Admissions tests for medical school

Many students get the A level grades or equivalent qualifications required for medical school, so admissions tests are another way to help select candidates with the most potential.

Most medical schools expect you to take either the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT), the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) or the Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT), but check entry requirements on our coursefinder tool, in prospectuses or through the UCAS website.

Rather than testing your knowledge, most admissions tests mainly focus on assessing whether you have the range of mental abilities and behavioural attributes considered important for a career in medicine.

Practise, practise, practise

It’s important to practise a few tests so that you are familiar with their format, question style and requirements. Practice papers and other resources are available, including:

• BMAT practice papers and resources can be found on the BMAT website
• UCAT practice tests and resources can be found on the UCAT website
• GAMSAT preparation materials are available (at cost) on the GAMSAT website

Look at the websites given for the relevant test to find out:

• more about the content of the test itself
• how to register
• where you sit the test and when
• test fees and information on fee waiver or reimbursement if you are likely to have difficulties paying
• how you can prepare for the test. 

• UCAT (formerly UKCAT)

  This is the most widely used test by medical (and dental) schools. The UCAT is a 2-hour computer-based test delivered in Pearson VUE test centres throughout the UK and internationally. All the questions are multiple choice.

  There are sections on:

  • verbal reasoning, ie your ability to think logically – 21 minutes
  • quantitative reasoning, ie your ability to solve numerical problems – 25 minutes
  • abstract reasoning – 12 minutes
  • decision making – 31 minutes
  • situational judgement – 26 minutes

  Find out more on the UCAT website.

  Please note that until 2019, the UCAT was called UKCAT but although the name has changed, the test content remains the same. 

• BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT)

  This test takes 2 hours. There are three sections:

  • a one hour multiple-choice test focused on problem solving and critical thinking
  • a 30 minute multiple-choice test that assesses your scientific knowledge and ability to apply it
  • a 30 minute writing task based on a topic of general, medical or scientific interest

  Find out more on the BMAT website. 

• Graduate Medical School Admissions Test

  The GAMSAT is mainly used by medical schools that offer Graduate Entry Programmes. The test takes a total of 5 hours 15 minutes. There are three sections:

  • reasoning in humanities  – 1 hour 40 minutes
  • written communication – two 30-minute essays on socio-cultural and personal and social issues
  • reasoning in biological and physical sciences – a multiple-choice test lasting 2 hours 30 minutes. Unlike most of the other tests, this assesses your knowledge of chemistry, biology and physics

  Find out more on the GAMSAT website.