UCAT Results: What Is The Average Score and What is a Good Score?

How good is good enough?

That’s a question we get asked all the time, so we’ve compiled some UCAT statistics to help you see where you stand.

In this article, we investigate UCAT percentiles, as well as what is defined as a ‘good score’ and what the average student achieves. 

Yes, you should certainly concentrate on your own performance, but you can hone your revision by paying attention to the data. 

If you're starting to think about getting ready for the UCAT, read about UCAT preparation (including suggested timeframes and number of questions per day)

Table of contents

What is the average UCAT score?

Verbal Reasoning scores

Decision Making scores

Quantitative Reasoning scores

Abstract Reasoning scores

Situational Judgment scores

What is a good UCAT score and what are percentiles?

Where can I apply with an average UCAT score?

Can I get into medicine with a low score?

What is the average UCAT score?

The average UCAT score (i.e. the total mean scaled score for VR, DM, QR and AR sections) varies slightly every year:

An average UCAT score is around 2520 – 2580, meaning the average score for each section is 630 – 645. 

An average UCAT score will put you in the 5th decile. This means you did better than around 50% of test takers.

Try free UCAT practice questions to boost your average score

UCAT statistics: Average UCAT score per section (2022 and 2023) 

UCAT scores: Section breakdown

Start off by getting an overview of UCAT sections, before zooming in on each section and trying to understand how it's put together and whether you find it easy or hard. This can form the basis of your revision plan.

Below we discuss how the average student fares in each UCAT section.

Verbal Reasoning scores

Verbal Reasoning is the section where students get the lowest scores on average, and many students report struggling with the length of the texts and the harsh time limit.

Our VR Inference Trainer is included with every UCAT Online Course package. It's specifically designed to increase your reading speed and improve your score in the VR section.

Learn how to master VR

Decision Making scores

Decision Making sees the second lowest average score. This could be due to the diversity of problem types and the mental agility required, along with the lack of time to get your head around the problems.

The questions take the form of logical puzzles from which you have to extract information. There is also a wide variety of question types, making it challenging to prepare for. DM is often a good place to dedicate extra revision time. 

Learn how to master DM

Quantitative Reasoning scores

Quantitative Reasoning tends to have the highest average score (remember, this is a general trend and your personal experience may differ completely).

As QR is a test of your basic mathematical ability, students’ perceptions of this section vary. Those of you who breezed GCSE maths are likely to find this section easier. You need to assess your own maths skills honestly and allocate revision time accordingly. 

Learn how to master QR and how to use the UCAT calculator (includes our QR Calculator Speed Trainer)

Abstract Reasoning scores

Abstract Reasoning is a section with few transferable skills from your school curriculum. As you can see in the table above, it has the second highest average score, but that definitely doesn’t mean it can be ignored.

This is a section where having a process and knowing typical pattern types can really pay off.

Learn how to master AR

Situational Judgement Test statistics

The average score in the SJT is Band 2. The percentage of people who achieved Band 1 decreased in 2021 and increased in 2022 and 2023.

If you're familiar with the General Medical Council’s Good medical practice document, this section should not pose a significant issue for you.

Some universities do not look at SJT results and others will exclude anyone who gets a Band 4. Among these are:

• Liverpool
• Sunderland
• Newcastle
• Keele
• Hull York
• Anglia Ruskin
• Newcastle
• Edge Hill
  

Learn how to master SJT

What is a good UCAT score and what are percentiles?

Universities have slightly varying perceptions of a ‘good score’ based on each year’s applicants. 

A good UCAT score is generally above 2760, which means your average score for each subsection will be 690. 

A score of 2760 will usually put you around the 80th percentile. This means you scored higher than 80% of test takers, so you’re in the top 20% of test takers.

A score above 2890 is very good as it will usually put you in the 90th percentile, meaning you’re in the top 10% of test takers. 

The percentile thresholds vary from year to year, of course, but this is generally accurate.

In 2022, a score of 2880 would put you in the 90th percentile, whereas in 2023, you would need to achieve a score of 2890.

What is the minimum UCAT score for medicine?

There is no minimum UCAT score for medicine in general. In fact, some universities will accept applications for all scores.

Some universities do, however, have a threshold. If you score below this threshold your application may not be accepted. Barts don’t accept applications from students who scored below the third decile (30th percentile). 

Some universities rank UCAT scores and have a cut-off point after they have filled all their interview places. This will mean that the cut-off can vary between years. For example, in 2018, the minimum score for Exeter was 2670. 

Find out more about universities’ UCAT requirements for medicine and dentistry.

Where should you apply for medicine with an average UCAT score?

There are universities that don’t place as much weight on the UCAT. It’s important to play to your strengths: if your UCAT score was low but you got a Band 1 in the SJT, apply to universities that score your SJT band. If your academics are stronger, then apply to universities that put greater emphasis on that. 

Aberdeen

Your UCAT score only makes up 20% of your overall score. 30% comes from your academics and 50% from your interview assessment. They use the SJT to decide on offers when candidates have similar scores.

Birmingham

Your UCAT score is scaled, with a maximum of 4 points. Your GCSEs are also scored are also worth a maximum of 4. You will get 2 extra points if you meet the eligibility criteria. 

The University of Birmingham has a handy calculator tool to assess your likelihood of receiving an interview.

Dundee

Your UCAT score has a 40% weighting, whereas your academics form 60% of your score. 

East Anglia

For 2019 entry, the average UCAT score was 2553 for students who got interviews. The lowest UCAT score to get an interview was 1980. 

Of those who got an offer, the average score for 2019 was 2644 and the lowest was 2260.

Hull York

You’re scored on a scale of 15 points for your SJT score and 40 points for your total UCAT score. You’re also scored on a scale of 30 points for your GCSEs and 15 points if you meet their eligibility criteria for contextual data. 

The highest scoring applicants will be invited for an interview. After interviews, you’re scored on your SJT band and contextual data. Applicants with the highest total score will be given offers.

The average UCAT score to be invited for an interview in 2020 was 2557. Although your overall UCAT score accounts for a large part of your total score, if you have Band 1 in SJT, it’s definitely worth considering. 

Keele

Applicants in the bottom two deciles are rejected.

You will be asked to fill in a Roles and Responsibilities Form. You’ll be scored on your form and applicants with the highest scores will be invited to interview. Your UCAT score is only used in borderline cases.

Plymouth

The university has a cut-off UCAT score. This varies year on year, but for 2018 it was 2400, for 2019 it was 2330, and for 2020 it was 2390.

Queens

You’ll be given a total score out of 42, with 6 points for your UCAT and 36 for your GCSEs. These scores will be used to rank students.

Aston 

Aston has no cut-off for your UCAT score as they use it in conjunction with your academics.

Cardiff 

The UCAT is just one of the aspects of your application that is considered. There’s no cut-off score for the UCAT. Your GCSEs are a strong influencing factor.

Liverpool 

Your UCAT score and GCSEs are combined for interview selection. For 2018, a competitive score was 2460 and for 2019 it was 2420.

Sunderland

Your UCAT score needs to be in the top eight deciles (i.e. above the 20th percentile). Selection for the interview is based on academic requirements, the Roles and Responsibilities Form, and your UCAT score.

Can you get into medicine with a very low UCAT score?

Don’t worry if you got a low UCAT score. The test is just one route into medicine.

There are many other ways to get into medical school, such as programmes which don't require the UCAT, schools which require the BMAT and studying oversees.

Read more about where to study with a low UCAT score.

UCAT requirements for dental schools in the UK

UCAT requirements for dental schools vary from university to university. 

Some universities, such as the University of Dundee, will rank you solely based on your UCAT score. 

Others will use the UCAT in conjunction with your academics, with varying weighting. For example, the University of Aberdeen uses the UCAT and your academics in a 60:40 split, whereas Barts uses a 50:50 split. The majority of dental schools use your UCAT score to decide whether or not to give you an interview. 

Read our UCAT FAQs if you have more questions

Summary

The UCAT is a tightrope.

On one hand, you need to focus on developing your own skills, and on the other, many students want reassurance that their score is likely to be ‘good enough’.

So remember the key facts:

• An average UCAT score is around 2480 – 2550, meaning the average score for each section is approximately 620 – 637. 
• Many students score lower in VR and compensate in other sections, particularly QR.

For more data, our UCAT Online Course provides you with real-time averages for each section. Every time you take a mock, you build a personal data bank, which compares your performance to the rest of Medify’s cohort (two thirds of UCAT takers).

Good luck with the rest of your UCAT preparation!