How much time should I devote to UCAT preparation?

The amount of time you devote to UCAT preparation depends on you - in particular your current abilities, level of motivation and other commitments. Generally, MedEntry advises students to spend about 10% of study time preparing for UCAT in the few months leading up to the exam. For example, if you spend a total of thirty hours per week studying, about three hours per week should be set aside for UCAT preparation.

If you only have a few weeks to prepare for UCAT, you should spend a greater percentage of your time preparing.

Remember, however, it is not how long you spend which is important, but rather what you do. The most time-efficient ways to improve your UCAT score include:

Completing full length UCAT exams under timed, simulated conditions

Re-trying your incorrectly answered questions and review questions thoroughly, focusing on where you went wrong

Identifying and work on your weakest subtests

Updated on: 11/06/2025