What to Do After You Get Your UCAT Score: Your Next Steps Towards Medical School
As students who have sat the UCAT, we understand the anxiety that comes with receiving your UCAT score — especially after months of preparation. Whether you’re thrilled with your result or feeling uncertain, there’s always a next step. Here’s how to move forward with confidence, no matter your score.
✅ 1. Understand Your UCAT Score
Your UCAT score consists of:
Cognitive Subtests: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, and Quantitative Reasoning (combined into a total score out of 2700).
Situational Judgement (SJT): Scored separately in Bands 1 to 4.
What does your total score mean: It means a lot but, only if you let it. This year, due to the changes to the UCAT scoring system, percentiles and averages from previous years are essentially irrelevant. As such, aim to apply to every university that requires the UCAT, the uncertainty and changes in the scoring may play to your benefit.
🧭 2. Apply to Universities Comprehensively
👉 Apply broadly. The uncertainty introduced by the new scoring format might actually work in your favour. Rather than limiting your options based on past data, consider applying to every university that accepts the UCAT — you don’t know how the new score distribution will impact cut-offs. If you do not receive an interview offer, you can simply rearrange your preferences after you receive your ATAR!
Focus on the parts of the application you can still control, like your preferences, interview prep, and academic performance.
📥 3. Submit Your University Preferences
Check key dates for:
Application deadlines
Interview invitations
Additional entry requirements like written statements or portfolios
Make sure your preferences reflect both your interests and your competitiveness based on your UCAT result.
🎤 4. Start Preparing for Interviews
If your score is within range (fingers crossed), you may be invited to interview. Start early by:
Practising MMI and panel-style questions
Learning frameworks for answering personal and ethical questions
Booking a Mock Interview with MedGuide to get personalised feedback
💡 Mock interviews are one of the most effective ways to build confidence and improve performance, our feedback is invaluable!
📚 5. Keep Up With Your ATAR/IB Studies
Even with a great UCAT score, most universities still require a high ATAR or IB score. Stay focused and consistent, your ATAR has the ability to strengthen your Medical School application, so give it your all!
🧾 6. Explore Backup Pathways
Didn’t quite hit the UCAT score you hoped for? That’s okay. There are plenty of other options, including:
Provisional pathways with lower UCAT emphasis
Graduate entry medicine (GAMSAT route)
Bridging or allied health degrees with internal transfer opportunities
MedGuide can help you plan a realistic path forward based on your goals, simply get in touch with us!
💬 Final Thoughts
Your UCAT score is just one piece of the puzzle. Whether it opens the door to interviews or redirects you toward another strategy, you’re still on the journey to becoming a doctor.
At MedGuide, we support you beyond UCAT — from choosing universities to smashing your interviews. Book a 1-on-1 consult today, or check out our free MedBlogs for more guidance.
Written by the Team at MedGuide.
