- UCAT
What Is a Good UCAT Score 2025 | Competitive UCAT Percentile Guide for Students
The UCAT 2025 exam has brought some major changes this year. The Abstract Reasoning section has been removed, and now the test includes three cognitive subtests: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, and Quantitative Reasoning.
Because of this change, the total UCAT score is now calculated out of 2700 instead of 3600. The Situational Judgment Test (SJT) remains separate and is still reported in Bands 1 to 4.
The latest UCAT 2026 data shows the mean total score rose to 1918, from 1891 in 2025.
A good UCAT score in 2026 is usually one that places you in the 8th or 9th decile, which means you’re performing better than most test-takers.
UCAT’s final 2026 figures put the mean total at 1918 across 42,359 tests, with the top 10% starting at 2250.
What Is a Good UCAT Score in 2026?
A “good” UCAT score in 2026 means scoring within the top deciles, usually the 8th or 9th decile. In simple terms, that means your score is higher than at least 80-90% of all test-takers.
However, what counts as “good” can vary depending on the university cut-offs and how competitive the admission cycle is. Some universities use strict UCAT thresholds, while others consider your score alongside academic grades, interviews, and personal statements.
Dreammedic works from UCAT’s published figures. In the final 2026 statistics the mean total score was 1918, based on 42,359 tests. Students in the top 10% scored 2250 or above — that is the 9th decile. The middle of the cohort sat at 1918, and the 8th decile (top 20%) started at 2140.
Universities do not publish a shared “competitive” threshold, and the ones that do publish cut-offs set them individually. Against the 2026 cohort, anything at or above the 9th decile (2250) put a candidate in the top 10%. If your score is within this range, you’ll have a strong chance of getting shortlisted by several UK medical schools.
What Is UCAT Out Of? Understanding the UCAT Scoring System
The UCAT 2025 exam has removed the Abstract Reasoning subtest, resulting in 3 cognitive subtests. Each subtest will be scored separately and will contribute to a total of 2700 for your overall score in the UCAT.
All subtests are different in terms of the number of questions, timing, and scoring. Below is the new breakdown for 2025:
Subtest | Questions | Time | Score Range |
Verbal Reasoning | 44 | 22 mins | 300–900 |
Decision Making | 35 | 37 mins | 300–900 |
Quantitative Reasoning | 36 | 26 mins | 300–900 |
Total (Cognitive Subtests) | – | 1 hr 25 mins | 900–2700 |
Situational Judgment (SJT) | 69 | 26 mins | Band 1–4 |
The Situational Judgment Test (SJT) is scored separately from the cognitive sections and is reported in bands from 1 to 4, with Band 1 being the highest.
How is the Total UCAT 2025 Score Calculated?
Each UCAT subtest is scored independently, meaning your performance in one section doesn’t affect another. Every correct answer adds to your raw score, which is then converted into a scaled score ranging from 300 to 900 for each subtest.
There’s no negative marking, so incorrect answers don’t reduce your score. However, in the Decision Making section, you may receive partial credit for selecting some, but not all, correct options, so even near-correct answers can still help increase your total.
The UCAT uses scaled scoring, which ensures that your score accurately reflects your performance compared to others, even if different test versions have slightly varying difficulty levels.
Note: The UCAT Consortium has not publicly shared the exact scaling formula, but this process ensures fairness and consistency across all test sessions.
Situational Judgment Test (SJT) Banding Explained
The Situational Judgment Test (SJT) measures how well you understand professional behavior and ethical decision-making in medical and clinical settings. Instead of numerical scores, it’s graded into four bands, each reflecting your level of judgment and understanding:
- Band 1: Excellent understanding of professional behavior; responses closely match those of medical experts.
- Band 2: Good understanding with minor lapses; shows reasonable judgment in most situations.
- Band 3: Moderate understanding; responses show some insight but may miss key elements of appropriate behavior.
- Band 4: Poor understanding; significant differences from ideal professional responses.
Most of the competitive candidates are in Bands 1 and 2, as these are the most preferred categories by the medical school. In the final 2026 data, 15% of candidates were placed in Band 1, 40% in Band 2, 34% in Band 3 and 11% in Band 4.
Note that some universities, such as Nottingham, King’s College London, and Dundee, also look at SJT banding for interview shortlisting, meaning that having a higher band will increase your chances of selection.
What Is a Good UCAT Percentiles 2026: Minimum and Maximum
When looking at UCAT results, it’s important to understand how your ucat 2026 percentiles ranking compares to other test-takers and to know what is ucat score max. In 2026, with the test scored out of 2700, your percentile shows where you stand among all candidates.
Max UCAT Score by Section
There are three cognitive subtests: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, and Quantitative Reasoning, and each is scored between 300 and 900. Thus, the overall score would also follow the 2700 maximum.
The 9th decile — the top 10% of candidates — started at 2250 in 2026. This score is considered excellent, and candidates are extremely competitive for medical and dental school admissions.
Lowest Possible Scores
In the final 2026 data the 1st decile started at 1590, so the bottom 10% of candidates scored below that. Generally, scores under 1780 fall within the bottom three deciles, which are not competitive for most universities. So, you are likely not to get into any schools if you score under 1780.
Also, keep in mind that universities do not have a minimum score for the UCAT. So, whether you are competitive or not depends on how well your peers perform in that testing year.
Updated UCAT Score to Percentile
UCAT Score Trends and Averages (2021-2026)
Understanding UCAT score trends helps you see how your performance compares with past years. The test has evolved slightly, and so have the average scores.
Yearly Average UCAT Scores
| Year | Verbal Reasoning (VR) | Decision Making (DM) | Quantitative Reasoning (QR) | Total (New 3-Section Scale) | Average per Section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 572 | 610 | 665 | 2499 | 625 |
| 2022 | 567 | 616 | 658 | 2500 | 625 |
| 2023 | 591 | 623 | 649 | 2516 | 629 |
| 2024 | 601 | 620 | 649 | 2523 | 631 |
| 2025 (Final) | 602 | 628 | 661 | 1891 (out of 2700) | — |
| 2026 (Final) | 602 | 640 | 675 | 1918 (out of 2700) | — |
Trend Analysis
Removing the Abstract Reasoning Section in 2025 resulted in slightly increased average per-section scores, but it also resulted in lowered total maximum scores (from 3600 to 2700).
Consequently, the mean total score is not comparable year to year: 2024 was marked out of 3600 across four subtests, while the final 2025 mean was 1891 out of 2700 across three. This drop is misleading because performance per section of the score improved.
This change means that while individual section averages look higher, overall totals appear lower due to the revised scoring scale.
UCAT 2026 Decile Rankings Explained
Decile rankings show how your score compares to everyone else who took the test. UCAT publishes nine decile boundaries. The 1st decile is the score at the 10th percentile, the 2nd at the 20th, and so on up to the 9th decile, which is the score you need to beat to be in the top 10%.
Percentile ranking illustrates performance relative to other test takers. For example, scoring in the 9th decile means scoring better than 90% of other test takers.
In the final 2026 figures the 9th decile started at 2250, so a total of 2250 or above put you in the top 10% of test takers.
UCAT 2026 Deciles (Out of 2700)
Decile | Total score (out of 2700) | What it means |
1st | 1590 | Bottom 10% |
2nd | 1700 | Below average |
3rd | 1780 | Approaching average |
4th | 1850 | Just below the middle |
5th | 1920 | Middle of the cohort (mean 1918) |
6th | 1980 | Slightly above average |
7th | 2050 | Strong |
8th | 2140 | Top 20% |
9th | 2250 | Top 10% |
Source: UCAT final 2026 test statistics, 42,359 tests. UCAT publishes nine deciles — there is no 10th.
Decile Comparison: Old vs New Scale
Completely removing the Abstract Reasoning section allowed the overall UCAT total score to be adjusted from 3600 to 2700 in 2025. As a result of this score adjustment, the expected values and the meaning of the values in the percentiles score remain unchanged. The final 2026 figures put the mean total at 1918 across 42,359 tests.
Key Changes in UCAT Scoring for 2025
In the 2025 UCAT test, another major update involves the structure and scoring system. The most notable adjustment involves the complete removal of the Abstract Reasoning section. Test takers are now required to complete three cognitive tests plus the Situational Judgment Test (SJT).
Updated UCAT Structure
Format | Subtests | Total Score | SJT Banding |
Old Format | 4 cognitive sections (VR, DM, QR, AR) | 3600 | Bands 1–4 |
New Format | 3 cognitive sections (VR, DM, QR) | 2700 | Bands 1–4 |
How Timing and Scoring Have Changed?
- Each of the remaining three sections has been slightly adjusted for timing and question count to balance test length.
- Scores are now scaled to a maximum of 900 per section, keeping consistency with previous scoring patterns.
- Although the total score now maxes out at 2700 instead of 3600, universities will use scaled conversions to ensure fair comparison with past applicants.
- The SJT remains unchanged, still scored in Bands 1-4 based on performance.
Maintaining Fairness Across Years
The UCAT Consortium is piloting digital fairness and statistical scaling methods to ensure results remain comparable across different testing sessions and with previous years.
UCAT 2025 is shorter, more focused on reasoning and decision skills, and uses a rebalanced scoring system (out of 2700) for consistency and fairness.
What Is a Competitive UCAT Score in 2026
A competitive UCAT score depends on your application destinations and how other students perform that year on the test. Since the 2025 test now includes three cognitive sections, with a score out of 2700, universities will be looking at the scores a little differently than in the past.
UCAT 2026 Score Bands
Band | Score Range | Description |
Low | Below 1590 | Below average; may limit options for most medical schools |
Average | 1920–2050 | Around the middle range (5th–7th decile) |
High | 2140–2250+ | Strong performance, top 20% of candidates |
Competitive Scores for Top Applicants
If you are looking at the top universities like Oxford, Glasgow, and King’s College London, a score at or above the 9th decile (2250) and a strong SJT band give the best chances. Many universities will take applicants scoring around the 7th to 8th decile (2050–2140) where academic record or interview performance is strong.
Against the 2026 cohort, 2250 and above was the top 10%. Universities weight the UCAT differently, so treat your decile as a guide to building a school list rather than a pass mark.
UCAT Score vs Percentile Breakdown
Total score | Where it sat in 2026 | What that means |
2250+ | 9th decile | Top 10% of candidates |
2140 | 8th decile | Top 20% |
2050 | 7th decile | Top 30% |
1918 | The mean | Middle of the cohort |
1590 | 1st decile | Bottom 10% |
UCAT publishes deciles, not individual percentiles. Any exact percentile quoted for a UCAT score is an estimate, not an official figure.
Making the Most of Your UCAT Score
Your UCAT score doesn’t define your entire application; it’s just one part of the process. How you use it strategically can make all the difference.
- Higher scorers (2140 and above, 8th–9th decile): Apply to universities that use strict UCAT cut-offs like Bristol, St Andrews, or King’s College London.
- Mid-range scorers (1920–2050, 5th–7th decile): Focus on universities that consider your personal statement, academics, and interviews, such as Cardiff, Keele, or Liverpool.
- Lower scorers (below 1920): Don’t give up, strengthen your personal statement, prepare well for interviews, and consider BMAT universities as alternatives.
Final Thoughts
The UCAT 2025 update features many changes, fewer sub-tests, a lower total score, and a slightly higher average score per section.
In the final 2026 figures the 9th decile started at 2250 and the mean was 1918.
Instead of aiming for a perfect score, work on a section-wise strategy and practice consistently. Given that the 2025 structure is simpler, quality preparation is more important than ever.
“With the new simplified UCAT 2025 structure, it’s not only a goal to reach a high score, but to also develop a smart strategy to execute it.”
FAQ's
Yes. It’s an almost perfect score, placing you in the top 1-2% of candidates.
The final 2026 mean total score was 1918, across 42,359 tests. In 2025 it was 1891.
A score at or above the 2026 9th decile (2250), with a strong SJT band, keeps you competitive.
Yes. Some universities use a holistic review that values your personal statement, academic record, and interview performance as much as your UCAT score.
