Aptitude tests

University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)

UCAT is part of the application process for most undergraduate degree programmes at Scottish medical schools. However, some universities use the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) for graduate entry programmes.

The UCAT doesn’t test you on school subjects. Instead, it assesses your thinking skills, attitude, professionalism and the other qualities you’ll need to become a doctor.

Find out more about routes to medical school.

UCAT registration and booking your test

UCAT registration opens in May 2025 for entry to medical school in the following academic year. You should book your test as soon as possible, as spaces at nearby Pearson Vue centres may fill up fast.

The online test is available from July to September each year. You'll take it at a Pearson Vue test centre authorised by the UCAT Consortium. Home testing may be an option if you meet specific eligibility criteria.

Booking your test is a 2-step process:

• create your UCAT account
• book a UCAT test

You should book your test through your UCAT account, where you’ll also find information about availability.

Find out more about the UCAT registration process.

Access arrangements

If you have a disability, UCAT can provide access arrangements such as:

• Extra time to complete the test.
• Rest breaks to help you manage your disability during the test.
• Access to comfort aids or items and devices needed for medical reasons.

Some comfort aids do not need prior approval, but you must inform the test centre 5 days before you sit your test. Other access arrangements require approval. You should contact UCAT with the correct supporting evidence before you book your test.

Find out more about access arrangements.

UCAT test fee

Your UCAT test fee of £70.00 is payable when booking online using a major debit or credit card.

Creating your UCAT preparation plan

You should use the free official UCAT resources, including:

• Preparation plan and calendar—include tips and key dates to support your preparation.
• Tour tutorial—describes the features and functions of the Pearson Vue online test website.
• Question tutorials—include tips and strategies for approaching and answering the questions in each part of the test.
• Question banks—include examples of the questions in the UCAT.
• Practice tests—these are like the UCAT format and will help you review your performance under timed conditions. You could sit a practice test early in your preparation, saving the remaining tests for the last week of your preparation time.
• Candidate advice—learn top tips from past high-scoring test takers to help you prepare for the test.

Check out these resources on the UCAT website.

Medics and Me UCAT revision course

Medics and Me also provide free revision advice in collaboration with MyUCAT.com. View the UCAT revision course videos.

Sitting the UCAT

The test takes approximately 2 hours to complete. Each section of the multiple-choice test is timed separately. These are:

• Verbal reasoning—assesses your ability to critically evaluate information presented in a written form.
• Quantitative reasoning—assesses your ability to critically evaluate information presented numerically.
• Decision making—assesses your ability to make sound decisions and judgements using complex information.
• Situational judgement—measures your capacity to understand real-world situations and to identify critical factors and appropriate behaviour in dealing with them.

Find out more about the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT).

Getting your UCAT results

Your UCAT score will be shared with you before leaving the test centre. You can also access your score report approximately 24 hours after you sit the test by logging into your UCAT account.

As you’ll have your results before the UCAS deadline, you can make an informed decision about which medical schools to apply to. Plus, UCAT will send your scores directly to the medical schools you select.

Find out more about getting your UCAT score report.

How medical schools use your UCAT score

Curious about how medical schools will use your UCAT score? Some universities see it as a significant factor in understanding your potential. Others evaluate your score alongside other indicators. Some medical schools have a threshold score you must achieve to be considered for admission.

Discover how your UCAT score is used by medical schools when assessing your application:

• University of Aberdeen, The School of Medicine, Medical Sciences, and Nutrition, entrance requirements for Medicine MBChB
• University of Dundee, Medical School, entry requirements for Medicine MBChB
• University of Edinburgh, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, UCAT entry requirements for Medicine MBChB 
• University of Glasgow, School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Nursing, entry requirements for Medicine MBChB
• University of St Andrews, School of Medicine, UCAT entry requirements for Medicine BSc

Learn more about how universities use the UCAT.

Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT)

You’ll need to take the GAMSAT if you’re applying for the Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM) programme. If you’re a graduate applying for other undergraduate medicine degree programmes in Scotland, you’ll need to sit the UCAT.

Find out more about graduate entry programmes.

GAMSAT test structure, content, and fees

The test assesses skills and knowledge relevant to studying and practising medicine. It also evaluates your scientific reasoning, critical thinking, problem-solving, and written communication skills.

There are 3 parts to the test:

1. Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences.
2. Written communication.
3. Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences.

You’ll sit parts 1 and 3 at an in-person test centre. Your essays for part 2 will be completed by remote proctoring.

The standard registration fee for GAMSAT is £292.00. Your score will be valid for 2 years.

GAMSAT registration and booking your test

Registration opens in May 2025 for testing in September 2025. To avoid missing out, you should book your GAMSAT as soon as you can. With a short testing window and fewer test centres, spaces can fill up quickly. 

Remote proctoring

For all test takers, the written communication part of GAMSAT is delivered via remote proctoring. However, if you live more than 3 hours from a test centre, you might be able to do the entire GAMSAT remotely! Sounds convenient, right?

To get all the details and see if you're eligible, check out the GAMSAT remote proctoring application guidelines.

Reasonable adjustments

If you are disabled or have other health-related or educational needs, you can submit a request for reasonable adjustments. You should do this immediately after you have registered for GAMSAT.

Find out how the Australian Council for Educational Research Ltd (ACER) can support you with reasonable adjustments.