What is the UCAT ANZ and who needs it?
The UCAT ANZ is run by the UCAT ANZ Consortium with Pearson VUE. Australian and New Zealand universities only accept UCAT ANZ results, so if you want to study medicine or dentistry there as a school-leaver, this is your test. Universities listed by the Consortium include:
- Australia: Adelaide University; Charles Sturt; Curtin; Flinders; Griffith (Dental Health Science; optional for Medical Science); Monash; Newcastle and New England (Joint Medical Program); UNSW; University of Queensland; University of Tasmania; University of Western Australia; Western Sydney; plus regional pathways at Central Queensland, Southern Queensland and the Sunshine Coast.
- New Zealand: University of Auckland and University of Otago (Medicine).
Some pathways do not need the test, so check each course. If you are applying to both the UK and Australia or New Zealand in the same year, the Consortium says to sit the UCAT ANZ, because sitting both the UK UCAT and UCAT ANZ in one year is not allowed and can lead to cancelled results.
Eligibility: you must be in your final year of secondary school or have finished it. Students in Australian Year 11 or New Zealand Year 12 cannot sit the test.
UCAT ANZ format, subtest by subtest
| Subtest | Questions | Time | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 44 | 22 min | 300–900 |
| Decision Making | 35 | 37 min | 300–900 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 36 | 26 min | 300–900 |
| Situational Judgement | 69 | 26 min | 300–900 |
Each subtest has a short timed instruction section first, and the whole test is just under two hours. Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning include an on-screen calculator. There is no negative marking. The question styles match the UK test: fast reading in VR, logic and data in DM, applied numeracy in QR, and judging responses to professional scenarios in SJ.
The UCAT ANZ is only offered at test centres, in Australia, New Zealand and many overseas locations. There is no remote option.
How the UCAT ANZ is scored and what a good score looks like
Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning each give a score from 300 to 900, adding up to a total cognitive score. Unlike the UK test, the UCAT ANZ lists Situational Judgement on the same 300–900 scale. You get an email from Pearson VUE within 24 hours of your test telling you how to view your score report.
The Consortium's preliminary 2026 statistics (just over 17,330 candidates) give:
| 2026 | VR | DM | QR | Total cognitive | SJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean | 619 | 655 | 691 | 1964 | 580 |
| Median | 610 | 650 | 680 | 1950 | 589 |
The Consortium said a percentile calculator and fuller statistics would follow. Universities combine the UCAT ANZ with school results and interviews in different ways, and there is no single cut-off; check each university's admissions guide.
UCAT ANZ dates and fees
The 2026 test (for entry in 2027) is finished. Its timetable shows when to expect the 2027 cycle (for entry in 2028); check the official site for confirmed 2027 dates.
| UCAT ANZ 2026 | Date (AEST) |
|---|---|
| Concession scheme and access arrangements open | 16 February 2026 |
| Booking opens | 3 March 2026 |
| Booking deadline (standard fee) | 15 May 2026 |
| Final late booking deadline | 5 June 2026 |
| Testing window | 1 July – 5 August 2026 |
| Results to universities | Early September 2026 |
Fees for 2026 (Australian dollars): A$335 in Australia or New Zealand, A$240 concession (Australia only) and A$405 overseas. Late bookings cost an extra A$85, or A$185 in the final late period. Bank charges may apply because Pearson is a US merchant.
You can sit the UCAT ANZ once per test cycle, and results are valid for the following year's entry only.
How to prepare: a 5-week UCAT ANZ plan
- Days 1–2: Take the free practice test, timed. Get used to the on-screen calculator and flagging questions.
- Week 1: VR and QR speed drills every day: 11 VR questions in 5½ minutes, 9 QR questions in 6½ minutes.
- Week 2: Decision Making question types and Situational Judgement principles. Because SJ is scaled 300–900 in the ANZ test, practise it as seriously as the others.
- Week 3: Two full mocks at real timing, with a review by subtest after each one.
- Weeks 4–5: A full mock every two to three days, plus drills on your weakest question types. Keep the last two days light.
Practising with Principly: our UCAT ANZ mocks are a separate bank from our UK UCAT mocks, with the same four timed subtests and Australian and New Zealand settings in the passages and scenarios.
Try a UCAT ANZ mock now. The free practice test gives you a decile estimate in one short sitting; the full set is 13 timed mocks with worked solutions.
Applying from the UK or overseas
Many UK students apply to Australia or New Zealand as well as the UK. Three points to plan around:
- The timing is earlier. In 2026 the standard booking deadline was 15 May and testing started on 1 July, while the UK UCAT ran into September. Book in spring.
- One test only. If you are applying to both the UK and Australia or New Zealand in the same year, the Consortium says to sit the UCAT ANZ, not both tests.
- Overseas fee. Sitting outside Australia and New Zealand cost A$405 in 2026, charged in Australian dollars, so your bank may add a foreign transaction fee.
Check each university's international admissions page too, because some courses have separate routes and quotas for international students.
Common UCAT ANZ mistakes
- Missing the standard booking deadline. Late fees add A$85 or A$185.
- Sitting both the UK UCAT and UCAT ANZ in one year. Only one is allowed.
- Neglecting Situational Judgement. It gets a full 300–900 score here.
- Leaving blanks. No negative marking: guess before time runs out.
- Reading every word in VR. 30 seconds a question demands scanning for keywords.
UCAT ANZ FAQ
- Is the UCAT ANZ different from the UK UCAT?
- The four subtests and timings are the same. The UCAT ANZ has its own dates and fees, and lists Situational Judgement on a 300–900 scale rather than in bands.
- Can I sit both the UCAT and UCAT ANZ?
- No. Sitting both in the same year is prohibited and can lead to cancelled results. If you are applying to the UK and Australia or New Zealand, sit the UCAT ANZ.
- Who can sit the UCAT ANZ?
- Students in their final year of secondary school or who have finished school. Australian Year 11 and New Zealand Year 12 students are not eligible.
- What was the average UCAT ANZ score in 2026?
- According to the Consortium's preliminary statistics, the mean total cognitive score was 1964 and the mean SJ score was 580.
- Can I take the UCAT ANZ online?
- No. It is only offered at test centres, in Australia, New Zealand and overseas.
- How much does the UCAT ANZ cost?
- For 2026: A$335 in Australia or New Zealand, A$240 concession in Australia and A$405 overseas, plus late fees if you book late.
- How long are UCAT ANZ results valid?
- For the following year's university entry only. The 2026 results are for entry in 2027.
Try a UCAT ANZ mock now. The free practice test gives you a decile estimate in one short sitting; the full set is 13 timed mocks with worked solutions.
Sources
- UCAT ANZ: Test cycle, dates and fees
- UCAT ANZ: Test format
- UCAT ANZ: Universities
- UCAT ANZ: Eligibility
- UCAT ANZ: FAQs
- UCAT ANZ: Preliminary statistics for 2026 (PDF)
Last checked: 31 October 2026
Principly is an independent practice provider. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any test body or university; test names are used only to describe what our mocks prepare for.