UCAT Preparation Course—Gain a Competitive Score with Med School Entry

Introduction

We know, you must have come here for the best UCAT preparation course. Naturally, so much rides on this exam that you must be anxious about the UCAT. Med School Entry is here to help guide you through the process.

UCL Medical Student Adam Ho shares his thoughts about his own UCAT journey with some great tips and advice.

‘If you’re reading this, you’re probably stressing about the UCAT.  Let’s fix that.

Let’s cut to the chase: the UCAT is the gatekeeper to your med school dreams.

I remember staring at my screen during practice tests, wondering if my brain was wired backwards.

Spoiler: it wasn’t. I just needed a better strategy.

I’ll walk you through UCAT and how I prepped.

(Note: As of 2024, the UCAT no longer includes Abstract Reasoning.)

The Truth

Let’s get real: the UCAT course isn’t about how much biology you’ve memorised or the medical knowledge you have digested from your UCAT tutoring.

UCAT course is a cognitive challenge and a game of time.

UCAT admission tutors use it to see if you can think like a doctor – fast, logically, and under pressure. My first practice test? Let’s just say I scored an all-time low.

But here’s the key: you can train for this if you catch up with the right UCAT tutor for the best UCAT preparation course goal. Check out the Med School Entry UCAT Coaching Programme.

2025 UCAT Breakdown: What’s Left (and How to Tackle it)

Verbal Reasoning

What it is: Reading a passage and critically evaluating information presented in a written form.

Tip: Aim for 90% certainty on an answer and move on! You can’t be 100% sure. Also, a common myth about the UCAT course is to do questions in chronological order. You don’t have to! My suggestion is to skip to the passages that are the shortest and flag the harder ones.

Decision Making

What it is: Logic puzzles, Venn diagrams, and “Which conclusion is valid/the strongest?”.

Tip: Read the scenario first. Strong arguments are based on statistics, evidence, facts, reports or studies. Weak arguments are claims, opinions, assumptions and assertions.

Quantitative Reasoning

What it is: Essentially secondary school maths, e.g. interest rates, data interpretation, percentages and averages.

Tip: Learn to approximate. If the answer choices are £12, £15, £20, and £100, you don’t need exact decimals. Another trick is to do the easy algebra mentally and use the calculator for more complex working out.

Situational Judgment

What it is: “What would you do if your patient refuses treatment?” type scenarios. You are going to determine what courses of action are the most appropriate in a given scenario.

Tip: The “right” answer isn’t always what you would do. Think NHS values and GMC guidelines, do not go with your gut. You NEED to practise for this section because it is not based on common sense.

My 3 Top Tips for the UCAT Examination

Tip 1: Make use of question banks and resources

The UCAT isn’t GCSE Biology. I wasted weeks trying to “study” for it before realising practice > theory. I lived on:

• The official UCAT question bank (non-negotiable – it’s the closest to the real thing).
• Emil Eddy’s YouTube Channel has a very decent analysis!

Med School Entry provides an all-inclusive platform for UCAT Preparation.

Tip 2: Learn to skip questions

You know that scene in The Hunger Games, where the timer counts down?

That’s the UCAT. My exam practice:

• Skip and flag questions that are too difficult or complex.
• Finish the easy questions with 90% certainty.
• Get back to the flagged questions last.

Tip 3: Review like a detective

After every mock test, I would:

• Flag my worst 10 questions and dissect why I didn’t answer them right.
• Make a “Dumb Mistakes” list.

Your UCAT game plan: Starts here

1. Take a diagnostic test today. Know your baseline.
2. Grind your weakest section for 2 weeks. Mine was Verbal Reasoning – I did 50 questions a day until I felt more comfortable about it.
3. Start revising at least 4 weeks before UCAT. Mock test every weekend until test day. Track your scores in a spreadsheet (nerdy, but motivating).
4. Book an MSE Coaching Course, group or 121, with a UCAT Super Tutor.

Conclusion

The UCAT is a beast, but it’s a trainable beast.

I went from 2400 in the beginning, to 3080 in the actual exam (I sat it in 2023) by treating it like a sport: drills, correction and relentless review.

You’ve got this.

And when doubt creeps in?

Remember: every question you get wrong now is one you’ll nail on test day.

Drop a comment below: What’s your UCAT nemesis? Verbal Reasoning? Decision Making? Let’s crowdsource some solutions!’