What to Do After the UCAT: Results & Next Steps

Sitting the UCAT is a significant milestone in your journey toward medicine or dentistry. The moment you click ‘End Test’, a mix of relief, anxiety, and curiosity tends to set in all at once. What happens next? What does your score mean? And what should you do if things didn’t go to plan?

This guide walks you through everything that follows the UCAT — calmly and clearly — so you know exactly what to expect and how to move forward with confidence.

What You See on Screen Immediately After the Test

As soon as you complete the final section and confirm you want to end the test, your results appear on screen right there in the testing centre. You don’t have to wait days or weeks — your scores are displayed immediately.

The on-screen summary shows your scaled scores for each of the four cognitive subtests, your Situational Judgement Test (SJT) band, and your overall total scaled score. You’ll have a moment to review this before leaving the room.

It’s completely normal to feel a rush of emotion at this point — whether that’s relief, disappointment, or something in between. Take a breath. One number does not define your entire application, and there are always options regardless of where your score lands.

Most testing centres will print a copy of your results for you to take home. If yours doesn’t, make sure you note down your scores before leaving, as you’ll want them for reference.

Understanding Your UCAT Score Report

Your score report contains several key components, and it’s worth understanding what each one means.

The Four Cognitive Subtests

Each of the four cognitive subtests is scored on a scale of 300 to 900:

Verbal Reasoning (VR) — assesses your ability to read and critically evaluate written information
Decision Making (DM) — tests logical reasoning, statistical interpretation, and evaluating arguments
Quantitative Reasoning (QR) — measures your ability to solve numerical problems using data
Abstract Reasoning (AR) — evaluates pattern recognition and the ability to identify relationships between shapes

Your Total Scaled Score

Your overall scaled score is the sum of your four cognitive subtest scores, giving a total range of 1200 to 3600. This is the primary figure most universities use when ranking applicants.

The SJT Band

The Situational Judgement Test is scored differently. Rather than a numerical score, you receive a band from 1 to 4, where Band 1 is the highest:

Band 1 — performance in the top range, closely aligned with the views of medical professionals
Band 2 — performance slightly below Band 1 but still strong
Band 3 — some significant differences from professional views
Band 4 — substantial differences from professional views

Some universities factor the SJT band into their selection process, while others use it as a threshold or don’t weight it heavily. Check each university’s specific policy.

Percentile Ranking

Your score report also includes a percentile ranking, which tells you how your score compares to all other candidates who sat the UCAT in the same testing year. For example, a score at the 80th percentile means you performed better than 80% of test-takers. Percentiles are often more meaningful than raw scores when assessing your competitiveness.

When Are Official Results Released?

While you receive your scores on screen immediately after the test, official results are released by UCAT ANZ in late August or early September each year, once the testing window has closed.

These official results are made available through your UCAT ANZ online account. You’ll receive an email notification when they’re ready to access. The official results include the same information shown on screen, but in a formal format that can be used for university applications.

It’s important to keep your UCAT ANZ account login details safe — you’ll need them to access and submit your scores.

How to Submit Your Scores to Universities

In Australia and New Zealand, you do not need to manually send your UCAT scores to each university individually. The process is streamlined through UCAT ANZ.

The Submission Process

When you registered for the UCAT, you selected which universities you wanted to receive your scores. If you need to update or confirm these selections, you can do so through your UCAT ANZ online account once official results are released.

UCAT ANZ then shares your results directly with the universities you’ve nominated. Always double-check that your nominated institutions are correct and up to date.

Which Universities Accept the UCAT?

The UCAT ANZ is accepted by medical and dental schools across Australia and New Zealand, including:

University of Melbourne
University of Queensland
University of Sydney
Monash University
University of Adelaide
University of Western Australia
University of Auckland
University of Otago
And many more

Each university has its own selection process, UCAT weighting, and cut-off thresholds. Always check the admissions pages of your target universities directly, as policies can change year to year.

Deadlines to Be Aware Of

University application deadlines typically fall between September and October for most Australian medical schools, aligning with VTAC, UAC, QTAC, and other state-based admissions systems. New Zealand universities have their own timelines. Make sure you’re across the specific deadlines for every institution you’re applying to — missing a deadline can mean waiting another full year.

What to Do If You’re Unhappy With Your Score

Not every sitting goes the way you hoped. If your score isn’t where you wanted it to be, it’s important to know that you have options.

Resitting the UCAT

The UCAT ANZ allows candidates to resit the test. Key things to know:

Eligibility: You can resit the UCAT in a subsequent year. Within the same testing year, resits are generally not permitted.
Timing: The UCAT testing window typically opens in July each year. Planning ahead gives you time to prepare more thoroughly.
Cost: There is a registration fee for each sitting. Check the UCAT ANZ website for current pricing.
Score reporting: When you resit, universities will generally only see the scores from the year you apply — not previous years. However, always verify this with your target universities.

A resit can be a genuine opportunity to improve, especially if you feel your preparation was limited or if external factors affected your performance on the day.

Alternative Pathways

If a resit isn’t the right move for you right now, there are other meaningful pathways into medicine and health:

Graduate-entry medicine: Some Australian medical schools offer graduate-entry programs that use the GAMSAT rather than the UCAT. If you complete an undergraduate degree first, this pathway opens up.
Other health degrees: Degrees in nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy, biomedical science, or paramedicine can be deeply rewarding careers in their own right — and some offer pathways into medicine later.
Gap year strategies: A structured gap year can be used to strengthen your application — gaining clinical experience, volunteering, improving your academic record, or preparing more thoroughly for a future UCAT sitting.

There is no single road into medicine. Many successful doctors took a non-linear path, and the experiences gained along the way often make for stronger, more empathetic clinicians.

Next Steps in the Admissions Process

For those whose scores are competitive, the UCAT is just one part of a broader admissions process. Here’s what comes next.

Interviews — The MMI

Many Australian and New Zealand medical schools use the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format. This involves rotating through a series of short interview stations, each assessing different competencies such as ethical reasoning, communication, empathy, and problem-solving.

If you receive an interview invitation, treat it as seriously as you treated the UCAT. Preparation matters enormously — practising with realistic scenarios, getting feedback, and understanding the values medical schools are looking for will give you a significant edge.

ATAR and GPA Requirements

For school-leaver applicants, your ATAR remains a critical component alongside your UCAT score. Most medical schools have minimum ATAR thresholds, and some use a combined ranking of ATAR and UCAT to shortlist candidates for interview.

For graduate applicants, your GPA plays the equivalent role. Ensure you understand how your target universities weight academic performance relative to UCAT scores.

Personal Statements and Supporting Documents

Some universities require a personal statement or responses to written questions as part of the application. These are your opportunity to articulate your motivation for medicine, your relevant experiences, and your personal qualities. Give these the time and care they deserve — a well-crafted personal statement can strengthen an application considerably.

Staying Organised

With multiple universities, different deadlines, varying requirements, and several components to manage, staying organised is essential. Consider:

Creating a spreadsheet tracking each university’s requirements, deadlines, and your application status
Setting calendar reminders for key dates
Keeping copies of all submitted documents
Checking university websites regularly for any updates to admissions policies

The admissions process can feel overwhelming, but breaking it into clear steps makes it manageable.

Ready to Maximise Your Chances? MasterMed Can Help

Whether you’re preparing for your first UCAT sitting, planning a resit, or getting ready for medical school interviews, MasterMed is here to support you every step of the way.

At mastermed.com.au, you’ll find expert UCAT preparation resources, structured courses, and personalised coaching designed to help you perform at your best. Our team understands the admissions process inside and out — and we’re committed to helping you put your strongest application forward.

Explore MasterMed’s UCAT and interview preparation programs today, and take the next step toward your medical career with confidence.