The UK Aptitude Test (UKCAT)

What is the UKCAT?

The UKCAT exam is the main test used by the majority of UK medical schools in their selection procedure. The UKCAT is bascially a tool used to differentiate between applicants who are similar in all other respects i.e. GCSEs, A- Levels, Interviews, given that they are inundated with thousands of applications from many candidates with excellent grades.

The purpose of the UKCAT test is to assess if candidates possess the right aptitude, cognitive ability and behaviour to be a good doctor or dentist.

Can the UKCAT be prepared for?

The exam does not have a set curriculum or knowledge base that needs to be learned, therefore it cannot be prepared for like traditional examinations. However results have shown that the more candidates practice UKCAT questions, the higher their score, due to greater familiarity with: question types, exam pace, common patterns and solution recognition

Who should take the test?

Candidates intending to apply for entry to medical school next year should sit the UKCAT by the October of the current year. The UKCAT test is a requirement for all applicants from the UK, EU and most other countries where there is a test centre. Check the official UKCAT website www.ukcat.ac.uk for further details on this.

Candidates are only allow to take the UKCAT exam once per academic year. If you are not accepted to medical school in one year and re-apply the following year, you need to take the UKCAT again. Failure to take the test by the required deadlines for entry will lead to automatic rejection from medical school.

Which universities and courses require the UKCAT?

(UCAS course codes in brackets)