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The UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) is a critical component for students aspiring to secure a spot in Australian medical schools. It’s designed to assess cognitive abilities, professionalism, and other qualities vital for a career in medicine. In a significant change for 2025, the UCAT Consortium has announced the removal of the Abstract Reasoning (AR) subtest. This major change affects all students preparing for the UCAT and has implications for how you should approach your study and preparation.
Let’s dive into what this means, how the test structure has changed, and how you can adapt to succeed.
What Changes Are Coming to the UCAT in 2025?
The Abstract Reasoning subtest, which was previously scored out of 900, has been entirely removed. This reduces the overall maximum UCAT score from 3600 to 2700 (excluding the Situational Judgement subtest, which has never contributed to the raw score).
Why Was Abstract Reasoning Removed?
The UCAT Consortium decided to eliminate AR because its scores were trending upwards, indicating that the section was “highly coachable”. This means students could easily improve their scores through practice and tutoring, which contradicts the UCAT’s purpose of assessing innate cognitive abilities.
What Does the New UCAT Format Look Like?
Below, we’ve summarised the new test format and timings. Everything in bold is a new change.
| Subtest | Instruction Time | Test Time | Number of Questions | Time per Question (Approx.) |
| Verbal Reasoning (VR) | 1.5 minutes (was 1) | 22 minutes (was 21) | 44 questions | ~30 seconds |
| Decision Making (DM) | 1.5 minutes (was 1) | 37 minutes (was 31) | 35 questions (was 29) | ~63 seconds (was ~64) |
| Quantitative Reasoning (QR) | 2 minutes (was 1) | 26 minutes (was 24) | 36 questions | ~43 seconds (was ~40) |
| Situational Judgement | 1.5 minutes (was 1) | 26 minutes | 69 questions | ~23 seconds |
As you can see, the updates include:
- More time for instruction and answering for Verbal Reasoning.
- Six additional questions (with a proportional time increase) for Decision Making.
- More time for answering in Quantitative Reasoning.
How Will Scores Be Calculated in 2025?
The new maximum score is 2700, with each subtest (excluding Situational Judgement) contributing equally (out of 900). However, the key focus remains on your percentile rank rather than your raw score. Percentiles determine how your performance compares to others and are what universities use to assess your competitiveness.
What Should You Do Now to Prepare for the New UCAT?
The removal of Abstract Reasoning significantly impacts your preparation strategies. Here are the four main ways you should adapt:
1. Focus on Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, and Quantitative Reasoning
These three subtests will now carry even more weight. Expect increased competition and difficulty as students shift their focus. Allocate more preparation time to these areas to stay ahead.
For verbal reasoning, practice speed reading and comprehension techniques. Focus on identifying the main ideas of paragraphs quickly and avoiding common traps. Use a timer while practicing to help develop your skill of understanding quickly under immense time pressue.
For decision making, make sure you have an efficient problem-solving approach for the different types of questions that will be presented to you. Make sure you practice questions with logic puzzles, Venn diagrams and probability estimation as those show up often and can be tricky.
For quantitative reasoning, make sure you are adept at mental mathematics and learn shortcuts for percentages, fractions and ratios. Familiarise yourself with the built-in calculator and the keyboard shortcuts required to use it, as they can provide you with critical seconds of extra time.
For all three sections, utilise the lengthened instruction time at the start of each subtest to prepare yourself for the next one. Practicing emptying your mind of residual anxieties from the previous subtests so you can ready yourself for what comes next. This will help you maintain your performance level thoughout the entire 2-hour exam.
2. Stop Practicing Abstract Reasoning
If you’ve been practicing Abstract Reasoning questions, it’s time to stop. Skip AR questions in any mock exams and reallocate your time to other subtests.
3. Don’t Neglect the Skills You Developed in AR Practice
The time-management and pattern-recognition skills you developed while preparing for AR remain useful. You can still put these strategies to good use in Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning.
4. Invest in Updated Resources
Ensure you’re using study materials tailored to the 2025 format. Our January Intensive UCAT Program is fully adapted to these changes and designed to help you excel.
The UCAT made easy.
Our UCAT foundations masterclasses provide you with everything you need to get ahead of the competition.
Additionally, the UCAT consortium will launch updated official mock exams on the 1st of March, 2025.
Any Questions About These Changes?
MissionMed is here to help you navigate this transition. If you have any questions about the new UCAT format or need guidance on adjusting your preparation strategy, reach out to us at hello@missionmed.com.au.
Final Thoughts
The removal of Abstract Reasoning is a significant change to the UCAT, but with the right strategy and preparation, you can adapt and excel. Focus your energy on the remaining subtests, leverage your skills, and stay updated with the latest resources. The journey to med school may be challenging, but with the right guidance, you’ll be ready to tackle the UCAT in June.
References
MissionMed has a strict set of writing guidelines for accountability when it comes to providing up-to-date and accurate information. Any information is appropriately referenced so that readers can reach their own conclusion regarding the source.
- https://www.ucat.ac.uk/about-ucat/ucat-2025/
Where to: If you want to attend in-person we will be holding this session at UTS Level 3, CB11.03.301, Building 11, 81 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007. If you are in another state or live remotely, we will be streaming live with an online facilitator to make sure you have an equally valuable experience.
When: Saturday-Sunday, 9th-10th November 2024, 10am-3pm with a lunch break in between. After major high school and IB examinations.
Why: The masterclass is taught by Dr. Jason Yu who is a senior clinician and former interview panelist, and is intended to build on the fundamentals that students have established through the video course and online materials. 
What: We will be covering different universities on each of the days. You will have the opportunity to analyse and breakdown interview questions together with Dr Jason and learn how he approaches these questions. Students will have the opportunity to receive personal feedback on their responses.
