N.B. The following dates are projected based on the standard UCAT cycle pattern. For the most accurate scheduling, monitor updates from the UCAT Consortium as the 2025 testing window approaches.
UCAS Integration: Ensure you input your UCAS Personal Identifier number into your UCAT profile to seamlessly link your test results to your university application. You may sit the UCAT either before or after submitting your UCAS form, provided it falls within the official testing window and aligns with the deadlines set by your chosen universities.
One Attempt Rule: You are permitted to take the UCAT only once within the testing cycle, spanning from 1 July 2025 to late September 2025 (exact dates to be confirmed by the UCAT Consortium). A second attempt within the same cycle will be deemed invalid. Your UCAT results are valid solely for the 2026 university entry year and cannot be carried over to subsequent cycles.
Special Cases: For certain programs or institutions with unique intake schedules, such as international partnered universities, testing windows or deadlines may vary. Always verify specific requirements with your target institutions, though the standard UCAT timeline typically applies unless otherwise stated.
Book Early: Testing slots for the UCAT tend to fill quickly, particularly as key deadlines approach, such as mid-to-late September 2025. Scheduling your test in July or early August 2025 ensures greater flexibility and availability, allowing you to secure a preferred date and location.
Check University Deadlines: Each university determines how UCAT results fit into its application timeline, though the testing window is set by the UCAT Consortium. Applicants to Oxford are required to sit the UCAT by the end of the testing window (projected for late September 2025). Most universities, such as Manchester or King’s College London, also require UCAT completion by this time to ensure scores are available for the UCAS deadline of 15 October 2025. Always confirm exact requirements with your target universities, as some may adjust their expectations for the 2025 cycle.
Preparation: Official UCAT practice materials for the 2025 format, reflecting any updates to sections like Verbal Reasoning or Quantitative Reasoning, will be available from approximately mid-May 2025 on the UCAT website. Familiarising yourself with these resources early is essential, especially if changes to the test structure are introduced for the 2025 sitting.
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