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UCAT vs UMAT: What’s the difference?

James Gibbons
Senior Writer
UCAT vs UMAT: In Australia and New Zealand, from 2019 onwards, the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT) was replaced by the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT).
So what is the difference between these two? And what has changed and how does this effect you?
UCAT vs UMAT
The UMAT was first introduced in 1991 and has been a main stay of the UMAT Consortium Universities application process for over two decades. But as of 2019 it has been replaced with the UCAT, and updated version of the UKCAT.
The UCAT has long been used as one of the major tests for application to medical schools across the UK. And similar to the UMAT assesses students on their aptitude and situational judgement rather than their scientific knowledge.
The key difference between the UCAT vs UMAT is the format of the test. But what the test is trying to asses, your aptitude for medicine, has remained the same.
So in that regard you don’t need to worry that you have to now learn or revise anything new. It may just impact slightly the way in which you prepare and the resources that you use. And the key differences to the test are listed in the table below:
Difference | UMAT | UCAT |
Number of sections | Three sections | Five sections |
Number of questions | 134 | 232 |
Sitting the exam | Single date | You choose date and time at any point in July |
Test duration | 3 hours | 2 hours |
Format | Paper | Electronic |
One of the key benefits of the UCAT vs UMAT is that it allows you to have a much greater degree of choice as to when you sit the test. This makes it far easier to fit your preparation around your other commitments. Whereas the UMAT was much more rigid with just a single test available.
In addition to these changes there is one other major benefit to the UCAT. And that is that sitting it will allow you to receive your results immediately following the test, rather than waiting several months for them.
This will allow for greater flexibility in making your medical applications. And will allow you to apply more strategically with the advance knowledge of your score.
UCAT vs UMAT: Section changes
The UMAT used to comprise of three sections: Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving, Understanding People and Non-verbal Reasoning.
These have now been replaced with the five sections of the UCAT: Verbal Reasoning, Qualitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning, Decision Making and Situational Judgement.
As you can see the names of these sections are quite similar to those of the UCAT. And this shows that ultimately what they are assessing are very similar. Additionally, you can visit UCAT official website to get a full breakdown of what the test involves.

UCAT vs UMAT: Timings
As you can see in the first table one of the major differences is the total time for the tests and the number of questions. What this means is that the UCAT is an hour shorter but with almost another hundred questions. But do not worry as this is reflected in the question style and the fact they are now in an electronic format.

This means that students move through the questions much faster and the total time is now one third less as well. So the combined effect of this should hopefully make the test experience less stressful. This is because there is less pressure on each individual question.
In addition, it is now easier to practise with the electronic format using online resources. Allowing for preparation using large question banks with questions that have exactly the same format of that of the UCAT.
Conclusion
On the surface the differences between the UCAT vs UMAT may seem quite drastic. But the fundamentals of the test remain the same, with the structure and dates of the UCAT making the whole process easier to prepare for. Especially as taking the test itself is now more flexible, allowing you to fit it around your other commitments more easily. So together, this should help to give you the best chance to maximise your performance on test day.
If you have any further questions on the differences between the two tests, please leave a comment below and we will get back to you!
FAQs
The UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) is a computer-based test used in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand to assess aptitude and skills required for a career in medicine and dentistry.
The UMAT (Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test) is a paper-based test used in Australia and New Zealand to assess critical thinking and reasoning skills, as well as non-academic attributes such as empathy and communication.
The main difference between the UCAT and UMAT is the format of the test. The UCAT is a computer-based test, while the UMAT is a paper-based test. The content of the tests also differs slightly, with the UCAT focusing more on aptitude and skills, while the UMAT includes a greater emphasis on non-academic attributes.
The UCAT is a computer-based test consisting of five sections: verbal reasoning, decision-making, quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning, and situational judgement.
The UMAT is a paper-based test consisting of three sections: logical reasoning and problem-solving, understanding people, and non-verbal reasoning.
Yes, candidates can take both the UCAT and UMAT. However, candidates should check with the universities they are applying to determine which test(s) they require.
Candidates should prepare for the UCAT or UMAT by familiarizing themselves with the test format and content, practicing past papers, and working on improving their critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. Preparation courses and resources are also available online and in-person.
Related
Related links
Personalised lessons and regular progress updates to support you in acing the UCAT
With over 1000 questions, mock paper walkthroughs, timing tips, and more!
Live day, packed full of UCAT advice and tips from the experts. Taking you through all UCAT sections with worked examples
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812 Comments
AnonymousMedic Mind Tutor
15 February 2021
What is the best time to sit the exam, (UCAT). During VCE or after VCE
AnonymousMedic Mind Tutor
22 January 2023
Hi, I wish to know if one does UCAT exam is the UK and scores well, will that score be useful to apply for Australian universities admission while living in the UK and going for separate Australian UCAT exam?
anonymousMedic Mind Tutor
13 March 2023
What is the syllabus
JYupWMLWMedic Mind Tutor
6 September 2023
1
WymSkPhNMedic Mind Tutor
29 September 2023
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