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UCAT ANZ: a parents' guide to costs, rules and helping

Checked 19 October 2026 by XScrubs

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In short

The UCAT ANZ is open only to students in their last school year or beyond, and must register themselves. The 2026 fee was A$335, or A$240 with a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, and the 2027 fee has not been announced. Free practice from the Consortium itself exists, and you can help most by handling deadlines and keeping the pressure low.

Checked 19 October 2026 against the sources listed at the end.

If your child is thinking about medicine, dentistry or a clinical science degree, the UCAT ANZ will come up. Here is what a parent needs to know. Figures are from the 2026 cycle, which was the cycle for 2027 entry. The Consortium has not yet published 2027 dates or fees.

What the test is

It is a two-hour, computer-based, multiple-choice test taken in a Pearson test centre (external link). Universities that belong to the UCAT ANZ Consortium use it with other information, such as school results and interviews, to choose applicants. Our guide to format and scoring covers the detail.

Rules that surprise families

  • Final year only. (external link) Australian Year 11 students cannot sit, including those studying a Year 12 subject. Students completing Year 12 over two years may sit only in the final year.
  • One sitting a cycle. A second sitting in the same cycle (external link) cancels every result.
  • One cycle of use. A 2026 result works for 2027 entry only.
  • Personal registration. Your child creates their own Pearson account and books. Nobody can do it for them.
  • Fixed deadlines. (external link) The Consortium says it makes no exceptions.
  • Coaching links. A person linked to a UCAT coaching business, whether as a tutor, an item writer or an investor, may not sit the test.

Money

The 2026 test fee was A$335 in Australia or New Zealand and A$240 with a concession. The concession is for people named on a current Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card (external link) from Centrelink, and is Australia only. A Medicare card does not count. Late booking added A$85 (external link), and the final late period added A$185. Overseas the fee was A$405. Refunds and rescheduling have their own fees, so read the booking page before changing anything.

Preparing

The Consortium's preparation material is free (external link), and the Consortium advises caution about paid courses. A paid option can still be a sensible choice for some families, but it is a choice rather than a requirement. See our guide on free and paid preparation.

Supporting calmly

:::tip Ask what your child wants to find out before you ask how practice is going. :::

  • Put the deadlines in a shared calendar, then step back.
  • If your child has school exam adjustments, ask the school early about the paperwork access arrangements need.
  • Let your child own the study plan. Offer to be the person who watches the calendar, not the person who marks answers.
  • Keep the score in proportion. Each university decides how much it counts, and nobody can promise a result.

If you are in New Zealand

Year 13 is the last school year there, and Year 12 students cannot sit the test. Auckland and Otago take first-year university applicants for medicine, so a student may sit the test after leaving school. Check the university page for your child's category.

If you want a low-stakes look at the style of question your child will meet, try our free sample or the five-question quiz. Our pricing page lists what else is included.

Not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the UCAT ANZ Consortium.

Common questions

Can a Year 11 student sit the UCAT ANZ?
No. The test is open only to students in or past their final year of secondary school. Australian Year 11 students are not eligible, even if they take a Year 12 subject. For New Zealand, the last school year is Year 13.
How much does the UCAT ANZ cost?
In 2026 the fee was A$335 for tests in Australia or New Zealand and A$240 with a concession card (Australia only). Late fees of A$85 and A$185 applied after the standard deadline. Fees for 2027 have not been announced.
Can a parent or school book the test for a student?
No. The candidate registers personally, using the name that appears on their photo ID. Students granted access arrangements book by phone after approval rather than online.
Do UCAT ANZ results carry over to the next year?
No. A result is valid for one admissions cycle only. A 2026 result serves 2027 entry and nothing later.
Can my child sit the test twice in one year?
No. Sitting more than once in a cycle is treated as misconduct and all results are cancelled.

Keep reading

Sources, checked 19 October 2026

Not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the UCAT ANZ Consortium.