UCAT, MCAT, GAMSAT, HPAT — find the right test for your country and get the guide you need.
The University Clinical Aptitude Test is required by most UK medical schools. It assesses cognitive skills across five sections and must be sat each application cycle.
The Medical College Admission Test is required for US medical schools and accepted by some international programmes. A rigorous science-based exam taken over 7.5 hours.
Which test do I need? If applying to UK schools, you almost certainly need the UCAT. For US or Canada, you need the MCAT. Ireland uses HPAT-Ireland. Australia uses UCAT ANZ (undergrad) or GAMSAT (grad entry).
US medical schools (MD and DO) all require the MCAT. There is no equivalent to the UCAT in the US system.
7.5 hours · 472–528 score · ~$330 USD · Science knowledge required across 4 sections.
Full MCAT Guide →Australia has two tests depending on entry pathway. UCAT ANZ for undergraduate entry; GAMSAT for graduate entry.
Same 5-section format as UK UCAT. Sat July–August in Australia and New Zealand.
Australia Guide →Science-heavy, 5.5 hours, offered March & September. Required for graduate-entry programmes at Melbourne, Monash, Sydney and others.
Australia Guide →Irish medical schools use the HPAT-Ireland, sat every February. Scores combine with Leaving Certificate (or equivalent) grades via the CAO system.
2.5 hours · 3 sections: Logical Reasoning, Interpersonal Understanding, Non-Verbal Reasoning · Sat February annually.
Ireland Guide →Most Canadian medical schools require the MCAT. Quebec schools typically do not. Many schools also require CASPer.
Computer-based situational judgement test assessing professionalism and interpersonal skills. Required by Ontario and other schools.
Canada Guide →