The Ultimate Guide to UCAT Sections

The UCAT is a conundrum.

On one hand, you're often asked basic questions you could do standing on your head. On the other, you have to be an absolute all-rounder who thrives under draconian time limits.

That’s why it pays to familiarise yourself with the content as much as possible. This article takes you through each section and question type so you know what you’re up against.

If you are just starting out, check out our UCAT FAQ for information on dates, regulations, cost and much more, and bookmark UCAT preparation tips to read before you start revising.

We’ve updated all of our mocks and mini-mocks to reflect the latest UCAT UK changes.

Verbal Reasoning

Time: 21 minutes

Questions: 44 

Time per question: 28 seconds

Explore our top tips for UCAT Verbal Reasoning

The purpose of Verbal Reasoning (VR) is to assess your ability to read information and draw specific conclusions from it. Some questions also assess your critical thinking skills.

VR consists of 11 passages with four multiple choice questions each. Time is the enemy in all sections of the UCAT, but perhaps none more so than VR. 

Medify created UCAT Skills Trainers to help you overcome these harsh time limits. For VR, you get points as you enhance the microskill of scanning for inference. The automaticity you develop this way is the key to saving time and increasing your score.

Verbal Reasoning question types

True/False/Can’t Tell

You’ll be given a statement related to a text and will need to decide whether it is:

• True
• False
• Can’t tell

True means 'true to the text', not what you happen to know. That means if information is at all uncertain, it’s 'can’t tell'.

Critical reasoning

You make inferences from the text to answer the question. The question could be asking you to complete an incomplete statement or identify which statement out of the four answer options is false. 

Try our VR Inference Trainer (included with all UCAT Online Course packages)

Decision Making

Time: 31 minutes

Questions: 29 questions

Time per question: 64 seconds

Explore our top tips for UCAT Decision Making

The purpose of Decision Making (DM) is to assess how you use logic to reach a conclusion, evaluate arguments and analyse data.

All the questions are standalone. This means that you won’t be asked on multiple aspects of the same question. 

Decision Making questions types

Logical Puzzles

For this kind of question, you are given information and through the process of elimination or deduction, you work out which statement is true of the four answer options.

Syllogism 

You’ll be given some statements that are true and also some proposed statements. You have to decide if the statements proposed are true or false. These questions will have a drag and drop format.

Interpreting information

You are given data in the form of a graph, a table or a text. You interpret that data and answer a question. There are four answer options in this type of question.

Arguments

A question is posed and you’ll also be given four arguments. You choose the strongest of the four. 

Venn diagram

You are presented with a Venn diagram, and you’ll have to deduce information from it. There are four answer options.

Probability 

You will be given some information about the probability of certain events happening and then you answer a question. There are four options to choose from.

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Quantitative Reasoning

Time: 25 minutes 

Questions: 36 

Time per question: 41 seconds 

Explore our top tips for UCAT Quantitative Reasoning

The purpose of Quantitative Reasoning (QR) is primarily to test your problem solving skills, but it also tests your numerical ability. The maths in this section is pretty straightforward.

In QR, some questions may share the same data and others will be standalone questions. All questions have four answer options. 

A huge part of the test is mastering how to use the UCAT calculator (and when not to use it).

Try our QR Calculator Speed Trainer (included with all UCAT Online Course packages)

Maths topics that come up frequently include:

• Ratios
• Unit conversions
• Percentages
• Probability
• Speed, distance and time
• Averages

Abstract Reasoning 

Time: 12 minutes

Questions: 50

Time per question: 14

Explore our top tips for UCAT Abstract Reasoning

The purpose of Abstract Reasoning (AR) is to identify patterns, even when there is lots of distracting and irrelevant information. It’s testing your ability to create hypotheses and then change track if you find that this hypothesis leads to nothing.

Abstract Reasoning question types

Set A/Set B

You’ll be given two boxes, Set A and Set B, each with six smaller boxes. Each set has a specific pattern but both sets' patterns are connected in some way. For example, if Set A has all arrows pointing down, Set B may have all arrows pointing right.

You’ll be given five test shapes and there are three answer options. You’ll have to decide whether they belong in Set A, Set B or neither. 

Sequences

You’ll see a sequence of patterns and five potential matches. You have to select the box which follows the pattern. 

The pattern:

Potential matches (three of five shown):

Incomplete statement

You’ll have a statement that has been made using some shapes and then you’ll be asked to use the same pattern to complete a different statement. There are five answer options to this question.

The pattern:

Potential matches (three of five shown):

Variation of Set A/Set B

You are given the same style of sets as SetA/Set B questions but are given a selection of shapes and then asked to find one out of five options that belong in a specific set.

The pattern:

Potential matches (three of five shown):

Situational Judgement

Time: 26 minutes

Questions: 69

Time per question: 22 seconds

Explore our top tips for UCAT Situational Judgement

The purpose of the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is to assess your ability to understand real-world scenarios and identify important factors and appropriate actions. An understanding of empathy is crucial (as highlighted in our medical empathy test), as is knowing the difference between sympathy and empathy.

Multiple questions can share the same scenario. 

Situational Judgement question types

Appropriateness  

You are given a scenario and a possible action. You decide whether the action is:

• A very appropriate thing to do
• Appropriate but not ideal
• Inappropriate but not awful
• A very inappropriate thing to do

Importance 

You’re given a scenario and some factors that can be taken into consideration. You decide whether the statement is:

• Very Important
• Important
• Of minor importance
• Not important at all

Least/Most

You’re given a scenario and a list of three actions or factors. You choose what’s most appropriate/important and what’s least appropriate/important.

Summary

This is just a basic overview of the sections. Each subsection has many variations and nuances that you can only master with practice.

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