UCAT Scores for Australian
Medical Schools

A good UCAT score depends on which medical school you are targeting. Since 2025, the UCAT ANZ has three cognitive subtests (VR, DM, QR) with a total score range of 900 to 2700. Generally, a total score above 2090 (roughly the 70th percentile) is considered strong, while scores above 2310 (90th percentile and above) are excellent and competitive for the most selective universities such as Sydney and Melbourne. The median UCAT score sits around 1930.

Since 2025, the UCAT ANZ has three cognitive subtests — Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, and Quantitative Reasoning — each scored on a scale of 300 to 900. Abstract Reasoning was removed from the UCAT ANZ in 2025. The three cognitive scores are added together for a total between 900 and 2700. Situational Judgement is scored separately on a scaled score of 300 to 900 in Australia and New Zealand (bands are used in the UK only). SJ is not added to the cognitive total. Scores are scaled so that results are comparable across different test sittings.

No. Each university has its own admissions process. Some rank applicants primarily by UCAT score, others combine the UCAT with ATAR or GPA, and some use the UCAT as a threshold you must meet before being considered on other criteria such as interviews and portfolios. Always check the specific admissions policy of each university you are applying to.

In the UCAT ANZ, Situational Judgement is now scored on a scaled score of 300 to 900 (bands are used in the UK only). A low SJ score can harm your application at universities that factor SJ into their selection criteria, such as Adelaide, UQ, Auckland, and Otago. However, not all universities use SJ — many only consider the three cognitive subtest scores (VR, DM, QR). Check each university's admissions policy to understand how SJ is used.

You can only sit the UCAT once per test cycle (once per year). If you are unhappy with your result, you will need to wait until the next testing period to sit the exam again. This is why thorough preparation before your first attempt is critical.

You receive a preliminary score report on screen immediately after finishing the test. Your official results, including your Situational Judgement scaled score and percentile ranking, are made available through your UCAT account shortly afterwards and are sent directly to the universities you nominated during registration.

Most Australian medical schools do not publish official UCAT cut-off scores. The figures commonly referenced are based on successful applicant data and community reports from previous years. Cut-offs can change significantly from year to year depending on the applicant pool and the number of available places.

No. The UCAT is a cognitive aptitude test, not a knowledge-based exam. It assesses skills such as critical thinking, logical reasoning, quantitative problem solving, and ethical judgement. You do not need specific academic knowledge to prepare — the test measures how you think, not what you know.