Can You Take the UCAT After Year 12? Here's What You Need to Know

Written By Team MedView
Reviewed By Thomas Nicolson (Currently studying Doctor of Medicine - MD at the University of Queensland)

If you're considering a career in medicine, you'd be aware that taking the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is an essential step for getting into medical school. But, what's the deal with taking the UCAT if you're not a recent school leaver?

We're exploring everything you need to know about sitting the UCAT, eligibility requirements and advice on how to prepare for the exam. Let's get into it!

Timing your UCAT: Is post-year 12 an option?

In short, yes! You can definitely take the UCAT after you've finished Year 12.

While taking the UCAT during Year 12 is the most common pathway to medical school, there are no rules stopping you from taking it after this time. You may wish to delay your studies, take a gap year, or maybe medicine is something you're coming to later in life — whatever it may be, taking the UCAT after Year 12 is an option.

For those who are tossing up between doing it in Year 12 and going straight to university, or taking some time between and delaying the UCAT, it might help to know when you should schedule it, should you pursue the former.

If you're doing it while in school, it's generally recommended that you try to schedule your UCAT test window for before you go back for term 3 of high school, or semester 2 of university, to avoid having to miss school and study.

If you're pursuing the latter and returning to the UCAT later, the exam is typically conducted from July to August each year, so you'll need to factor this into your timings.

The pathway after high school: Should you head straight into university?

As you near the end of your high school years, you may be wondering what the best path is. Should you sit the UCAT and head straight into university? Or, should you take a gap year? Perhaps medicine is something you'd like to return to later and you have other priorities right now.

If you're thinking of taking a gap year, this can be a great experience! Not only does it allow you to take a break from study, but you may use this time to go travelling, or gain full-time employment. It lets you take a breath, step away from study (for the time being!) and have some new experiences.

It can also give you extra time to focus on preparing for the UCAT and means you're not having to juggle it alongside school, which can be most welcome.

Taking UCAT and university timings into consideration

For prospective medical students making this decision, taking the UCAT and university admissions timings into consideration may be helpful so you can plan for the future.

For the 2024 UCAT cycle, the exam must be sat between July 1 and August 9, 2024. And, keep in mind that your UCAT scores are only valid for one year, so you have to use your score in that admissions cycle. And, in case you're wondering, once you've completed the actual UCAT, you'll generally have your score emailed to you within 24 hours, so you won't have to wait around for long!

When it comes to university applications, these typically open in late September and close in February the following year. ATAR results are usually released in mid-December but university offers can begin as early as November and continue until the following March.

Who is eligible to take the UCAT?

There are some eligibility requirements for sitting the UCAT — here's what you need to know.

Eligibility for school students

You're eligible to take the UCAT if, at the time of the exam, you are undertaking or have completed the final year of secondary schooling or higher. This means that students in Year 11 in Australia are not eligible to sit the test.

For example, candidates registering for UCAT ANZ 2024 should have completed, or plan to complete their final year of secondary schooling in 2024, that is, Year 12 in Australia or Year 13 in New Zealand.

Eligibility for non-school leavers

Non-school leavers, including individuals who have completed or begun an undergraduate degree and high school graduates, are able to take the UCAT ANZ assessment.

According to the UCAT ANZ website, "you are eligible to sit the UCAT ANZ if you have commenced or completed an undergraduate degree. It is noted, however that not all undergraduate degree programs for which UCAT ANZ is a prerequisite will offer places for non-school leavers."

So, while you can sit the UCAT, certain medical schools may not prioritise non-school leavers in the interview and admissions process.

Transferring midway through your undergraduate degree

You might be wondering if you can start another degree before sitting the UCAT and transferring into medicine halfway through.

Anecdotally, most universities in Australia prefer students to come straight from high school and enter into an undergraduate medicine degree, or they want candidates who already have a bachelor's degree under their belt and are wanting to explore a new journey into medicine.

As such, many medical schools won't consider you as a candidate if you're looking to transfer after only a year or two of an undergraduate degree. There are a few exceptions though, with institutions like the University of New South Wales, James Cook University, Western Sydney University and the University of Tasmania accepting of transfer students who have impressive UCAT and ATAR scores.

Registering for the UCAT

Here's how to register for the UCAT, whether you're a recent high school student, or a non-school leaver.

Recent high school leavers

To register for the UCAT, you'll need to create a Pearson VUE account and follow the prompts to complete this process. From here, you can book your test. For the next test cycle, bookings close on Friday 17 May 2024 at 11:59pm AEST.

Registering for the UCAT costs around $325 for those taking the exam in Australia and New Zealand. Tests taken overseas cost $395. It's important to know that a late fee of $85 applies if you book after May 18, so try not to be late!

Once you've locked in your exam date, you'll receive both a booking confirmation email and a payment confirmation email. For more information, check the official UCAT ANZ website.

Non-school leavers

The registration steps for non-school leavers is just like recent school leavers’ procedure — making a profile on Pearson VUE then reserving their exam time slot online. There isn’t any age limitation when it comes to participating in this test.

It’s important that those wishing to apply to medical schools consider both the specific entry criteria of each university along with submission deadlines for the UCAT ANZ test so as to ensure they successfully go through all admissions processes.

What score do you need for medicine?

Before we focus on ways to prepare for the UCAT, let's nail down what you'll need to be considered competitive in the eyes of medical schools in Australia.

A 'good' UCAT score is generally in the 3100+ range — those with this score typically have a good chance of being offered an interview for medical school.

An average UCAT score usually sits between 2600-2900. Based on previous years, a score in this range isn't typically offered an interview. Although, some universities do have slightly lower UCAT cut-off scores.

Strategies for success: Preparing for UCAT after Year 12

Preparing for the UCAT can feel daunting, especially if you're getting back into study after a period away from it.

Lots (and lots!) of practice, sharpening your time management skills and understanding your strengths and weaknesses (and in turn, where you need to devote your study time) are your best bet for maximising your chances of success in the UCAT.

Personalised study support

We can't forget that seeking out support in the form of tutors can also be incredibly helpful and make a huge difference to your UCAT journey.

This is what MedView does best. We understand the process of applying to medical schools is not only complex and confusing but it’s more competitive than ever before!

MedView Education takes med school admission to a new level through personalised admission support, application review, entrance exam and interview tutoring, and extracurricular mentoring for students in Australasia.

We understand that each student is different, so the services we provide are always personalised to your individual needs.

Our process works as follows:

1. Discovering your goals: Our initial consultation helps us identify your goals and aspirations for medical school — and exactly how to get there!
2. Identifying your strengths: Our team helps you evaluate your chances of admission to top medical schools based on your strengths and areas for improvement.
3. Building a unique game plan: We work with every person to create a personalised game plan for success.
4. Assembling your team: Each person is matched with a dedicated team of admission specialists, medical students, tutors, mentors and doctors.
5. Choosing your best-fit medical school: Our admissions experts help identify the medical schools that suit your aspirations and capabilities best.
6. Your application requirements: Your team works with you on every exam, interview and application requirement to ensure you have a competitive chance!

Our dedicated team and personalised support helps people get the results they need, with our UCAT students 5 times more likely to receive an interview and 4.5 times more likely to gain admission to an Australian medical school.

You can also access a bunch of free and helpful resources — including insights from current medical students and MedView Admission Experts on the pathways and requirements to successful admission into medical school — via the MedView website.

Leveraging additional resources

Supplementary materials can be very beneficial for students to thoroughly grasp the concepts of the UCAT, devise successful methods in responding to questions, and amplify their score. Plus, the most straightforward way to become speedier is by doing practice questions and mock timed exams.

MedView Spark is a great resource for this — our learning platform has over 4,500 practice questions as well as practice exams you can work through to become exam-ready.

Plus, our interface is designed to mimic the UCAT experience, right down to the keyboard shortcuts and calculator, so there are no surprises and it'll help you feel comfortable for the real deal.

Alternatives to UCAT: Exploring your options

Many of the major medical schools in Australia require the UCAT for the admissions process but there are alternate pathways for those who wish to pursue a career in medicine. Here are a few options to consider.

Graduate medicine entry requirements

The postgraduate pathway often excludes the need for taking the UCAT exam and instead, GAMSAT scores and marks from previous university studies are often taken into consideration.

For those seeking entry into medical school through the graduate pathway, a bachelor's degree is typically required — usually in one of the health sciences — as is a GAMSAT score, which is often a part of the admission test.

Non-UCAT universities

While many Australian medical schools require the UCAT for admission to a medical degree, there are also a number that don't. In fact, 2 of these institutions include the University of Sydney (USYD) and the University of Melbourne.

The University of Sydney

For undergraduate students, the university offers a Guaranteed Entry program, which gives you a confirmed place in an eligible degree with available places, granted you achieve the required selection rank and meet additional admission criteria.

Applicants need an ATAR of 99.95 in order to proceed to the assessment day, which includes a written task and group interview. Keep in mind that this is an incredibly competitive program with only 30 domestic places available!

For those who have completed a bachelor's degree, students can apply for entry into USYD's 4-year postgraduate course. To be considered, applicants must have achieved satisfactory performance in an eligible bachelor’s degree, as indicated by Grade Point Average (GPA); and achieved satisfactory performance in an admissions test (either GAMSAT or MCAT).

The University of Melbourne

You can apply for the Guaranteed Entry pathway at the University of Melbourne. To qualify for a full fee paying place in the Doctor of Medicine, you'll need a 99 ATAR, while those looking for a Commonwealth-supported place through the Chancellor's Scholarship program need to achieve a 99.9 ATAR.

For postgraduate students, you must have completed a degree in any discipline, with studies to have been finished within 10 years of January 1 in the year in which you intend to commence study.

For those people whose undergraduate or bachelor degree was completed 10 or more years old, a Graduate Diploma, Master or PhD degree or equivalent must have been completed within 10 years before January 1.

Postgraduate students must have also completed the GAMSAT or MCAT and performed satisfactorily at a Multi-Mini Interview.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take the UCAT after completing Year 12?

Yes! You are able to take the UCAT after Year 12 — the exam is not just for school students. The only thing to remember is that you can only take it once in any test cycle, so while you are able to sit in multiple times, you can only take it once a year.

What is the difference between the UCAT and GAMSAT?

The UCAT is generally used for undergraduate admissions to Australian medical schools while the GAMSAT is for graduate entry. But, those who have previously obtained an undergraduate degree can still sit the UCAT.

What are the alternatives to taking the UCAT for medical school admissions?

For those hoping to enroll in medical school without UCAT, there are 2 other routes they can take: the postgraduate pathway (which utilises GAMSAT) or an undergraduate pathway with a university that has stringent ATAR and subject requirements but no UCAT score.