UCAT Timings: Learn to Manage Your Time Efficiently

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

Understanding UCAT timings and how much time you have for each section, and each question, is crucial for success. Time management should be a focus of your preparation and there are a few ways to tackle this.

In this article, we'll break down the timings you have for each subtest in the UCAT and time-saving techniques to use in the exam. Let's dive in!

Understanding UCAT timings: Section breakdown

Managing your time efficiently in the UCAT requires mastering the timings for its 5 sections, as each has different question counts and allocated times.

While these question counts and times differ, you are given 1 minute worth of reading time per section so you can quickly familiarise yourself before diving in.

Now, let's have a look at how much time you have for each subtest and how many seconds this works out to be for each question. For more information on preparing for each individual subtest, check out our comprehensive UCAT guide.

Verbal Reasoning timing

The Verbal Reasoning (VR) subtest includes 44 questions and a 21-minute test time. This works out to be an average of 28 seconds per question. There are 11 sets of 4 questions, which means that you should be expecting to read a passage and answer four questions on it in just under two mintues.

To do well, one must have a high level of speed reading proficiency and be able to quickly scan keywords in order to discern what information is necessary from written text.

Focus on retaining essential elements when interpreting passages as this should save time while answering questions efficiently. It’s important not to forget that practice is integral here.

With consistent honing, you can develop the skills of speedy comprehension and pinpointed keyword detection so that it becomes more like second nature during tests.

Decision Making timing

For the Decision Making (DM) section, you have a total of 29 questions to solve within 31 minutes — this works out to be around 64 seconds per answer.

However, expect to be spending a varied amount of time on questions, with syllogisms often taking more time than average, whilst recognizing assumptions can be done faster than average.

To do well in this section and get optimal results with probability problems and syllogisms, it is advised that you familiarise yourself thoroughly with such tasks through practice. When practicing, keep track of any recurring patterns or strategies so your skills are honed for rapid decision making based on synthesised data at hand.

Use your notebook and pen during problem solving as trying to do mental maths could slow you down in certain areas. This should also help visualise complex topics easier while speeding up the process overall.

Quantitative Reasoning timing

In Quantitative Reasong (QR), you have 36 questions to answer in 25 minutes — this is about 41 seconds per question.

In order to maximise the allotted time, it is crucial that you become well-versed in how to utilise your on-screen UCAT calculator effectively. But, be sure to work on your mental maths skills as these are also necessary for solving questions and means less reliance on the calculator, which can help you save a few seconds here and there.

In the QR subtest, questions within the same set are often based on previous answers. If you do any complicated calculations, such as long summations or averages, in previous questions, make sure to write these down so you don't have to repeat the same step again!

Abstract Reasoning timing

For the Abstract Reasoning (AR) section, you have 50 questions to answer in 12 minutes. This works out to just 14 seconds per question.

Preparing for the AR subtest might feel daunting given the time crunch but there are ways to sharpen your abstract reasoning skills. One way is to note down and become familiar with patterns you see in order to increase how quickly you are able to answer questions. Strategies like SCANSS can also prove helpful.

Dive into our guide on preparing for Abstract Reasoning for more information!

Situational Judgement Test timing

The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) contains 69 questions to answer within 26 minutes — this is 22 seconds per question.

The SJT evaluates your capacity and capability when faced with actual scenarios as well as determining appropriate behaviour while looking into significant factors.

Each question is centred around a moral dilemma — for example, patient safety versus patient confidentiality — so use practice questions to build a hierarchy of these morals and commit them to memory

Time-saving techniques for UCAT success

It is crucial to begin practicing time-saving methods, such as keyboard shortcuts, intelligent guessing and question flagging, so that you can make the most out of your UCAT timings.

By doing regular practice with these approaches during preparation for the exam, they will become second nature when taking it, helping you better manage your allotted minutes. Accordingly, don’t miss this chance to maximise success on UCAT by incorporating them into your study process now!

Keyboard shortcuts

While keyboard shortcuts might not seem overly impactful, there are 228 questions in the UCAT, and saving just a second per question can give you nearly 4 minutes over the length of the entire exam!

Be sure to familiarise yourself with these shortcuts, which include Alt + C (to bring up the on-screen calculator) and Alt + F (to flag a question to return to).

NOTE: Let's mention our keyboard article here once it's live so we don't repeat the content?

Educated guessing

Educated guessing can be helpful in the UCAT, given how much of a time crunch you're under. This strategy involves using logic and reasoning to eliminate certain answer choices before making an informed guess from the remaining options — thus increasing your chances of getting a correct answer.

You're marked on the number of correct answers you give, which means there is no negative marking for incorrect answers, so it's worth taking an educated guess if you're unsure.

Flagging and reviewing

When taking the UCAT subtest, flagging is an invaluable technique that can help save precious time. It allows you to recognise questions which look more challenging and come back to them later on in order for your efforts to be focused where they will likely provide the most successful results.

Start by taking an educated guess (so as to not lose out on potential points) then flag the question and come back to it, if you have time.

Try not to rush

A common mistake students encounter is simply going too fast through the exam — and, it's unsurprising that this happens given how tight timings are.

When practising, try to reach a mid point between reading too fast and skipping over important words, and reading fast enough to finish on time.

An example of going too fast is often seen in the VR subtest, where students miss small words like 'not' or 'don't', which can dramatically change the answer of a question. As difficult as it is to do when you feel under the pump, try to stay measured and don't rush through the test.

Preparing for UCAT timing challenges

In order to tackle the UCAT timing challenges and optimise your performance on the exam, it is important to get adequate practice. This means taking mock exams, honing in any weak areas and staying consistent with your studies.

Keeping up with these goals will help ensure that you reap all of the benefits of thorough UCAT preparation for success on assessment day!

Mock exams and timed practice

The UCAT does require a lot of practice and while telling you to practice and prepare seems simple, there really is no substitute for dedicated, quality study.

Taking mock exams under timed conditions can help you sharpen your time management skills and become more adept at working quickly.

Perfect practice makes perfect, in our books. And that looks like focused, dedicated practice with mock exams, which will have a tangible impact on your speed. 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.

Targeting weak areas

When you set out to study for the UCAT, it's important that you have a dedicated goal, such as improving a certain aspect of a subtest, or improving your skills in a mock test environment.

Identifying the areas that need the most work during UCAT preparation is key for improving your overall performance and practice tests are a great way to discover what your strengths and weaknesses are.

After you've identified where support needs to increase, modify your studies accordingly or engage outside help if needed.

This is where MedView comes in — we understand the process of studying for the UCAT, achieving a high UCAT score and 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.

Our dedicated team and personalised support helps students 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.

Focusing on your areas of weakness and working on improving these will help increase your speed when it come to exam time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the time limit for the UCAT?

The UCAT runs for 2 hours and includes 228 multiple choice questions across 5 categories. The exam, which is taken on a computer, has 1 minute of allotted reading time at the beginning of each section.

The exam can't be stopped once it begins, so we recommend using the bathroom prior to the test.

Why is UCAT so time pressured?

The UCAT is intended to assess how candidates measure up against other applicants — it puts an emphasis on rapid, accurate problem-solving within a short period of time, which helps to differentiate students.

What are some effective time-saving techniques for the UCAT exam?

The UCAT exam demands effective utilisation of your time, and there are a few techniques that can help you accomplish this.

Keyboard shortcuts coupled with educated guessing as well as strategically marking questions to go back to later on will help you move through the exam as quickly, and successfully, as possible.

We know that navigating the complex world of UCAT study, university cut-off scores and medical school applications can be challenging! If you'd like extra support from industry professionals with years of experience, we can help — simply book a free consultation with our MedView advisors for guidance on this process.