The shape of the 2026 cycle — registration, the testing window, and when to sit it. Always confirm exact dates officially.
The UCAT runs on a yearly cycle that lines up with the UK medicine/dentistry application year. The pattern each year is: account registration and booking open in early summer, the testing window runs through summer into early autumn, and your result is used for that same cycle's applications.
Approximate 2026 windows (confirm the exact dates on the official UCAT website before relying on them): booking opens around mid-June 2026; testing runs from early July to late September 2026; bursary and access arrangements open a little earlier.
There is no scoring advantage to sitting early or late — the test is equated. The best date is the one you can be most prepared for, ideally with a clear run of revision beforehand and a buffer before your other application deadlines.
Book as soon as booking opens to secure your preferred centre, date and time; popular slots go quickly.
Pick your test date first, then plan backwards: a few weeks of method learning and untimed practice, then timed drills, then full mocks in the final stretch. AceUCAT's planner counts down from your test date so you always know your daily pace.