UCAT 2020

University Clinical Aptitude Test

www.ucat.ac.uk/ucat
 This presentation covers…
• What is the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
and who uses it?
• The UCAT process
• Key Dates, Registration and Booking
• Costs and Bursaries
• What’s in the test?
• How should I prepare for the Test?
• Taking the Test, Marking and Results
• More information
 What is the UCAT?
• Admissions test used in the selection process by a consortium of UK university
medical and dental schools
• Introduced in 2006 by a consortium of universities to help assess other ‘skills
and attitudes’ needed by future doctors and dentists for successful clinical
practice 
• Previously known as the UKCAT. Whilst the name has changed, the test
content remains the same
• No curriculum content; the test examines innate skills
• Helps universities make more informed choices from amongst the many
highly-qualified applicants who apply for their medical and dental degree
programmes
• Used in collaboration with other admissions processes: UCAS application,
academic qualifications, references, MMI / interviews
What is the UCAT?
• You sit the test in the same year that you apply through UCAS
• You can only sit the test once each year
• 2 hour, multiple-choice, computer based test which you sit at a
local Pearson VUE test centre
• Assesses a range of mental abilities across 5 separately timed
subtests:
• Verbal Reasoning
• Decision Making
• Quantitative Reasoning
• Abstract Reasoning
• Situational Judgement
UCAT Universities
• University of Aberdeen • King's College London
• Anglia Ruskin University • University of Leicester
• Aston University • University of Liverpool
• University of Birmingham • University of Manchester
• University of Bristol • University of Newcastle
• Cardiff University • University of Nottingham
• University of Dundee • Plymouth University
• University of East Anglia • Queen Mary, University of London
• Edge Hill University • Queen's University Belfast
• University of Edinburgh • University of Sheffield
• University of Exeter • University of Southampton
• University of Glasgow • University of St Andrews
• Hull York Medical School • St George's, University of London
• Keele University • University of Sunderland
• Kent and Medway Medical School • University of Warwick
Key Dates 2020

Key dates for this year are changing due to the issues
caused by the current Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
situation. 
Please visit our website for the most up to date
information and for confirmation of when testing for
the 2020 UCAT will take place.
Registration & Booking
• Register and create an online account so you can
book your test
• Book early to ensure places are available at a local
test centre
• You can book your test online until the online
booking deadline (date for 2020 TBC)
• After that period you must contact the Pearson VUE
Customer Services Team by phone
Test Fees
• Tests taken in the EU July-August: £55
• Tests taken in the EU September-October: £80
• Tests taken outside the EU: £115

This information may be subject to change - please

visit our website for the most up to date information
for the 2020 UCAT test cycle.
Bursaries
• Bursaries that cover the full test fee are available to EU
candidates from low-income households
• You may be eligible if you receive: 16-19 Bursary; Free School
Meals; Learner Support; EMA; Full Maintenance Grant or Special
Support Grant; Income Support; Job Seeker's Allowance; Universal
Credit; Employment & Support Allowance; Asylum Support
• You may also be eligible if your parent/guardian receives:
Child Tax Credit; Income Support; Job Seeker's Allowance; Universal
Credit; Employment & Support Allowance; Asylum Support
• Check the website for more details about the criteria, how
to apply, by what deadline, and what evidence is required
Access Arrangements
• If you are entitled to extra time and/or rest breaks for public
examinations based upon a medical diagnosis or report from a
specialist teacher we offer a number of versions of the test
which should meet your needs (UCATSEN = 25% extra time,
50% extra time, rest breaks)
• Applications for these arrangements must be accompanied by
suitable official documentation and be approved by UCAT
• Likely to relate to dyslexia, dyspraxia, etc. but may apply to a
range of other medical conditions
• See the website for full details of how to apply for these,
including the application deadline
What is in the Test?
Verbal reasoning Assesses the ability to critically evaluate information
that is presented in a written form
Assesses the ability to apply logic to reach a decision
Decision making or conclusion, evaluate arguments & analyse statistical
information

Quantitative reasoning Assesses the ability to critically evaluate information

presented in a numerical form

Abstract reasoning Assesses the use of convergent and divergent thinking

to infer relationships from information
Measures the capacity to understand real world
Situational judgement situations and to identify critical factors & appropriate
behaviour in dealing with them
Test Format (UCAT)
Timing
Subtest Questions (includes 1 min per subtest for
instruction)

Verbal Reasoning 44 22 minutes

Decision Making 29 32 minutes
Quantitative Reasoning 36 25 minutes
Abstract Reasoning 55 14 minutes
Situational Judgement 69 27 minutes
Total time   120 minutes
Verbal Reasoning
• The test assesses your ability to read and think carefully about
information presented in passages and to determine whether
specific conclusions can be drawn from information
presented.  You are not expected to use prior knowledge to
answer the questions
• 21 minutes 44 questions 11 passages
• Some questions assess critical reasoning skills, requiring
candidates to make inferences and draw conclusions from
information
• For other questions you decide whether the statement
provided follows logically from the information in the passage
Verbal Reasoning
Verbal Reasoning
Decision Making
• This subtest assesses the ability to apply logic to reach a
decision or conclusion, evaluate arguments and analyse
statistical information
• 31 minutes 29 questions
associated with diagrams, text, charts or graphs
• There are a number of different question types including
logical puzzles, syllogisms and Venn diagrams
• All questions are standalone and do not share data
Decision Making
Decision Making
Quantitative Reasoning
• The test assesses your ability to use numerical skills to solve
problems
• 24 minutes 36 questions
associated with tables, charts, and/or graphs
• It assumes familiarity with numbers, e.g. ratios,
percentages, averages, fractions, etc.
• A basic calculator is available for use in this section
Quantitative Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning
Abstract Reasoning
• The test assesses your ability to identify patterns amongst
abstract shapes where irrelevant and distracting material
may lead to incorrect conclusions
• The test therefore measures your ability to change track,
critically evaluate and generate hypotheses and requires
you to query judgements as you go along
• There are 4 different questions types in this test
• 13 minutes 55 questions
associated with numerous sets of shapes
Abstract Reasoning
Abstract Reasoning
Situational Judgement
• The test measures your capacity to understand real
world situations and to identify critical factors and
appropriate behaviour in dealing with them
• It assesses the key traits of integrity, perspective taking
and team involvement, resilience and adaptability
• SJTs are used widely in medical selection, including
selection of Foundation Doctors, GPs and other
medical specialties
• 26 minutes 69 questions   21 scenarios
(consisting of between 2 and 6 responses)
Situational Judgement
Situational Judgement
How should I prepare?
• Although it is a test of aptitude rather than academic
knowledge, you should still allow time to prepare
thoroughly for the UCAT
• We recommend you spend around 25-30 hours
preparing for the test
• Start at least 4-6 weeks before your test date
• Use the FREE resources available on the UCAT website
(we have over 1,000 example questions)
Practice Tests and Resources
Official Guide Question Banks
Tour Tutorial UCAT Official App
Question Tutorial Practice Tests

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Commercial Preparation
Materials
• Whilst there are many commercial companies offering
coaching for the test, we do not work with any of these
companies or endorse the use of their materials
• Taking advantage of these opportunities can cost a great deal
of money
• We would advise you to be sceptical about claims they can
help you do well in the test by coaching
• Their materials and scoring may not necessarily of the
standard you will encounter in the UCAT
• This may distort your performance whilst practising and give
you misleading indicators of your anticipated score
Tips & Advice
• If you have not studied maths beyond GCSE level (or
recently), revisit and practice these skills (QR and DM
subtests)
• Brush up on your mental maths (QR)
• Practice your speed reading skills (VR)
• Don’t be fazed by Abstract Reasoning, although this may
be new you’ll soon start to recognise patterns (colour,
shape, size, rotation, symmetry)
• Read the GMC Guidelines on Good Medical Practice if
you are struggling with SJT
Tips & Advice
• Practise the test timings, try to answer all the questions,
don’t leave blanks
• Remember that no points are deducted for wrong
answers so if you’re stuck use your best guess
• Use the Flag and Review functions of the test effectively
to manage your time
• If you are not well, reschedule your test to a later date –
even if you lose your test fee. In presenting yourself for
testing, you are declaring yourself fit, we won’t consider
this as a mitigating circumstance
Taking the Test
• Arrive at the Test Centre at least 15 minutes before you are due to
start. If you are late you may not be allowed to test and will have
to pay again
• Very important - make sure you take the right ID or you will not be
allowed to sit the test!
• Make sure they give you a booklet and pen
• Other people will be testing in the same room as you so you can
ask for ear plugs or headphones to limit disturbance – this is not
like a school exam
• If you experience any issues during your test you must notify the
invigilator immediately
Marking
• Your UCAT result will comprise of:
• A score of between 1200 to 3600
• A banding for Situational Judgement

• Verbal Reasoning – 300 to 900

• Decision Making – 300 to 900
• Quantitative Reasoning – 300 to 900
• Abstract Reasoning – 300 to 900
• Situational Judgement – Band 1 to 4 (1 = highest)

Total mean average score in 2019 = 2483

Results
• Results are available on the day of your test
• Before you submit your UCAS application check
how universities use the test or you might be
wasting an application
• We liaise with UCAS to confirm your university
choices and pass your results to your university
choices directly in early November
• You do not need to do anything
More Information
• Visit the UCAT website: ucat.ac.uk/ucat
• Follow UCAT on social media to see EXTRA FREE
practice questions, revision tips, reminders, and get
the 2020 scores as soon as they are released - this is
also the easiest way for us to update you on changes
to testing dates due to the issues caused by the
current Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)  
                                 @ucatofficial

                              OfficialUCAT