Get Accurate UCAT Preparation For Cognitive UCAT Subtests and UCAT SJT [2022]

What Is the UCAT Test?

The UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test, previously known as UKCAT) is used by UK universities (and some universities outside the UK, such as Australia and New Zealand) as an admissions test for their academic medical and dental programmes. This test measures a candidate's cognitive, verbal, and situational judgement abilities using multiple choice questions. The UCAT consists of the following:

1. Verbal Reasoning (44 questions, 11 texts, 21 minutes): Summarizing text, as well as inferring & yes/no questions based on a text. Click here for our dedicated UCAT verbal reasoning page (opens in a new window)

2. Decision Making (29 questions, 31 minutes): Deciding if an inference can be deduced from a text or not, or choosing the most accurate inference from the text. This section is quite similar to #1

3. Quantitative Reasoning (36 questions, 25 minutes): Mathematical questions involving texts as well as tables & graphs. Some questions may relate to previous ones in this section. Click here for our dedicated UCAT Quantitative Reasoning page (opens in a new window).

4. Abstract Reasoning (50 questions, 12 minutes): Cognitive questions relating to shapes & patterns. Click here for our dedicated UCAT abstract reasoning page (opens in a new window).

And the most important of the UCAT sections:

5. SJT (69 questions, 22 scenarios, 26 minutes): Non-cognitive situational assessment questions meant to measure your integrity, problem solving, systemic thinking, and other qualities needed of a doctor/dentist. This part is divided in two, with different question types. Click here for our dedicated UCAT SJT page (opens in a new window).

The number of questions for each of the UCAT subtests means you must answer quickly and accurately- which is why UCAT preparation materials are so important.

The UKCAT/UCAT is not to be confused with the Universal Cognitive Aptitude Test- click here to read more about it.

You're probably wondering- why is the SJT section the most important? To answer that question, we need to understand how the UCAT is scored.

How are the UCAT Scores Calculated?

Unlike other tests which may give you a score of 1-100 or any score that only measures your performance at the test, the UCAT results are based on a standard distribution around an average score- this means your performance is compared to the average performance of all test takers to calculate your score. 

Each medical school has different UCAT scores needed to enter their programmes, and the more prestigious the school- the higher those requirements are.

In addition, your overall score is comprised of two values:

1. Your score in the 4 cognitive UCAT sections: For each of these, you will get a score between 300 and 900 (For an overall cognitive UCAT score of 1,200-3,600). In 2021, the median score for the cognitive section was around 2500.

2. Your score in the SJT section: The SJT section gets its unique score, divided into 4 'bands', which band 1 being the best score and band 4 being the worst. This means that it has the same weight as the 4 cognitive sections put together for your UCAT result.

What UCAT Score Do I Need to Pass?

This is difficult to answer, wildly dependent on the specific university in question. However, a cognitive score of 2,600 and band 1/2 are the benchmark for most (though more prestigious places like Oxford may require higher performances. Click here for our dedicated UCAT score info page (opens in a new window).

So we know the SJT is very important to score high on since it gets its own grading system. But how hard is it?

Why is the UCAT SJT So Important?

Medical Schools that are a part of the UCAT Consortium want to see if you are personally able to behave as a doctor. And the simple fact is- not everyone is. Cognitive skills can be improved with general practice, but managing to improve your problem solving skills as well as personal morals and priorities is more complicated and demands an accurate tool meant for the job.

In order to be able to act as a doctor, you must act according to strong core principles. Our preparation provides those principles and teaches you how to act according to each of them.

As mentioned, the SJT section contains 22 scenarios. Each one has up to 6 questions for a total of 69.

There are 26 minutes to complete this section: This gives you about 22 seconds per question. 

Why are you getting such short times? Because the test wants to illicit a natural response, to see how you would act in the heat of the moment, in reality- when you would not always have a long while to decide your course of action, as a doctor. This is given especially serious importance since the split-second decisions of a doctor can save or ruin lives.

For example, try answering this sample from our question bank, including reading the text- in 22 seconds:

As you can see, having 22 seconds makes this question even harder than it is. These questions come in 3 different types:

1. Ranking the appropriateness of a response (4 options ranging from 'highly appropriate' to 'highly inappropriate'), or ranking if a response is appropriate or not.

2. Ranking the importance of a consideration in deciding on a response (similar to the above sample question- 4 options), or ranking if a consideration is important to taking a decision or not.

3. Ranking 3 responses in order of appropriateness to the scenario.

Each scenario only involves one of these types, so as not to further confuse you as you only have 22 seconds per question.

This section has been recently updated- finding a useful, professional UCAT SJT guide is basically impossible.

So how are you supposed to ace the UCAT SJT, when you have such little time to figure out each answer? 

JobTestPrep Doctor's Principles - How to beat the UCAT SJT

In order to help you prepare for the UCAT SJT, JobTestPrep developed its Doctor's Principles method. This is a set of 10 principles of descending importance, which are used to decide the optimal course of action for a medical student/practitioner facing a professional dilemma. 

The preparation pack offered on this page will teach you how to use this tool, developed by medical practitioners who face such scenarios daily, to eventually answer the SJT questions accurately and within seconds, in order to pass the UCAT SJT and become a medical student.

Here's an example: Patient Safety is the first and most important principle. When the safety of the patient is in conflict with another principle, it will always take precedence- because a doctor must "first, do no harm", as the Hippocratic oath states.

Now that we understand the idea behind JobTestPrep's Doctor's Principles, let's see how they can be used to accurately solve the UCAT SJT.

UCAT Test Questions - SJT

Try reading and answering each of the practice questions in 22 seconds- that's how much time you'll have on the test.

The next 2 questions will require you to rank the importance of certain factors in deciding on a response.

UCAT Test SJT Sample Question #1

Noah is a student who is about to perform a medical procedure on a patient in front of his classmates and a supervisor. Just before the procedure begins, Noah's father informs him by text that his grandfather is in a very bad condition, and asks him to contact them as soon as possible. Noah is extremely concerned about this situation and wants to assist his family.

How important is the following consideration for Noah to consider while deciding what to do next?

The patient's safety.

UCAT Test SJT Sample Question #2

A man complaining about headaches arrives at a medical clinic. Lauren, a junior doctor, treats him. After the treatment, the man continues to complain about the pain, but Lauren finds nothing wrong with him. 

How important is the following consideration for Lauren to consider while deciding what to do next? 

Lauren's wish to seem like a qualified doctor.

The next 2 questions will require you to rank the appropriateness of a response.

UCAT Test SJT Sample Question #3

Laura is a medical resident in the surgical department. After a big accident happened near the hospital all non-critical surgeries for the day were delayed to help treat new patients who were wounded. Laura is asked to talk to Dave, a patient who was waiting very nervously for a tumour removal for the past 3 weeks, and tell him that his surgery would be delayed to the following day, to first in the morning. The delay wouldn’t further endanger Dave, and Laura comes to his hospital bed to let him know of the delay.

How appropriate is the following response by Laura to this situation?

Ask that Dave return tomorrow morning and wait with his questions until then – since the medical staff is preoccupied with the accident.

As you can see, the UCAT SJT demands divergent thinking skills, and the UCAT questions have a serious time pressure.

But the Doctor's Principles method gives you a way to handle complex situations better and more quickly than the vast majority of other candidates!

UCAT Test SJT Sample Question #4

Tanya is leading a group project with a few medical students. George, one of the team members, tells Tanya that he doesn’t believe that the team is working efficiently. He believes that the work has not been distributed evenly and that the team members are frustrated, resulting in bad teamwork. George asks Tanya to redistribute the workload.

How appropriate is the following response by Tanya to this situation?

Discuss the matter with the team to find out if the others feel like George.

UCAT Test Cognitive Sample Questions

Here are some sample questions from the cognitive part of the test. Make sure you practice these as well for a high UCAT score!

Verbal Reasoning Sample Question

Try answering this question in 30 seconds- that's about as much time you'll get during the test since you'll have 21 minutes divided by 44 questions.

Read the following paragraph and decide if the statement is true, false, or indeterminably true/false according to the text.

Companies wishing to increase their growth pace occasionally use the method of franchising which provides a new owner with the permission to use their business identity and in return to purchase products exclusively from the company. Each party to a franchise has several interests to protect. The franchisor is most involved in securing protection for his trademark, controlling the business concept and securing his know-how. This requires the franchisee to carry out the services for which the trademark has been made prominent or famous. Thus, the franchisee is not in full control of the business as he would be in retailing.
However, most companies will aim to minimise the use of this method and often prefer the expansion of the companies' own branches. Companies who have previously used franchising learned the essential need to monitor the business operation of the franchised branch. Difficulties arise from franchisees and companies disagreeing on business policies such as customer care, service delivery efficiency and quality of human interaction. There is a great deal of standardization required of the franchisee. The place of service has to carry the franchisor's signs, logos and trademark, and the uniforms worn by the staff of the franchisee have to be of a particular shade and colour. Inadequate attention to the monitoring of franchisees on the part of the companies is typically the cause of subsequent problems. Franchise agreements carry no guarantees and the franchisee has little or no recourse to legal intervention in the event of a dispute. Franchise contracts tend to be unilateral contracts in favour of the franchisor.

Statement: Franchising is likely to become the most popular method of business expansion.

 Decision Making Sample Question

Try answering this question in 1 minute- that's about as much time you'll get during the test.

Read the following text and answer the question. 

A kindergarten is arranging the children's birthday schedule.
The following facts are known:

Gabriel is younger than David.
Liz is younger than Sarah.
Katie is older than David but younger than Sarah.
Liz is younger than Katie.

Which of the following MUST be true?

Quantitative Reasoning Sample Question

Try answering this question in 41 seconds- that's about as much time you'll get during the test.

Read the following text and answer the question.

I found a unique beehive in my yard and decided to explore it.
It is a rectangle built of 2310 square cells of the same size.
Some cells inhabit 1 drone; twice as many cells inhabit 3 worker bees;
and twice as many of these cells are empty or used to store honey.

400 of the beehive's cells were used to store honey.
The drones and the bees consumed 35% of the honey so far.
What is the current percentage of beehive cells which store honey, if this season there is no new honey production?

 Abstract Reasoning Sample Question

Try answering this question in 15 seconds- that's about as much time you'll get during the test.

UCAT Test FAQ

What are the UCAT eligibility criteria?

To take the UCAT exam, you must:

• Complete/be in the final year of your higher secondary education (higher than that is also fine)
• Be eligible for medical programmes at chosen Universities in the UK or Australia and New Zealand

Which Medical School can I get into after taking the UCAT exam?

There are more than 20 medical schools and universities in the UK alone which use the UCAT test format to screen for their medical and dental courses. Click here for our UCAT universities page to find out more.

When is the UK exam for Australia and New Zealand?

Test dates for the UCAT ANZ are between 1 July 2022 & 12 August 2022, with results expected to be delivered to universities by mid September.

What is the test fee for taking the UCAT?

The UCAT cost in the UK is £70, and £115 in Australia and New Zealand.