So, you’ve decided to pursue a career in medicine or dentistry in Australia or New Zealand and now you’ve stumbled across this mysterious acronym: UCAT.
Hey there! I’m Jayatee, a final-year Monash medical student who was once exactly where you are now, nervously Googling “how to prepare for the UCAT” and wondering if I’d ever figure it all out. For many students, the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) feels like a huge, confusing hurdle. But don’t worry, you’re not alone. This guide is here to walk you through everything you need to know about the UCAT: what it is, what’s in it, how to prepare, and our top tips to help you succeed.
Whether you’re just starting out or feeling overwhelmed by conflicting advice online, this guide will simplify it all. Let’s dive in!
What is the UCAT?
The UCAT ANZ is a 2-hour, computer-based admissions test required by most medical and dental programs in Australia and New Zealand. It’s designed to assess qualities like problem-solving, critical thinking, and professionalism - traits essential to succeed in medicine.
Students are eligible to sit the UCAT in their final year of school or a gap year, typically between July and August. You can only sit it once per year, and the score is valid for one application cycle.
The 5 UCAT Sections (Explained Simply)
1. Verbal Reasoning (44 Questions, 22 Minutes)
Tests your ability to read and understand written information.
What to expect:
In this section, you will be given a passage and there will be 4 consecutive questions based on each passage. The questions can be either True / False / Can’t tell or statement-based questions.
Tips:
- Practice speed-reading without losing accuracy.
- Skim for keywords
- Mentally take note of the type of information in each paragraph
- Avoid overthinking; stick to the option best supported by the text.
- Do not change your answer unless you are 100% sure the passage supports a different answer option.
2. Decision Making (35 Questions, 37 Minutes)
Assesses your logical reasoning and problem-solving ability.
What to expect:
You’ll face logic puzzles, Venn diagrams, probability scenarios, and syllogisms.
Tips:
- Get familiar with the different question types early.
- Draw diagrams quickly to visualise problems.
- Use the calculator efficiently for longer questions requiring mathematical calculations
- Begin practice questions with a focus on accuracy and understanding the solving process, then focus on timing.
3. Quantitative Reasoning (36 Questions, 26 Minutes)
Tests numerical problem-solving skills.
What to expect:
Word problems focusing on math concepts including percentages, ratios, averages, tables and graphs.
Tips:
- Brush up on Year 10–11 level math.
- Use mental math tricks to save time.
- Don’t get stuck—flag hard questions and move on.
- Get used to the UCAT calculator and how to use it efficiently
4. Situational Judgement (69 Questions, 26 Minutes)
Tests your understanding of professional behaviour in real-life scenarios.
What to expect:
You’ll read short workplace or ethical situations and judge how appropriate certain responses are.
Tips:
- Read GMC/ethical guidelines to understand what "professional" looks like.
- Think: empathy, safety, honesty, teamwork.
- Practise justifying your choices to build your moral compass.
- This is the last section of the UCAT, so practice keeping up the stamina to complete this section well without burning out from previous sections.
How is the UCAT Scored?Each of the three sections (Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning) are scored on a scale from 300 to 900, giving you a total score out of 2700. The final section, Situational Judgement, is scored separately in bands from Band 1 (highest) to Band 4 (lowest). Many universities prefer candidates with Band 1 or 2, as it reflects strong judgement in ethical and professional scenarios. 💡 Quick Example:
There is no pass/fail mark for the UCAT. Your score will be compared against other medical/dental program applicants. The higher your score, the better your chances of being shortlisted for interviews at UCAT-requiring medical schools. |
When Should I Start Preparing?
Most students start around 3–6 months before their UCAT test date, but it's never “too early” to build familiarity. Starting early allows for spaced learning (which improves long-term retention) and reduces last-minute stress.
A common approach is:
- 3 months out: Build skills and learn strategies.
- 2 months out: Start doing full timed sections.
- 1 month out: Take full-length mock exams under test conditions.
Best UCAT Prep Resources
Here are some student-approved platforms and tools:
- Medentry / Medify – Known for realistic question banks and full mocks.
- UCAT ANZ official website resources – Free practice questions and mocks.
- YouTube channels – For visual learners and section walkthroughs.
- Study groups – Explaining strategies out loud helps reinforce your learning.
Tips That Actually Work
- Work on timing from Day 1: UCAT is fast paced, so train yourself to work under time pressure early.
- Don’t aim for perfection, aim for progress: You won’t get every question right, and that’s okay.
- Aim to logically reason your answers using information provided to build confidence and accuracy: You won’t get every question right, and that’s okay.This also helps to minimise second guessing and changing to the wrong answer.
- Focus on your weakest sections: Use score tracking tools to analyse where you’re losing marks.
- Take full mock exams weekly in the last month: Replicating test-day pressure is the best preparation.
- Prioritise mental stamina: It’s a 2-hour exam with minimal breaks. Practice building endurance!
- Know your keyboard shortcuts: The UCAT interface is clunky, so mastering shortcuts like flagging and calculator use can save precious seconds.
- Review your mock tests thoroughly: Reviewing your test is arguably as important as doing a mock test. Whilst reviewing, you can check which strategies worked well and reflect on questions you struggled with in the test.
My UCAT Prep Experience (And What I Wish I Knew)
Like many students, I went in thinking “I’ll just wing it” because I was busy with school subjects and did not think it was possible to train for the UCAT. Big mistake.
The UCAT is not like school exams, it’s a skill-based test. Once I realised this, I shifted to daily short sessions, tracking weak areas, and simulating real test conditions. That’s when my scores improved.
If I could go back, I’d tell myself:
- Be consistent, not perfect.
- Don’t cram the night before.
- Don’t compare your prep to others, everyone progresses differently.
Final Words of Encouragement
The UCAT can feel intimidating, but remember: it’s just one part of your application, and it can be improved with practice.
Start small, stay consistent, and don’t let early mock scores define your ability. Every top scorer was once a beginner who couldn’t decide whether “Decision Making” was their most fun or most dreaded section of the test.
So breathe, start today, believe in your hard work and trust the process. You've got this! Need extra guidance? If you found these tips helpful, I’d personally love to support you as your tutor this year. You can view my profile on Learnmate and contact me to discuss tutoring options.
