UCAT Preliminary Results 2025: What the Official Statistics Mean for 2026 Applicants

The preliminary mean total cognitive score (VR + DM + QR) for 2025 was 1939 out of 2700. This is the midpoint around which most candidates clustered. The median and mean being close to each other suggests a roughly normal distribution — scores concentrated around the centre with progressively fewer candidates at the extremes. The decile distribution showed the following approximate thresholds: 1st decile at 1620, 2nd at 1730, 3rd at 1810, 4th at 1870, 5th (median) at 1940, 6th at 2000, 7th at 2070, 8th at 2150, and 9th at 2270. For the SJT section, Band 1 was achieved by approximately 25% of candidates, Band 2 by 40%, Band 3 by 27%, and Band 4 by approximately 8%. The relatively high proportion achieving Band 1 compared to previous years may reflect improved SJT preparation quality, or may shift slightly in the final statistics when all candidates are included.

For 2026 applicants using 2025 data as their benchmark, the following practical implications apply. To be in the top 10% of candidates (9th decile), target a score above 2270. To be in the top 20% (8th decile), target above 2150. To be in the top 30% (7th decile), target above 2070. To be at the median, target around 1940. For most competitive medical schools — particularly those using UCAT as a primary ranking tool — the meaningful competitive range is the 7th to 9th decile (above 2070 to 2270+). Students targeting university-level competitiveness at Bristol, Newcastle, or Glasgow should be aiming for the 8th–9th decile as a minimum. For students targeting universities with softer UCAT usage or weighted admissions, the 5th to 7th decile (1940–2070) may be sufficient if other application components are strong.

The preliminary statistics are based on candidates who sat before 14 September. Approximately half of all candidates had not yet sat the test when the preliminary data was published. The candidates who sit later in the testing window can shift the final statistics — historically, late sitters tend to be slightly stronger performers on average (they have had more preparation time), which can raise the mean slightly and compress the gap between competitive percentile thresholds. The final statistics are published by the UCAT Consortium after the testing window closes and represent the complete cohort. For 2026 application purposes, the final 2025 statistics (when available) are more reliable than the preliminary figures. MediSpoon will update score benchmark guides when the final 2025 statistics are published.