Final UCAT ANZ 2023 Test Statistics and Percentile Calculator Released!
2 weeks ago by Chris
The UCAT ANZ 2023 percentile calculator and final statistics have been released, which will help students to interpret their UCAT 2023 scores.
The UCAT consortium has developed a UCAT score to percentile calculator that will help you to convert your 2023 UCAT scaled scores into an estimated percentile ranking. You can find it here: https://www.ucat.edu.au/results/test-statistics/
The UCAT 2023 summary statistics data is available at: https://www.ucat.edu.au/media/1539/summary-statistics-for-2023.pdf
What data is shown?
The UCAT ANZ 2023 test statistics displays the following data:
- the mean scores for each UCAT subtest
- the mean overall UCAT cognitive score
- the UCAT scores required to achieve a particular decile for each UCAT subtest
- how overall UCAT cognitive scores translate to percentiles
- UCAT candidate performance expressed in quartiles
The data is based on the scores of the majority of UCAT candidates (approximately 14,000 students) who have sat UCAT in the 2023 testing cycle.
What does the data mean?
If, for example, you achieved a UCAT Quantitative Reasoning score of around 650, your score was about average (5th decile) compared to other candidates sitting UCAT ANZ 2023. On the other hand, if you achieved a UCAT Decision Making score of around 750, you will have achieved the 9th decile – that is, you will have been in the top 10% of candidates for this UCAT subtest.
In general, in order to obtain an interview offer for a standard, non-rural place in medicine, you will need to achieve an overall cognitive UCAT score in the 9th decile (that is, you will need to be in the top 10% of students sitting UCAT). This year, this equates to an overall UCAT cognitive score of 3000+. This represents an increase from 2022, where an overall UCAT score of 2980 would have placed you in the 9th decile.
How can I calculate my UCAT percentile?
You can find a UCAT percentile calculator on the UCAT ANZ website. Enter your overall cognitive subtest score (sum of your UCAT Verbal Reasoning, UCAT Decision Making, UCAT Quantitative Reasoning and UCAT Abstract Reasoning scores) to find out your percentile.
What interpretations can be made from the UCAT 2023 test statistics?
This UCAT data shows that:
- Students who achieved an overall scaled score of 3000 were in the 90th percentile, which is generally required for entry into standard undergraduate medical degrees (UCAT scores required are generally lower for rural students, local students, bonded students, some dentistry courses and those with very high ATARs)
- The UCAT total cognitive scaled score required to be in the 90th percentile has been gradually increasing:
- In 2019, you needed 2850 to achieve 90th percentile
- In 2020, you needed 2920 to achieve 90th percentile
- In 2021, you needed 2960 to achieve 90th percentile
- In 2022, you needed 2980 to achieve 90th percentile
This is because medicine is getting more competitive every year, and also reflects the greater preparation by the cohort of UCAT students each year.
- Median scores have not changed as much over the past four years (2520, 2520, 2530, 2550). This implies that it is getting more competitive at the top end of UCAT scores: this is where the action happens (that is, interview offers are made to this cohort of students)
- The 90th percentile score for UCAT Situational Judgement has increased marginally (between 2022 and 2023). This implies that students are spending more time preparing for UCAT Situational Judgement, as more universities are considering UCAT Situational Judgement in selection compared to previous years.
- Compared to 2022, the 90th percentile UCAT scores have increased for UCAT Verbal Reasoning (680 vs 720). It has decreased for UCAT Quantitative Reasoning (810 vs 800) and UCAT Abstract Reasoning (830 vs 820). It has remained the same for UCAT Decision Making (750). This is likely to be the result of students’ relative effort put into each of these UCAT subtests during their preparation.
- The mean (average) UCAT ANZ 2023 scaled score (total of the cognitive subtests) was 2563
- The mean UCAT Situational Judgement score was 578 and a score of about 667 equated to the 90th percentile.
What score do I need to get into medicine?
The UCAT score required for entry into medicine depends on a number of factors, including the university and course to which you are applying, whether you are a rural applicant and whether you are a local applicant (for example for the University of Western Sydney).
In general, for standard, non-rural applicants to medical courses in Australia, you will need to be in the top 10% of students sitting UCAT to obtain an interview offer. At some universities, offers for medicine are made for students who perform outstandingly well in their ATAR.
Note that James Cook University and Bond University do not require you to sit UCAT for entry into medicine.
Rural students require significantly lower UCAT scores to obtain entry into medicine.
What should I do now?
For information about what to do now based on your UCAT score, please see our blog. If you are likely to receive an interview offer based on your UCAT score, you should start preparing for interviews.
