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The UCAT is a two hour, online test for admission into undergraduate medical and dental school programs in Australian and New Zealand universities. Along side this psychometric aptitude exam, your academic qualifications (ATAR, NCEA or GPA) and a medical interview are used to determine your acceptance into these courses.
As the UCAT is primarily sat by year 12 students, finding the time to Prepare for the UCAT amongst balancing other year 12 commitments is a common challenge for many students.
When it comes to university admission into medical school, the UCAT and your high school academic results, whether ATAR, NCEA or GPA, tend to be weighted equally across most Australian and New Zealand undergraduate medical programmes.
Understanding The UCAT
Universities use the UCAT to identify the various qualities and attributes necessary for prospective medical students through 225 multiple choice questions. These questions are to be answered in a tight 1 hour and 55 minute period and are broken down into five sub-sections which can be divided into various time allocations.
What UCAT Score Do I Need To Study Medicine?
Australian and New Zealand universities do not release a formal UCAT threshold score. Required scores fluctuate each round based on applicant competitiveness in conjunction with your school marks and interview performance. Therefore, there is no prerequisite score in the UCAT needed to gain an interview or admission into medical school.
However, the three cognitive sections:
- Verbal Reasoning
- Decision Making
- Quantitive Reasoning
These three combined for a total cognitive score ranging from 900-2700 points, while the non-cognitive section (situational judgement) is typically reported as a band from 1-4. A score of 300 is considered as the minimum score for each section, with the maximum for each being 900, therefore an average score is considered as 600 points.
How Do I Prepare For The UCAT?
When preparing for your UCAT exam, practice questions and group study are two key tactics for productive study.
Working through UCAT practice questions is an extremely useful step in your preparation process as it helps you familiarise yourself with the exam layout and timing. Practising exam questions ensures you learn how to apply your knowledge while subsequently developing a systematic approach to tackling each question style.
At Fraser’s, we teach an iterative model of UCAT preparation to ensure weaknesses are identified early in the preparation process and reviewed to improve performance more efficiently.
This involves three key stages:
- Fundamental Question Types
- Application of UCAT Logic
- Simulation of Exam Conditions
Additionally, group study is an effective technique when preparing for the UCAT. The social aspect of team study relieves stress, but it also allows you to learn from the UCAT techniques developed by your fellow students. Group studying also helps you truly understand the content your learning as teaching others forces you to organise your thoughts clearly, while also boosting motivation levels.
Finally, remember to grow your soft-skills with less formal methods of UCAT preparation. Reading books, listening to podcasts such as Fraser’s extensive range of free podcasts dedicated to the UCAT, as well as learning languages and musical instruments are just a few of the extra-curricular activities that indirectly build your UCAT skillset, while also making you a more worldly person!
How can you efficiently prepare for the UCAT while still in high school? Download the full infographic to create the perfect UCAT study schedule!
How Do I Balance UCAT Preparation With High School?
The key to balancing preparation for the UCAT with the demanding nature of Year 12 is to treat the UCAT exam as an additional ATAR subject in terms of regular and consistent revision. While the UCAT does not come with the same workload as ATAR subjects, it’s contents should be frequently studied as Year 12 subjects are.
The UCAT’s similarity to ATAR subjects, makes crammed, last-minute study an insufficient method for success. Adequate UCAT preparation involves scheduling regular hours each week dedicated to UCAT study from as early as the summer break.
Additionally, it is important to remember not to neglect your ATAR subjects during the UCAT preparation period as they often go hand-in-hand. Most ATAR subjects adopt the same abstract and quantitative reasoning skills that are subsequently tested in the UCAT. Therefore, it is crucial to continue revising for your ATAR subjects when approaching the UCAT exam.
Lastly, allow yourself time for well deserved breaks, physical movement and extracurricular activities during this demanding period. In order to avoid burnout, it is necessary to schedule balance into your weekly planner to avoid decreasing the efficiency of your study time. Students striving for UCAT success, should aim to spend between 8 to 12 weeks preparing, ideally revising questions for 30 minutes per day.
Scoring well in the UCAT is not a walk in the park, for a more in-depth UCAT preparation strategy check out our Concentrated UCAT Program or Comprehensive UCAT Program. These courses provide thorough hands-on assistance, personalised learning and a range of mock exams for unparalleled UCAT support!
Where To From Here?
Here’s a range of FREE RESOURCES for you to get your UCAT preparation going:
- How to apply for undergraduate medicine in Australia?
- How to study for UCAT Situational Judgement Test?
- How is the UCAT scored?
FAQ’s
Do I need to study specific subjects to excel in the UCAT?
No, the UCAT tests aptitude rather than academic content. However, subjects like Mathematics, Biology, and English can help develop skills that are useful for the UCAT.
When should I start preparing for the UCAT?
It’s best to start 3-6 months before your test date. Early preparation helps you manage Year 12 studies alongside UCAT practice.
What’s the best way to practice for the UCAT?
Practice regularly with timed mock exams and focus on improving your weakest sections.
Is it possible to balance Year 12 studies and UCAT preparation?
Yes, with effective time management and support, you can succeed in both.
