Most students sit the UCAT ANZ in the middle of Year 12, when school workload is at its heaviest. Starting in Year 11 lets you spread the work out, so that by next winter you are polishing skills rather than learning the test from scratch.
Term 4 (October–December): get to know the test
- Learn the four subtests: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning and Situational Judgement.
- Do a short diagnostic to find which subtest feels hardest right now.
- Aim for 15 minutes a day, untimed. The goal is understanding, not speed.
Summer holidays: build the habit
Keep the sessions short and regular. Rotate through the subtests, spending an extra session each week on your weakest one. Read widely too — opinion articles and science news are good training for Verbal Reasoning.
Term 1 (February–April): add the clock
- Register for the test once registration opens — check the official UCAT ANZ website for this year's dates.
- Switch to timed sets of 10–20 questions so real pacing starts to feel normal.
- Keep a simple list of question types that still trip you up.
Term 2 (May–June): full mocks
Sit a full mock every one or two weeks, then spend as long reviewing it as you spent sitting it. The review is where most of the improvement happens.
Term 3: the test window
In the final weeks, reduce new learning. Focus on timing, sleep and a calm routine for test day.
ℹ️ Dates, fees and university requirements change each year. Always confirm them on the official UCAT ANZ website and on each university's admissions page.
💡 AstraScholar's free diagnostic shows your weakest subtest in about five minutes — a good first step in Term 4.