What do I need for graduate entry into medicine? 

Gaining admission to undergraduate Medicine and Dentistry programs usually depends on three key criteria:

  • Academic Performance: This criterion evaluates candidates based on their Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), International Baccalaureate (IB) scores, or past university grades.

  • UCAT Score: Prospective students are required to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT).

  • Interview Performance: Most universities also demand that candidates undergo an interview or oral assessment. In some cases, a written application may also be required.

Unlike many non-medical courses, which often base admissions primarily on ATAR scores, Medicine and Dentistry programs evaluate a mix of academic achievements, test results, and interview outcomes. The weight given to each of these components can differ significantly among universities, with some institutions emphasizing one aspect more heavily than others.

What UCAT score is needed for medicine?

A ‘good’ UCAT score can vary annually, depending on the overall performance of all test-takers. Scores for each section of the UCAT range from 300 to 900. The Situational Judgement subtest, however, is graded on a scale from Band 1 (the highest) to Band 4 (the lowest). Candidates who achieve scores greater than 670 in Verbal Reasoning and over 750 in other subtests are considered competitive. A cumulative score of approximately 2900 out of a possible 3600 often positions candidates favourably for interview invitations. Nevertheless, it is crucial to consult individual universities for their specific criteria regarding what constitutes a competitive score, as these may differ.

Ucat Score Conversion Table

Estimated UCAT score 

Verbal Reasoning 

Decision Making 

Quantitative reasoning 

Abstract Reasoning 

300

0 - 5

0 - 3

0 - 3

0 - 6

330

6

4

4 - 5

7 - 8

350

7

5

6

9 - 10

370

8

6

7

11 - 12

400

9 - 10

7

8

13 - 14

430

11 - 12

8

9

15 - 16

450

13 - 14

9

10

17 - 18

470

15

10

11

19 - 20

500

16

11

12

21 - 22

530

17 - 18

12

13

23 - 24

550

19 - 20

13

14 - 15

25 - 26

570

21 - 22

14

16 - 17

27 - 29

600

23 - 24

15

18 - 19

30 - 32

630

25 - 26

16

20 - 21

33 - 34

650

27 - 28

17

22 - 23

35 - 36

670

29 - 30

18

24

37

700

31

19

25

38 - 39

730

32

20

26

40 - 41

750

33

21

27

42 - 43

770

34

22

28

44 - 45

800

35 - 36

23

29

46 - 47

830

37 - 38

24

30

48 - 49

850

39 - 40

25

31 - 32

50 - 51

890

41 - 42

26 - 27

33 - 34

52 - 53

900

43 - 44

28 - 29

35 - 36

54 - 55