UCAT has a responsibility to candidates and other stakeholders to ensure the integrity of the test. To do this, we have put in place robust measures to identify and deal with candidate misconduct.
Candidates are expected to meet minimum standards of acceptable behaviour during testing and any interactions with the UCAT Consortium, UCAT Consortium Office and Pearson staff. Candidates should familiarise themselves with the information on our Test Day page before testing.
Examples of misconduct include, but are not limited to the following:
- obtaining unauthorised access to test content;
- testing more than once in any test cycle without permission;
- sitting both the UCAT and UCAT ANZ in the same year;
- sitting the test if you have an affiliation with a UCAT coaching business, for example as a tutor or item developer, or having some financial interest in a UCAT coaching business;
- unacceptable behaviour or language during testing and during any interactions with the UCAT Consortium, UCAT Office or Pearson VUE staff;
- breach of security arrangements;
- impersonation (pretending to be someone else);
- failure to follow the test rules;
- failure to follow invigilator/proctor or other staff instructions;
- creating a disturbance;
- using or attempting to use prohibited aids (e.g. notes, note paper, calculators, mobile phone, audio/recording devices, dictionaries etc.);
- attempting to remove any notes from the testing room;
- copying/collusion or attempted copying/collusion;
- giving or receiving assistance from other individuals during the test;
- verbal or non-verbal communication with another candidate during the test;
- copying or recording questions or answers from the test using any means;
- misuse of pause-the-clock break functionality;
- using test questions for purposes other than sitting your test. This includes sharing content or information about any UCAT questions in any format (digital or otherwise) on the internet or to third parties;
- falsifying documents or giving false or misleading information at any point including when:
- creating a UCAT account or booking a test.
- checking in to test.
- presenting photo ID.
- applying for a UCAT bursary.
- applying for access arrangements or making arrangements for test accommodations.
- notifying UCAT or Pearson of any test incident.
- making a ‘fit to test’ case.
- applying to sit an online proctored test.
- making a complaint or appeal.
- making a UCAS application.
- altering results documentation or misrepresenting scores;
- breaching any of the website terms and conditions;
- any other form of cheating or gaining of an unfair advantage.
Sanctions applied must be justifiable, reasonable in scale and consistent in application.
Where allegations of misconduct are upheld, UCAT reserves the right to take the following actions:
- issue a warning that if the candidate commits misconduct within a set period of time, further specified sanctions will be applied;
- cancel a booking to sit the UCAT without a refund;
- withdraw a candidate’s result(s) for that test cycle;
- disqualify a candidate from sitting the test for a period of time (which may extend beyond the current test cycle);
- share the outcomes of the investigation with legitimate third parties (which may include UCAS and Consortium universities).
UCAT has rigorous procedures in place to detect instances of misconduct. We work with Pearson to identify and investigate suspected instances of misconduct. Pearson interrogate registration and test data on an annual basis to identify potentially fraudulent activity.
Cases of suspected misconduct may also be reported by:
- the test centre (or online proctor), or Customer Services
- universities
- a candidate or a third party
Cases of potential misconduct may be reported by email to the UCAT Consortium Office.
If candidates are suspected of misconduct during testing, the Invigilator will immediately terminate their test. The invigilator will report the violation to Pearson and the UCAT Consortium Office, along with any relevant evidence.
The Investigation
Misconduct during testing or in any other interactions with the UCAT Consortium, UCAT Consortium Office or Pearson staff will be thoroughly investigated.
The UCAT Consortium Office will always conduct a reasonable investigation into cases of misconduct and will endeavour to reach conclusions about what did or did not happen, even when the candidate contests evidence. In these circumstances the UCAT Consortium will decide whether, on the balance of probabilities, the alleged misconduct is more likely to have occurred than not.
Outcomes from the investigation
Where an allegation has been found to have been made in error no further action will be taken.
If the investigation concludes that misconduct has taken place, the UCAT Consortium Office will produce a preliminary report detailing the allegation(s), supporting evidence and initial recommendations for sanctions. This report will be shared with the candidate who will be invited to provide a statement for inclusion in the final report.
UCAT Consortium Board Review
The final report detailing the allegation(s), supporting evidence and initial recommendations for sanctions, along with any statement/evidence provided by the candidate, will be reviewed by two members of the UCAT Consortium Board.
Each member will consider the case, confirm correct procedures have been followed, request additional information if required and make a final decision on any sanctions to be applied.
Once the members of the UCAT Consortium Board have reached a joint decision, the UCAT Consortium Office will inform the candidate of the outcome.
UCAT aims to complete investigations into suspected misconduct within 10 working days of being notified.
The decision made by the UCAT Consortium Board is final and cannot be appealed.
