Please note that this blog is just a guideline and we recommend conducting your own research and contacting the universities themselves before making any significant application decisions.
An average UCAT score would normally be considered around 610 to 640, but this does vary year on year. Nevertheless, looking at previous years, we can get a rough idea of the score you’ll need to stand a chance of an interview or offer. If your UCAT score is under 610, see our where to apply with a low UCAT score page.
At the moment, you’re probably quite stressed out, juggling entrance tests, personal statement and studying at the same time – so we’ve done the hard work for you!
Average UCAT score university options:
Liverpool
Liverpool processes applications in three stages. The first stage involves your academics. The top 9 GCSEs are scored, including English Language, Maths and the Sciences. A*/A/7/8/9 are awarded 2 marks, and B/6 awarded 1 mark.
Those who meet or exceed Liverpool’s minimum requirements (normally 15 points), then advance to the second stage, where they are ranked on their overall UCAT score. A score of 605 or higher was considered a ‘competitive’ score for 2019, 615 for 2018 entry, 643 for 2017 entry and 625 for 2016 entry. Those with a Band 4 in the SJT will not be considered further. However, for international status applicants the SJT is not used.
Then the students who make it through this stage will then be invited to interview.
Offers are made based on both academics and interview performance, therefore students with higher GCSE’s grades may be given priority when offers are allocated.
Liverpool no longer assess Personal Statements in their selection process, but they may be used as part of the interview.
UEA/Norwich Medical School
There is no cut-off UCAT score for East Anglia. If there are more applications meeting the entry requirements than there are interview places available, the UCAT will be used to rank applicants. Those scoring most strongly will be invited to interview. As for how the UCAT is assessed, East Anglia comment that “subsection scores may be used to rank the applicants for selection for interview”. In the past, each of the 4 subsections has been scored, Verbal, Abstract, Decision and Quantitative. East Anglia comment that “a high score is advantageous; however a low score does not disqualify an applicant from consideration.”
Although there is no UCAT cut-off, in the past East Anglia have commented that from their experience “it is unusual for an applicant with a UCAT score lower than the 3rd decile to be invited to interview. In previous years this was a score in the region of 2400.”
The SJT is used alongside the interview score and the overall UCAT score to rank and select students when making offers.
The personal statement is not scored but is discussed at interview.
Hull York Medical School
At Hull York, UCAT is used alongside GCSEs to select for interview.
Those meeting Hull York’s minimum academic requirements are ranked based off their GCSEs, UCAT and SJT, out of total of 85 points, with around the top half of the ranking invited to interview.
The top 8 GCSEs are scored to give a maximum 30 points, the UCAT up to 40 points and the SJT band up to 15 points. If you qualify for widening participation you may also receive an additional 15 points. You can find more information on this here.
The personal statement is read, but not formally scored.
If you meet specific widening participation criteria, you may also be awarded an extra 15 points.
Although UCAT makes up the largest part of selection for interview, the average UCAT score for those interviewed was 663 for 2017 entry. Keep in mind this is the average, so those with very high scores will skew this average.
The median UCAT score of offer holders for 2015 entry was 680, this means 50% of offer holders scored 680 or less (the interquartile range was 62). The SJT plays a large role which means your UCAT score may not have to be as high.
Once you are invited to interview, UCAT score and GCSEs are forgotten about, with applicants scored at interview and ranked again. Students will undergo 2 x 10 minute interviews, a group exercise, role play scenario and task station
The SJT is then used again to contribute extra points to your interview score. Students ranked at the top will then receive an offer. This means if you have a Band 1 in the SJT, you would be walking into the interview with an immediate advantage.
In 2018, 60% of offers were made to students with Band 1 SJT, 38% to students with Band 2 and 2% to students with Band 3.
For students who have an average UCAT score, but you did well on the SJT and have some good GCSEs then Hull York could be a good option.
Leicester Medical School
Selection for interview at Leicester is based on 50% academics and 50% overall UCAT score. Each is scored out of a possible 32 points, giving a total of 64 points. Those with the most points are invited to interview.
If you have predicted A-Levels, the top 8 GCSE qualifications are scored (including English Language, Maths and 2 Sciences). An A* (8/9) at GCSE is awarded 4 points, an A (7) 3 points and a B (6) 1 point.
Graduates or those with achieved A-Levels have their academics scored differently, more info can be found here.
For the UCAT, you are allocated points for your overall score. A score of 3200 or above is given the maximum of 32 points. Then for every 50 points below this you will lose half a point. For example, a score between 3199 and 3150 results in 31.5 points. A score in the bottom two deciles is given a maximum of 16 points. You can see more about this here.
The cut off score for interview was 54.5 for 2019 entry in students with predicted A levels. The same cut off for 2018 entry was 53.5, for 2016 it was 56.5 and for 2015 entry 59.5. You can find out more about these statistics here, including for graduate applicants and those with achieved A-Levels.
Leicester states, ‘applicants with Band 4 in the Situational Judgement Test will be automatically rejected pre-interview’.
For candidates deemed ‘borderline’ (near the points cut off), Leicester may take into account your ‘personal qualities’ by using your personal statement and reference.
Leicester say on their website exactly how your academics and UCAT are scored, so you can work out how many points you’d get before you apply!
Since academics contribute 50%, there is not a UCAT cut off score. Nevertheless, the higher your UCAT scores, the better the chance of interview. In fact, the median UCAT score of those given offers for 2015 entry was 682.5, and the lowest score accepted was 587.5!
However, if applying with a UCAT score like this you need to have impeccable academics.
Finally, if you are applying within 2 years of leaving school with A level grades already achieved and AAA or higher, meet Leicester’s GCSE requirements, have a UCAT score in the top 7 deciles and SJT band between 1 and 3, you are guaranteed an interview.
Words and Research: Daniel Huddart
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