If you've just started researching the UCAT, the scoring system can look confusing at first — especially if you've come across older articles that still reference scores out of 3600. This post explains exactly how the UCAT is scored in 2025 and beyond, including the new 900–2700 scale, how Decision Making partial marks work, and what happened to Abstract Reasoning.
The New UCAT Scoring System (2025 Onwards)
From 2025, the UCAT changed significantly. Abstract Reasoning (AR) was removed, leaving three cognitive subtests plus the Situational Judgement Test (SJT). This means the total score is now out of 2700, not 3600.
Here's the overview:
| Section | Score Range | Contributes to Total? | |---|---|---| | Verbal Reasoning (VR) | 300–900 | Yes | | Decision Making (DM) | 300–900 | Yes | | Quantitative Reasoning (QR) | 300–900 | Yes | | Total Cognitive Score | 900–2700 | — | | Situational Judgement (SJT) | Bands 1–4 | No (separate) |
The three cognitive sections each contribute equally to your total score. The SJT is reported separately as a Band — it does not add to your numeric total.
> Important: If you see articles referring to UCAT scores out of 3600, or decile tables from 2024 or earlier, those figures are based on a four-subtest format and are not directly comparable to 2025+ scores. Always use current data.
How Each Section Is Scored
Verbal Reasoning (VR) — 300 to 900
VR tests your ability to critically evaluate written information. You answer 44 questions in 22 minutes. Each question is worth 1 mark. Your raw mark is then converted to a scaled score between 300 and 900.
Decision Making (DM) — 300 to 900
DM tests logical reasoning and decision-making under uncertainty. You answer 35 questions in 37 minutes. Marking is slightly different here:
- Single-answer questions (one correct option): 1 mark - Multi-statement questions (Yes/No for multiple statements): 2 marks if all statements are correct, 1 mark for partial credit (most statements correct)
This partial marking system is unique to DM and means you're rewarded for near-correct answers — there's no all-or-nothing penalty.
Quantitative Reasoning (QR) — 300 to 900
QR tests your ability to solve numerical problems using data in tables, graphs, and charts. You answer 36 questions in 26 minutes. Each question is worth 1 mark.
No Negative Marking
The UCAT does not use negative marking. You are never penalised for an incorrect answer. This means you should always answer every question — even if you're not sure, an educated guess gives you a chance of picking up marks.
Raw Marks to Scaled Scores: How the Conversion Works
After the test, your raw marks (total correct answers) are converted to a scaled score using a process called equating. This accounts for the fact that different test versions may vary slightly in difficulty.
The scaled score range for each cognitive section is 300 to 900. Here's what this means in practice:
- A very high raw mark → a scaled score toward 900 - A very low raw mark → a scaled score toward 300 - The conversion is designed so that a score of, say, 650 means approximately the same level of performance regardless of which test version you sat
The UCAT Consortium publishes the scoring methodology at ucat.ac.uk. The exact conversion tables are not released publicly, but the principle of equating ensures fairness across test sessions.
The Situational Judgement Test (SJT): Bands, Not Numbers
The SJT is a 26-minute test with 69 questions. Unlike the cognitive sections, it is not scored on a 300–900 scale. Instead, your performance is reported as one of four bands:
| Band | What It Means | |---|---| | Band 1 | Excellent — your judgements closely matched those of the expert panel in most cases | | Band 2 | Good — you demonstrated appropriate judgement frequently, with many answers matching the model responses | | Band 3 | Modest — your judgements were appropriate in some areas but differed substantially from the model in others | | Band 4 | Low — your judgements differed substantially from the ideal in many cases |
Band 1 is the highest. According to 2025 UCAT test statistics, the distribution was:
| Band | % of Candidates | |---|---| | Band 1 | 21% | | Band 2 | 39% | | Band 3 | 29% | | Band 4 | 10% |
The SJT is used differently by different universities. Some use it as a minimum threshold (e.g., requiring Band 1, 2, or 3), while others factor it in alongside the cognitive score. A Band 4 SJT can be a significant problem — many medical schools will not consider applicants who score in Band 4, regardless of their cognitive score.
Why Was Abstract Reasoning Removed?
Until 2024, the UCAT included four cognitive subtests: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, and Abstract Reasoning. From 2025, Abstract Reasoning was removed.
The decision was based on research evidence. Studies by Bala et al. (2022) and Paton et al. (2022) found that Abstract Reasoning had lower predictive validity for medical school performance compared to the other subtests — meaning it was less useful at identifying candidates who would go on to succeed in medicine. AR was also found to be highly coachable, raising concerns about whether high scores reflected genuine aptitude or simply test preparation.
Removing AR allowed the DM section to be expanded — it gained 6 additional questions (from 29 to 35) and 6 extra minutes (from 31 to 37 minutes) — and means the test now focuses on skills with stronger evidence for predicting medical school performance.
The Official Scoring Table
Here is the full section-by-section breakdown from the UCAT Consortium:
| Subtest | Questions | Instruction Time | Test Time | Scoring | |---|---|---|---|---| | Verbal Reasoning (VR) | 44 | 1 min 30 sec | 22 min | 300–900 | | Decision Making (DM) | 35 | 1 min 30 sec | 37 min | 300–900 | | Quantitative Reasoning (QR) | 36 | 2 min | 26 min | 300–900 | | Situational Judgement (SJT) | 69 | 1 min 30 sec | 26 min | Bands 1–4 | | Total | 184 | | ~1 hr 51 min | 900–2700 + Band |
What Scores Do Candidates Actually Get?
Based on 2025 UCAT test statistics (41,354 test-takers):
- Mean total score: 1891 - Mean VR: 602 - Mean DM: 628 - Mean QR: 661
This means a score of 1891 puts you right at the average. For most competitive medical schools, you'll want to be above the 60th–70th percentile (roughly 1950–2010+). For the most selective schools, the 80th–90th percentile (2100–2220+) is often needed.
Putting It All Together: Your UCAT Score
After your test, you'll receive:
1. A scaled score for each cognitive section (300–900 each) 2. A total cognitive score (900–2700) 3. An SJT band (1–4)
Your score report will also show your percentile rank within the 2025 cohort, which is often more useful than the raw number when comparing yourself to other applicants.
How theMSAG Can Help
Understanding the scoring system is just the first step. To perform at your best, you need targeted, high-quality practice. theMSAG offers:
- Our UCAT Question Bank — thousands of practice questions across all three cognitive sections and the SJT, with detailed explanations - Our Live UCAT Course — expert-led sessions with Dr Dibah Jiva and the theMSAG team, covering every section strategy - One-to-one UCAT tutoring — personalised preparation tailored to your specific weak areas
If you have questions about your score or how it compares, feel free to reach out to the theMSAG team.
Last verified by Dr Dibah Jiva — March 2026
Sources: UCAT Consortium — Test Format and Scoring | UCAT Test Statistics 2025