Is My UCAT Score High Enough for Medicine or Dentistry?
Updated September 2026 for UCAT ANZ 2026 results and 2027 Medicine and Dentistry entry.
If you are asking “Is my UCAT score good enough for medicine or dentistry?”, the answer depends on more than your score alone. Your UCAT ANZ 2026 percentile, ATAR or academic selection rank, applicant category and the way each university selects candidates can all affect whether you receive an interview offer for 2027 entry.
Quick answer: in UCAT ANZ 2026, a Total Cognitive Score of 2340 is the 90th percentile. A score of 2420 enters the 95th-percentile range, 2460–2480 is in the 97th-percentile band, 2490–2520 is in the 98th-percentile band, and 2530 and above is in the 99th-percentile band. However, no single national UCAT score guarantees a Medicine or Dentistry interview.
Post-UCAT Advice & Medical Interviews Introductory Session
Not sure what your UCAT result means or which universities you should now focus on? Join NIE's free live Post-UCAT session covering score interpretation, university application strategy, non-UCAT options, medical and dental interviews and practical next steps.
Next session: 16 September 2026 at 7:00 pm Sydney time.
Competitive UCAT? Start Preparing for Medical Interviews
If your UCAT and academic results place you in a realistic position for interview selection, the next stage should not be overlooked. Medical schools may use Multiple Mini Interviews, structured interviews or panel interviews, and the time between receiving an invitation and attending the interview can be short.
What Is a Good UCAT Score for Medicine or Dentistry in 2026?
There is no official UCAT pass mark and there is no universal “good UCAT score”. A score becomes meaningful when it is compared with the current candidate distribution and the admissions process used by each university on your preference list.
The official UCAT ANZ 2026 statistics cover 17,341 candidates. The mean Total Cognitive Score is 1964 and the median is 1950. The cognitive total combines Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning and ranges from 900 to 2700. Situational Judgement is reported separately.
| UCAT ANZ 2026 Total Score | Percentile | General position |
|---|---|---|
| 1610 | 10th | Official 10th-percentile threshold |
| 1720 | 20th | Official 20th-percentile threshold |
| 1800 | 30th | Official 30th-percentile threshold |
| 1880 | 40th | Official 40th-percentile threshold |
| 1950 | 50th | 2026 median |
| 2040 | 60th | Official 60th-percentile threshold |
| 2120 | 70th | Official 70th-percentile threshold |
| 2220 | 80th | Top 20% |
| 2340 | 90th | Top 10% |
| 2350–2360 | 91st | Upper-decile result |
| 2370–2380 | 92nd | Upper-decile result |
| 2390 | 93rd | Approximately top 7% |
| 2400–2410 | 94th | Approximately top 6% |
| 2420–2430 | 95th | Approximately top 5% |
| 2440–2450 | 96th | Approximately top 4% |
| 2460–2480 | 97th | Approximately top 3% |
| 2490–2520 | 98th | Approximately top 2% |
| 2530+ | 99th | 99th-percentile band |
UCAT ANZ 2026 Score and Percentile Calculator
Enter your scaled Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning scores below. The calculator adds them to produce your Total Cognitive Score and compares the total with the UCAT ANZ 2026 score distribution.
If your UCAT and academic profile appear competitive, the next priority is preparing for university interviews. A strong UCAT score does not compensate for an unprepared interview.
Explore the Medical & Dental Interview Workshop or view the Interview Training Package with personalised 1-on-1 coaching .
What Should I Do Next Based on My UCAT Score?
The most useful question after UCAT is not simply whether your result is “good” or “bad”. The better question is what the score means for your university application strategy.
| 2026 UCAT position | What it may mean | Recommended next step |
|---|---|---|
| 99th percentile | Exceptional national result | Apply broadly where academically eligible and begin serious interview preparation. |
| 95th–98th percentile | Very strong UCAT performance | Compare universities carefully, check academic requirements and prepare for potential interview opportunities. |
| 90th–94th percentile | Strong top-decile result | Assess each university individually because ATAR, applicant category and selection method become important. |
| 80th–89th percentile | Above most candidates | Review rural, regional and special-entry pathways and check how heavily each university weights UCAT. |
| Below 80th percentile | Some UCAT-heavy pathways may become more difficult | Review non-UCAT universities, special pathways, alternative preferences and longer-term application options. |
These categories are general planning guidance only and are not university interview cut-offs.
Does My ATAR Matter If My UCAT Score Is High?
Yes. A high UCAT score does not automatically compensate for an academic result that is below a university's eligibility or ranking requirements. Universities use academic performance and UCAT in different combinations.
For example, some medical programs rank applicants using both academic results and UCAT before deciding who receives an interview. A very strong result in one selection component does not necessarily remove the importance of another.
Use NIE's ATAR, UCAT and prerequisite requirements for Medicine and Dentistry to assess your academic and UCAT position together.
Is a 90th Percentile UCAT Score Enough for a Medical Interview?
A 90th-percentile UCAT score is a strong national result, but it is not an automatic medical interview threshold. Universities can rank UCAT alongside academic performance, use minimum eligibility requirements or assess applicant categories separately.
Which Universities Can I Apply to for Undergraduate Medicine?
Australia has a mixture of direct-entry and provisional-entry Medicine pathways. New Zealand also offers undergraduate pathways that lead into Medicine after an initial university year. UCAT requirements and selection methods differ considerably.
For NIE's broader course list, see universities offering undergraduate Medicine and Dentistry in Australia and New Zealand .
| University | Medicine pathway | UCAT position | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide University | Medicine | UCAT required | Confirm current academic, UCAT and interview requirements for the relevant intake. |
| Curtin University | MBBS | UCAT required | UCAT forms part of a broader competitive selection process. |
| Monash University | Direct-entry Medicine | UCAT required | Academic results, UCAT ANZ and MMI are important selection components. |
| UNSW Sydney | Medicine | UCAT required | Academic performance, UCAT and interview all matter. |
| University of Newcastle / UNE | Joint Medical Program | UCAT required | UCAT is part of the competitive selection process. |
| Western Sydney University / Charles Sturt University | Medicine | UCAT required | Applicant category and UCAT ranking can be important. |
| University of Tasmania | Medicine | UCAT required | Review the current school-leaver and applicant-category requirements. |
| University of Queensland pathways | Provisional or regional pathways to Medicine | UCAT required for relevant pathways | Academic and pathway-specific requirements also apply. |
| University of Western Australia | Undergraduate / assured pathway to MD | UCAT required | Requirements vary according to applicant category. |
| James Cook University | Medicine | UCAT not used | JCU uses a different admissions process. |
| Bond University | Medical Program | UCAT not used | Academic selection is followed by psychometric testing and interview. |
| University of Auckland | First Year / Graduate pathway to MBChB | UCAT required for relevant applicants | School leavers first enter an approved first-year pathway before applying for Medicine. |
| University of Otago | Health Sciences First Year / other pathways | UCAT required for relevant applicant categories | Academic performance and pathway-specific requirements apply. |
Admission requirements can change between intakes. Always verify current requirements directly with the university before applying.
Can I Still Study Medicine With a Lower UCAT Score?
Possibly. A lower UCAT result may make some UCAT-heavy pathways less competitive, but it does not remove every undergraduate Medicine or Dentistry option.
James Cook University
James Cook University does not use UCAT or GAMSAT as part of its undergraduate Medicine or Dentistry selection process. This makes JCU especially relevant for applicants whose UCAT result is lower than expected but who remain competitive under JCU's academic and other admissions requirements.
Bond University Medicine
Bond University also follows a different pathway. Applicants are assessed academically, shortlisted candidates complete a psychometric assessment and successful applicants can then progress to interview.
If Bond is on your preference list, preparing for the psychometric assessment is an important step because UCAT is not used in Bond's published Medicine selection sequence.
When Are Medical Interview Invitations Released?
Interview timing varies significantly between universities. Some interview invitations are released late in Year 12, while other interviews take place during December, January or later depending on the university and applicant category.
Practical implication: if your UCAT and academic profile appear competitive, begin developing interview skills before invitations are released. You can then intensify preparation once you know the exact university and interview format.
What Should I Do After Receiving My UCAT Result?
- Check your 2026 percentile. Use your Total Cognitive Score rather than comparing raw question marks.
- Assess your ATAR or predicted ATAR. Consider your academic and UCAT position together.
- Identify applicable entry categories. Rural, Indigenous, regional, equity and other pathways can change how an application is assessed.
- Review non-UCAT options. JCU and Bond can be strategically important for some applicants.
- Check application deadlines. Do not miss university or admissions-centre deadlines while waiting for interview invitations.
- Start interview preparation where appropriate. Do not assume that a strong UCAT score guarantees success at the interview stage.
Prepare for the Next Stage of Medical or Dental Entry
A strong UCAT may help you reach the interview stage, but interview performance is assessed separately. NIE training covers MMI and panel formats, ethical reasoning, communication, motivation, teamwork, leadership and unfamiliar scenarios.
Frequently Asked Questions About UCAT Scores and Medical Interviews
What is a good UCAT score for Medicine in 2026?
There is no single good score for every medical school. In UCAT ANZ 2026, 2340 is the 90th percentile, 2420 enters the 95th-percentile range and 2530 enters the 99th-percentile band. Your academic results, applicant category and university selection process also matter.
What is a good UCAT score for Dentistry?
Dentistry programs use different admissions processes, so there is no universal UCAT score that guarantees an interview. Your UCAT should be considered together with academic requirements, applicant category and the selection rules used by the university.
Is a 90th-percentile UCAT score enough for a medical interview?
A 90th-percentile UCAT is a strong national result but does not guarantee an interview. Medical schools can combine UCAT with academic performance and may rank different applicant categories separately.
Is a 95th-percentile UCAT score good enough for Medicine?
A 95th-percentile result is a very strong UCAT score, but admission prospects still depend on the universities you apply to, your academic results and the strength of the applicant pool.
Does a 99th-percentile UCAT guarantee a Medicine offer?
No. A 99th-percentile UCAT is an exceptional result, but universities may still require very strong academic results, prerequisites and successful interview performance.
Can I get into Medicine with a lower UCAT score?
Possibly. Some pathways use UCAT differently and some do not use UCAT at all. James Cook University does not use UCAT for Medicine or Dentistry, while Bond University's Medicine selection process uses academic assessment, psychometric testing and interview rather than UCAT.
Which Australian medical schools do not require UCAT?
James Cook University does not use UCAT for its undergraduate Medicine or Dentistry selection process. Bond University's Medical Program also does not use UCAT and instead follows an academic, psychometric and interview selection process.
Does my ATAR matter if I have a high UCAT score?
Yes. Many undergraduate Medicine pathways assess academic performance alongside UCAT. A strong UCAT cannot necessarily compensate for failing to meet required academic criteria, selection ranks or subject prerequisites.
Can I use my UCAT ANZ 2026 score for 2028 entry?
No. UCAT ANZ results are tied to the admissions cycle for which the test was sat. The 2026 UCAT ANZ result is used for relevant applications for university entry commencing in 2027.
Should I prepare for medical interviews before receiving an invitation?
If your overall profile appears competitive, early preparation can be useful because the period between invitation and interview may be short. Early preparation should focus on communication, reasoning and understanding interview formats rather than memorising model answers.
Official UCAT ANZ Sources
This guide is reviewed against current UCAT ANZ and university admissions information. Requirements can change between admissions cycles, so always verify the current rules before applying.
Disclaimer: This page provides general educational guidance only. NIE is not affiliated with or endorsed by the UCAT ANZ Consortium or any university. UCAT results, percentiles, historical cut-offs and academic results do not guarantee an interview, university offer or admission.