UCAT
UCAT Scores and UCAT Scoring Guide 2026 for 2027 Entry
Please note this article has been updated to incorporate the latest changes to the 2026 UCAT exam - where scoring for 2025 and 2026 has changed from the UCAT scoring from 2024 and before (see here).
When do you get UCAT results?
You get your UCAT score as soon as you finish the exam, so you can begin planning which UCAT universities you should apply to.
Students often have many questions including:
- How the UCAT test is scored?
- What is a good UCAT score in 2026?
- What is the highest UCAT score?
- What is the UKCAT scoring system?
- UCAT Scores in 2026.
- What is a low UCAT score in 2026?
- UCAT Scores in 2026.
Read on to have all of these questions answered.
Remember to contact our UCAT tutors or join our UCAT Courses to benefit from 13 years worth of UCAT experience from UCAT experts. Read our Ultimate UCAT Guide for more information on the UCAT.
👉🏻 Read more:The Ultimate UCAT Guide 2026
How Is The UCAT Scored?
Remember - until 2024 there were 4 main sections, but from 2025 onwards, the Abstract Reasoning section was removed. This takes the total UCAT score from 3600 to 2700 from 2025 onwards.
The main three sections (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Decision Making) of the UCAT are each scored out of 900 marks. Your performance in each section is scaled to a score between 300 and 900. You can either take your total score out of 2700 or take the average of the three sections' scores to get a score out of 900.
Your three subtest scores are added together to give a total out of 2700. The SJT is reported separately as a band, not added to that total. If you want a deeper breakdown of average scores, deciles and percentiles, see our what is a good UCAT score deep-dive and the full UCAT deciles guide.
The UCAT Situational Judgement Test is scored using UCAT bands. The UCAT SJT is scored from band 1-4 with band 1 being the highest and band 4 the lowest.
For the UKCAT situational judgement test - an excellent score would be band 1 in the UCAT situational judgement test, and a good score would be scoring a band 2 in the UCAT situational judgement test. The UCAT scoring system for the SJT includes half marks and partial marks for some answers which are on either side of the correct answer, but this is not always the case. The UCAT marking system allows for some discretion in this subsection.
This is how UCAT scores are broken down:
- UCAT Verbal Reasoning: Score between 300 and 900
- UCAT Quantitative Reasoning: Score between 300 and 900
- UCAT Decision Making: Score between 300 and 900
- UCAT Situational Judgement: Score between Band 1 and Band 4
How long does your UCAT score last?
Your UCAT score lasts for one year, ie the application cycle in that year. Unfortunately, if you reapply the next year, you will need to resit the exam.
👉🏻 Read more:UCAT Cut Off Scores 2027 Entry
👉🏻 Read more: UCAT Medical Schools - UCAT Cut Off Scores
What Is The Highest UCAT Score?
What Is The UCAT Out Of?
The highest UKCAT score you can score is an average of 900 in the first three sections (equivalent to 2700) and a band 1 in the UCAT Situational Judgement Test (out of 4).
To achieve this score, you must prepare well, undertake lots of practice and know all of the advanced UCAT techniques.
UCAT Statistics 2026
This page contains everything you need to know about UCAT statistics for 2027 entry if you are sitting your UCAT in 2026. For more information on UCAT deciles and UCAT average scores please click through to the appropriate pages.
👉🏻 Read more: UCAT Scores 2026 - The Ultimate Guide
👉🏻 Read more: UCAT Deciles 2026 - Everything You Need To Know
👉🏻 Read more: UCAT Score Converter - For When You Are Practising UCAT Questions
👉🏻 Read more: Where To Apply With A Low UCAT Score (2026)
When do UCAT results come out? How do I interpret my UCAT score?
When Do You Get Your UCAT Results?
You get your UCAT results as soon as you walk out of the UCAT exam, you will be given a sheet with your final UCAT score.
It is printed out by the Pearson Vue Administration team of the building where you are taking your exam. It is important to ensure that you know how to interpret this score and select UCAT universities that cater for these scores.
These scores are also available on your Pearson Vue account online (but can take up to 24 hours to be updated here). The score is automatically sent to your universities and updated on your UCAS account - so you do not need to tell the universities your UCAT score.
Each university considers the UCAT differently, with some considering the UCAT to play a significant part in the candidate’s application and some do not consider it at all. Use your UCAT score as a way of deciding which university you want to apply to by finding out more information about each potential UCAT university.
Your UCAT (UKCAT) result can help guide you in choosing your UCAT universities. Your UCAT (UKCAT) result will be given before the UCAS deadline, giving you time to decide which university you want to apply to. By going onto each university’s admission criteria page on their website, more insight will be given as to how they use the UCAT (UKCAT) in selecting candidates.
For some universities, the UCAT (UKCAT) plays a big factor in the candidate’s application and for others, it plays a less significant part. Some universities provide information involving a rough UCAT (UKCAT) score they would prefer based on previous year's results as well as if they even consider UCAT in their application process. Some consider the total score and some look at the individual sections with a cut-off score per UCAT section.
👉🏻 Read more: How UK Universities Use Your UCAT Score
👉🏻 Read more: UCAT Medical Schools - UCAT Cut Off Scores
👉🏻 Read more: UCAT Cut Off Scores 2026
Final UCAT 2025 Results and Final UCAT Scores 2026
Remember that the following scores include Abstract Reasoning - this was removed for 2026 entry onwards
UCAT Results 2025
In 2025 (for 2026 entry) 41354 individuals sat the UCAT exam.
The Final UCAT 2025 Scores for 2026 Entry can be found below:
The average UCAT Score 2025 is 1891 (630)
The Final UCAT SJT Scores 2025 can also be found here:
The Final UCAT Deciles 2025 are also found below:
While there are no official UCAT grade boundaries, looking at these tables can help understand how to interpret different scores. Remember to learn more about how each university interprets the UCAT and uses it as a cut off score.
Using this table, you can help to determine whether a score of 2000 is a good UCAT score, when compared to others, but ultimately, this depends on which universities you are planning to apply to.
👉🏻 Read more:UCAT Deciles 2026 - Everything You Need To Know
👉🏻 Read more:UCAT Score Converter - For When You Are Practicing UCAT Questions
UCAT tutoring
Master the UCAT, 1-1
A bespoke plan across VR, DM, QR and SJT.
- 1-1 with top-scoring UCAT tutors, never group classes
- Targeted drills that iron out your weakest subtests
- Honest, tailored strategy from diagnostic to test day
UCAT Scores from 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 ,2023, 2024 and 2025
Please see below the average UCAT scores for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. You can also see the final ucat score for 2024 here.
Scoring is different for Situational Judgement, but as you can see below, most students scored Band 2 in this section.
The average score for the UCAT 2025 is 1891 (630).
- UCAT 2025 Verbal Reasoning Average Score - 602
- UCAT 2025 Decision Making Average Score - 628
- UCAT 2025 Quantitative Reasoning Average Score - 661
Situational Judgement Test 2025 UCAT Scores:
- UCAT SJT Band 1 = 21%
- UCAT SJT Band 2 = 39%
- UCAT SJT Band 3 = 29%
- UCAT SJT Band 4 = 10%
UCAT 2025 Deciles
- 1st decile - 1580
- 2nd decile - 1680
- 3rd decile - 1760
- 4th decile - 1820
- 5th decile - 1880
- 6th decile - 1950
- 7th decile - 2010
- 8th decile - 2100
- 9th decile - 2220
UCAT Interim Results And Deciles 2025
UCAT tutoring
Choose your 1-1 UCAT package
Rated 5.0 from 550+ reviews. Weekly 1-1 sessions with top-scoring tutors, built around your weakest subtests.
How Do I Work Out Scores In 2026 Based On The New Changes?
Interpreting UCAT Scores Under the New Format
With Abstract Reasoning removed and the total score now out of 2700 instead of 3600, it’s no longer straightforward to compare new results with previous years. Historically, average Abstract Reasoning scores hovered around 630-650. As a rough guide, if you’re used to looking at older total scores (which included AR), you might subtract around 650 from those past total scores to estimate their new equivalent, though we would recommend using our UCAT SCORE CONVERTER found here, which is more accurate.
For example, if you considered a “good” previous total score around 2900, removing the typical AR contribution might bring it down to about 2157 in the new system (according to our UCAT Score Converter). Of course, this conversion is only an approximation.
Each subtest’s relative difficulty and the performance of the cohort can vary year-to-year. Ultimately, focus on your percentile ranking or decile placement - rather than raw totals - when interpreting your performance under the new format.
What Is A Low UCAT Score In 2026?
Generally, a low UCAT score is one where the average is below 615 (1891 in 2025 for 2026 entry).
This does not mean that you cannot get into medical or dental school - but it means you need to think carefully about which UCAT Universities you apply to - and you will need to be strategic about this. Speak to one of our admissions specialists if you need any help with this.
See our articles on UCAT average scores and UCAT Deciles for more information.
Read our article for where to apply with a low UCAT score in 2026 (2027 Entry)
What is an Average UCAT score in 2026?
What is the average ucat score?
The average UCAT score is 1891 (630) in 2025.
Therefore anything above this will place you in the top 50% of UCAT test takers and is likely to boost your application and help maximise your chance of receiving an invitation to interview.
Using these statistics we can see the UCAT average score for each section of the UCAT in 2025:
- UCAT Verbal Reasoning Average Score - 602
- UCAT Decision Making Average Score- 628
- UCAT Quantitative Reasoning Average Score- 661
- Total Overall UCAT Average Score - 1891
See our articles on UCAT Deciles for more information on UCAT Scores for 2027 entry.
👉🏻 Read more: UCAT Deciles 2025 - Everything You Need To Know
👉🏻 Read more: UCAT Score Converter - For When You Are Practicing UCAT Questions
👉🏻 Read more: Where To Apply With A Low UCAT Score (2026)
What Is A Good UCAT Score in 2026?
What is a high UCAT score?
A good score in the UKCAT is largely dependent on which UCAT university you are applying to - but anything above 1900 is a competitive UKCAT score for 2026 entry, and anything above 2100 is excellent and considered a high UCAT score. Both of these scores would allow you to apply to medical and dental schools in the UK that look at the UCAT, but you must be careful.
What is a good UCAT score for medicine?
You must note that a UCAT score of 1900 or even 2100 does not guarantee an offer to study at a medical school in the UK. Medical schools may have different UCAT cut-off scores for admission, so you must check with individual medical schools to determine what is a high or competitive UCAT Score.
A high UCAT score is not the only factor that medical schools use when making admissions decisions. Other factors, such as academic grades (GCSEs and A-Levels), personal statements, work experience, volunteering and interviews are important in the admissions process.
To achieve a good UCAT score for medical school in 2026, it is important to prepare thoroughly for the test. There are a number of ways to prepare for the UCAT, including taking practice tests, studying relevant content, and using online resources or study guides. Have a look at our UCAT preparation guide for more information on this. You can consider joining one of our UCAT preparation courses and undertaking 1-1 UCAT tutoring with us.
Overall, achieving a good UCAT score for medical school in 2026 requires a combination of thorough preparation, knowledge of the admissions process, and a strong overall application.
What is a good UCAT situational judgement test score?
In terms of the situational judgement test - an excellent score would be band 1 in the UCAT situational judgement test, and a competitive score would be scoring band 2 in the UCAT situational judgement test.
What is the highest UCAT score in 2026?
The highest UCAT score in 2026 is likely to be in the region of approximately 2640 - in line with the previous highest scores.
Maximise your chances of scoring well by boosting your UCAT score in 2026 with bespoke and tailored help from our team of 1-1 UCAT experts.
If you are unsure how you are doing in your practice, you can use our UCAT Score Calculator to help calculate your scores.
To turn raw practice marks into scaled scores out of 2700, use our UCAT score calculator, and build your timing and technique with the free UCAT skills trainer.
👉🏻 Join UCAT Courses in 2026 to boost your score!
What is a good UCAT score for Dentistry in 2026?
This is a difficult question to answer, as generally, most universities look at the UCAT in conjunction with your dental work experience, GCSE scores, your A-level predictions, personal statement and interview performance. However, based on past historical UCAT data for dentistry, we know that an excellent UCAT score of above 2300 will allow you to apply to almost all UK Medical schools or any UK dental university and significantly boost your chances of being selected for an interview.
A good UCAT score between 2100-2300 should still allow you to apply to almost all UK dental schools. Please be careful if your UCAT score is below 2000 - it is then paramount that your dentistry personal statement is optimised to help boost your application. Contact our application specialists for help on this.
You must note that a UCAT score of 2000 or even 2100 does not guarantee an offer to study at a dental school in the UK. Dental schools may have different UCAT cut-off scores for admission, so you must check with individual dental schools to determine what is a high or competitive UCAT Score.
A high UCAT score is not the only factor that medical schools use when making admissions decisions. Other factors, such as academic grades (GCSEs and A-Levels), personal statements, work experience, volunteering and interviews are important in the admissions process.
To achieve a good UCAT score for dental school in 2026, it is important to prepare thoroughly for the test. There are a number of ways to prepare for the UCAT, including taking practice tests, studying relevant content, and using online resources or study guides. Have a look at our UCAT preparation guide for more information on this. You can consider joining one of our UCAT preparation courses and undertaking 1-1 UCAT tutoring with us.
Overall, achieving a good UCAT score for dental school in 2026 requires a combination of thorough preparation, knowledge of the admissions process, and a strong overall application.
👉🏻 Read more: UCAT Dental Schools - UCAT Cut Off Scores
Ultimate Package
Choose your Ultimate Package
Rated 5.0 from 550+ reviews. 1-1 mentoring from doctors across UCAT, personal statement and interviews.
What UCAT score do I need for Medicine?
What ucat score is needed for medicine in the UK?
Again, like dentistry, this is difficult to answer, and most universities look at the UCAT in conjunction with your GCSE scores, your A-level predictions, personal statement and interview performance. However, based on past historical UCAT data for medicine, we know that an excellent UCAT score of above 2300 is an excellent UCAT score for medicine and will allow you to apply to most medicine UCAT university.
A good UCAT score between 2100-2300 should still allow you to apply to almost all medicine UK universities. There are some universities such as Queen Mary’s and Keele University that employ UCAT cut off scores in 2026 for 2027 entry.
Please be careful if your UCAT score is below 2000 - it is then paramount that your medicine personal statement and medicine interview performance is optimised to help boost your application to med schools. Contact our medicine application specialists for help on this.
The most important thing you can do is have a look at the latest UCAT cut off scores for 2026.
👉🏻 Read more: How UK Universities Use Your UCAT Score
👉🏻 Read more: UCAT Medical Schools - UCAT Cut Off Scores
👉🏻 Read more: UCAT Cut Off Scores 2026 Entry
Frequently asked questions
What is the UCAT out of?
Since 2025 the UCAT is scored out of 2700. This comes from three subtests (Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning), each scaled between 300 and 900. The total used to be 3600 when Abstract Reasoning was included, but that subtest was removed for 2025 entry onwards. The Situational Judgement Test is reported separately as a band and does not count towards the 2700.
What is the average UCAT score in 2025?
The average UCAT score in 2025 was 1891 out of 2700, roughly 630 per section, based on 41,354 candidates. By subtest the averages were Verbal Reasoning 602, Decision Making 628 and Quantitative Reasoning 661. Anything above 1891 places you in the top half of test takers and strengthens your application.
What is a good UCAT score?
A good UCAT score is comfortably above the 2025 average of 1891. As a rough guide, around 2000 and above is competitive, 2100 and above is strong, and 2300 and above is outstanding and opens up almost every UK medical and dental school. There is no universal threshold, so always check each university's current cut-off scores before deciding where to apply.
What are the UCAT deciles for 2025?
The 2025 UCAT deciles (the score at the top of each 10 percent band) were: 1st 1580, 2nd 1680, 3rd 1760, 4th 1820, 5th 1880, 6th 1950, 7th 2010, 8th 2100 and 9th 2220. Scoring above the 9th decile (2220) places you in roughly the top 10 percent of candidates nationally.
What are UCAT percentiles?
A UCAT percentile tells you the percentage of candidates you scored higher than. For 2025, a total of 1891 sat at roughly the 50th percentile, while around 2220 reached the 90th percentile (top 10 percent). Deciles are the percentile cut-offs in 10 percent steps. Some universities rank applicants by percentile or decile rather than by raw score.
What is the highest possible UCAT score?
The highest possible UCAT score is 2700, achieved with the maximum 900 in each of the three scored subtests, plus a Band 1 in the Situational Judgement Test. In practice the very top scores each year are usually around 2640. Scores this high are rare and require thorough preparation and strong exam-day timing.
How is the UCAT scored in 2025 and 2026?
Each of the three cognitive subtests (Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning) is marked, then converted to a scaled score between 300 and 900. The three are added for a total out of 2700. The Situational Judgement Test is marked separately and reported as Band 1 (highest) to Band 4 (lowest). Scaling means your scaled score is comparable across different test versions.
What is the new UCAT scoring system?
The new UCAT scoring system, introduced for 2025 entry, removed the Abstract Reasoning subtest. The exam now has three scored cognitive subtests instead of four, so the maximum total fell from 3600 to 2700. The Situational Judgement Test is unchanged and still reported as a band. Older scores quoted out of 3600 are not directly comparable to current totals.
What do the UCAT SJT bands mean?
The Situational Judgement Test is scored in four bands. Band 1 is the highest and shows excellent judgement; Band 2 is good and competitive at most universities; Band 3 is moderate; and Band 4 is the lowest and can be a barrier at some schools. In 2025, 21 percent scored Band 1, 39 percent Band 2, 29 percent Band 3 and 10 percent Band 4.
When do you get your UCAT results?
You receive your UCAT results immediately after the exam. You are handed a printout of your scores at the test centre, and they also appear in your Pearson VUE account within about 24 hours. Your scores are sent automatically to the universities you apply to, so there is no separate results day to wait for.
What is a low UCAT score?
A low UCAT score is generally one below the 2025 average of 1891, and a score under about 2000 is on the lower side for competitive courses. A lower score does not rule you out: apply strategically to universities that weight the UCAT less, or rank it within a wider matrix, and make sure your GCSEs, personal statement and interview are strong.
What is a good UCAT score for medicine?
For medicine, around 2100 to 2300 keeps almost every UK medical school open, while some high-cut-off universities favour scores above this. A score below 2000 narrows your choices but does not stop you: pick medical schools that weight the UCAT less heavily and check the latest cut-off scores. The UCAT is only one part of a wider application alongside grades, personal statement and interview.
What is a good UCAT score for dentistry?
For dentistry, a UCAT score between roughly 2100 and 2300 should let you apply to almost all UK dental schools. Below 2000 you need to be careful and strategic, leaning on strong dental work experience, a polished personal statement and interview. As with medicine, each dental school uses the UCAT differently, so always check current cut-off scores.
How long does a UCAT score last?
Your UCAT score is valid for one application cycle only, the year you sit it. If you reapply the following year you must resit the UCAT; you cannot carry forward a previous score. This is why it is important to time your UCAT well and prepare thoroughly for the cycle you intend to apply in.
Does the UCAT SJT count towards your total score out of 2700?
No. The Situational Judgement Test is reported separately as a band (1 to 4) and is not added to your cognitive total out of 2700. Your 2700 total comes only from Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning. Universities consider the SJT band alongside your cognitive score, and some set a minimum acceptable band.
Can you resit the UCAT to improve your score?
You can sit the UCAT once per testing cycle, and you may take it again in a future cycle if you reapply, but you cannot resit within the same year to replace a score. A previous year's score cannot be reused, so reapplicants must take a fresh UCAT. Targeted reflective practice between attempts is the most reliable way to improve.
Contact us
Still have questions about your application?
Speak to a doctor or admissions expert, free. No obligation, just honest advice on your next step.
Keep reading
More UCAT guides
- Ultimate UCAT Guide 2026 - What is the UCAT Test?
- UCAT Registration 2026 & Key UCAT Test Dates 2026 for 2027 Entry
- How to Prepare for the UCAT: Books, Resources and Study Plan in 2026 for 2027 Entry
- UCAT Deciles 2015-2026
- UCAT Australia and New Zealand ANZ 2026 for 2027 entry
- UCAT Verbal Reasoning 2026
- UCAT Decision Making 2026
- UCAT Quantitative Reasoning 2026
