What is the UCAT? The UCAT Guide for 2019/2020 Applicants
WHAT IS THE UCAT?
UCAT stands for University Clinical Aptitude Test. It is used as part of the selection process at Australian and New Zealand universities on their medical, dentistry and clinical science degrees. It is also the same test which has been used in the UK under the name UKCAT for over 12 years. The test is completed on a computer and candidates must sit the standard test within the designated 2 hours. There is also the opportunity for candidates with a documented medical condition or disability to sit an extended test.
WHY IS IT USED?
The ANZ Consortium of universities in New Zealand and Australia use the UCAT to help select applicants that are best suited to a career in medicine or dentistry. The test highlights the applicants with the mental abilities, attitudes, and professional behaviours that would make the most successful doctors or dentists. Used in conjunction with other parts of the admissions process, such as interviews and formal qualification details, it allows suitable applicants to stand out during the university admissions process. With the results of the UCAT, the university can be sure they are offering a place to an applicant who has the capacity to succeed on what can often be some of the most challenging degree programmes. We’ve detailed further reasons why the UCAT is used by Universities in this article.
WHAT IS THE UCAT AND HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM THE UMAT?
The UMAT (the Undergraduate Medical and Health Sciences Admission Test) was the admissions test taken by prospective applications at universities of the UMAT Consortium. The UCAT for the ANZ Consortium universities will come into effect from 2019 for entry to university in 2020. Applicants can sign up on the UCAT official website to receive information by email when the 2019 test cycle becomes available.
WHO USES THE TEST?
Not all medicine, dentistry, or clinical science degree pathways require the UCAT. It’s important to check on the website of the university you wish to apply to for whether you are required to take the UCAT or a different admissions test.
Get the full list of UCAT medical schools and their UCAT university rankings here >>>
The following is our UCAT guide of the universities that generally require the UCAT as part of their admissions process:
- The University of Adelaide requires the UCAT for their Medicine, Dental Surgery, and Oral Health
- Curtin University requires the UCAT only for their Medicine degree programme.
- This is also the case for Monash University.
- The Joint Medical Program with The University of Newcastle and University of New England requires prospective applicants to take the UCAT.
- The University of New South Wales requires the UCAT to be taken for the Medicine.
- The University of Queensland requires the admissions test for their Medicine (provisional entry) course, and for Dental Science.
- The University of Tasmania requires the UCAT only for their Medicine degree programme.
- The University of Western Australia requires candidates for both Medicine (Direct Pathway), and Dental Medicine (Direct Pathway) to take the UCAT.
- Western Sydney University requires the UCAT for their Medicine.
- The University of Auckland also requires the UCAT for their Medicine.
- The University of Otago requires the UCAT for the admissions process for Medicine and Dental Surgery
UCAT GUIDE TO TEST FORMAT
The test consists of five separate sections, separately timed, with multiple-choice questions. Once you begin the test, you must complete it as the test cannot be paused. Before each subsection starts, there is a timed instruction section to give students the chance to refamiliarize themselves with what they are required to do.
All timings given in this UCAT guide are for the UCAT ANZ standard test. You can find the timings for the UCATSEN ANZ (extended version) here https://www.ucatofficial.com/ucat-anz/test-format/.
Section 1 – Verbal Reasoning
This section is testing the applicant’s ability to critically evaluate information given to them in a written format, and whether they can draw conclusions from the information presented. You don’t need to use any of your own knowledge to answer these questions. There are 44 multiple-choice questions along with the 1-minute instruction section and there is 21 minutes to complete the test.
The section is used because it’s very important for doctors and dentists to be able to use verbal reasoning to communicate complex information to patients. In this profession, you will also need to keep up to date with new medical findings, often in the form of articles, and interpret this information.
Question format: Applicants will be presented with a question or an incomplete statement and four response options. You must pick the most appropriate. You will also be given a text to read and then they decide whether the statement provided follows on logically – you can select true, false, or can’t tell.
TOP TIP – think logically and read the text carefully.
Section 2 – Decision Making
This section assesses an applicant’s ability to make decisions and judgements about complex information. This is something every doctor and dentist will be required to do in their career; they have to learn to deal with uncertainty and manage risk. There are 29 questions in this section of the UCAT to answer in 31 minutes, plus the minute instruction section.
Question format: questions could refer to text, charts, tables, graphs, or diagrams, and applicants may be given additional information within the question itself. Some of the questions in this section will have 4 options for answers, and some will require applicants to respond yes or no to statements provided.
TOP TIP – make use of the calculator, booklet, and pen provided. All the questions in this section are stand-alone, so if you’re really struggling with the data in one, move on!
Section 3 – Quantitative Reasoning
Testing the applicant’s ability to use numbers when solving problems, these questions rely on GCSE-level knowledge. There are 36 questions to answer in 24 minutes.
Doctors and dentists use numbers all the time when treating patients, for instance when using patient weight or age to decide on drug dosages. Clinical research also requires medical professionals to interpret and analyse complex data, and universities are looking for applicants who show they could cope in these situations.
Question format: Applicants must use relevant information to choose the best option in answer to either sets of four questions which share data, or some standalone questions.
TOP TIP – Familiarise yourself with the onscreen calculator that you can use in the test.
Section 4 – Abstract Reasoning
There are 13 minutes to answer 55 questions that are testing an applicant’s ability to form links and infer relationships between information, as well as identify patterns. It shows how well you can generate hypotheses as you go along and query judgements. It is important for a doctor or dentist to be able to make judgements about information when considering possible diagnoses.
Question format: There are 4 formats to these questions. In the first, you will be given a shape and asked whether it belongs to Set A, Set B of shapes presented, or neither. In type 2, you must select the next shape in a series. For the third, you will be asked to figure out which shape completes the statement. Finally, applicants will be asked which of the four responses belongs to Set A or Set B of shapes.
Section 5 – Situational Judgement
For this final section, applicants have to answer 69 questions in 26 minutes. It measures your ability to understand real situations that you may encounter in their career and select the most appropriate course of action. The test assesses integrity, perspective-taking, team involvement, resilience, and adaptability.
Question format: Applicants are presented with scenarios where you will either rate each possible response from 1 to 4, or you will choose the most and least appropriate course of action from a list of three.
TOP TIP – You are not required to use any medical or procedural knowledge in these questions, so just use your common sense!
HOW TO PREPARE
There are many practice tests on the official UCAT website. Further books and ultimate guides on the UCAT can also be found in UniAdmissions’ library.
However, to help further your exam preparations, UniAdmissions also offers a UKCAT tuition course which can help improve your chances of success. You will be given a personal tutor who will tailor the tuition to your needs, and provide you with lots of materials and resources to practice with. To find out more check out our online UCAT tuition availability….
