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Free versus paid UCAT ANZ preparation: official materials first

The UCAT ANZ Consortium offers free official tutorials, question banks and full practice tests that it calls representative of the live test, and says it does not endorse commercial coaching. Here is how to use the free materials first and weigh paid options honestly.

Last checked against the official sources.

Start with the official free materials: a preparation plan, tutorials, question banks and practice tests that the Consortium calls representative of the live test. The Consortium does not endorse commercial coaching. Our own free practice tests (coming soon) are original practice tests from the tutoring business behind this site, not official items, and we are run alongside that business.

What the Consortium offers for free

The official preparation page lays out five steps:

  1. Plan your preparation with the official preparation plan.
  2. Tour tutorial for how the on-screen test works, including the calculator and flag and review function.
  3. Question tutorials with general advice and an overview of each subtest, covering all four subtests.
  4. Question banks for each subtest, to attempt across several sessions.
  5. Practice tests to review your performance under timed conditions.

The practice tests page says the tests are available with standard timing and the 25 per cent extra time (SEN) timing, plus untimed versions that suit the other extended versions. The final review screen shows which answers were correct, and you can open the answer rationale with the Explain Answer button. The practice tests do not save your result or give a score, and the Consortium recommends viewing them on a desktop.

Key fact

The Consortium tells advisers to direct students to the official resources, which it says are the most representative of the live test.

What the Consortium says about coaching

The Consortium says it does not work with commercial coaching companies and does not endorse their materials. In its FAQ it says courses can be very expensive and advises candidates to be sceptical about their claims, because some may use items that are not of the standard you will meet in the test. Read it in the official FAQ.

How we suggest using free and paid options

  • Use the official materials first. Finish the tutorials and question banks before spending anything.
  • Save the official practice tests for later. Because they do not save scores and are the most representative, use them as timed rehearsals nearer your test.
  • Add extra practice if you run out. Our free practice tests (coming soon) are original practice tests from the tutoring business behind this site, not official items, with no sign-up, and are meant as extra volume only.
  • Weigh paid options honestly. If you consider a course or tutor, check its own page for current prices and what it actually includes. We do not list prices here because we only publish facts we have checked on the official source, and these change often.
  • Beware of guarantees. Nobody can honestly promise a score, and universities decide how scores are used.

Our relationship to tutoring

ExamExplained is not affiliated with the UCAT ANZ Consortium or any university. It is run alongside a tutoring business (see about us). We want you to know that, and to know that it does not change the advice above: use the official free material first.

ExamExplained is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the UCAT ANZ Consortium or any university.

Frequently asked questions

Is the official UCAT ANZ practice material free?
Yes. The Consortium provides a preparation plan, a tour tutorial, question tutorials for all four subtests, question banks and practice tests, all free on its website. The practice tests come in standard timing, 25 per cent extra time and untimed versions, with an Explain Answer button on the review screen.
Do I need a coaching course to do well?
The Consortium says no. It states that it does not work with or endorse commercial coaching companies, that courses can be expensive and that candidates should be sceptical of their claims. It advises everyone to prepare with the free official practice materials.
Where do the practice tests on this site fit in?
Our free practice tests (coming soon) are original practice tests from the tutoring business behind this site, with no sign-up, and they would add extra volume. They are not official items and are not a substitute for the official practice tests, which the Consortium describes as the most representative.

Sources