choices.

When do you deliver my results?
UCAT and SJTace results are delivered to universities in the first week of November. We do not specify the date as each university may access the data at different stages during their admissions process.  Due to the number of candidates sitting our tests each year we cannot check or confirm that individual results have been sent.

How do I know my ranking?
In 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 Test Statistics 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.

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 2020 entry you need to sit the UCAT ANZ during July.  You are required to sit this test so that your results can be delivered to your Australian/New Zealand medical school choices by their admissions deadlines, which are earlier than the UK. 

You then need you to email the UCAT Office by 15th October 2019 (the UCAS application deadline in the UK) to confirm the following information:

• Your name
• Your Candidate ID number in the format ANZ12345678 (which you’ll receive when you register for the UCAT ANZ)
• Your UCAS PID
• The name of the UK universities and courses (including course codes) to which you have applied

We will then verify your UCAT ANZ score with the UCAT ANZ Office and communicate this to your chosen UK universities.  You do not need to sit both the UCAT and the UCAT ANZ. 

The website for the UCAT ANZ test is www.ucat.edu.au/ and their contact details can be found here www.ucat.edu.au/contact-us/

Other applicants or those applying for different entry points should always check entry requirements with the university they intend to apply to.  UCAT cannot advise a candidate on their applicant status (e.g. home/domestic or international/overseas).  Applicants should always seek clarification on this matter from their chosen universities. 

Please note that a UCAT (UK) result is not accepted by Australian/New Zealand universities.

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.