An explanation of UCAT results: How are UCAT results calculated? and other UCAT results FAQs
3 years ago by Rob
HOW ARE UCAT RESULTS CALCULATED?
Unfortunately Pearson Vue does not release the marking scheme that is used determine UCAT scores. There is some speculation as to the following: answering a question correctly that is not answered correctly by the majority of UCAT candidates will be weighted more heavily. And conversely, answering a question incorrectly that most UCAT candidates do answer correctly, will be weighted more heavily against a candidate’s UCAT score. However, because Pearson does not release the marking scheme or question weightings for the UCAT it is impossible to be absolutely certain of this. What is certain though, is the more questions you are able to answer correctly in each UCAT subtest, the higher your UCAT score will be. Remember also, that for those universities which look at a UCAT candidate’s overall UCAT percentile rank, it is how your UCAT performance ranks against other UCAT candidates not your raw UCAT scores that will determine your eligibility for selection by those universities.
WHEN AND HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY UCAT percentiles?
These will be made available on UCAT ANZ site usually in September.
WHAT UCAT RESULTS WILL I RECEIVE?
When you receive your UCAT results you will be given a score for each UCAT subtest and an overall score. SJT scores are reported separately. From this information, you will also be able to calculate a calculated percentile rank. Some universities will look at your individual score from each subtest, whilst others, will use your UCAT percentile rank to help determine which UCAT candidates will be interviewed.
WHAT DOES MY UCAT SCORE MEAN? WILL MY UCAT SCORE GET ME INTO MEDICINE?
Each year the cut-offs for UCAT and ATAR scores vary slightly for entry into undergraduate medicine. It is not your UCAT score alone that will determine if you will be successful in gaining entry into your chosen undergraduate medicine course but a combination of your UCAT, ATAR and performance in the interview. Some universities conduct a panel interview, whilst some conduct MMI interviews. Information regarding how universities select students for entry is available on the LMS under ‘Uni Admissions’ and also on university websites. You will need to look at each university’s respective website for information on whether they require your UCAT percentile rank, overall UCAT raw score or specific raw UCAT scores from each UCAT subtest. Also, universities may differ on how they weight each of ATAR, UCAT and interview selection criteria.
MedEntry students can access specific details on each university’s requirements on the LMS under ‘Uni Admissions’.
HOW LONG IS MY UCAT SCORE VALID FOR?
UCAT scores are only valid for one year.
CAN I RE-SIT THE UCAT?
Yes, you can re-sit the UCAT. However, it is extremely important that should you choose to do so, you also consider the selection criteria of your chosen university. For example, the undergraduate medicine course (MD) offered by Monash University will only take students within 2 years of completing high school (with a sufficient UCAT, interview performance and ATAR score), and who have not started an undergraduate degree elsewhere. To clarify, this means that you cannot transfer from science or bio-medical science at Monash or any other university to gain entry into Monash University’s medicine degree. See individual university websites for details on their selection criteria.
SHOULD I RE-SIT THE UCAT?
If you scored just below the required UCAT cut-off for your desired university and consequently did not receive an interview offer, you ought to seriously consider re-sitting the UCAT. This is particularly true for candidates who did not do sufficient UCAT study and UCAT preparation. There is some evidence to suggest that there may be an advantage in some subtests (eg the abstract reasoning) of the UCAT exam for those candidates who have sat the UCAT exam twice.
Perhaps the biggest advantage of sitting the UCAT again will be that you will not have to balance the intense study load of your final year high school subjects and the necessary practice and study required for the UCAT exam. This means that you will have significantly more time to prepare for the UCAT exam and complete UCAT practice exams. Further, you are likely to be able to study much more effectively because you will be in a less stressful environment compared to being in your final year of high school. You can also use the year to obtain work experience and volunteer work, which will be helpful for your interview.
