Across the UK, students are diligently preparing for and starting to sit their GCSEs and A-Level exams but another significant milestone on the horizon for those aspiring to pursue a career in medicine, dentistry or associated health professions is the UCAT exam.
Designed as a gateway to esteemed medical courses at select universities, the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) demands meticulous preparation and strategic planning, much like that of other critical exams students may have prepared for. Through this guide, we are offering insights, tips and resources to support UCAT exam preparation and empower students during this pivotal stage in their academic and professional journey.
Understanding the UCAT Exam
The UCAT exam is a standardised test that is designed to assess the qualities students are expected to possess for a successful career in healthcare, like their personal behaviours and attitude, as well as their cognitive ability.
The test is completed electronically and is made up of five sections including verbal reasoning (the format of which many students will be familiar with if they sat the 11 plus exam), quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning, decision making and a situational judgement test (‘SJT’).
Which Universities Require Students to Sit the UCAT Exam?
At the time of writing, there are 44 universities in the UK that require students to sit the UCAT exam should they want to secure a place on a medical course. A few universities previously required BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test) exam results to support an application, however this exam format is being discontinued from this year onwards, so just the UCAT will remain.
The nature of applications themselves may vary among individual universities and continue to evolve over time. With that in mind, we recommend any students considering sitting the UCAT exam should also review the specific course guidelines for the universities they are applying for to ensure they are equipped with the key information to support an application. The following universities currently require applicants to sit the UCAT exam to be considered for a coveted place on their medical courses:
- University of Aberdeen
- Anglia Ruskin University
- Aston University
- Bangor University
- University of Birmingham
- Brighton & Sussex Medical School
- University of Bristol
- Brunel University London
- University of Cambridge (this institution previously required the BMAT exam)
- Cardiff University
- University of Central Lancashire
- University of Chester
- University of Dundee
- Edge Hill University
- University of East Anglia
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Exeter
- University of Glasgow
- Hull York Medical School
- Imperial College London
- Keele University
- Kent and Medway Medical School
- King’s College London
- Lancaster University
- University of Leeds (this institution previously required the BMAT exam)
- University of Leicester
- University of Liverpool
- University of Manchester
- University of Newcastle
- University of Nottingham
- University of Oxford (this institution previously required the BMAT exam)
- Plymouth University
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry (part of the Queen Mary University of London)
- Queen’s University Belfast
- University of Sheffield
- University of Southampton
- University of St Andrews
- St George’s, University of London
- University of Sunderland
- University College London (this institution previously required the BMAT exam)
- University of Warwick
- University of Worcester
Select universities in Australia and New Zealand also require students to sit the UCAT exam should they wish to enrol in medical courses. At the time of writing, this applies to 15 universities across Australia and 2 universities in New Zealand.
Bookings for the UCAT exam in the UK typically open in late Spring and the exam itself is sat during the Summer and beginning of the Autumn term. Australia and New Zealand follow similar time frames but as their seasons and term dates differ from the UK, applications tend to open around March and the exam is sat between June – August.
Any students considering applying for international study should bear this in mind and contact the admissions team at their chosen universities to confirm whether UCAT results are required and the key timelines for international applicants.
Additional Preparation: A-Levels, Interviews & UCAS
In addition to the UCAT exam, there are two additional criteria students will be assessed on before being offered a place through UCAS. The first is A-Level exam performance and the second is their UCAS application itself and follow up university interviews. Fortunately, both of these are areas a private tutor can support with to help students excel during the application process.
UCAT Exam Practice
In the lead up to the UCAT exam itself, private tutors can provide invaluable support to students so the process feels comfortable and familiar by the time they sit the test.
Our tutors are no strangers to the UCAT exam and format so they are equipped to develop effective strategies for tackling each section of the exam, provide practice questions and mock exam environments and offer constructive feedback to help students improve their performance ahead of the real thing.
A-Level Exam Preparation
Projected and actual results are taken into consideration when universities give offers to prospective students, so it is important for students to be prepared and confident going into their A-Level exams.
Private tutors can support students in the leadup to A-Level exams by providing targeted support and guidance for a range of subjects, including those relevant to a student’s path in medicine, such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths. Whether a student is struggling with complex concepts or simply looking to enhance their understanding and exam technique, our expert tutors will tailor their teaching approach to suit each individual’s needs. They can offer one-on-one tuition, review past papers and provide additional resources to supplement students’ learning so they are set up for success.
UCAS Applications & Personal Statements
A student’s UCAT score is taken into consideration alongside their UCAS application for medical and dental courses so it is imperative that the UCAS application is polished and really brings to life a student’s academic achievements, extracurricular activities and any relevant work or personal experiences.
At Hampstead and Frognal Tutors, the specialist tutors we work with are well versed in crafting compelling and standout personal statements that help students secure coveted university places. We can work with students to submit a UCAS application and personal statement that showcases their passion for medicine or dentistry, highlights their experience to date and leaves a long-lasting impression on the admissions team.
University Interviews
With a stellar UCAS application submitted and UCAT exam results in-hand, students can turn their attention to university interviews. While the interview process will vary across different institutions and for different courses, tutors can offer valuable insights into what admissions tutors are looking for and help students to present themselves in the best possible light.
Equally, tutors can support students by helping them to familiarise themselves with common interview questions and practising their responses in a mock interview environment that help students to feel more confident and articulate during the actual interviews.
Key Milestones for UCAT Exam Applicants
Whether students are hoping to sit the UCAT exam this summer or they are getting ahead and thinking about the UCAT exam from 2025 onwards, there are some important milestones to take into consideration.
Registration opens
Typically, new candidates looking to sit the UCAT exam in the UK can create a UCAT account from early May. This is the first step to be completed ahead of booking the test itself and registrations are completed using the Pearson VUE system.
For those who have not come across Pearson VUE before, they are an international testing company that provides exams for a variety of purposes. Students or parents of students who have sat the LNAT exam may be familiar with the Pearson VUE registration process already but it is quite straight forward.
To register for a UCAT account, applicants will need to provide a valid form of photo ID that meets the UCAT identification policy requirements. The ID must show the applicant’s legal name and be the form of identification they intend to present on the day of the exam itself.
Booking and sitting the UCAT exam
In 2024, booking for the UCAT 2024 opens on 18 June from 6am BST. Those planning to sit the exam can register before this point but will not be able to book the test itself until this date.
The exam window itself then begins on 8th July 2024 and runs until 26th September 2024 so students can book their test at a time and date that best suits them within this period.
Registration for a UCAT account and test bookings themselves will close on 19th September 2024, a week prior to the final test date.
Receiving results
Students will receive their UCAT exam results straight away as the test is computerised. This means students should have a clear idea of how they measure up to other students and whether they meet their chosen university’s entry requirements before submitting UCAS applications.
UCAT will share results with your chosen universities automatically so once you’ve completed your UCAT exam and UCAS application, there is no need to do anything further with the results.
The UCAT exam can only be sat once per academic year and results are valid for the upcoming UCAS admissions cycle (for example, results from those sitting the exam in 2024 will be valid for the 2025 UCAS admissions cycle only).
If for any reason the exam doesn’t go as planned and you get unexpected results that don’t meet the needs of your chosen course, there is the option to retake the UCAT the following year and defer entry. Otherwise there are also a number of other paths available.
Do note that UCAT application and exam dates vary year on year, so if you are not applying in 2024, it is worth checking the UCAT website when you’re ready to apply in case timelines have shifted.
Preparation for the UCAT exam requires careful planning but equipped with key information, timelines and the support of private tutors when needed, students can maximise their chances of success and confidently approach the next phase of their journey towards a career in medicine or dentistry.
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