2027 Entry · 3 cognitive subtests + SJT · July sitting
UCAT-ANZ for
New Zealand
The University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand (UCAT-ANZ) is the cognitive admissions test used by New Zealand's undergraduate medicine programmes. The single most important thing to understand: Auckland and Otago use it in opposite ways — Auckland weights it at 15% of your selection ranking, while Otago uses it only as a pass/fail threshold gate.
~2 hrs
Total test time
/2700
Cognitive scale
2
NZ med schools
Read this first
How New Zealand schools use UCAT-ANZ
This is the part candidates most often get wrong. The same UCAT-ANZ score does very different work depending on the school — so your preparation strategy should follow your target school, not a generic plan.
Auckland (MBChB)
Weighted15%
For 2027 entry, UCAT-ANZ is a weighted 15% component of the final selection ranking, sitting alongside your GPA and other selection elements. A higher cognitive total and a stronger SJT band both lift your composite — so the score is genuinely worth maximising.
Changing from 2028 entry → replaced by CASPer (weighting not yet published).
Otago (MBChB via HSFY)
Gate onlyThreshold
For 2026 entry, UCAT-ANZ is pass/fail only: Verbal Reasoning at or above the 20th percentile and SJT above the 10th percentile. Clear both and your score adds nothing further — selection runs on your Health Sciences First Year academic rank.
Otago BDS (dentistry) removed UCAT-ANZ from the 2025 intake — it is not required for dentistry.
The difference
UCAT-ANZ vs UCAT UK — what New Zealand applicants need to know
Pearson VUE runs UCAT in three regional cohorts — UCAT UK for British applicants, UCAT-ANZ for Australia and New Zealand, and UCAT International for everyone else. All three cohorts sit the same subtests in the same format on Pearson VUE computers. What differs is who you compete against and which schools accept your result.
Separate cohort. Your UCAT-ANZ percentile is benchmarked against other ANZ-region candidates, not the global UCAT pool. The mean and standard deviation drift year to year, so Otago's percentile-based threshold and Auckland's weighted composite are both judged against the ANZ cohort — not UK benchmarks you might read online.
Separate test window. UCAT-ANZ runs over a multi-week window in July each year. UCAT UK runs July to September. There is one sitting per cycle for ANZ candidates — you cannot sit UCAT-ANZ outside this window and cannot re-sit in the same year.
The /2700 scale. From the 2025 cycle (July 2024 sittings onward) the three cognitive subtests are reported on a /2700 scale, replacing the historical /3600 scale. Older guidance you find online may still reference the /3600 numbers, which are no longer directly comparable.
You can't use a UK score for a New Zealand application. Each cohort's score is sealed to that cohort's applications. If you're applying to both UK and New Zealand undergraduate medicine in the same cycle, you sit both tests. (Most candidates pick one country.)
The test
The four subtests
UCAT-ANZ is about 106 minutes total (with optional one-minute breaks between subtests). Each subtest is timed individually — you cannot return to a previous one. From the 2025 cycle it has three cognitive subtests reported on a /2,700 scale, plus a separately-banded Situational Judgement Test. (Abstract Reasoning was removed.) Bars below are scaled to the minutes you get in each subtest.
Verbal Reasoning
22 minutes
11 passages of ~300 words, four questions each. True / False / Can't Tell plus inference and tone — roughly 30 seconds per question. The most under-prepped subtest, and the one Otago gates on, so NZ applicants can't afford to neglect it.
Read the guideDecision Making
32 minutes
Logic puzzles, Venn diagrams, syllogisms, probability and argument recognition. Mixed single-best-answer and four-yes/no formats. The most varied subtest — the question mix differs every sitting.
Read the guideQuantitative Reasoning
25 minutes
Applied numeracy — percentages, ratios, rates, unit conversions, simple algebra and data interpretation, with the on-screen calculator. 41 seconds per question; speed of arithmetic matters more than difficulty.
Read the guideSituational Judgement
27 minutes
Healthcare-team scenarios, professional conduct and ethics. "How appropriate" and "how important" question types, scored on Bands 1-4 (not added to the /2700). Otago gates on SJT; Auckland folds it into the weighted ranking.
Read the guideQuestion counts and per-subtest timings are set by the UCAT ANZ Consortium and adjusted periodically — confirm the current cycle at ucat.edu.au before you book.
Timing
Test window and result release
Booking opens
Typically March each year, closing around May. Book early — the most convenient dates and centres (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin) fill quickly after booking opens.
Test window
A single multi-week window in July. You select one date and 2-hour slot within it. There is only one sitting per cycle, so you cannot re-sit in the same year — and rescheduling close to your date is restricted.
Result release
Your individual result is available on the Pearson VUE candidate portal shortly after sitting. Universities receive results through the official channel — you don't send your score yourself.
Validity & cost
Your score counts for one application cycle only — there is no rollover to a future year. Confirm the current fee, bursary eligibility and exact dates on the official UCAT ANZ website at the time you book.
Strategy
How to prepare — by target school
UCAT-ANZ is heavily speed- and pattern-based. Three months at around 10 hours per week is a realistic plan for most NZ applicants; beyond roughly 120 hours of focused practice, returns flatten. What changes between schools is how high you need to push.
If you are applying to Auckland
- Treat every mark as ranking points — UCAT is 15% of your composite, so maximise the cognitive total and the SJT band.
- Balance preparation across all three cognitive subtests; do not let a weak subtest drag your aggregate /2,700.
- Invest properly in SJT — it is banded and folded into your ranking, not just a gate.
- If you are targeting 2028 entry or later, check whether CASPer (the replacement from 2028) should be your focus instead.
If you are applying to Otago (HSFY)
- Your job is to clear the threshold safely — comfortably above the 20th percentile in Verbal Reasoning and the 10th percentile in SJT — not to maximise the score.
- Prioritise Verbal Reasoning and SJT specifically, since those are the gated components.
- Once you are confident of clearing the gate, redirect effort to your HSFY papers, which actually determine your rank.
- Remember Otago BDS does not require UCAT-ANZ at all (removed from the 2025 intake).
Free tools
Plan your prep and know your numbers
Three free tools to turn raw practice marks into a plan. See where your score lands against the ANZ cohort, convert mock marks into a predicted /2700 score, and work out how many prep hours you need to close the gap before the July sitting.
UCAT-ANZ score predictor
Enter your UCAT-ANZ score and estimate your competitiveness across New Zealand schools on the /2700 cognitive scale.
Check your standingUCAT score converter
Sat a mock? Convert your raw marks per subtest into a predicted scaled score on the /2700 cognitive scale using the latest consortium data.
UCAT prep calculator
Enter your current and target score and estimate how many focused prep hours you need to hit your goal before the July sitting.
Work out your hours3-month preparation timeline
Three months at 10-12 hours per week is the realistic upper bound for productive UCAT-ANZ prep. The test is heavily speed-based and pattern-driven; beyond ~120 hours of practice, returns flatten sharply.
Content + technique
- Week 1. Sit a diagnostic full mock under timed conditions. Score honestly, identify your weakest subtest.
- Week 2. Learn the technique for each subtest from a structured guide — VR skim-reading patterns, QR calculator shortcuts, DM question-type families.
- Weeks 3-4. Subtest-by-subtest practice without strict timing — accuracy and method first. 200-300 questions per subtest across the two weeks.
Timed subtest blocks
- Move to timed subtest blocks — full subtest under proper timing, 4-5 times per week.
- Drill Decision Making intensively — it's the most varied subtest, so practise every question type until the formats are automatic.
- Build the SJT reading habit — 10 scenarios per day, using New Zealand and Australasian professional-conduct framing rather than UK regulator material.
Full mocks + pacing
- Two full timed mocks per week for the first two weeks, with full review between mocks.
- Rehearse pacing across the sections — VR (skim-reading), DM (varied formats), QR (calculator-driven), SJT last (lower cognitive load).
- Week 11-12: one final mock, then taper. Sleep, exam logistics and travel planning matter more than last-week cramming.
Test-day logistics: arrive 30 minutes early, bring photo ID, plan transport with a 30-minute buffer. Pearson VUE provides a pen and laminated note board; you cannot bring your own. Familiarise yourself with the on-screen calculator interface before test day — many candidates lose minutes hunting for the calculator button.
Avoid these
Common NZ-specific pitfalls
Preparing the same way for Auckland and Otago. Auckland weights UCAT; Otago gates on it. A score that comfortably clears Otago's threshold can still be uncompetitive in Auckland's weighted ranking. Prepare to your target school's standard.
Ignoring the 2028 Auckland change. Auckland is replacing UCAT-ANZ with CASPer from 2028 entry. If your application is for 2028 or later, time spent maximising UCAT for Auckland may be misdirected — check the current requirement for your entry year first.
Neglecting Verbal Reasoning and SJT for Otago. Otago gates specifically on Verbal Reasoning (20th percentile) and SJT (10th percentile) for 2026 entry. A strong Quantitative score does not compensate — you must clear both gated components.
Assuming a UK UCAT score transfers. UCAT UK and UCAT-ANZ are separate cohorts and the score does not transfer. New Zealand applicants must sit UCAT-ANZ in the July window.
Treating SJT as a knowledge test. SJT rewards professional judgement, not recall. Prepare with the relevant New Zealand and Australasian professional-conduct framing and practise reasoning through scenarios rather than memorising answers.
Burning through practice material early. Pace your high-quality practice material across all three months. Many candidates exhaust the best timed banks too early and then have no realistic material for the final month before the single July sitting.
Tutoring packages
1-on-1 UCAT-ANZ tutoring
Work directly with tutors who scored in the top percentiles. Each package includes a personalised action plan tailored to your strengths, weaknesses and target New Zealand school — whether you are maximising for Auckland or clearing the gate for Otago, built around the July sitting.
Included in all packages
Kickstart
For students building a solid UCAT foundation.
- 4 hours of core teaching across all UCAT sections
- Unlimited question submissions to tutors + tutor phone access
- Performance tracking for every mock you complete
- FREE Personalised weekly revision plan
- After four sessions, all students so far have seen a 15%+ score increase across all areas
- Data-led support on weak areas from day one
Advance
For students who want targeted improvement.
Includes Kickstart
- 4 hours of core teaching
- Performance tracking on every mock you complete
- FREE Personalised weekly revision plan
Plus
- +4 hours of targeted, question-specific refinement sessions
- Deep dives into the exact areas your data shows are weakest
- Focused drills to turn weaknesses into strengths
- Unlimited question submissions to tutors + tutor phone access
Mastery
For students aiming for top-10% scores.
Includes Kickstart & Advance
- 4 hours of core teaching
- Performance tracking on every mock you complete
- FREE Personalised weekly revision plan
- 4 hours of targeted refinement sessions
- Deep-dive weakness analysis
- Smart drills and focused practice
Plus
- +4 hours of high-intensity, data-led refinement sessions
- Double the time, double the refinement for peak performance
- Built to get you test-day ready with total confidence
- Priority booking and support for sessions
- Advanced test-taking strategies for top percentile scores
- FREE four conference tickets included
- Unlimited question submissions to tutors + tutor phone access
Elite
For students committed to exceptional results.
Includes Kickstart & Advance
- Complete core teaching foundation
- Performance tracking on every mock you complete
- FREE Personalised weekly revision plan
- Targeted refinement sessions
- Deep-dive weakness analysis
- Smart drills and focused practice
Plus
- 18 hours comprehensive intensive teaching
- Maximum contact time for mastery
- Extended practice with expert feedback
- FREE four conference tickets included
- Unlimited question submissions to tutors + tutor phone access
- Exam day prep & mental strategies
- Full mock exam analysis
Packages are delivered online by 1-to-1 tutors and can begin at any point before the July sitting.
Plan your NZ UCAT-ANZ strategy
Work out whether to maximise or simply clear UCAT-ANZ based on your target school, and see how it fits the rest of your New Zealand application.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Keep reading
Related New Zealand guides
The complete front-door pathway guide, including Auckland vs Otago selection.
Read the guideHow HSFY academic rank works and where the UCAT-ANZ threshold fits.
Read the guideMāori and Pacific Admission Scheme at Auckland — eligibility and selection.
Read the guideRegional and Rural Admission Scheme — who qualifies and how it changes selection.
Read the guide