The UCAT ANZ at a glance
PrepForDoc
For teachers and careers advisers. Facts checked against official sources on 3 October 2026.
What it is, and who needs it
- A two-hour computer test of reasoning, not of school subjects. Required for most undergraduate medicine and dentistry courses in Australia and New Zealand.
- Sat once a year in July and early August, at a test centre, usually in Year 12. The result counts for one year of applications; a student can sit again the following year.
- Used alongside school results and, at most universities, an interview. 17,341 candidates sat it in 2026.
The test
| Subtest | Questions | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 44 | 22 |
| Decision Making | 35 | 37 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 36 | 26 |
| Situational Judgement | 69 | 26 |
Each of the first three is scored 300 to 900 (total 900 to 2700). Situational Judgement is reported separately. No marks are lost for wrong answers. Extra time is available with an approved access arrangement.
The year (2026 dates)
| Bookings open | 3 March 2026 |
| Concession applications close | 11 May 2026 |
| Booking deadline | 15 May 2026 |
| Final late booking deadline | 5 June 2026 |
| Testing | 1 July to 5 August 2026 |
| Results sent to universities | Early September 2026 |
The cycle follows the same pattern each year. 2027 dates are published on ucat.edu.au, usually late in the year before. Fee: $335 ($240 concession). Students apply to universities separately, through their state admissions centre.
Universities that use it (2027 entry)
- New South Wales: UNSW, Western Sydney, Charles Sturt, Joint Medical Program
- Victoria: Monash
- Queensland: UQ, Griffith, CQUniversity, UniSQ, UniSC
- South Australia: Adelaide, Flinders
- Western Australia: Curtin, UWA
- Tasmania: Tasmania
- New Zealand: Auckland, Otago
Each uses the result differently: as a minimum, to rank for interview, or as a share of the final ranking. Requirements change every year. What each university's own site says is set out at www.prepfordoc.com.au/ucat/universities.
What to tell a student
- Year 10 and 11: find out which courses need the UCAT, keep school results strong, and try a few practice questions to see what the test is like.
- Summer before Year 12: a good time to learn the question types without pressure.
- Term 1, Year 12: book as soon as bookings open (popular test centres and dates fill), and check the name on the booking against photo identification.
- Ten to twelve weeks before the test: steady timed practice, about an hour on most days, with full mock exams in the last month.
- Concession fees and extra time each need a separate application, with deadlines in May that are earlier than students expect.
Free resources to pass on
- Official site and practice tests: ucat.edu.au
- Plain guide to the test: www.prepfordoc.com.au/ucat
- Each university's requirements: www.prepfordoc.com.au/ucat/universities
- Score to percentile calculator: www.prepfordoc.com.au/ucat/score-calculator
- Study timetable: www.prepfordoc.com.au/ucat/study-timetable
- Free practice questions and mock: www.prepfordoc.com.au/free-ucat-mock
Prepared by PrepForDoc (www.prepfordoc.com.au), an Australian UCAT ANZ practice platform. PrepForDoc is not affiliated with or endorsed by the UCAT ANZ Consortium or Pearson VUE. UCAT and Pearson VUE are trademarks of their respective owners. Dates, fees and entry rules change each year: confirm them on the official page before acting on them.