---
title: "UCAT Format - NIE: Medical Admissions Preparation"
description: "NIE provides UCAT, medical interviews, psychometrics, Casper, and medical admissions preparation for students pursuing medicine and dentistry in Australia or New Zealand."
url: "https://www.nie.edu.au/about-ucat/ucat-format"
date: "2026-07-29T10:58:10+00:00"
language: "en-GB"
---

#  UCAT Format

##  What is the structure of the UCAT exam?

#  **UCAT Structure and Format**

**The information below has been extracted from the VUE Pearson official website.**

The UCAT is just under a two-hour computer-based test, which assesses a range of abilities identified by universities as important to practising in the fields of medicine/dentistry/clinical sciences. The test consists of **4 separately timed subtests** which each of which contains a number of questions in a multiple-choice format. Once started the test cannot be paused for a break, but before each subtest, there is a timed instruction section.

Candidates either sit the standard test or apply for an extended version of the test if they are entitled to extra time due to a documented medical condition or disability.

| **UCAT Sections 2025 (each section scored 300-900)** | **Number of questions** | **Subtest timing** |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Verbal Reasoning**    Assesses the ability to critically evaluate information presented in a written form. | 44 | 1 minute 30 seconds instruction section  22 minutes test time |  |
| **Decision Making**   Assesses the ability to make sound decisions and judgements using complex information. | 35 | 1 minute 30 seconds instruction section  37 minutes test time |  |
| **Quantitative Reasoning**   Assesses the ability to critically evaluate information presented in a numerical form. | 36 | 2-minute instruction section  26 minutes test time |  |
| **Situational Judgement**   Measures the capacity to understand real world situations and to identify critical factors and appropriate behaviour in dealing with them. | 69 | 1 minute 30 seconds instruction section  26 minutes test time |  |

## Schema

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
    "itemListElement": [
        {
            "@type": "ListItem",
            "position": 1,
            "name": "Home",
            "item": "https://www.nie.edu.au"
        },
        {
            "@type": "ListItem",
            "position": 2,
            "name": "UCAT Format",
            "item": "https://www.nie.edu.au/about-ucat/ucat-format"
        }
    ]
}
```

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "Article",
    "mainEntityOfPage": {
        "@type": "WebPage",
        "@id": "https://www.nie.edu.au/about-ucat/ucat-format"
    },
    "headline": "UCAT Format",
    "description": "UCAT Format What is the structure of the UCAT exam?  UCAT Structure and Format  The information below has been extracted from the VUE Pearson official website. The UCAT is just under a two-hour computer-based test, which assesses a range of abilities identified by universities as important to practising in the fields of medicine/dentistry/clinical sciences.  The test consists of 4 separately timed subtests which each of which contains a number of questions in a multiple-choice format.  Once started the test cannot be paused for a break, but before each subtest, there is a timed instruction section.   Candidates either sit the standard test or apply for an extended version of the test if they are entitled to extra time due to a documented medical condition or disability.  UCAT Sections 2025 (each section scored 300-900) Number of questions Subtest timing   Verbal Reasoning Assesses the ability to critically evaluate information presented in a written form. 44 1 minute 30 seconds instruction section 22 minutes test time   Decision MakingAssesses the ability to make sound decisions and judgements using complex information. 35 1 minute 30 seconds instruction section 37 minutes test time   Quantitative ReasoningAssesses the ability to critically evaluate information presented in a numerical form. 36 2-minute instruction section 26 minutes test time   Situational JudgementMeasures the capacity to understand real world situations and to identify critical factors and appropriate behaviour in dealing with them. 69 1 minute 30 seconds instruction section 26 minutes test time    ",
    "image": {
        "@type": "ImageObject",
        "url": "https://www.nie.edu.au/images/NIE-logo.jpg"
    },
    "publisher": {
        "@type": "Organization",
        "name": "National Institute of Education",
        "logo": {
            "@type": "ImageObject",
            "url": "https://www.nie.edu.au/images/NIE-logo.jpg"
        }
    },
    "author": {
        "@type": "Person",
        "name": "Danny Poole",
        "url": "https://www.nie.edu.au/about-ucat/ucat-format"
    },
    "datePublished": "2018-10-03T16:05:31+10:00",
    "dateCreated": "2018-10-03T16:05:31+10:00",
    "dateModified": "2026-03-17T20:37:56+11:00"
}
```