Skip to main content
ExamExplained
Prepare6 min read

UCAT ANZ timeline: what to do in Year 10, 11 and 12 (Australia)

A calm Australian Year 10 to 12 plan for UCAT ANZ and medical school entry, using the 2026 calendar as the template, with a short note for New Zealand. You cannot sit the test before your final year, so earlier years are for choices and habits.

Last checked against the official sources.

You can sit the UCAT ANZ only in your final year of school or later, in a window that opened on 1 July in 2026. These year levels are Australian; New Zealand students should read the note below. Year 10 and Year 11 are for choosing subjects with entry rules in mind, learning what the test is and building steady study habits. Plan the Year 12 steps from the 2026 calendar, and check the official page for 2027 dates.

This timeline is for Australian school leavers. In New Zealand the final school year is Year 13 and Year 12 students are not eligible; see the note below. The timings use the 2026 cycle as a template, because the 2027 dates are not announced. See the dates page for what is confirmed and what is only expected.

Year 10: look, do not worry

  • Learn what the test is. Read the format and scoring page once. There is nothing to book or sit.
  • Keep your subject options open. Some courses publish prerequisites or assumed subjects, so check the university's own course page before locking in Year 11 and 12 choices. The explorer links each course page.
  • Keep up general reading and number work at school. These are ordinary study habits, not an official requirement.

Year 11: learn the shape

  • You are not eligible to sit the test yet, even with a Year 12 subject. If you are in Year 11 now, you would sit in 2027 for entry in 2028, so check the changes for 2027 and 2028 entry page, because Auckland replaces the UCAT ANZ with Casper for 2028 entry.
  • Try the official free tour tutorial and question tutorials so the test format stops being a surprise.
  • Start a short list of universities and read their entry rules in the explorer. Rules change yearly, so treat this as orientation only and re-check in Year 12. New Zealand applicants are ranked differently from the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), so read the New Zealand rows on their own.

Final year (Year 12 in Australia): the cycle

Using the 2026 calendar, which was the cycle for 2027 entry:

When (2026 pattern) What to do
Mid-February Concession scheme and access arrangements open (16 February in 2026). Create your Pearson account first, because both forms ask for your UCAT ANZ ID, then apply early if either applies to you.
Early March Booking opens (3 March in 2026). Book a July date early.
Mid-May Standard booking deadline (15 May in 2026). Late fees apply after this.
Late May to June Late booking deadlines, then the refund deadline in mid-June.
1 July onwards Testing window opens. Aim for a July date.
Early September The Consortium sends results to universities.
Application and interview months Each university sets its own application, interview and offer dates. Read them in the explorer.
Key fact

Results are valid for the 2026 admissions cycle only, which means entry in 2027. They cannot be carried over to a later year.

Practice that fits around school

Use the official free practice first. One idea is to keep the official practice tests for nearer your test, because they are timed and do not save your results, so you can treat them as a rehearsal. The Consortium also suggests using the practice tests nearer your test date; the point about saved results is ours. Our free versus paid preparation page explains the options. We are not affiliated with the Consortium or any university, and we are run alongside a tutoring business (see about us), so the official free practice comes first in our advice too.

A note for New Zealand

The Consortium's eligibility page says New Zealand Year 12 students are not eligible and gives Year 13 as the New Zealand final year. Auckland and Otago both say the UCAT ANZ result must come from the year you apply, and both take first-year university applicants, so do not assume you sit the test at school. See changes for 2027 and 2028 entry for what each university says, and check the page for your category. The Consortium runs one test cycle for both countries, but the school year labels above are Australian.

If you also plan to apply in the UK

UCAT ANZ 2026 results can be used to apply to UK Consortium and UK Partner universities for 2027 entry, but you must not sit the UCAT ANZ and the UK UCAT in the same year. Australian and New Zealand universities accept only UCAT ANZ results. The official results page explains the UK results-collection form, which closes on 22 October 2026 for the 2026 cycle. Most students can ignore this.

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

Frequently asked questions

When should I start preparing for the UCAT ANZ?
You cannot sit the test until your final year of school, and the official free practice material is available now. A sensible start (using Australian year levels) is to learn the format in Year 11 and begin timed practice in the months before your test window. How much you need is personal.
Can I sit the UCAT ANZ in Year 11 to get a practice run?
No. Australian Year 11 and New Zealand Year 12 students are not eligible, including those taking a Year 12 subject. A student completing Year 12 over two years can only sit in their final year. Sitting twice in the same cycle is treated as misconduct and cancels all results.
Do UCAT ANZ results carry over to next year?
No. Results are valid for one admissions cycle only. A 2026 result can be used for entry in 2027 and not for 2028.

Sources