Final UCAT UK 2026 Test Statistics Available!
The final UCAT UK 2026 test statistics are now available, giving students a clearer picture of how their UCAT score compares with candidates who sat the examination in 2026.
The final statistics are particularly useful for students who are now preparing their UK medical school applications, as they can use their UCAT score and decile ranking to make more informed decisions about where to apply.
The UCAT Consortium has released the final 2026 statistics along with a percentile ranking calculator, allowing candidates to understand where their score sits within the overall 2026 cohort.
Where Can I Find My UCAT Scores?
After completing the UCAT, candidates receive confirmation that their scores are available to view.
Students can log into their Pearson VUE account to access their official UCAT score report.
Your score report provides your scaled score for each cognitive subtest, along with your Situational Judgement result.
What Do My UCAT Scores Mean?
The UCAT cognitive assessment consists of three subtests:
- Verbal Reasoning (VR)
- Decision Making (DM)
- Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
Each cognitive subtest is scored from 300 to 900.
The three scores are combined to give a total cognitive score ranging from 900 to 2700.
Your total cognitive score can then be compared against the 2026 cohort using the UCAT decile and percentile statistics.
The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is reported separately as a band from 1 to 4, with Band 1 being the highest.
What Data Is Shown in the Final UCAT UK 2026 Statistics?
The final UCAT UK 2026 statistics provide several important pieces of information, including:
- Mean total cognitive UCAT score: 1918
- Decile rankings: The scores required to reach each decile
- Mean score for each cognitive subtest
- Situational Judgement Test results
- Number of candidates included in the final statistics
The statistics are based on 42,359 tests taken during the UCAT UK 2026 testing cycle.
Total Cognitive Score Decile Ranking
| Decile Rank | Score Needed | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1590 | You scored better than 10% of candidates |
| 2nd | 1700 | You scored better than 20% of candidates |
| 3rd | 1780 | You scored better than 30% of candidates |
| 4th | 1850 | You scored better than 40% of candidates |
| 5th (Median) | 1920 | You scored better than 50% of candidates |
| 6th | 1980 | You scored better than 60% of candidates |
| 7th | 2050 | You scored better than 70% of candidates |
| 8th | 2140 | You scored better than 80% of candidates |
| 9th (Top 10%) | 2250 | You scored better than 90% of candidates |
These figures show that a score of 2250 or above placed a candidate within approximately the top 10% of the 2026 cohort.
Mean Scaled Scores Per Cognitive Subtest
| Cognitive Subtest | 2026 Mean Score |
|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 602 |
| Decision Making | 640 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 675 |
The highest average score was recorded in Quantitative Reasoning, while Verbal Reasoning had the lowest average score.
Situational Judgement Results
| SJT Band | Percentage of 2026 Candidates |
|---|---|
| Band 1 (Best) | 15% |
| Band 2 | 40% |
| Band 3 | 34% |
| Band 4 (Lowest) | 11% |
Band 1 was achieved by 15% of candidates, while Band 2 was the most common result at 40%.
How Did the Final Statistics Differ From the Preliminary Statistics?
The final statistics show that average cognitive scores were lower than the preliminary statistics released earlier in the testing cycle.
| Cognitive Subtest | 2026 Preliminary | 2026 Final | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 614 | 602 | -12 |
| Decision Making | 657 | 640 | -17 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 699 | 675 | -24 |
| Total Cognitive Mean | 1970 | 1918 | -52 |
The overall mean cognitive score decreased by 52 points, from 1970 in the preliminary statistics to 1918 in the final statistics.
This highlights why students should be cautious about interpreting preliminary UCAT statistics. Preliminary figures are based on candidates who tested earlier in the testing window, while the final statistics include the complete cohort.
What Do the 2026 UCAT Statistics Mean?
The final statistics provide a useful way to understand how your UCAT score compares with other candidates.
For example:
- A score of 1920 was around the median, placing a candidate at approximately the 5th decile.
- A score of 2050 placed a candidate around the 7th decile, meaning they performed better than approximately 70% of candidates.
- A score of 2140 reached the 8th decile, placing a candidate above approximately 80% of the cohort.
- A score of 2250 reached the 9th decile, placing a candidate within approximately the top 10%.
However, your UCAT score should not be considered in isolation. The importance of the UCAT varies between UK medical schools, and universities may consider academic results, UCAT performance, contextual factors and interview performance differently.
How Do the 2026 Results Compare to 2025?
The mean total cognitive score increased from 1891 in 2025 to 1918 in 2026, representing an increase of 27 points.
The number of candidates also increased from 41,354 in 2025 to 42,359 in 2026.
Decile Thresholds: 2025 vs 2026
| Decile Rank | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1580 | 1590 | +10 |
| 2nd | 1680 | 1700 | +20 |
| 3rd | 1760 | 1780 | +20 |
| 4th | 1820 | 1850 | +30 |
| 5th (Median) | 1880 | 1920 | +40 |
| 6th | 1950 | 1980 | +30 |
| 7th | 2010 | 2050 | +40 |
| 8th | 2100 | 2140 | +40 |
| 9th (Top 10%) | 2220 | 2250 | +30 |
The biggest increases can be seen around the middle and upper part of the distribution.
For example, the 7th and 8th decile thresholds both increased by 40 points.
This means that candidates needed a higher score in 2026 to achieve the same relative ranking that they achieved in 2025.
How Did Individual Subtests Change?
| Cognitive Subtest | 2025 Mean | 2026 Mean | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Reasoning | 602 | 602 | No change |
| Decision Making | 628 | 640 | +12 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 661 | 675 | +14 |
Verbal Reasoning remained unchanged at an average score of 602.
Decision Making increased by 12 points, while Quantitative Reasoning increased by 14 points.
Situational Judgement: 2025 vs 2026
| SJT Band | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | 21% | 15% | -6% |
| Band 2 | 39% | 40% | +1% |
| Band 3 | 29% | 34% | +5% |
| Band 4 | 10% | 11% | +1% |
The proportion of candidates achieving Band 1 decreased from 21% in 2025 to 15% in 2026.
At the same time, Band 2 increased slightly from 39% to 40%.
Students should always check the specific SJT policies of the medical schools they are considering, as universities can differ in how they use SJT performance.
Historical 9th Decile Trend
The score required to reach the top 10% of the UCAT cohort has generally increased over the years.
| Year | 9th Decile |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 2090 equivalent |
| 2020 | 2120 equivalent |
| 2021 | 2120 equivalent |
| 2022 | 2130 equivalent |
| 2023 | 2150 equivalent |
| 2024 | 2170 equivalent |
| 2025 | 2220 |
| 2026 | 2250 |
In 2026, candidates needed a score of 2250 to reach the 9th decile.
It is important to remember that the UCAT format changed in 2025, when Abstract Reasoning was removed. Therefore, historical equivalent scores should be used only to understand the broad long-term trend and should not be treated as direct comparisons with the current format.
What Score Do I Need to Get Into Medicine?
There is no single UCAT score that guarantees admission to UK medical school.
The score required can vary depending on:
- The medical school
- The course
- Whether you are a Home or International applicant
- Your academic profile
- The university’s UCAT selection process
- Contextual or widening participation criteria
- The number and quality of applicants in a particular cycle
As a general benchmark, a score around the 8th decile (2140+) represents a strong performance within the 2026 cohort.
However, students should not simply choose medical schools based on their UCAT score alone.
Instead, your UCAT result should be considered alongside your academic profile and the specific selection criteria of each university.
What Should You Do After Receiving Your UCAT Score?
1. Research Medical School Entry Requirements
Once you know your UCAT score, research the universities you are eligible to apply to.
Different medical schools use the UCAT in different ways, so understanding their selection methodology is extremely important.
2. Choose Your Universities Strategically
You can apply to a maximum of four medical courses through UCAS.
This makes strategic university selection particularly important.
A strong UCAT score may make you more competitive at universities that place significant emphasis on UCAT performance, while candidates with lower scores may benefit from researching universities that use other selection criteria more heavily.
3. Review Your Academic Profile
Your UCAT score is only one part of your medical school application.
Review your GCSEs, A Levels or equivalent qualifications and other academic requirements before finalising your choices.
4. Prepare for Medical Interviews
Receiving an interview invitation is only one stage of the medical school application process.
Once shortlisted, candidates need to prepare for the interview process, which may assess communication skills, ethical reasoning, motivation for medicine, teamwork and understanding of healthcare.
Final Thoughts
The UCAT UK 2026 final statistics provide valuable insight into how candidates performed this year.
With a mean total cognitive score of 1918, a median score of 1920, an 8th decile threshold of 2140, and a 9th decile threshold of 2250, students now have a clearer benchmark for understanding their performance.
However, your UCAT score should always be interpreted in the context of the individual universities you are considering.
If you are applying to study Medicine in the UK, careful research and strategic university selection can be just as important as achieving a strong UCAT score.
Planning to Study Medicine in the UK?
At Trinity Global Education, we help students with the UK medical school application journey, including university selection, admissions guidance and test preparation.
Your Dream • Our Mission
Speak to our expert counsellors to understand your options and plan your UK medical school application strategically.
Website: https://trinityglobaledu.com/ucat/ | Contact us: +91 77380 01679
Note: The information provided above is based on the most recent updates available for 2026. Examination formats, dates, fees, and scoring systems are subject to change. Students are advised to always check the official & relevant university admission pages for the latest details before make decision