Where to apply with a low UCAT score 2022 entry
Where can I apply with a low UCAT score for 2022 entry?
Did you score low in your UCAT exam? This does not mean an end to your application to medical school. Your choice of universities will be restricted, and you will need to apply to those that place a less emphasis on your UCAT score.
Here are a few bits of information you will need to know before you choose your universities…
🔎 You will still need to make sure you meet the other entry requirements for that medical school. This includes the academic requirements, such a GCSE and A-level graded (predicted or actual if you have them), work experience and a suitable UCAS personal statement.
👁 The actual university you get your medical degree from is less relevant. There should be no difference when you apply for NHS jobs where you did your medical degree, so as long as it allows you to register with the General Medical Council.
⚠️ Use the information as a guideline to start your choices. Guidance can change so always check the medical school website before making a final decision. If you are still unsure, you should always email the medical school for advice on your situation.
⚠️ Don’t automatically rely on the BMAT universities as an insurance option. The BMAT is used by Oxbridge and attracts some of the best candidates. In addition, our own data shows students that do poorly on the UCAT also tend not to score highly on the BMAT, unless perhaps there were exceptional circumstances that contributed to the lower UCAT score.
UCAT Interim 2021 Results
Based on the UCAT Interim results 2021, the scores and deciles are as follows. As there have been almost 20000 students sitting the exam after these scores were released, there is the potential for them to change.
A High Score is on 8th and 9th Decile which is a score of 2800 or more.
A Medium Score is on the 6th and 7th Decile which is currently 2640 – 2800
A Low Score is on the 5th Decile and below which translates to a score of 2639 or less
What should I look for if I have a low UCAT score?
By Low, we mean generally a score which is in the 5th Decile and Below - 2639 or less based on the UCAT 2021 Interim results.
🔎 The university may have a calculated cut off UCAT score but traditionally it has been relatively low. Please note past cut off scores are not always an accurate reflection of future cut off scores but can be used as a guideline.
👉 They have already indicated a specific cut off score which is relatively low.
⚖️ Have a weighting for the UCAT with other factors, such as A-level and GCSE results, but the weighting is for the UCAT score is relatively low. This may let you make up for a poor UCAT score with better exam results
🧐 Use the UCAT result after interview as part of a holistic approach. This may allow you to make up for a poor UCAT result with a better performance in your medical school interview.
Here is our list of medical schools to apply with a low UCAT score for 2022 entry
Plymouth University Peninsula Medical School
The medical school has indicated on their website ‘The UCAT threshold score applied to determine candidate selection for interview – We do not currently include SJT Band score. 2019 cut off 2330’
🔎 To us this means they will use your UCAT score to decide whether to call you for interview, but the threshold is relatively low.
Queen’s University Belfast Medical School
The university uses a points-based system to decide who to call for interview. This is marked out of 42, with marks given based on your GCSE performance and UCAT score.
The school will look at your best 9 GCSEs are awarded points based on your grade in each subject, with 4 points for an A* ( or 9 on the new system) and 3 for an A (7 or 8) grade, 2 points for a B (6) and 1 point for a C (5). The maximum academic score based in your GCSE grades is therefore 36.
🔎 The remaining 6 points are based on your UCAT score, so the weight of the UCAT score is significantly less than your GSCE results. Situational judgement scores are used in a tiebreaker situation.
👉 In addition, Queen’s Belfast is also a medical school that has a lower applicant to places ratio.
University of Sunderland School of Medicine
The medical school has indicated on its website that ‘Scores must be within top 8 deciles of the cohort and situational judgement test (SJT) must be within bands 1-3’.
🔎 This corresponds to a UCAT score of over 2350, based in interim 2021 results – so this is a relatively low UCAT cut off score. In addition, Sunderland also has a lower applicant to places ratio.
Aston University Medical School
The university website indicated ‘Academic qualifications and UCAT scores into consideration for interview shortlisting, and we then use both these and MMI results to offer a place to study medicine’
To us, this means you might be able to counterbalance a lower UCAT score if you can score well in the other indicators, which they have indicated are your academic qualifications and performance in your medical school interview.
Come to our Medical School Interview Course Taught in person by Dr. Abdul Mannan. Come to the front, practice MMI stations and get expert feedback on your performance.
Our Medical School Interview Courses are planned to be in person in a top venue, complete with lunch, refreshments and over 100 follow up video tutorials.
University of Birmingham School of Medicine
The medical school has indicated on their website that ‘The weighting will be: 45% academic, 35% UCAT and 20% contextual’
Whilst the reduced UCAT weighting here is not as good as Queens Belfast, this may be a medical school to consider with a lower UCAT score if you can balance it with the other indictors. ⚠️ However, be careful of the ‘contextual’ indicators – if you do not meet them and combined with a poor UCAT score this could be a significant disadvantage.
University of Exeter Medical School
The university website has indicated that they will use data which is ‘weighted to create an Exeter score; 25% coming from the UCAT/GAMSAT and 75% from academic attainment’
🔎 The weighting for UCAT here is better than Birmingham but not quite as good as Queens Belfast. By the way the GAMSAT is an entrance examination usually taken by graduate entry medicine students.
Keele University School of Medicine
The university has indicated it does have a threshold – they have indicated it can be as low as 2280. They can also use your UCAT score in a tie breaker situation.
🔎 In our view, this means that Keele has a threshold which is traditionally low.
⚠️ What ever your UCAT score is, most medical schools will interview, even during the pandemic, making use of technology such as Zoom. At the time of writing, we are awaiting updates from the medical schools whether interviews for 2020 will be virtual, in person or they will give you the option.
Come to our medical school interview course, refined over 10 years with an excellent record of securing offers for our students.
👨⚕️ Taught in person by Dr. Abdul Mannan, fully qualified and experienced doctor, and medical school undergraduate tutor. The experience of the tutor correlates to your success – we don’t not compromise on this.
📚 Covers over 50 topics assessed in medical school interviews. Includes the traditional ones, such as motivation and ethics, and more modern ones like doctors use of social media.
🎓 Includes role play, practical sessions, hot topics including COVID19 and vaccination
😀 The course is live in person allowing students to practice MMI stations with expert feedback. We plan to run these in Glasgow, Manchester, London and Birmingham
💾 There is the option to log in to the class from home by live webinar on some dates. We recommended students that are medically high risk choose this option.
📼 Complete with over 100 follow up tutorials and an up-to-date question bank to reinforce your learning. Access us until April 2022 – hopefully all medical schools will have interviewed by then.
Please click the link below to learn more and to book your place
