Key Facts
| Change | Abstract Reasoning withdrawn from the UCAT from the 2025 test onwards, announced December 2024 |
|---|---|
| Current subtests | Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning and Situational Judgement |
| Total score range | 900 to 2700 across three cognitive subtests (previously 1200 to 3600 across four) |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly.
UCAT Abstract Reasoning is no longer part of the test. The UCAT Consortium has withdrawn the subtest, so the test now has three cognitive subtests, Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning, plus Situational Judgement. Students who find Abstract Reasoning in older books, courses or question banks can skip it. Below is what the former subtest was, why it was removed, what changed in the rest of the test and how to use the time it frees up.
What the former Abstract Reasoning subtest was
Abstract Reasoning was a timed section of shape-pattern questions. In its most common format, candidates saw two sets of shapes, Set A and Set B, each following a hidden rule, and decided whether a test shape belonged to Set A, Set B or neither. Other formats asked for the next shape in a series or for the shape that completed a statement.
Why the UCAT Consortium removed it
The Consortium gave three reasons on its page about the change:
- Lower predictive validity. Research has consistently found Abstract Reasoning to be a weaker predictor of performance at university compared with the other subtests.
- High coachability. Candidate performance on Abstract Reasoning had risen and response times had fallen over the previous ten years, and the Consortium said the subtest was much more coachable than the other cognitive subtests.
- Time for the rest of the test. Removing it allowed more time for the remaining subtests and more questions in Decision Making.
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Enquire about this tutorHow the UCAT changed
| Feature | Old format with Abstract Reasoning | Current format |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive subtests | Four: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning | Three: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning |
| Total score range | 1200 to 3600 | 900 to 2700 |
| Situational Judgement | Bands 1 to 4 | Bands 1 to 4 |
The Consortium says each subtest score remains broadly comparable with earlier years, although the total is not. A total from before the change cannot be compared directly with a current total, and anyone reading older score guidance should compare subtest averages. The UCAT score converter page sets out the current deciles.
Preparation materials from before the change
The Consortium warns that, because of the change, advice from commercial companies and other material online may be out of date, and it recommends its own free practice materials, which were updated for the new format. A book or course that still includes Abstract Reasoning, or that quotes totals out of 3600, was written for the old test. The questions for the other subtests in such material may still be useful, provided the timings match the current test.
Where to spend the time instead
The time that used to go on Abstract Reasoning is best spent on the subtests that remain:
- Verbal Reasoning, which has had the lowest mean of the three cognitive subtests in recent years. The Verbal Reasoning guide explains the question types.
- Decision Making, which now has more questions and the longest time allowance. The Decision Making guide works through each question type.
- Quantitative Reasoning, where speed with data and the on-screen calculator decides much of the score. The Quantitative Reasoning guide covers the methods.
- Situational Judgement, whose band some universities use in their selection. The Situational Judgement guide sets out the principles behind correct answers.
The UCAT preparation plan fits the four current subtests into the weeks before the test.
Related guides
- UCAT guide: subtests, scoring and how universities use it
- UCAT practice questions and official practice tests
- UCAT score converter
- UCAT dates and registration
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Abstract Reasoning still in the UCAT?
- No. The UCAT Consortium withdrew Abstract Reasoning, and the test now has Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning and Situational Judgement.
- Why was UCAT Abstract Reasoning removed?
- The Consortium said it was a weaker predictor of university performance compared with the other subtests and much more coachable, and that removing it freed time for the remaining subtests.
- Can I compare my UCAT score with older scores?
- Subtest scores remain broadly comparable with earlier years, but the total is not, since older totals included a fourth subtest and ran to 3600.
- Should I still practise Abstract Reasoning questions?
- No. The time is better spent on the four current subtests, using the official practice materials, which the Consortium updated for the new format.
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