Careers

UCAT 2026 – What Year 12 Students Need to Know

If you’re in Year 12 and planning to apply for medicine, dentistry, or clinical science courses at selected universities, you’ll need to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test this year.

The UCAT ANZ is a computer-based admissions test used by universities across Australia and New Zealand. It is designed to assess the key abilities and professional behaviours needed to succeed in healthcare careers. Your UCAT result is considered alongside your academic results and interview performance when applying for competitive courses.

Why is the UCAT important?

The UCAT provides an opportunity to stand out from other applicants by demonstrating your aptitude for the demands of medical and health-related degrees. It focuses on skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making—essential qualities for future doctors and dentists.

Test Format

The 2026 UCAT consists of:

• Verbal Reasoning
• Decision Making
• Quantitative Reasoning

• Situational Judgement Test

   

Key Dates for 2026

• Bookings open: 3 March 2026
• Bookings close: 15 May 2026

• Testing period: 1 July – 5 August 2026

   

How to Prepare

Preparation resources become available from early March and include:

• A personalised preparation plan
• Tour and question tutorials to build familiarity
• Practice question banks
• Timed practice tests

Students are encouraged to practise using the on-screen calculator and become comfortable with the timing of each section.

For more information, including preparation resources and scoring details, visit the official UCAT ANZ website.