The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is a difficult exam. It is known to be hard - testing your time management, speed and accuracy.
It is a computer-based examination which makes up one of the most important components of the UK medical school admissions process.
It assesses a range of skills and abilities which mirror those required by a doctor or healthcare worker, including decision-making, situational judgement, quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning and verbal reasoning.
Many students find the UCAT exam the most challenging assessment they’ve ever faced, whilst others find that the skills required come more naturally.
In this article, we’ll break down how hard the UCAT exam is, why it feels harder than it is, and what you can do to prepare for the UCAT.
How Difficult Is The UCAT Exam?
The UCAT is notoriously a difficult examination. Unfortunately, its difficulty cannot be quantified in the case of the UCAT exam.
Last year 35,625 students sat the UCAT exam, with hopes of applying to medical school and dental school in the UK.
Whilst the UCAT exam itself has no pass mark, many students find themselves falling short of the UCAT Cut Off Scores to be considered for medical school interviews.
The majority of students we see describe their struggles in revising for the UCAT due to its difficulty and face feelings of anxiety and stress during this period.
👉🏻 Read more: Strategic UCAT Applications
Why Is The UCAT Exam Hard?
There are several reasons why students find the UCAT challenging.
1) Developing New Skills
Firstly, the UCAT tests skills which you may never have used or trained before.
This is especially true for subsections such as Abstract Reasoning, where students are required to use advanced pattern recognition skills under time pressure.
Pattern recognition is not a skill which is taught, practised or tested in the standard UK school curriculum.
Therefore, for most students, the abstract reasoning section of the UCAT is the first time that these skills will have been required. Developing and strengthening this ability in only a few months when preparing for the exam is incredibly difficult.
👉🏻 Read more: Top Tips For UCAT Quantitative Reasoning
👉🏻 Read more: Top Tips For UCAT Decision Making
2) Immense Time Pressure
The UCAT is one of the most time-pressured examinations that students will have sat up to this point in their lives.
Although the skills required for each UCAT subtest in isolation may not be especially complicated, the difficulty of the UCAT comes with the short time allowance.
Students are given only a few seconds per question, with almost no time to make mistakes.
This means that during the exam every second matters, and to achieve a top score students must be incredibly focused, with very little room for error.
👉🏻 Read more: Top 10 UCAT Keyboard Shortcuts To Save Time
The UCAT Is Becoming Competitive
Each year, the number of students applying for and sitting the UCAT increases.
Whilst the average score of the UCAT stays roughly the same each year - with more and more resources available to help, and more students creating better UCAT timetables, generally more is needed to do well in the UCAT.
In 2023, the average candidate score was 2516 with the top 10% achieving above 2890.
This indicates that the UCAT is getting more competitive, adding to the pressure of an already difficult exam.
👉🏻 Read more: Avoiding UCAT Burnout During Revision Periods
What Is The Hardest UCAT Section Based On Average UCAT Results?
Statistics released by the UCAT Consortium revealed that in 2023, the lowest-scoring UCAT section was Verbal Reasoning.
This is consistently the lowest scoring section over the past 10 years of the UCAT.
This has been mirrored in each year prior, with decision-making following as the 2nd lowest-scoring subtest.
Students on average tend to perform better in the quantitative reasoning and abstract reasoning sections.
Most students achieve a Band 2 score in the Situational Judgement Test section.
👉🏻 Read more: Making a UCAT Revision Strategy
What Is A Good Score In The UCAT Exam To Get Into Medicine?
Every year, the threshold for a “good” UCAT score varies based on the calibre of students sitting the exam that year and the average score achieved.
We believe that a “Good” UCAT score can be classified as an “above average” UCAT score. This means that you will have performed better than 50% of the other UCAT candidates.
You can calculate your UCAT score using a UCAT percentile calculator and ranking using our decile tool, which indicates what percentage of students you performed better than.
👉🏻 Read more: UCAT Score Calculator 2024
👉🏻 Read more: How To Pick The Perfect UCAT Exam Date
How Can I Improve My UCAT Score?
Here at The UKCAT People, we have dedicated immense resources and time to creating study materials to help you prepare for your UCAT exam. Best of all, these are completely free!
Our writers have extensive experience in UCAT preparation, scoring in the top deciles of their cohorts and having tutored many students to UCAT success. This means that our resources are designed to be the most useful they can be.
Check out our Ultimate Guide and UCAT Blogs to find out more.
How Hard Is The UCAT? Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average UCAT score needed to get into medical school?
The average UCAT score for medical school admissions varies yearly. An average score in the UCAT is 2500, but for many universities, the average UCAT score getting an offer is 2800+, but this can differ between universities.
How can I improve my UCAT score quickly?
Focus on practice tests, understand the format and timing of each section, use online resources for targeted practice, and develop effective time management strategies to improve your UCAT score efficiently.
Is the UCAT harder than the BMAT?
The difficulty is subjective and depends on your strengths. The UCAT focuses more on aptitude and quick thinking under time pressure, while the BMAT requires knowledge of scientific concepts and essay writing skills.
What are the best strategies for UCAT verbal reasoning?
Improve your reading speed, practice skim reading, understand common question types, and develop strategies for identifying keywords and critical information quickly.
Can you retake the UCAT if you perform poorly?
You can retake the UCAT, but only once per testing cycle. It's important to prepare thoroughly before retaking the exam to improve your score.
How does time pressure affect UCAT performance?
Time pressure can significantly impact performance by increasing stress and forcing rapid decision-making, which can lead to mistakes. Effective time management and practice under timed conditions can help mitigate this.
What resources are available for UCAT preparation?
There are numerous resources available, including official UCAT practice tests, online courses, tutoring services, and books dedicated to UCAT preparation.
How long should I prepare for the UCAT?
Preparation time varies among individuals, but most candidates find 2-3 months of dedicated study to be beneficial.
What is considered a high score in the UCAT?
A high score is typically considered to be in the top 10% of test-takers, which would be above 2900 based on recent years' statistics.
Are there any shortcuts or tips for mastering the UCAT quantitative reasoning section?
Practice mental math regularly, familiarise yourself with common question types, and learn shortcuts for calculations to improve efficiency.
