29/09/2014

Medical Schools and UKCAT (England & Wales)

The notes below attempt to summarise the way in which medical schools are using the UKCAT
test scores as part of their selection criteria. It is not an exhaustive list. If in doubt, please check
with the admissions dept. at the relevant medical school. Warwick and Swansea are Graduate
Entry only. Note that the information given is applicable for the 5-year (A100) courses.
N.B. The mean score for candidates sitting the UKCAT test in 2007 & 2008 was exactly
2430 points. In 2009 it was 2504. 2010/11 : 2475. 2012 : 2515. 2013 : 2643.
In 2013, the mean scores for each section were as follows:

Verbal
Reasoning
Quantitative
Reasoning
Abstract
Reasoning
Decision
Analysis
Total Scale
Score

Total
N

Mean

Standard
Deviation

Minimum

Maximum

25679

556.55

97.78

300

900

25679

654.50

96.30

300

900

25679

660.97

114.91

300

900

25679

770.75

106.91

300

900

25679

2642.77

317.10

1250

3540

The mean average score (up to 31st August 2014) is 2539.

UKCAT not required

Liverpool, Lancaster, Birmingham & Bristol.
Schools requiring BMAT
Imperial, UCL, Oxford, Cambridge, BSMS, Leeds

MEDICAL SCHOOLS USING A RANKING SYSTEM (or similar)

Barts and the Royal London
How we use the UKCAT

For school-leavers/gap year students, you must achieve at least 2400 overall in the
UKCAT.

We are not able to give you advice on the minimum score we require, since it varies
from year to year; however, it is unlikely that you would be offered an interview if
you obtained a TOTAL UKCAT score below 2400; although there is no guarantee you
will be offered an interview if you score above this.

We are not able to give you advice on the minimum score we require to be
shortlisted for interview, since it varies from year to year. The tariff score makes up

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50% of the weighting and the other 50% is from the UKCAT score. You are advised
to check last years admissions cycle data before applying.

A100 applicants (not including graduates) who achieve at least 2400 overall in the
UKCAT and meet our minimum academic entry criteria will be given a score for their
UCAS tariff based on achieved/predicted grades for all tariffable criteria.
Candidates will be expected to have achieved or be predicted a UCAS tariff of 410
or more. 410 points must be achieved from the main scoring Academic acceptable
criteria. 50% of the weighting will be on Tariff and 50% on the UKCAT score.

We aim to interview approximately 800 applicants on the basis of UKCAT score and
predicted UCAS tariff. It is not possible to predict what the thresholds will be in any
individual year, nor to use data from previous years to predict subsequent years
thresholds, since it is essentially competitive and depends on who applies. Hence we
do not plan to make this information public. (Website: Sept.2014)

Brighton & Sussex

BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT)
BSMS requires all applicants to sit the BMAT in the year of application in order to be
considered for interview. You are required to register with BMAT assessment centres prior
to the test. Please refer to the BMAT website for key dates and additional information. The
results of the BMAT will be used to assess each application and will form part of the process
to select applicants for interview. BMAT may also be used as a final discriminator if needed
after interview (website August 2014)

Cardiff
All applicants (other than those resident in exempt countries) are required to take
the national UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UK-CAT) during July-October 2014.
Test results obtained in previous years are not accepted. We do not have a minimum
threshold score for the UKCAT so no matter what you apply with, we still consider
your application. We only the results of an applicants UKCAT test if we are at the
end of the process with two applicants in a tie-break situation, at which point we
may refer to the test results to make a decision. (Medical School brochure 2014/15)

Exeter
Applications will be sorted according to academic profile and UKCAT results in order to
determine which applicants will receive an offer of an interview. We do not have a definitive
UKCAT cut-off score, however, we would advise students with an overall score of less than
2,500 that they are unlikely to be offered an interview. The interview is the final stage of
the application process and we are only able to make offers to students who have attended
interviews.
Interviews are held in Exeter each February and we are considering holding interviews in
different international locations in January 2015.
(Website Sept. 2014)

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HYMS
Addition of points for the UKCAT
You must take the UKCAT in the year you apply. For 2015 entry, we award you a number of
points depending on your UKCAT score, and add this to your academic score and your SJT band
to give the total score which we will use to rank you against other applicants when deciding who
to invite to interview.
We do not consider your application if:
1) Your total UKCAT score is less than 2450
2) You score less than 400 in the Verbal Reasoning subtest
3) You score less than 500 in any other subtest
For 2015 entry we will not be using your UKCAT score post-interview.

A typical UKCAT score for a HYMS applicant meeting our entry requirements in previous
years has been around 2650

UKCAT bands
2450 + 10pts
2550 + 15pts
2650 + 20pts
2750 + 25pts
2850 + 30pts
2950 + 35pts
3050 + 40pts
Invitation to interview
Our selection procedure aims to be fair, open and transparent to all applicants. For a clear
overview, download our selection flowchart (pdf available from HYMS.ac.uk).
(website: Sept. 2014)

Keele
Keele uses UKCAT results only in borderline cases: for students with the highest level of
academic achievement or highest-scoring personal statements, the UKCAT score will not be
taken into account. Those applicants who narrowly miss achieving the required score for their
UCAS application may receive further consideration on the basis of their UKCAT score. In these
borderline cases, the required UKCAT score will depend upon the level of performance in the
test among this group of applicants; however, it is unlikely that applicants with total UKCAT
scores below 2,400 will be successful at this stage. Applicants holding offers who narrowly miss
achieving the required grades in their A-levels (or equivalent level-3 qualification) may receive
further consideration if there are places available. In these circumstances, the factors taken

29/09/2014
into consideration in allocating remaining places will include interview score and UKCAT score.
Applicants receiving offers for 2014 entry had UKCAT total scores ranging from 1960 to 3430
(i.e. mean subtest scores of 490 to 858). Please note that scores in the situational judgment test
(SJT) section of UKCAT will not be used in making decisions for 2015 entry. It should be noted,
however, that no students with a band 4 score in the SJT received offers for 2014 entry. This
may indicate that a poor score in the SJT predicts poor performance in other aspects of the
selection process.
(website Sept. 2014)

Kings College, London

For those who meet, or are predicted to meet, the standard entrance requirements, there is no
sole indicator when making a decision on an application. However, it is fair to say that an
applicants UKCAT is an important part of the application process as it allows us to fairly
compare the large number of applicants from a wide range of educational backgrounds. The
College never commits to a minimum UKCAT score in advance of the admissions cycle as the
quantity and quality of applications varies each year. Indeed, there is no absolute minimum
UKCAT score as other factors are taken into consideration. In general though, the better one
does on the UKCAT the greater the chance of being invited to interview.
Your UKCAT scores will be considered in our selection for interview. They will not be the sole
indicator for selection. They will be balanced against achievement in other areas, in particular
your academic performance to date.
All indicators will be considered together in deciding who will be selected for interview. It is
therefore important to understand that there is no universal 'cut off' score for the UKCAT when
applying for 2015 entry. For example, if an applicant has an excellent academic background
then the test scores will play a less significant part in selection. For those with weaker academic
backgrounds (relative to our overall applicant pool), the scores will become more important.
An applicant who may not normally be considered on academic grounds could be invited to
interview on the strength of strong UKCAT scores that may indicate potential. Also, if applicants
are very similar in all other ways, the score may be the determining factor in selection for
interview.
As a guide for applicants, for 2014 entry, most applicants invited for interview had scored at
least 730. However this will inevitably change for 2015 entry in accordance with the overall
quality of applicants.
The School of Medicine aims to select the most able and appropriate students; not only in terms
of academic ability, but also in relation to other interests and talents you may have which will
contribute to the vitality of the School and College and with regard to your suitability as a
future member of the medical profession. All UCAS applications received by 15 October are
given equal consideration and scrutinised very carefully by the selection panels. For A100,

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approximately 30 per cent of applicants are invited to interview after the initial screening of
UCAS applications.
(Website Sept. 2014)

Leeds
NB LEEDS will require applicants for all courses to sit BMAT for 2014/15 admissions cycle
and beyond. (i.e. They will be dropping UKCAT )
Leicester
We do not have a specific cut-off for UKCAT but we do take the results into consideration as part of our
selection process.
Posted on: 16 September 2014

Early results suggest that this years UKCAT scores will be, on average, lower than last years. The
variability in UKCAT scores and the change in our scoring system for 2015 entry means that you should
not base much weight on scores required in previous years.
From this information, approximately 680 Home/EU (A100), will be invited to attend a Multiple Mini
Interview.
UKCAT

Pts

UKCAT

Pts

UKCAT

Pts

UKCAT

Pts

3400

34

3000

30

2600

26

2200

22

3350

33.5

2950

29.5

2550

25.5

2150

21.5

3300

33

2900

29

2500

25

2100

21

3250

32.5

2850

28.5

2450

24.5

2050

20.5

3200

32

2800

28

2400

24

2000

20

3150

31.5

2750

27.5

2350

23.5

3100

31

2700

27

2300

23

3050

30.5

2650

26.5

2250

22.5

Please note that the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) will not be forming part of the UKCAT score
for 2015. Therefore, applicants will not be rejected solely on the basis of a low SJT score. We will,
however, use the UKCAT SJT score as a virtual multiple mini-interview station should an applicant
reach this stage of the process. (Scoring of applications 2015)

Manchester

Last year for 2014 entry, we considered non-academic criteria before applying a UKCAT
threshold. For 2015 entry this has changed; applications that do not meet the UKCAT
threshold chosen will not progress to the next phase of the screening process and will

29/09/2014
receive notification that their application has been unsuccessful through UCAS in due
course.
To help identify talented students from all backgrounds, UKCAT scores from UK candidates
who come from similar educational and socio-demographic backgrounds are considered
against each other. This is done by using supplemental information provided by publicly
available datasets (see http://www.manchester.ac.uk/contextualdata/). Equal proportions of top
scoring applicants from each group are then selected for interview.
The following tables give the range of UKCAT scores for applicants who were invited to
interview for the previous three years.
UKCAT scores of applicants invited for interview for A106 (5 years)

Admissions
cycle

Applicants with a WP Plus Flag (i.e.

those who meet both geodemographic and educational
indicators, and /or those who have
been care for more than 3 months)

2013/14

2740 and above

2810 and above

2012/13

2560 and above

2650 and above

2011/12

2490 and above

2590 and above

2010/11

2460 and above

2610 and above

Applicants with a WP Flag or no

contextual flags*

*includes mature students and students applying from the EU

(How we deal with your application 2013/14)

NEWCASTLE & DURHAM

The UKCAT scores will be used to identify those we wish to interview. The UKCAT threshold may differ in
each admissions cycle as it is dependent on the scores achieved by those applicants who apply to our
Medical School in the current cycle. The UKCAT scores now include Situational Judgement Test (SJT)
information. We will not be using these scores in our admission process.
Use of UKCAT to identify those for interview. In relation to the standard 5-year programme (A100) and
the 4 year programme (A101), applications fulfilling the academic thresholds will then be assessed on
their UKCAT scores. The UKCAT threshold may vary depending upon the competition to each
programme or the route of entry. For the A100 programme Newcastle and Durham use the same UKCAT
thresholds to identify applicants for interview. This threshold may differ in each admission cycle as it is
dependent on the scores achieved by those applicants who apply to our Medical School in the current
cycle.

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Newcastle MBBS programmes - Application to offer data

Application Cycle

2013

2014

A100 (5 year) Number of applications

2792

2934

Newcastle campus (NCL)

1980

2070

Durham University, Queen's campus (DUQC)

361

336

E Campus - Either (campus allocated by university)

451

528

2780

2980

Number of interviews - NCL

785

843

Number of interviews - DUQC

291

239

A100 - UKCAT Threshold

200 Home / 19 Int

200 Home / 19 Int
Number of Places available at NCL
92 Home / 7 Int
92 Home / 7 Int
Number of Places available DUQC
In order to widen access and encourage participation in Medicine by students from all backgrounds, we take
account of contextual information, and assessment methods may vary for applicants who fulfil certain criteria.
Please see Newcastle Admissions Policy for further information on contextual information and widening access.
www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply/requirements

The average National UKCAT scores achieved have been increasing each year and this is reflected in our UKCAT
threshold to identify those to interview. The actual threshold is determined by the achievement of each cohort
that applies and is not set in advance of the admissions cycle. For further information go to www.ukcat.ac.uk
(Website: Sept. 2014)

Norwich (University of East Anglia)

UKCAT
We do not set a minimum cut-off score for the UKCAT, but consider the component scores within the
academic screening processes. Whilst a high UKCAT score may be advantageous a low score, in an
otherwise strong application, will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration. For
2015 entry, we will not be using the SJT component. From our experience, it is unusual for an applicant
with a UKCAT score of less than 2400 to be invited to interview.
(FAQs - website Sept. 2014)

Nottingham
Do you operate a threshold for UKCAT?
No, we do not have a cut-off or threshold for the UKCAT results. We will give you a score
for each of the five sections of the UKCAT test, this includes scores for the four sections in
the cognitive component and a score for the SJT component. The total UKCAT score makes
up 71% of the total score at this stage. The scores are added to the score we award for
GCSE's (where applicable). Applicants within the highest 50% are then considered further
and have their personal statement and reference read and marked. This mark is added to
the previous total and applicants with the highest overall total are invited for interview.
The five sections of the UKCAT test are scored, including the SJT component (71%
weighting).
Each of the four components of the cognitive section is awarded points as follows:

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801 900 = 9 points
701 800 = 8 points
601 700 = 7 points
501 600 = 6 points
401 500 = 5 points
301 400 = 4 points
The weighting for each of the four components is equal.
The SJT component is scored as follows:
Band 1 = 3 points
Band 2 = 2 points
Band 3 = 1 point
Please note:
Applicants achieving Band 4 will not be considered further. (Nottingham no longer
require candidates to sit their own on-line questionnaire wef 2014/15)
Q. How do you select for interview?
We believe strongly in carrying out a holistic review of applications. Therefore, at this
stage, we score as many areas of your application as possible. Because of the diverse
profile of our applicants, and to ensure your application is treated fairly, we will group your
application with others of a similar profile and score accordingly. So, for A100, if your
academic profile consists of GCSEs and A Levels, and you took the UKCAT test, we will
score the following areas of your application:
The first stage involves ensuring you have met our minimum academic requirements as
outlined in the Qualifications section above. We then score certain areas of your application
and the weightings are shown below:
Stage 2:
If you have completed GCSE's and are studying or have completed A-levels then we score
the following areas:

Highest 8 GCSEs including the sciences (the three separate sciences or the science
double award), maths and English language, A* and A grades. This score makes up
29% of the total score at this stage.

UKCAT we will give you a score for each of the five sections of the UKCAT test,
this includes scores for the four sections in the cognitive component and a score for
the SJT component. The total UKCAT score makes up 71% of the total score at this
stage.

The above scores are totalled and the 50% with the highest total scores are then
considered further:
Stage 3.
We score the personal statement and reference. This score is added to your total score
from Stage 2 and applicants with the highest overall scores are invited for interview.

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If you have completed and are studying qualifications other than the above, you will be
considered with other applicants in the same situation, so the above scoring applies minus
the GCSE section. Again applicants with the highest total scores are invited for interview.
Applicants who are on a degree course or have completed a first degree are included in this
group
(2014/15 entry- website Sept.2014)

Peninsula (Plymouth)

As part of our commitment to a fair and transparent admissions process, Plymouth University
Peninsula Schools of Medicine & Dentistry uses the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) in order
to make more informed choices from amongst the many highly qualified applicants who apply
for a place on the BMBS programme. UKCAT test results will be used, alongside the academic
information contained on your UCAS form to select direct school leavers for interview. You will
be required to meet a minimum standard in each of the four subtests, plus meet an overall
target score which is set and reviewed annually by the Admissions Advisory Panel.
The UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) threshold score applied to determine candidate selection
for interview can alter each year and is influenced by overall candidate performance in the
UKCAT and the number and quality of applications received. Below are examples of the score
thresholds applied during the 2013 admissions cycles. Please note that all thresholds needed to
be met.
2013 for 2014 entry
Verbal Reasoning : 504
Quantitative Analysis : 612
Abstract Reasoning : 599
Decision Analysis : 713
Overall (with standard deviation applied) : 2671
(Website: Sept. 2014)

St Georges (London)
UKCAT
Score (each individual section): 500 in each section or above
plus
Overall test score: We will receive the UKCAT results for 2015 entry in November 2014 and at
that time will confirm the minimum overall score required to be selected for interview. We will
not be using the SJT section of the test.
Additional Information: UKCAT results are used to select students for interview and to rank our
post-interview waiting list.

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UKCAT scores do not need to be included on your UCAS application as we will be informed of
your scores directly by Pearsons and UCAS. Please ensure that the name you use to register for
UKCAT is the same as that used on your UCAS form so results can be matched. We will also be
informed of applicants who are exempt from the test or subject to special arrangements.
(Entry requirements: website Sept. 2014)

Sheffield
UKCAT

All applicants applying to study Medicine at the University of Sheffield will need to undertake
the UK Clinical Aptitude Test for Medicine and Dentistry (UKCAT) in order to be eligible for
admission. The test must be taken prior to your application, details of test dates and how to
register can be found on the UKCAT website which can be accessed from the link on the right.
Please note that test results are only valid for the current admissions cycle, if you re-apply to
this medical School you will need to sit the test again. It is likely that any candidate with a
score of 2600 or above who also meets the academic entry requirements below will be given
consideration provided that they also meet the other academic requirements.
Applications will initially be checked that they meet our minimum academic and UKCAT
requirements. We will look at the results of all your previous qualifications and the predictions
of any qualifications that you are currently studying for and on the basis of this, give you an
overall grade for your academic ability. If your application meets the minimum academic and
UKCAT requirements it is then sent to trained assessors who will grade your application
according to your personal qualities.
NB Will not consider SJT score for 2015 entry.
(website & phone call Sept. 2014)
See also WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR APPLICATION

Southampton

How will the University of Southampton use the test results in its selection process?
All applicants to the BM4, BM5 and BM6 programmes are required to take the UKCAT.
The Faculty of Medicine will use a UKCAT cut-off score for applications to the BM5 (A100) and
BM4 (A101) programmes.
All applicants to BM4 and BM5 programmes must score 2500 or above in the UKCAT exam in
order for their application to be considered further. The Faculty of Medicine will then be
ranking applicants by UKCAT score and a certain percentage will be invited to attend a
selection day.
The cut-off score does not apply to the BM6 (A102) programme, but the UKCAT score will
continue to be used alongside all other information as part of the BM6 selection process.
Situational Judgement Test: The University of Southampton is unlikely to use this subtest.
(Website Sept. 2014)

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