Introduction to the UCAT exam 2026

If you want to study medicine or dentistry in the UK, there’s a very good chance you’ll need to sit the UCAT exam. The UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) is a two-hour computer-based admissions test used by most UK medical and dental schools, as well as by some universities in Australia and New Zealand.  Each year, tens of thousands of applicants take the UCAT to demonstrate the reasoning, decision-making and professional judgement skills needed for a demanding clinical career. 

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the UCAT test so you can plan your preparation with confidence. We’ll explain what the UCAT exam is, who has to take it, how the latest format works, and what actually counts as a “good” UCAT score. You’ll also get a clear overview of key UCAT dates, practical revision strategies, and common mistakes that stop otherwise strong applicants from achieving their target band. 

Start here: UCAT prep guides (2026)

New to the UCAT? Use this hub to understand the exam, learn each UCAT section (VR, DM, QR, SJT), and build a realistic study plan.

Exam overview UCAT sections VR strategies DM strategies QR strategies SJT ethics Study plan

1) UCAT overview (start here if you're new)

2) UCAT sections (guides + strategies)

3) UCAT 2026 in one place + study plan

The Blue Peanut Team The Blue Peanut Team

The UCAT Exam: Guide for Aspiring Medical and Dental Students

The UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test, formerly UKCAT) is a crucial admissions test for most UK medical and dental schools. In this comprehensive guide, we explain what the UCAT is, how it differs from other exams, what it covers, why you need it, how to prepare, and all the practical details (dates, booking, costs, etc.) to help you succeed in your journey to medical or dental school. Read on for a friendly, step-by-step breakdown of the UCAT exam and key tips for Year 12 and Year 13 students.

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The Blue Peanut Team The Blue Peanut Team

The Ultimate Guide to UCAT Sections

Acing the UCAT is key to securing your spot in a UK medical or dental school. In this comprehensive guide, we demystify each UCAT section – Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, and Situational Judgement – explaining what they assess, how they’re structured, and proven tips to boost your performance. Read on to learn how to tackle the UCAT’s challenges with confidence and make your medical school application shine!

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The Blue Peanut Team The Blue Peanut Team

UCAT Verbal Reasoning Tips: Save Time and Boost Your Score

The UCAT Verbal Reasoning section is notorious for its tight time limits and challenging reading passages. But with the right strategies, you can save time and boost your score. In this comprehensive guide, we break down exactly what UCAT Verbal Reasoning entails and share proven tips – from efficient reading techniques to savvy time management – to help UK medical and dental school hopefuls conquer this section with confidence.

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The Blue Peanut Team The Blue Peanut Team

UCAT Situational Judgement Tips: Save Time and Boost Your Score

Feeling nervous about the UCAT Situational Judgement section? This guide provides clear, practical advice to help you work faster and score higher. Discover how to tackle tricky scenarios, apply Good Medical Practice principles, and avoid common pitfalls so you can confidently aim for a top SJT band in your med or dental school applications.

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The Blue Peanut Team The Blue Peanut Team

UCAT Quantitative Reasoning Tips: Save Time and Boost Your Score

With only seconds per question, the UCAT Quantitative Reasoning subtest can feel like a race against the clock ⏱️. In this comprehensive guide, we share proven strategies to sharpen your mental maths, use the on-screen calculator wisely, and manage your time effectively – helping you boost your UCAT score and approach the exam with confidence!

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The Blue Peanut Team The Blue Peanut Team

Top 10 Tips for Coping with Exam Stress for Sixth Form Students

Exam stress is a common challenge for sixth form students, especially those aiming for medical or dental school. This friendly guide shares effective tips to help you cope with the pressure of A-Level exams, GCSEs, and the UCAT, so you can stay calm, focused, and confident during your sixth form journey.

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The Blue Peanut Team The Blue Peanut Team

UCAT Decision Making Tips: Save Time and Boost Your Score

Struggling with UCAT Decision Making? This guide offers practical tips for tackling these questions effectively. Learn to save time on logic puzzles, avoid common pitfalls, and maximise your score – boosting your chances of medical or dental school success.

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Imran Khan Imran Khan

Key UCAT Verbal Reasoning Strategies to Ace the Exam

The UCAT Verbal Reasoning section is notoriously challenging – 44 questions in just ~21 minutes! 😱 Don’t worry, you’re not alone. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll share the top Verbal Reasoning strategies to help you scan passages rapidly, compare information accurately, and eliminate wrong answers under intense time pressure. With a friendly, step-by-step approach, you’ll learn how to beat the clock, avoid common traps, and boost your confidence for that all-important medical or dental school admission test. Let’s dive in and turn Verbal Reasoning from a hurdle into an opportunity to shine! 🚀

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The Blue Peanut Team The Blue Peanut Team

UCAT Verbal Reasoning Strategies – Working with Words to Find Key Information

The Verbal Reasoning section of the UCAT can feel overwhelming due to lengthy passages and intense time pressure. This guide shows you how to work smarter with words – from spotting key terms to scanning passages – so you can find relevant information quickly without reading everything. Master these keyword strategies to save time and elevate your UCAT performance with confidence.

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The Blue Peanut Team The Blue Peanut Team

Key UCAT Verbal Reasoning Strategies for Negative Questions (Except, Not, Least)

Negative questions in the UCAT Verbal Reasoning section – those featuring words like “NOT”, “EXCEPT”, or “LEAST” – can trip up even the best students. These questions flip the usual logic, asking you to identify the one answer that isn’t supported by the passage. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll show you how to navigate these tricky questions by reversing your answer logic and eliminating supported answers. With a clear strategy and a bit of practice, you can confidently tackle “except/not/least” questions and boost your UCAT score on your journey to medical or dental school.

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The Blue Peanut Team The Blue Peanut Team

UCAT Verbal Reasoning Strategies: Mastering the 4 Common Question Types with Keyword Scanning

Verbal Reasoning is often the UCAT's toughest, most time-pressured section. 😰 With under 30 seconds per question, you need effective strategies to succeed. In this guide, we break down the four most common VR question formats – from True/False/Cannot Tell to inference questions – and show how a simple keyword scanning technique can help you find answers fast. Let's turn that time pressure to your advantage and boost your UCAT score!

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The Blue Peanut Team The Blue Peanut Team

How to Prepare for Your UCAT Test Day

Preparing for UCAT test day is just as important as studying for the exam itself. Our ultimate guide walks you through the essential steps one month before, one week before, the day before, and on the day of your UCAT. From smart revision planning and stress management to what to eat for sustained energy and what to expect at the test centre – we’ve got you covered with friendly, supportive tips to help you feel confident and ready to succeed on your UCAT test day.

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Imran Khan Imran Khan

Getting Started in UCAT Quantitative Reasoning: Key Formats, Mental Maths, Calculator Tips & Fast Pacing to Maximise Your Score

Feeling nervous about the UCAT Quantitative Reasoning section? Don’t worry – this friendly guide breaks down everything you need to know to tackle UCAT QR with confidence. We’ll cover the typical question formats you’ll face, refresh the basic maths skills you’ll use 🤓, share mental calculation tricks and on-screen calculator hacks 🖩, and give you time-saving pacing tips ⏱️. With these strategies, you can work smarter (not harder) and maximise your UCAT QR score – bringing you one step closer to medical or dental school. Let’s dive in and conquer UCAT Quantitative Reasoning together! 💪✨

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The Blue Peanut Team The Blue Peanut Team

Key UCAT Quantitative Reasoning Strategies for Medical & Dental School Admissions

Many students find the Quantitative Reasoning section of the UCAT daunting – it’s fast-paced and packed with data. But with the right approach, you can significantly improve your speed and accuracy. In this guide, we introduce essential QR strategies: learn to read the question first, identify only the key information, set up calculations efficiently, and avoid common traps that often catch candidates out. With these techniques, you’ll be better equipped to boost your UCAT score and strengthen your medical or dental school application.

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The Blue Peanut Team The Blue Peanut Team

Mastering UCAT Rate Questions: Speed, Units & Formulae Simplified

Rate questions – from classic speed/distance problems to tricky unit conversions – are a key part of the UCAT Quantitative Reasoning section. In this comprehensive guide, we demystify “rates” and provide step-by-step strategies to solve speed, flow, and other rate-based questions confidently. 💡 Learn how to set up fractions, rearrange formulae, and avoid common pitfalls, so you can tackle these questions quickly and accurately. Let’s boost your UCAT score together!

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The Blue Peanut Team The Blue Peanut Team

UCAT Quantitative Reasoning: Unit Conversions Made Easy

Unit conversions are a key skill for the UCAT Quantitative Reasoning section. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn how to convert between units with ease – multiplying, dividing, and canceling units quickly and correctly. From handling time and distance changes to converting volumes, we’ll show you step-by-step techniques (and a few 📝 tricks) to save time and avoid common mistakes. Mastering these basics will boost your confidence and help you ace the UCAT, bringing you one step closer to medical or dental school success.

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The Blue Peanut Team The Blue Peanut Team

UCAT Quantitative Reasoning: Mastering Mean, Median, Mode & Range

Worried about statistics questions in the UCAT? This guide will help you brush up on mean, median, mode & range 📊. With clear definitions, examples and quick tricks, you'll tackle "average" problems in UCAT Quantitative Reasoning with confidence and speed.

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