Key Facts
| Questions and time | 35 questions in 37 minutes, after a 1 minute 30 second instruction section |
|---|---|
| Marking | Single-answer questions 1 mark; five-statement questions 2 marks, 1 mark for a partly correct response; no negative marking |
| Tools | Basic on-screen calculator; A4 laminated notebook and pen |
| Score | Scaled from 300 to 900; 2026 mean 640 |
Figures correct at the time of writing. Confirm current fees and deadlines with the school or university directly.
UCAT Decision Making tests whether a candidate can apply logic to a set of information and reach a sound conclusion, across several distinct question types, from syllogisms and logic puzzles to probability and choosing the strongest argument. The subtest has 35 questions in 37 minutes, just over a minute per question, and an on-screen calculator is available. Below is each question type, with an original worked example of each, how the subtest is marked and how to manage the time.
How Decision Making works
The UCAT Consortium says the subtest assesses the ability to apply logic, evaluate arguments and analyse statistical information, and that no knowledge of formal logic or mathematical terms is needed. Some questions are multiple choice, and others present five statements, each needing a Yes or No answer.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 35 |
| Time | 37 minutes, after a 1 minute 30 second instruction section |
| Formats | Multiple choice; five Yes or No statements |
| Marking | Single-answer questions 1 mark; five-statement questions 2 marks, with 1 mark for a partly correct response |
| Tools | Basic on-screen calculator; laminated notebook and pen |
| Score | Scaled from 300 to 900 |
Since five-statement questions carry two marks and give partial credit, they are worth finishing even when one statement is uncertain.
Question type 1: logical deduction from statements
These questions give a few premises and ask which conclusions must follow. The key is to accept only what the premises guarantee.
"All the nurses on Ward 3 work night shifts. Some night-shift workers are agency staff. No agency staff attend the weekly training session.
Place Yes if the conclusion follows and No if it does not.
1. Some nurses on Ward 3 are agency staff.
2. No nurse on Ward 3 attends the weekly training session.
3. Some night-shift workers do not attend the weekly training session.
4. Anyone who attends the weekly training session is not agency staff.
5. All agency staff work night shifts.
Answers: No, No, Yes, Yes, No. The first conclusion does not follow, since the agency staff on night shifts may all work elsewhere, and the second fails for the same reason. Conclusion 3 follows, because some night-shift workers are agency staff and no agency staff attend. The fourth simply restates the third premise. Number 5 reverses the second premise, which says only that some night-shift workers are agency staff.
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Enquire about this tutorQuestion type 2: logic puzzles
These set out constraints and ask for the one arrangement that satisfies them all. Testing each possible placement of the most restricted item is usually quickest.
"Four students, Asha, Ben, Chloe and Dev, each give one presentation on a different day from Monday to Thursday. Ben presents the day after Asha. Chloe does not present on Monday or Thursday. Dev presents before Chloe. Who presents on Thursday?
A. Asha B. Ben C. Chloe D. Dev
Answer: B. Chloe must present on Tuesday or Wednesday. If she presents on Wednesday, Dev takes Monday or Tuesday and the two days left are not consecutive, so Asha and Ben cannot fit. So Chloe presents on Tuesday, Dev on Monday, Asha on Wednesday and Ben on Thursday.
Question type 3: Venn diagrams
These ask how sets overlap, either from numbers or from a diagram.
"In a group of 40 sixth-formers, 22 study Biology, 18 study Chemistry and 7 study neither. How many study both?
A. 3 B. 5 C. 7 D. 9
Answer: C. 33 students study at least one of the two subjects. Adding the Biology and Chemistry totals gives 40, which counts the students who study both twice, so 40 − 33 = 7 study both.
Question type 4: probabilistic reasoning
These ask for a judgement about likelihood, often as a Yes or No answer with a reason.
"A bag holds 3 red counters and 2 blue counters. Two counters are drawn without replacement. Is the probability that both are the same colour greater than one half?
A. Yes, because there are more red counters than blue.
B. Yes, because the probability is 3/5.
C. No, because the probability is 2/5.
D. No, because the probability is 1/4.
Answer: C. The probability of two reds is 3/5 × 2/4 = 6/20 and of two blues is 2/5 × 1/4 = 2/20, so the total is 8/20, which is 2/5. The answer must be a No with the correct reason, so the reasoning in each option matters as much as the Yes or No.
Question type 5: recognising the strongest argument
These give a question and a set of arguments for and against, and ask which is strongest. The strongest argument addresses the question directly, is relevant to most cases, and does not rely on an unsupported claim.
"Should medical schools require applicants to have work experience in a clinical setting?
A. Yes, because most successful applicants already have it.
B. Yes, because it helps applicants decide on an informed basis whether medicine suits them.
C. No, because hospitals are busy places.
D. No, because work experience can be tiring.
Answer: B. It gives a reason tied to the purpose of the requirement. Option A describes what applicants do without saying why it should be required, and options C and D are weak reasons that do not engage with the purpose of the requirement.
Question type 6: interpreting information
These present a passage, table or chart and ask which conclusion it supports, often with five Yes or No statements. The method is the same as in Verbal Reasoning: accept a conclusion only if the information supports it, and watch for statements that go beyond the data, such as claims about cause, or about a population larger than the one described.
Managing the time
At 37 minutes for 35 questions, there is just over a minute for each, but the types differ widely in length. Logic puzzles and five-statement questions take longest, and Venn diagram and probability questions are often quicker. A practical approach is to keep moving: flag any question that is taking more than about two minutes, answer it with a best guess, and return if time allows. With no negative marking, no question should be left blank.
The laminated notebook is useful for logic puzzles and Venn diagrams, and a quick sketch of the constraints or sets usually saves time over working them out mentally. The calculator suits probability arithmetic, although simple fractions are often faster by hand.
A Decision Making practice plan
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | One question type each day, untimed; learn the method for each |
| 2 | Mixed sets at about 90 seconds per question; error log by type |
| 3 | Mixed sets at about one minute per question; practise flagging |
| 4 | Full timed subtests from the official practice tests |
The official question bank and practice tests are on the UCAT website, and the UCAT practice questions page explains how to use them. The UCAT preparation plan fits Decision Making practice into the weeks before the test.
Related guides
- UCAT guide: subtests, scoring and how universities use it
- UCAT Verbal Reasoning
- UCAT Quantitative Reasoning
- UCAT score converter
- How to apply to UK medical schools
- Super-curricular activities for medicine
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Frequently asked questions
- How many questions are in UCAT Decision Making?
- There are 35 questions in 37 minutes. Some are multiple choice and others ask for a Yes or No answer to each of five statements.
- How is UCAT Decision Making marked?
- Single-answer questions are worth one mark. Questions with five Yes or No statements are worth two marks, with one mark for a partly correct response, and there is no negative marking.
- Can you use a calculator in UCAT Decision Making?
- Yes. A basic on-screen calculator is available in Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning, without scientific functions.
- What are the question types in UCAT Decision Making?
- Logical deduction from statements, logic puzzles, Venn diagrams, probabilistic reasoning, recognising the strongest argument and interpreting information.
- How do you get faster at UCAT Decision Making?
- Learn a set method for each question type, sketch puzzles and Venn diagrams on the notebook, flag any question taking more than about two minutes, and practise mixed timed sets.
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