UCAT ANZ

Overview

UCAT ANZ (University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand) is a computer-based admissions test used by a number of Australian and New Zealand universities as part of selection for medicine, dentistry and some related health-science courses. It tests cognitive skills and behavioural attributes rather than curriculum knowledge, and is run by the UCAT Consortium at Pearson VUE test centres. For 2026, candidates sit UCAT ANZ as part of an application for courses starting in 2027. A related test, UCAT, uses a similar question style for UK university applications and is covered separately, since it has its own test window, fees and participating universities.

Who can apply

UCAT ANZ is taken by applicants to medicine, dentistry and a small number of other courses at Australian and New Zealand universities that require it, including (for 2027 entry) the University of Adelaide, Central Queensland University, Charles Sturt University, Curtin University, Flinders University, Griffith University, Monash University, the Universities of Newcastle and New England's Joint Medical Program, UNSW, the University of Queensland, the University of Tasmania, the University of Western Australia and Western Sydney University in Australia, plus the University of Auckland and the University of Otago in New Zealand. There is no age or academic eligibility test set by UCAT ANZ itself to register; any applicant who intends to apply to a course that lists UCAT ANZ as a requirement can book a seat. Course and entry requirements (such as minimum grades or prerequisite subjects) are set by each university individually, so applicants should check each target university's own admissions page alongside booking the test.

Exam pattern

The test is computer-based and delivered at Pearson VUE test centres, with the four sections taken back to back in one sitting of about two hours. An on-screen calculator is available only during the Quantitative Reasoning section. Abstract Reasoning, previously a fifth cognitive section, was withdrawn from UCAT ANZ from the 2025 cycle onward, so the test now has three cognitive subtests (Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning) plus the Situational Judgement subtest. There is no negative marking: an unanswered or wrong answer scores no marks, but nothing is deducted, so candidates are advised to attempt every question.

Marking and results

Each of the three cognitive subtests is scored on a scale of 300–900; a total scaled score is produced by adding the three together, giving a combined score between 900 and 2700. The Situational Judgement subtest is scored separately, also on a scale of 300–900, and is not added into the cognitive total. Candidates receive their individual scaled scores through their Pearson account within 24 hours of sitting the test. For the 2026 cycle, preliminary test statistics (showing how scores compare across the candidate pool) are published in late August 2026, with full summary statistics following in September 2026; participating universities receive candidates' results directly as part of this cycle.

Important dates

For the 2026 cycle: Access Arrangements and concession applications opened on 16 February 2026. Concession applications closed on 11 May 2026. Booking opened on 3 March 2026 and the standard booking deadline was 15 May 2026, with a late booking window (additional fee) to 29 May 2026 and a final late booking window (larger additional fee) to 5 June 2026. The testing window ran from 1 July to 5 August 2026, with candidates choosing their own date and time within that window when booking. Dates shift slightly each year; check ucat.edu.au for the current cycle before planning around the dates above.

Fees

For the 2026 cycle, the standard UCAT ANZ fee was AUD 335 for a test taken in Australia or New Zealand. A concession fee of AUD 240 was available to eligible Australian candidates who applied within the concession window. Booking after the standard deadline carried an additional late fee of AUD 85, rising to AUD 185 for the final late-booking window.

How to apply

Registration is a two-step process using the Pearson-run UCAT ANZ system. First, candidates create a web account, giving personal and contact details and using their legal name exactly as it appears on the photo ID they will bring to the test; registration must be done by the candidate personally, not by a school or agent. Second, once booking opens, candidates log in to select a Pearson VUE test centre and an available date and time within the testing window, then pay the fee or have an approved concession applied.

After the exam

Universities that require UCAT ANZ use a candidate's scaled scores, alongside academic results and any interview or other selection criteria set by that university, to rank and select applicants for medicine, dentistry and related courses; how heavily UCAT ANZ counts, and whether the Situational Judgement score is used at all, varies by university and course. Results are sent to the universities a candidate names in their application, in addition to the candidate's own Pearson account.

Preparation tips

Work through the official practice materials published on the UCAT ANZ website before test day, since the on-screen calculator, flagging and review tools in the real test differ from paper practice. Practise strictly against the clock: most sections give well under a minute per question, so pacing matters as much as accuracy. Decide in advance how much time to spend reading each passage or scenario before answering, since the test does not allow pausing once a section has started.