UCAT Verbal Reasoning
UCAT Verbal Reasoning: A Complete Guide to Question Types, Strategy, and Timing
The Verbal Reasoning section of the UCAT assesses your ability to read, understand, and interpret written information. While it is often seen as the most time-pressured part of the test, with effective preparation and smart strategies, you can perform strongly and boost your overall UCAT score.
What Is the Verbal Reasoning Section?
Verbal Reasoning is a comprehension-based test. You’ll be given short written passages—typically between 200 and 300 words—and must answer 44 questions across 11 sets, all within 21 minutes. That gives you just under 2 minutes per set, or around 30 seconds per question.
The goal is to test how well you can extract key information, evaluate arguments, and draw logical conclusions under strict time pressure—skills that are essential for success in medicine and dentistry.
Types of UCAT Verbal Reasoning Questions
There are two main types of questions in this section:
True / False / Can’t Tell: You will read a statement and decide whether it is true, false, or cannot be determined based solely on the information in the passage.
Free Text / Multiple Choice: You may be asked a question or given an incomplete sentence, and you must choose the most appropriate answer from a list of options.
Although recent UCAT exams have tended to include more free-text style questions, you should be confident in tackling both types.
How Is UCAT Verbal Reasoning Scored?
Each correct answer is worth one mark. Your raw score (out of 44) is then converted to a scaled score between 300 and 900. Because this section is often the lowest scoring on average, mastering it can give you a real advantage over other applicants.
Why Is Verbal Reasoning So Challenging?
Time is your biggest obstacle. Passages can be dense, and questions may seem straightforward but require close reading. Success comes down to:
Quick scanning techniques
Identifying keywords and phrases
Using elimination strategies to rule out wrong answers
Practising under timed conditions
Average UCAT Verbal Reasoning Scores – What’s Considered a Good Score?
The Verbal Reasoning section of the UCAT is often the most challenging, and it consistently yields the lowest average scores across all subtests.
In the 2024 UCAT, the average Verbal Reasoning score in the UK was 601. In Australia and New Zealand, the average was slightly higher at 620. These figures highlight the demanding nature of this section, particularly under time pressure.
What Is a Good UCAT Verbal Reasoning Score?
A good score in Verbal Reasoning is generally considered to be above the yearly average. For the 2024 test cycle, this means aiming for a score above 601 in the UK.
Achieving a higher-than-average score not only strengthens your overall UCAT performance but also improves your chances of meeting the UCAT cut-off scores used by competitive medical and dental schools.
UCAT Verbal Reasoning Strategies: The Keyword Technique Explained
The Verbal Reasoning subtest of the UCAT is known for its intense time pressure—with just 21 minutes to read 11 passages and answer 44 questions, it’s clear that reading every word is not a practical option. That’s why developing efficient strategies is essential for success.
One of the most effective methods we teach in our UCAT preparation courses is the Keyword Technique. This strategy helps you locate relevant information quickly, without wasting valuable time reading entire passages in detail.
What Is the Keyword Technique?
The Keyword Technique is a focused method that allows you to scan passages efficiently by using specific markers—such as names, dates, and unique terms—to guide your search for answers.
How to Use the Keyword Technique in UCAT Verbal Reasoning
Skim the Opening Lines
Begin by reading the first two lines of the passage to understand the general topic or context.Read the Question Carefully
Identify exactly what is being asked—this clarifies the type of information you need to find.Choose a Strong Keyword
Look for a distinctive word or phrase in the question. Good keywords include:Names or proper nouns
Dates or numbers
Unusual terms that are unlikely to appear repeatedly
Avoid generic words that are too common, as they’ll be harder to search for in the text.
Scan the Passage
Use your eyes to sweep through the passage without reading in full, searching for the keyword.Read Around the Keyword
Once located, read the sentence containing the keyword, along with one or two lines before and after. This surrounding context usually contains the answer or enough detail to help you decide.Adapt If Necessary
If your keyword appears too frequently or not at all, try another keyword from the question.
If the passage is structured in a way that scatters information, adjust your scanning accordingly.
Why Does the Keyword Technique Work?
✅ It saves time by allowing you to bypass irrelevant details.
✅ It improves accuracy by focusing your attention on the most relevant parts of the passage.
✅ It helps reduce overwhelm by giving you a structured approach to dense texts.
Additional Verbal Reasoning Strategies
Alongside the Keyword Technique, our UCAT courses also teach students how to:
Spot distractors such as opposing viewpoints, subtle wording changes, or misused logic.
Identify mitigating language (e.g. “may,” “might,” “could”) that alters the strength of a statement.
Recognise contradictory terms or logical shifts across the passage.
By combining these techniques, you’ll approach UCAT Verbal Reasoning with confidence—even under pressure.