UCAT ANZ Score Advice: What Should You Do Now?

With 2023 UCAT percentile calculator and summary test statistics released, students now have more information about how their score compares to other UCAT candidates. This blog will help you interpret your score and provide advice on what you should do now.

You can convert your UCAT score into a UCAT percentile using the UCAT consortium’s UCAT score-percentile calculator, available here: https://www.ucat.edu.au/results/test-statistics

Scores above 3000

Interpretation

Students scoring above 3000, in general, have a good chance of receiving an interview offer, provided they meet the minimum required ATAR for the particular university and course. A score of >3000 equates to approximately 90^th percentile, which is generally required at most universities for a standard medical place. Some universities such as WSU place emphasis on certain subtests (eg Verbal Reasoning). However, UCAT scores are only one element of the medical entry process. Medical interviews are also very important. At many universities (including Adelaide, Monash, UNSW and UWA), medical interviews are worth 30-40% of the selection criteria! At JCU, WSU and Newcastle, medical interviews are worth even more.

Recommendations

With your score, you have a good chance of obtaining an interview offer. We suggest that you do the following:

1. Apply to as many universities and medical courses as possible. Applying to multiple universities in various locations across the country will give you the best chance of obtaining an interview offer. Furthermore, given interviews are subjective by nature, there is no guarantee of an offer at any particular university. Attending multiple interviews will increase your chances of securing a place in medical school. Note that you will need to apply separately to each state-based admissions centre (VTAC, UAC, QTAC, SATAC, TISC etc.) and applications usually close in late September. As a school leaver in Australia, you have the unique opportunity of being able to apply to about 15 medical schools (the limit in the UK is four, in New Zealand it is one and even in Australia, as a graduate, you are limited to being able to interview at only one university).

2. Start thinking about interviews. Medical interviews are a vital criterion for entry into medical school, and in many cases are as important, if not more important, than UCAT and academic performance. Unfortunately, most students do not take into account how important interviews are, and many do no preparation at all, leading to a missed place in medical school. Performing well in your interview will significantly increase your chances of securing your place in medicine. Furthermore, the skills required to succeed in a medical interview cannot be developed overnight – they should be developed over a period of weeks to months. Do not wait until the end of the academic year to start preparing! MedEntry offers medical interview training.

3. Try to achieve the highest possible ATAR. In general, the higher your ATAR, the greater your chance of securing a medical place at your preferred university. With a high ATAR, high UCAT score and excellent interview performance, you may even receive a scholarship!

Scores between 2730 and 3000

Interpretation

Students scoring in this range may receive an interview offer, particularly if they score in the upper part of this range (2910+), are rural students, local students, students applying for dentistry, or students who expect to receive a very high ATAR. Universities differ in their emphasis on UCAT, and use UCAT in various ways. Further details can be found in this blog: https://www.medentry.edu.au/blog/how-will-medical-schools-use-ucat

Recommendations

Given your score may or may not be sufficient to obtain an interview offer, we suggest the following:

1. Apply to as many universities and medical courses as possible. Applying to multiple universities in various locations across the country will give you the best chance of obtaining an interview offer. Furthermore, given interviews are subjective by nature, there is no guarantee of an offer at any particular university. Attending multiple interviews will increase your chances of securing a medical school place. Note that you will need to apply separately to each state-based admissions centre (VTAC, UAC, QTAC, SATAC, TISC etc.) and applications usually close in late September.

2. Try to achieve the highest possible ATAR. In general, the higher your ATAR, the lower the required UCAT score to obtain an interview offer. It is therefore important for you to maximise your ATAR to improve your chances of obtaining an interview offer.

3. Start thinking about interviews. At many universities (including Adelaide, Monash, UNSW and UWA), medical interviews are worth 30-40% of the selection criteria! At JCU, WSU and Newcastle, medical interviews are worth even more. Most students do not consider the importance of interviews, and many do no preparation at all, leading to a missed place. Performing well in your interview will significantly increase your chances of securing a place in medicine. Furthermore, the skills required to succeed cannot be developed overnight – they should be developed over a period of weeks to months. Do not wait until the end of the academic year to start preparing! MedEntry offers medical interview training.

Scores less than 2730

Interpretation

Students scoring less than 2730 have, in general, scored lower than the top 30% of students sitting UCAT. The mean (average) UCAT ANZ 2023 score was 2543, which equates to the 50^th percentile. Note that this does not mean students scoring less than 50^th percentile are lower than average in ability! Remember that students sitting UCAT are those aiming for medicine and dentistry, and have a high level of ability. This is a unique and tough cohort of students that you are competing against. Students scoring less than 2730 are unlikely to receive an offer for a medical interview at universities which require UCAT, unless they are rural students. Note that the scores required for rural students, although lower, have been increasing in recent years. 

Recommendations

Given your score may fall short of what universities are looking for, it is best to plan ahead. We suggest:

1. Applying for universities which do not require UCAT for entry. These include James Cook University (which uses academic results and a written statement for dentistry – applications close in late September) and Bond University (which uses academic results and a psychometric test).

2. Trying to achieve the highest possible ATAR. There are some universities that make offers to students with very high ATARs, even if they do not receive high UCAT scores. An example of this would be the 'guaranteed' entry pathway into medicine at the University of Sydney, University of Melbourne and Griffith University (they do not require UCAT). If you are likely to receive a very high ATAR, it would be worthwhile considering interview preparation, in case you receive an offer.

3. Consider re-sitting UCAT. Getting into medicine is a difficult and competitive process. If you do not get into medicine on your first attempt, you can repeat UCAT. You can either take a gap year (in which you will still be considered a school leaver) or start a degree and resit UCAT (note that you will then be considered a ‘non-standard applicant’, and not all universities will accept you). If you are considering repeating UCAT, it is best to start your preparation early. There are many cases of students taking even two gap years and ending up with multiple medical school offers.

4. Consider Plan B. It is important to consider other options in the event you do not get into medicine or dentistry. What other degrees or careers are you interested in? If you have your heart set on medicine and do not wish to re-sit UCAT, another option is graduate entry medicine, via the GAMSAT pathway. Academic Advisers at MedEntry can advise you on the best degree to commence if you choose to pursue the non-standard pathway or the graduate pathway.

Further information regarding UCAT scores can be found at:

• https://www.medentry.edu.au/blog/how-will-medical-schools-use-ucat

• https://www.medentry.edu.au/blog/how-will-universities-use-ucat-anz-scores

We wish you the best of luck for the coming months!

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