Different universities consider the UCAT in different ways, some have a UCAT cut-off score, some give you points based on how you have done and some do not really consider it unless there is a tie-breaking situation. You will receive your UCAT score as soon as you have completed your exam and you can use this information to confirm which medical or dental schools you are going to apply to. Most medical and dental schools do not have a minimum UCAT score but the importance they place on the exam varies. A 'good' score is hard to determine as it depends on which medical schools you are applying to. The average score in 2020 across all candidates was 2483 and you can find the decile thresholds on the UCAT website. In 2019, a score of 2610+ would put you in the top 30% of all candidates and would be considered a competitive score. Below we have listed how universities use the UCAT and some guidance as to where to apply. Medical and dental schools consider the exam in a holistic so do not be discouraged to apply to one if you have only just passed the threshold, there are many factors they will consider when shortlisting you for the interview stage. Universities that have a minimum UCAT score Keele: do not consider the bottom 20% of the cohort (you can check this on the UCAT website) Manchester: score needs to be in the top third of the cohort Sheffield: minimum score of 2420 required St Andrews: lowest score historically has been 600 (this may change year-by-year considering the cohort's score) Queen Mary: do not consider the bottom 30% of the cohort Plymouth: threshold for 2021 entry is 2400 Universities that do not consider band 4 in the Situational Judgement Test Anglia Ruskin Hull York Medical School Keele Leicester Liverpool, however, band 4 is acceptable for international students only Manchester Nottingham Universities to apply to with a strong UCAT score i.e. Universities that place greater importance on UCAT scores Birmingham: use a decile system to rank students and is a competitive university Bristol: in 2019 students with a score of 665 or above were invited to interview which is above last year's average score Dundee: the average UCAT score for applicants invited to interview was 685 in 2019 which was above the average score for the cohort King's College London: rank students based on their score and is a highly competitive university Manchester: top 30% of the UCAT cohort will definitely be invited to interview if they have met the minimum academic requirements Newcastle: the UCAT is a key factor in shortlisting students for interviews and giving out offers Nottingham: give students a score based on their performance 801 – 900 = 9 points 701 – 800 = 8 points 601 – 700 = 7 points 501 – 600 = 6 points 401 – 500 = 5 points 301 – 400 = 4 points Queen Mary: 50/50 weighting applied to the UCAT and academic strengths based on UCAS tariffs or your previous degree St Andrews: people with the top 400 UCAT score for the cohort will be invited to interview Universities to apply to with a lower UCAT score i.e. Universities do not place much importance on UCAT scores Cardiff Queen's Belfast Sunderland Central Lancashire Buckingham Ultimately, the UCAT is just one part of the application process. Despite what your score is, make sure to congratulate yourself as the exam is a tough hurdle to clear. Also, having said this, make sure to stay focused on the end goal and keep working effectively. Here are some resources to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance: Instagram post: five top tips for maintaining a healthy work-life balance Forum post: looking after your well-being Feel free to post any questions that you might have about the UCAT down below!