Big news for students preparing to sit the UCAT ANZ in 2025 - the fourth subtest (Abstract Reasoning, also known as AR) is being removed. But why? And what are we supposed to do about it? Here's everything you need to know:
Why, Why, Why?
With many students across the country reporting AR as their best subtest, we have to wonder why it deserved such a tragic end. The answer is pretty simple - it's too easy and too irrelevant. The official UCAT ANZ Consortium states that AR has "high coachability" and that performance has increased over the last 10 years. Ask any of our top-scoring med students and they'll tell you the same thing - AR was my worst subtest, but after weeks and months of practice, I got nearly 100%! This clearly demonstrates that with the use of major training platforms and hours of cold, hard study, anyone can top AR regardless of their initial aptitude.
But what's also surprising is that many of the smartest students, and highest achievers, seem to lack the same "natural talent" in AR as they do in the other three cognitive subtests (Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, and Quantitative Reasoning). But once again, the question is; "WHY?"
This time, the answer isn't so official, but most past students agree that the trick is in the name: abstract reasoning is too abstract! It doesn't relate at all to other academic skills that are relevant to school and life. Although AR fans may argue that pattern recognition is an essential skill for medical professionals, it's too unrelated to actual medicine - why waste time training for shapes and colours when you could be improving skills like speed reading and quick maths that will actually be helpful when you have to learn complex diagnoses and rapidly calculate doses?
So What's Left?
The UCAT will now consist of three cognitive subtests:
Verbal Reasoning: Sharpen your reading speed and master the art of logical reasoning. Essential skills include speed reading, effective communication, and critical thinking.
Decision Making: Put your smarts to the test with puzzles, data analysis, and ethical considerations. Essential skills include problem-solving and comprehensive reasoning.
Quantitative Reasoning: Brush up on essential math concepts and learn time-saving strategies for tackling numerical problems. Essential skills include data analysis, quick comprehension, and speedy calculations.
Situational Judgment will also be included, but isn't a cognitive subtest so won't be included in your score out of 2700. If you want to know how universities consider SJ scores, sign up for one of our free UCAT workshops.
Here's a summary:
Subtest | Questions | Subtest Time | Scoring |
Verbal Reasoning | 44 | 22 minutes | 300-900 |
Decision Making | 35 | 37 minutes | 300-900 |
Quantitative Reasoning | 36 | 26 minutes | 300-900 |
Total Score | 900-2700 | ||
Situational Judgement | 69 | 26 minutes | 300-900 |
The Big Question: What Score do I Need?
Given that percentile cut-off for non-rural interviews is usually around 93rd percentile, we expect this to remain the same. But it's difficult to say what numerical score will correspond to that percentile. Because AR is generally regarded as the easiest subtest, It will be harder for people to get near 2700 scores. In 2024, the top 10% got above 720, 760, and 830 for VR, DM, and QR respectively. This means that, considering the extra practice time students will have for these three subtests, the top 10% will have a total score above around 2400-2450, meaning that the new benchmark score will probably be 2500+.
However, there is absolutely no way to prove this, so we'll have to find out in October just like everyone else.
Ready to Ace the New UCAT?
At Dr. Tutor, we're one of the first and only companies to fully adapt our Ultimate UCAT Masterclass to the new 2025 format. That means you get the most up-to-date strategies and resources, tailored to the new test structure.
Here's what sets us apart:
Expert Instructors: Learn from top medical students who dominated the UCAT, all scoring in the top 5%.
Comprehensive Curriculum: Master the core skills tested in the new UCAT with our in-depth lessons and practice questions.
Adaptive Learning: Our classes identify your weaknesses and provide personalized feedback for maximum improvement.
Don't let the UCAT changes derail your medical school dreams! Enroll in our UCAT Masterclass today and get the edge you need to conquer the new test and secure your spot! ✨
Sign up for a FREE SESSION, or buy now to get two sessions free.
As always, good luck future doctors! We hope to see you in med school soon...
P.S. Spots are filling up fast, so don't delay!
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