UCAT ANZ timeline: Year 10, 11 and 12 planned calmly
Checked 19 October 2026 by XScrubs
In short
You cannot sit the UCAT ANZ before your final year, so Years 10 and 11 are for learning what it is and keeping subject options open. In the final year, the 2026 calendar ran from a February concession opening to a July testing window. Treat 2027 dates as unknown until the Consortium publishes them.
Checked 19 October 2026 against the sources listed at the end.
These year levels are Australian. New Zealand's last school year is Year 13, so a Year 12 student there is too early. The 2027 calendar has not been published, so the final-year table uses the confirmed 2026 cycle as a pattern only.
Year 10: look, do not worry
- Read about the test once. Nothing needs booking or sitting.
- Keep options open. Some courses publish assumed subjects, so look at a university's own course page before you settle your Year 11 and 12 subjects.
- Keep reading widely and keep your number work steady at school. These are ordinary habits, not a formal requirement.
Year 11: get to know the test
- You are not eligible yet (external link), even with a Year 12 subject.
- Work through the Consortium's free tour and subtest tutorials (external link) early, so the on-screen layout holds no surprises on the day.
- Draw up a short list of universities and read how each uses the score. Rules change, so re-check in Year 12.
What to check about entry requirements early
Entry rules vary a great deal, which is why Year 10 and 11 are the time to look. A few published examples for 2027 entry show the spread:
- UNSW's general entry lists an ATAR or equivalent of 96.00 or above, and a UCAT ANZ percentile of 50 or above (external link), plus an interview if selected.
- Curtin lists a minimum ATAR of 95 and an ATAR Chemistry prerequisite (external link), and also asks for a Casper test.
- Sydney's double degree pathway lists an ATAR of 99.95 (external link) and does not use the UCAT ANZ.
- Auckland's entry for school leavers goes through a first-year university program (external link) rather than direct entry.
None of this means one number guarantees anything. It means a subject choice in Year 11 can matter for a course you may apply to in Year 12, so read the course page before you lock subjects in. Our interview guides cover each university in more detail.
Final year: the cycle
| 2026 pattern | What happened |
|---|---|
| 16 February | Concession scheme and access arrangements opened |
| 3 March | Booking opened |
| 11 May | Concession application deadline |
| 15 May | Standard booking deadline and access arrangements deadline |
| 29 May | Late booking deadline |
| 5 June | Final late booking deadline |
| 12 June | Cancellation deadline for a refund |
| 1 July to 5 August | Testing window |
| Early September | Results delivered to universities |
Create your Pearson account first (external link), since the concession and access forms ask for your UCAT ANZ ID. Deadlines were 11.59pm AEST and the Consortium says it does not make exceptions (external link).
:::keyfact A result is valid for one admissions cycle only. Taking it in 2026 serves entry in 2027 and cannot be carried forward. :::
Practice that fits around school
Begin with the free tutorials and question banks from the Consortium (external link), which keep no record of your progress, so jot down what you have done. The Consortium's practice tests are timed and do not save a score, which makes them a good rehearsal nearer your date. Our guide on free and paid preparation explains where extra practice can fit.
Applying to the UK as well
UCAT ANZ results can also be used for UK Consortium (external link) and UK Partner universities, but a candidate cannot take the Australian and New Zealand test and the British one within the same year. Most students can ignore this.
Want a feel for the style before you commit? Our free sample is a good place to begin.
Not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the UCAT ANZ Consortium.
Common questions
- When should I start preparing for the UCAT ANZ?
- The Consortium's free material is available now, but you cannot sit until your final year. Many students learn the format in Year 11 and begin timed practice in the months before their test window. How much you need is personal.
- Can I sit the UCAT ANZ early for practice?
- No. Neither Australian Year 11 nor New Zealand Year 12 students may sit, and sitting twice in one cycle cancels all results.
- Which test month do most people aim for?
- The Consortium strongly recommends a July date, because few appointments remain in the last weeks of the window and changes become hard.
- What happens to my result after the test?
- The Consortium delivers results to universities in early September. The result is valid for that admissions cycle only.
Keep reading
- UCAT ANZ: a parents' guide to costs, rules and helpingWho can sit the UCAT ANZ, what it cost in 2026, the rules that trip families up, and how to support a student without adding pressure.
- UCAT ANZ format and scoring explainedFour timed subtests, 184 questions, 111 minutes of testing and no penalty for wrong answers. How the UCAT ANZ is built and how it is scored.
- Free and paid UCAT ANZ preparation: what to use firstThe Consortium's free tutorials, question banks and practice tests come first. Here is how to use them, and where paid practice fits.
Sources, checked 19 October 2026
- UCAT ANZ Consortium: test cycle, dates and fees (external link) UCAT ANZ Consortium. Checked 19 October 2026.
- UCAT ANZ Consortium: eligibility (external link) UCAT ANZ Consortium. Checked 19 October 2026.
- UCAT ANZ Consortium: preparation resources (external link) UCAT ANZ Consortium. Checked 19 October 2026.
- UNSW Medicine: domestic applicants (external link) UNSW Sydney. Checked 19 October 2026.
- Curtin Medical School: 2027 admissions guide (domestic) (external link) Curtin Medical School. Checked 19 October 2026.
- University of Sydney: Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine (external link) University of Sydney. Checked 19 October 2026.
- University of Auckland: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (external link) University of Auckland. Checked 19 October 2026.
- UCAT ANZ Consortium: concession scheme (external link) UCAT ANZ Consortium. Checked 19 October 2026.
- UCAT ANZ Consortium: practice tests and question banks (external link) UCAT ANZ Consortium. Checked 19 October 2026.
Not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the UCAT ANZ Consortium.