The UCAT has no science syllabus to learn, but there is plenty you can practise: reading passages accurately, using basic maths, working through logic problems and judging responses to professional situations. This guide explains the four subtests and the time available for each.
This guide covers the UK UCAT, which is used for medicine and dentistry at UK consortium universities and delivered by Pearson VUE. It draws on the official Test Format and Scoring page and the consortium's Question Tutorials. The UCAT ANZ has the same content, but its dates, fees and results processes are separate.
Last checked: 19 September 2026. The structure below is the one published for the current test (UCAT 2026). The consortium has not yet published the format for the next cycle. The structure has stayed the same since the 2025 changes, but check the official page before you sit.
UCAT Format at a Glance
| Subtest | Questions | Instruction section | Subtest time | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning (VR) | 44 | 1 min 30 s | 22 minutes | 300–900 |
| Decision Making (DM) | 35 | 1 min 30 s | 37 minutes | 300–900 |
| Quantitative Reasoning (QR) | 36 | 2 min | 26 minutes | 300–900 |
| Situational Judgement (SJT) | 69 | 1 min 30 s | 26 minutes | Band 1–4 |
That makes 184 questions in total. The subtest times add up to 111 minutes, and the instruction sections to 6.5 minutes. Together, that is 117 minutes 30 seconds for the standard test. Each subtest and instruction screen has its own timer. The standard test cannot be paused; approved rest-break arrangements are covered below.
There is no negative marking, and the test is not adaptive: your answers do not determine which questions you see next.
What Changed in 2025
The official UCAT 2025 page says Abstract Reasoning was withdrawn from 2025. The time it freed up went to the remaining subtests, and Decision Making got more questions. The consortium said Abstract Reasoning had lower predictive validity and was highly coachable.
This matters when you read older material. Anything describing five subtests, a total out of 3600 or an Abstract Reasoning section is out of date. The consortium also warns that commercial advice written before the change "may be incorrect".
Verbal Reasoning
- What it tests
whether you can read passages carefully and decide what conclusions they support. The official page says you are "not expected to use prior knowledge to answer the questions".
- Structure
11 passages with 4 questions each, 44 questions in 22 minutes. That averages 30 seconds per question, including reading time. Each question has one correct answer.
The official Verbal Reasoning tutorial groups the questions into five types:
- True / False / Can't Tell: decide whether the passage shows a statement is true, shows it is false, or does not give enough information.
- Incomplete statements: pick the option that best finishes a sentence, based on the passage.
- According to the passage: pick the answer the passage supports best.
- "Except" questions: find the one option the passage does not support.
- Most likely: weigh the evidence to find the best-supported conclusion, which may be less clear-cut.
The tutorial suggests two approaches: skim the passage first, or read the question first and search for its keywords. It suggests trying both and keeping whichever works for you.
Decision Making
- What it tests
applying logic to reach a decision, evaluating arguments and analysing statistical information. The official page says knowledge of "specific mathematical or logical reasoning terminology" is not required.
- Structure
35 standalone questions in 37 minutes. The official tutorial works this out as about one minute per question. The questions use text, charts, tables, graphs or diagrams.
- Answer formats
some questions have a single answer. Others give you five statements to mark "Yes" or "No" by dragging and dropping. The official scoring table says:
- single-answer questions are worth 1 mark
- five-statement questions are worth 2 marks, with 1 mark for a partly correct response
The Decision Making tutorial lists six question types:
Question type What you do Syllogisms Decide whether each conclusion follows from the premises (Yes/No) Logical puzzles Use the clues to find the one conclusion that must be true Recognising assumptions Choose the strongest argument for or against a proposal Interpreting information Decide which conclusions follow from a passage, graph or chart (Yes/No) Venn diagrams Read, interpret or choose a Venn diagram that fits the information Probabilistic and statistical reasoning Reason about chance and data in everyday settings A basic on-screen calculator is available. The tutorial also advises revising Venn diagrams and probability.
Quantitative Reasoning
- What it tests
using numbers to solve problems. The official description says the questions are "less to do with numerical facility and more to do with problem solving".
- Structure
36 questions in 26 minutes, averaging about 43 seconds per question. Most questions come in sets of four based on one table, chart, graph or text. Some stand alone. Each has five answer options.
The QR tutorial lists the maths skills worth revising:
- percentages, including percentage change, reverse percentages, and converting to decimals and fractions
- direct and inverse proportion, and ratios
- rates, including flow rates and speed, distance and time
- averages (mean, median, mode) and range
A basic on-screen calculator is available. The Test Tools page says it "cannot perform scientific functions". The tutorial suggests mixing mental arithmetic with the calculator, because you will not need it for every question.
Situational Judgement
- What it tests
understanding real-world situations and identifying appropriate behaviour. The official site lists integrity, perspective taking, team involvement, resilience and adaptability. No medical or procedural knowledge is needed.
- Structure
69 questions in 26 minutes. The questions are based on hypothetical scenarios in clinical settings or medical and dental training, and each scenario may have up to six questions.
The official SJT tutorial describes two kinds of question:
- Rating questions. You rate one response or consideration on a four-point scale. Some ask how appropriate an action is, from "a very appropriate thing to do" to "a very inappropriate thing to do". Others ask how important a consideration is, from "very important" to "not important at all". Rate each option on its own merits. Several options in one scenario can get the same rating.
- Ranking questions. You choose the most and least appropriate of three possible actions.
Marking gives full credit for the correct answer and partial credit for answers close to it. The tutorial suggests reading the GMC's Good Medical Practice guidance and answering from the viewpoint of the character named in the question.
How the UCAT Is Scored
| Part | How it is reported |
|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | Scaled score, 300–900 |
| Decision Making | Scaled score, 300–900 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | Scaled score, 300–900 |
| Total cognitive score | Sum of the three, 900–2700 |
| Situational Judgement | Band 1 (highest) to Band 4 |
Raw marks are converted to scaled scores because the three cognitive subtests have different numbers of questions. The SJT is reported as a band and is not added to the total. The consortium says each candidate gets a randomly selected test form, and the forms are equated so that scaled scores mean the same across them. Our UCAT scores guide explains how universities use the total, the subtest scores and the band.
On-Screen Tools and the Test Room
The official Test Tools page describes what you will have:
- a PC with a monitor (24-inch flat screen in most UK centres), keyboard and mouse
- an A4 laminated notebook and pen for notes
- the calculator in DM and QR only
- a countdown timer and progress indicator, with the timer turning yellow when less than 5 minutes remain
- a flag-for-review function and a review screen
- keyboard shortcuts such as Alt + N for Next; some actions, like drag and drop, need the mouse
- screen magnification and alternative colour schemes
When a section's time runs out, a pop-up asks you to continue. The page warns you to press OK straight away, or you will lose time from the next section.
Extra Time and Access Arrangements
The access arrangements page lists extra test time and/or rest breaks, subject to approval. The standard extra-time allowance is 25%. Pause-the-clock rest breaks allow 10 minutes per hour of testing and can be approved alongside extra time; they are not necessarily an either-or choice.
The official practice tests offer standard, 25%-extra-time and untimed versions. Extra time changes how long you have to answer questions; rest breaks pause the test. Follow your approval email and the pause-the-clock guidance when rehearsing your arrangements.
Arrangements must be approved before you book and cannot be added to an existing booking. You have to apply again each cycle.
Common Format Mistakes
- Preparing from pre-2025 material that includes Abstract Reasoning or totals out of 3600.
- Ignoring instruction time. It is timed separately and cannot be carried into a subtest.
- Adding facts that are not in a VR passage. Judge VR answers from the passage alone. In SJT, apply professional principles such as honesty and patient safety to the scenario; specialist medical knowledge is not required.
- Over-using the calculator in QR, where roughly 43 seconds a question leaves little room for typing every step.
- Learning drag and drop on test day. The Decision Making Yes/No format should already feel automatic.
Best Next Steps
- Take the official Tour Tutorial, then work through the Question Tutorials for all four subtests.
- Use the official Question Banks to get used to each question type.
- Sit the official practice tests under full timing nearer your test date.
- Follow a structured plan in how to prepare for the UCAT.
- Check dates, fees and universities in the UCAT 2027 guide.
Try a free UCAT subtest on ExamPrepIQ to practise the timings above, then review the worked explanations. A full mock is also available. ExamPrepIQ is independent of the UCAT Consortium, Pearson VUE and the universities.