The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is a two-hour five-part admission test, which is designed and offered by what is referred to as the UCAT Consortium. The test is used by UK medical and dental schools, as a selection process to screen applicants.

Candidates are only permitted to take UCAT once per admission cycle (applying for Autumn semester, Spring semester), with several dates for testing available, ranging from July to October. The five parts will be tested consecutively, with no pause between. The parts are Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning and Situational Judgement. The first four parts will be graded by a point system, and Situational Judgment will be graded from Band 1 to Band 4, with Band 1 as an exemplary performance, and Band 4 as a poor performance.

However, the same UCAT result may mean different things for the candidate’s acceptance, depending on which university is shown these results. Some universities may only look at a certain part, some all five, or they can use it as a benchmark solely for borderline cases. A poor performance in Abstract reasoning, and a Band 1 performance in Situational Judgment, may get a candidate accepted at one university, and rejected at the other, or vice versa. It is an applicant’s duty to check each university, or with a careers counsellor to see how a result can weigh to their acceptance. Cardiff University only brings up a candidate’s UCAT result with another candidate’s, when they both have the similar merits in academic transcripts, references, to see which candidate is suitable for an interview.

The standard test is 2 hours. Once the test has started it cannot be paused but each subtest is preceded by a 1 minute instruction section. Candidates can apply for Access Arrangements to sit an extended version of the test if they have a documented medical condition or disability.

1. Verbal Reasoning
Assesses your ability to critically evaluate information presented in a written form.

2. Decision Making
Assesses your ability to make sound decisions and judgements using complex information.

[29 Questions in 31 minutes]

3.Quantitative Reasoning
Assesses your ability to critically evaluate information presented in a numerical form.

[36 Questions in 25 minutes]

4. Abstract Reasoning
Assesses your use of convergent and divergent thinking to infer relationships from information.

[50 Questions in 12 minutes]

5. Situational Judgement
Measures your capacity to understand real world situations and to identify critical factors and appropriate behaviour in dealing with them.

[66 Questions in 26 minutes]