10 exam-style questions with answers and explanations, straight from our 1,030-question bank. Tap an answer to check yourself. When you're ready, take the scored version in the free practice test.
The UCAT exam has 184 questions and runs 1 hour 57 minutes.
These 10 free UCAT questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.
Domain 1: Verbal Reasoning
Question 1
Over three summers, researchers recorded afternoon indoor temperatures in 24 office buildings. Twelve had recently installed planted roofs; twelve nearby buildings had conventional roofs. The planted-roof buildings averaged 1.8°C cooler. They were also newer, more likely to have high-performance glazing, and more likely to use automated blinds. Air-conditioning use was not measured. The researchers concluded that the result justified a controlled study but did not establish roof type as the cause.
What conclusion is best supported by the passage?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C - Planted-roof buildings were cooler on average, but other differences could account for the gap.
Question 2
Several cities have made bus travel free. Ridership often rises, but studies disagree on whether car journeys fall. In some cities, many new bus users previously walked or cycled; elsewhere, reduced parking and more frequent services accompanied the fare change. Fare removal can improve access for people on low incomes, yet it does not by itself guarantee less congestion. The author argues that equity effects should be separated from transport effects and that other policies introduced at the same time must also be examined.
The passage is primarily intended to:
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Correct answer: A - argue that fare-free travel can improve access, while its effect on congestion depends on wider transport policy
Question 3
Every article accepted by Meridian Journal has passed a statistical review and includes a conflict-of-interest statement. Reports using human data are automatically sent for statistical review, although editors may also send other reports. Passing statistical review does not guarantee acceptance. Article K uses simulated data, has passed statistical review, and is awaiting an editorial decision.
Consider the claim: 'Article K includes a conflict-of-interest statement.' How should it be classified using only the passage?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D - Can't tell, because review status does not establish whether Article K was accepted or filed the statement.
Question 4
A university attributed a 14% fall in first-year withdrawals to a new peer-mentoring scheme. The comparison was between this year's cohort and last year's. In the same year, entry requirements changed, fewer students enrolled on the course with the historically highest withdrawal rate, and emergency grants were expanded. Mentoring participation was not recorded. The report acknowledged these changes but still described mentoring as the likely explanation.
Which additional finding would most seriously weaken the report's explanation?
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Correct answer: B - Withdrawals fell equally among comparable students who did and did not meet a mentor.
Domain 2: Decision Making
Question 5
The Focus Index is scored from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater difficulty concentrating. Scores of 24 or above are classified as high difficulty. A change of at least 6 points is required before improvement or worsening is considered meaningful. Ravi's score falls from 31 to 27, a 4-point decrease.
How should this result be interpreted?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B - He remains in the high-difficulty range, and the decrease is below the meaningful-change threshold.
Question 6
All coastal reserves are protected zones. Some protected zones permit overnight camping. No area that permits overnight camping is a bird sanctuary.
What must be true?
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Correct answer: D - Some protected zones are not bird sanctuaries.
Question 7
Five interviews-J, K, L, M and N-are scheduled in slots 1 to 5. K is immediately before M. J is earlier than K. L is later than M. N is neither first nor fifth.
Which schedule could satisfy every rule?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A - J, N, K, M, L
Question 8
In a staff survey, 35% of all employees work remotely at least once a week. Among employees who cycle to work, 35% work remotely at least once a week. Some employees both cycle and work remotely.
Which description of the two events is justified?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C - They are independent and not mutually exclusive.
Question 9
The council says a proposed bus route will shorten journey times because it is three kilometres shorter than the current route.
The argument depends on accepting that:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A - traffic, stops and other delays on the proposed route will not offset the shorter distance
Question 10
A careers programme has 150 participants. Of these, 82 attend the interview workshop, 74 attend the admissions seminar and 61 attend the finance session. Thirty-six attend both interview and admissions, 29 attend both interview and finance, and 31 attend both admissions and finance. Eighteen attend all three. The pairwise totals include participants who attend all three sessions. Participants who attend none will receive an extra invitation.
How many invitations are needed?