"What's the cut-off?" is one of the most common questions I hear from students preparing for the UCAT — and the honest answer is: it's complicated. There is no single UCAT cut-off that applies to all medical schools. Each university sets its own approach to using UCAT scores, and those approaches vary considerably.
This post explains how cut-offs work, what they look like in practice at different universities, and what the 2025 change to a 2700 scale means for interpreting them.
An Important Note on the New Scoring Scale
From 2025, UCAT total scores run from 900 to 2700 (down from 1200–3600). This is because Abstract Reasoning was removed, leaving three cognitive sections (VR, DM, QR) each scored 300–900.
Any cut-off figures you see that are above 2700 are based on the old format and do not apply to your application. If a resource mentions a cut-off of, say, 2400 or 2700 (old scale), you cannot directly translate that to the new scale. The percentile data — not the raw number — is the more useful comparison point across years.
What "Cut-Off" Actually Means
Universities use the term "cut-off" in different ways:
- Hard cut-off: A minimum score below which no applicant is considered, regardless of other factors. Applicants below the threshold are automatically rejected at the application stage. - Ranking cut-off: Applicants are ranked by UCAT score, and only those above a certain rank (e.g., top 7 deciles, or top third) are invited to interview. This isn't a fixed number — it moves year by year with the cohort. - No cut-off: UCAT is used as one factor among several, and no score automatically excludes an applicant.
Most UK medical schools use a ranking approach rather than a fixed number, which is why published "cut-offs" are often approximate — they vary each year depending on how the cohort performs.
The Decile System
Many universities don't set a fixed score threshold — instead, they work with deciles. Your UCAT decile reflects where you sit relative to all candidates who sat the test that year.
| Decile | Total Score (2025) | Percentile | |---|---|---| | 1st decile | Up to 1580 | Bottom 10% | | 2nd decile | Up to 1680 | 10th–20th percentile | | 3rd decile | Up to 1760 | 20th–30th percentile | | 4th decile | Up to 1820 | 30th–40th percentile | | 5th decile | Up to 1880 | 40th–50th percentile | | 6th decile | Up to 1950 | 50th–60th percentile | | 7th decile | Up to 2010 | 60th–70th percentile | | 8th decile | Up to 2100 | 70th–80th percentile | | 9th decile | Up to 2220 | 80th–90th percentile | | 10th decile | 2220+ | Top 10% |
Source: UCAT Test Statistics 2025
A university that shortlists "the top 7 deciles" means they are considering applicants who scored at the 30th percentile or above — i.e., anyone below the 3rd decile is not progressed. Note that the cut-off moves every year because deciles are based on that year's cohort performance.
How Different Universities Use UCAT
Oxford University
Oxford uses UCAT score and GCSEs, weighted equally, for shortlisting candidates to interview. There is no hard UCAT cut-off — rather, your combined score from these two components determines whether you receive an interview invitation. UCAT switched to replacing BMAT at Oxford from 2025 entry.
Oxford interviews are panel-style (not MMI), focusing heavily on academic reasoning, scientific problem-solving, and motivation. The UCAT score matters significantly in getting to interview, but the interview itself is highly weighted in final decisions.
Cambridge University
Cambridge uses the UCAT cognitive score (not the SJT) for shortlisting, alongside academic record. There is no hard UCAT cut-off — scores are considered in context with A-level predictions, GCSEs, and other application components. Cambridge switched from BMAT to UCAT for 2025 entry.
Cambridge's approach means a very high academic record can offset a slightly lower UCAT, and vice versa. The UCAT cognitive total is what matters at Cambridge; the SJT is not used in their selection process.
Imperial College London
Imperial invites the top third of its applicants for interview, ranked by UCAT score. This is a ranking-based approach — the effective "cut-off" moves each year depending on how applicants to Imperial score. Imperial switched from BMAT to UCAT for 2025 entry.
At Imperial, a strong UCAT is essential. With only the top third progressing to interview, you typically need to be in the 7th–8th decile or above to be competitive.
Lancaster University
Lancaster uses a combined approach: applicants must be in the top ~7 deciles of UCAT scores AND have an SJT of Band 1, 2, or 3 to be shortlisted for interview. Candidates in the bottom 3 deciles, or with Band 4 SJT, are not progressed regardless of other factors.
Lancaster's explicit use of both cognitive score and SJT band is one of the clearest examples of how the SJT is used as a threshold rather than just a tie-breaker.
Keele University
Keele takes a holistic scoring approach: UCAT score and personal statement are both scored out of 25, giving a combined score out of 50. This means the personal statement carries real weight at Keele — a strong personal statement can compensate for a lower UCAT, and a very high UCAT won't automatically carry you if your personal statement is weak.
Birmingham University
Birmingham is notable for not applying a minimum UCAT cut-off at the application stage. UCAT is used alongside other factors, but no score automatically excludes you. This makes Birmingham a reasonable choice for applicants whose UCAT is below average but who have strong other components.
The SJT: A Hidden Cut-Off at Many Schools
Even if a university doesn't publish a hard UCAT cognitive score cut-off, many implicitly screen out Band 4 SJT scores. A Band 4 means your professional judgement was judged to differ substantially from expert consensus in many scenarios — medical schools understandably take this seriously.
According to 2025 UCAT test statistics:
- Band 4 was achieved by 10% of candidates - Bands 1–3 cover 90% of candidates
My strong advice: treat achieving at least Band 3 (preferably Band 1 or 2) as a non-negotiable part of your UCAT preparation. If you score Band 4, your application options narrow significantly.
Why Cut-Offs Change Every Year
Because most universities use a ranking approach, the effective cut-off is tied to the cohort's performance each year. In a year where more high scorers apply to a particular university, the effective cut-off rises. In a year with fewer competitive applicants, it may fall.
This is why I caution students against relying too heavily on specific cut-off numbers from previous years. Decile rankings are more stable as a guide than raw scores, because they automatically account for year-on-year variation in cohort performance.
What Cut-Off Do You Need?
Here's a practical guide based on the 2025 decile data:
| Score Range | Decile | Implication | |---|---|---| | Under 1760 (below 3rd decile) | 1st–3rd | Limited options; very strategic application needed | | 1760–1880 (3rd–5th decile) | 3rd–5th | Below average; some schools accessible with strong other factors | | 1880–2010 (5th–7th decile) | 5th–7th | Average to good; most schools accessible with right approach | | 2010–2220 (7th–9th decile) | 7th–9th | Good to very good; competitive at most schools | | 2220+ (9th–10th decile) | 9th–10th | Excellent; competitive at the most selective schools |
How theMSAG Can Help With School Selection
Understanding UCAT cut-offs is just one part of choosing where to apply. theMSAG offers:
- Application strategy advice — matching your UCAT score profile to the right schools - Our Live UCAT Course — preparing you to maximise your score before the window closes - Personal statement support — especially valuable for schools like Keele where PS carries real weight
If you want help thinking through your school choices in light of your UCAT score, our team works with students at every score range.
Last verified by Dr Dibah Jiva — March 2026
Sources: UCAT Test Statistics 2025 | UCAT Test Format | Lancaster Medical School Admissions Policy 2026 | Keele University Interview Guidance