What Will Be a Good UCAT ANZ Score in 2026?
1 year ago by Chris
A common question from students is “What will be a ‘good’ UCAT score this year?”. Understanding UCAT scores can be confusing. This blog aims to answer common questions about UCAT ANZ scores and provide guidance on interpreting your results in light of the new test format.
What Will My UCAT Score Report Look Like?
Your UCAT ANZ score report will be structured as follows:
Your scores in each of the three cognitive subtests (UCAT Verbal Reasoning, UCAT Decision Making, UCAT Quantitative Reasoning) are added together to form an overall UCAT cognitive subtest score, which ranges from 900 to 2700. You will also receive a separate score for UCAT Situational Judgement, ranging from 300-900.
How Are UCAT ANZ Scores Calculated?
UCAT ANZ scores are calculated by converting the number of questions you got right into a "scaled score." These scaled scores range from 300-900 for each subtest. How UCAT is scored and scaled is complex and considers several factors:
- The difficulty of questions you faced
- The performance of the entire test cohort that year
- The presence of unscored questions in each section
- Varying point values (for example, some UCAT Decision Making questions are worth 2 marks and are partially scored)
This means two students with the same number of correct answers might receive different scaled scores depending on their test versions. Pearson VUE uses Item Response Theory (IRT) for this scaling but does not publish the specific conversion methods. Your final performance is expressed as a total scaled score and can be calculated into a percentile ranking compared to other candidates.
When Will I Find Out My UCAT Percentile?
UCAT ANZ results are released in three stages. Initially, you'll receive an email from Pearson VUE within 24 hours of your test date with your individual scores per subtest and total cognitive scaled score (out of 2700).
Preliminary test statistics become available near the end of the testing period (typically late August). This provides the cut-off scaled score at each decile rank based on all exams completed up until that point, giving you an initial idea of where you stand compared to other candidates.
Final summary statistics and percentiles are released after the testing period, usually in September. The UCAT consortium releases a UCAT percentile calculator at this time so you can convert your total scaled score into your official percentile ranking.
What Is a Good UCAT ANZ Score in 2026?
Interpretations of a “good” UCAT ANZ score can shift over time. However, individual subtest scores tend to remain broadly consistent with previous years.
| Percentile | Total Cognitive Score | Interpretation |
| 90th+ | 2310+ | Competitive for standard pathways at most universities |
| 80th | 2190 | Possibility of an interview offer at select universities with specific pathways/criteria |
| 70th | 2090 | Competitive for rural pathways |
| 60th | 2000 | May be sufficient for rural pathways at some universities |
| 50th | 1930 | Potentially sufficient for rural pathways at some universities |
| 40th | 1850 | Unlikely to receive offers |
| 30th | 1780 | Unlikely to receive offers |
| 20th | 1710 | Unlikely to receive offers |
| 10th | 1610 | Unlikely to receive offers |
Total cognitive score data is based on UCAT ANZ 2025 statistics. Decile threshold scores may vary slightly for UCAT ANZ 2026.
What UCAT ANZ Score Do I Need for Medicine in 2026?
Score requirements vary between universities and programs, but generally:
- Standard pathway applicants typically need to score in the 90th percentile or higher (2310+ in 2025) to be competitive for most medical programs
- Rural and regional pathway applicants can be competitive with scores around the 70th percentile (2090+ in 2025), with some universities potentially considering applicants scoring as low as the 50th percentile (1930 in 2025)
- Bonded Medical Places may have slightly lower score requirements
- Dental programs generally have lower UCAT requirements than medicine
It's important to note that UCAT is just one component of the selection process. Your ATAR/GPA and interview performance are also crucial elements in determining offers.
More Information
For official information on UCAT ANZ scores and statistics:
For advice on medical school applications:
Conclusion
Understanding what constitutes a "good" UCAT ANZ score in 2026 requires considering the context of the modified test structure and your specific circumstances. While aiming for the 90th+ percentile is ideal for standard pathway applicants, those eligible for rural schemes may be competitive with scores around the 70th percentile or lower.
Remember that the UCAT is just one component of your application. You should focus on performing well across all selection criteria, including interviews, to maximize your chances of securing a place in your desired course.
Last updated: May 2026
