What is a good UCAT score? It is the first question almost every student asks after sitting the UCAT ANZ. The honest answer is that it depends on which universities you apply to and how well other students scored that year.
This guide explains how UCAT ANZ scoring works, how to read your UCAT percentile and what a good UCAT score looks like for medicine and dentistry.
How UCAT ANZ scoring works
The UCAT ANZ has three cognitive subtests (Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning) and a Situational Judgement subtest.
Each cognitive subtest is scored from 300 to 900.
These three scores add up to your total cognitive score, which ranges from 900 to 2700.
Situational Judgement is scored separately and is not part of the cognitive total.
Since Abstract Reasoning was removed from 2025, scores from older years (out of 3600) cannot be compared directly with current scores.
UCAT percentile: why it matters more than your raw score
Your UCAT percentile shows how you performed compared with everyone who sat the test in the same year. If you are in the 90th percentile, you scored higher than 90% of candidates. Universities often use percentiles or rankings rather than a fixed score, because the difficulty of the test changes slightly from year to year. The official test statistics are published on the UCAT ANZ website.
So, what is a good UCAT score?
There is fluctuation each year. Students of rural background will have significantly lower UCAT requirements, dependent on specific university policy for rural intake.
50th percentile is an “average” result; however this will not be compatible for medical school selection.
The 80th to 90th percentile is a good UCAT score for universities outside of Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, in order to be eligible for an interview in your own state.
Above the 92nd percentile will enable the candidate to interview for Victorian, Queensland and New South Wales medical schools.
Above the 95th percentile is a highly competitive outcome. Matched with a suitable ATAR and high standard of interview training, candidates are very likely to be successful in medical school admission.
Some universities also set a minimum UCAT requirement before they consider your application at all, so always check each university's rules.
How universities use your UCAT ANZ score
Universities combine the UCAT with other measures, and each one does it differently. For example, Adelaide University selects applicants for interview based on their UCAT ANZ results, while UNSW uses a combination of ATAR and UCAT to decide who is invited to interview. After the interview, the interview score usually carries a large weight in final offers.
This means a slightly lower UCAT score can still lead to an offer if your ATAR and interview are strong. Read our guide to medical school admission statistics for more context.
Check your result with our UCAT score calculator
Our free UCAT Score Calculator helps you estimate where your practice scores sit, so you can set realistic goals and see how much improvement you need.
How to improve your UCAT score
Focus your practice on your weakest subtest, where gains are often largest.
Review every mistake in your practice tests and record why it happened.
Practise under timed conditions, as timing is the biggest challenge for most students.
Sit full mock exams in the final weeks to build stamina.
Good UCAT score FAQs
Is the UCAT pass or fail?
No. There is no pass mark. Your score is compared with other applicants.
Can I resit the UCAT?
You can sit the UCAT ANZ once per testing year, starting from Year 12. If you are not successful with your result, you can sit it again the following year as a Year 13 or tertiary transfer candidate.
How long is my UCAT score valid?
Your result is used for entry in the year after you sit the test. For example, a 2026 result is used for 2027 entry.
Does Situational Judgement matter?
Universities use it in different ways. A general guide, it is much less important to your selection compared to the other sections, so lower emphasis should be placed on its preparation. Some universities use it as part of selection or as a tie-breaker, so it remains worthwhile preparing for.
Is my UCAT percentile more important than my raw score?
Percentiles show how you compare with other candidates, which is what selection is based on. That makes them a more useful guide than the raw score alone.
Can I get into medicine without a good UCAT score?
It is harder, but possible at some universities if your ATAR (99.90+ required) and interview are strong. Check how each university weighs the UCAT before you apply on our admissions guide.
Get a good UCAT score with MedEssentials
Our doctor-led UCAT MasterClass in Adelaide helps students build their skills section by section, with timed practice and full mock exams. Learn more about the test on our About UCAT page, or read our students' reviews on Google.
Written by:
Dr Brad Guo MBBS MMed
MedEssentials Principal
Senior Ophthalmology Surgical Registrar
Sydney Eye Hospital Network
Associate Clinical Lecturer