When should my child start preparing for the UCAT ANZ?
When should my child start preparing?
Late in Year 11, lightly. Starting with a little preparation late in Year 11, then building up over the summer holidays and through Terms 1 and 2 of Year 12, tends to be a successful approach. The test rewards skills that take months to build, so it suits a long, steady run-up far better than a short, hard one.
That pattern looks like this.
- Late Year 11. Light preparation. Learn how the test works and try official questions without a timer.
- Summer holidays. Build up. Regular practice, one section at a time, while there is no school work.
- Term 1 of Year 12. A steady weekly routine, with timed practice added.
- Term 2 of Year 12. More timed practice and full practice tests, kept small enough to fit around school.
- The last few weeks. Full timed practice tests, with time kept for school and rest.
Treat that as a guide, not a rule. Preparation looks different for every student, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. Some prefer short daily sessions and others a longer block at the weekend. Some start earlier and some later. What matters is that the plan suits your child and that they keep to it.
There is no official start date. The test's owners publish free advice from past candidates, and one top tip there is simply to start preparing early.
Year 10 is still too early for test practice. The test does not examine school content, so there is nothing to learn years ahead. What helps then is choosing the right subjects and keeping school results strong.
Why does an earlier start help?
Because it spreads the work out. A student who starts earlier does the same preparation with less pressure on any one week.
- Less stress. With months in hand, a bad week or a busy school term does not derail the plan.
- More chances to learn from mistakes. Improvement comes from reviewing what went wrong and trying again, and that takes time between sessions.
- No need for marathon sessions. Short, regular sessions do the job, so nothing rides on a few long weekends.
- Room for Year 12. The test falls in the middle of the school year. Early progress leaves space for school assessments.
Is steady practice better than cramming?
Yes, much better. Consistent practice over months works far better for this test than cramming in the weeks before it.
The test measures how quickly and accurately your child can reason under time pressure. That kind of skill grows through repetition over time, the way fitness or a musical instrument does. It cannot be memorised the night before, because there is no content to memorise.
Past candidates in the official advice say the same thing in their own words. One describes practising "a little bit often". Another started slowly and built up to larger amounts.
When can my child sit the test?
Your child can sit the test in their final year of school, or any year after that. In Australia that means Year 12. A student in Australian Year 11 cannot sit it, even if they are taking Year 12 subjects. The official eligibility page and the official FAQ both say so.
In New Zealand the final year is Year 13, so a Year 12 student cannot sit it. Our page for New Zealand families explains why most New Zealand students sit it later than that.
How many times can it be sat?
Once in each test year. Sitting it twice in the same year is treated as misconduct and the results are cancelled.
A result also lasts for one round of university applications only. A student who applies again the following year sits the test again. So for most school leavers there is one sitting, in the middle of Year 12, and it counts.
What should happen in Year 10?
Subject choices are the main job in Year 10. Some medicine courses require particular Year 12 subjects, and the requirements differ between universities. Check the admissions page of each university your child is considering before subjects are locked in.
Nothing needs to be done about the test itself. If your child is curious, the test format guide shows what it looks like.
What should happen in Year 11?
Year 11 is for school results and for finding out whether medicine is really what your child wants. Work experience, volunteering and talking to people in health care all help with that decision, and later with interviews.
Late in Year 11 is the time to begin light preparation. Start with the free official tutorials and practice questions, without a timer. An hour or so a week is plenty at this stage. The aim is to understand what each section asks, so that the summer holidays can be used for real practice.
If your child receives exam adjustments at school, start gathering the paperwork now. Extra time in the test must be applied for and approved before a test can be booked. The access arrangements guide lists the evidence needed.
What happens in Year 12, month by month?
The steps fall in the same months each year. The exact dates change, and each year's are in the fees and dates guide.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| February | Applications open for the concession fee and for access arrangements |
| Early March | Booking opens |
| May | Booking closes. The concession deadline falls a few days earlier |
| Late May to early June | Late booking, at a higher fee |
| July to early August | The test is sat, on the date your child booked |
| Within a day of the test | Your child receives their score report |
| Early September | Results are sent to the universities |
| September onwards | University applications, then interviews, then offers |
Three points catch families out.
- Your child books the test personally. A school cannot register a student.
- The deadlines are firm. The official site states that no exceptions are made.
- Booking early gives the widest choice. Test centres fill, and the official advice is to book a date in July.
Which windows should a parent put in the diary?
Three: the concession window, the access arrangements window and the booking window. Each opens early in the year and closes in May, and each has its own deadline.
- Concession fee. For families with a current Australian Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card. Apply before booking.
- Access arrangements. For students who already receive exam adjustments. Approval must come before booking.
- Booking. Done by your child in their own account, with payment by card.
The amounts, the cards accepted and the cut-off dates are in the fees and dates guide.
What happens after the test?
Your child receives their scores within a day, and the universities receive them in early September. University applications run through spring, interviews follow for shortlisted applicants, and offers arrive over summer. Our page on what happens after the UCAT ANZ follows those steps.
Sources
- UCAT ANZ Consortium, Eligibility
- UCAT ANZ Consortium, Frequently Asked Questions
- UCAT ANZ Consortium, Dates and Fees
- UCAT ANZ Consortium, Candidate Advice
- UCAT ANZ Consortium, UCAT ANZ Results
The official website is the authority on the test. Check it before you plan around any date.
MyelinMed is not affiliated with UCAT ANZ, the UCAT Consortium or Pearson VUE.
Common questions
Can a Year 11 student sit the UCAT ANZ as a trial run?
No. The test is open only to students in their final year of school or later, so a student in Australian Year 11 cannot sit it, even if they take Year 12 subjects. The free official practice tests are the way to try it early.
Can the school book the test for my child?
No. Each candidate registers and books personally in their own account. A school or college cannot do it for them.
What if my child is ill on the day of the test?
A booking can be rescheduled in the candidate's online account up to a day before the appointment, whatever the reason. That is why the official advice is to book a date in July, leaving later dates free to move to.
Is it too late to start in Term 2 of Year 12?
No, but it is later than ideal. A student who starts in Term 2 still has weeks of regular practice before a July test. Starting late in Year 11 and building up gradually means less stress, more time to learn from mistakes and no need for long cramming sessions.
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Facts checked 13 Oct 2026