Managing UCAT time pressure

Let’s be honest: the UCAT isn’t just about what you know – it’s about how fast you can think. With less than two minutes per question in most subtests (and often far less), it’s no surprise that time pressure is one of the biggest challenges students face, and one of the areas that causes them the most anxiety.

Whether you’re aiming to maximise your score in Verbal Reasoning or just survive Decision Making without panicking, managing your time well is one of the most powerful things you can master.

This guide will walk you through how to handle the clock in a manner that’s calm, strategic, and confident.

Already prepping for UCAT? Give yourself the best chance of passing with flying colours with the Pastest UCAT revision resource!

Why is the pressure on in UCAT?

The UCAT is designed to test how you think under pressure, because you’ll have to make decisions like this all the time in your medical career! Unlike traditional exams, it’s not about deep knowledge or memorising facts, it’s about making decisions quickly and accurately.

Here’s what you’re up against:

Even the most confident student can feel rattled when 30 seconds pass and you’re still stuck on a tough passage or data set.

Work smart, not just fast

When time is tight, speed matters – but strategy matters more. Keeping calm is also important; panicking will only make things worse in the long run. You don’t need to answer every single question to get a high score. In fact, spending too long on one question can do more harm than good.

Your goal isn’t to race blindly through the test. It’s to:

• Maximise correct answers in the time you have

• Avoid wasting time on questions that might not be worth it

• Stay calm, even when the timer is ticking down

Got that? Now let’s break down what it means…

Subtest tactics

You won’t be able to approach each subtest in the same way; they’re each designed to test a different part of your knowledge, and will therefore need completely different approaches. 

Verbal Reasoning

With just 22 minutes to complete 44 questions, this is often the hardest section time-wise. You’ll have around 30 seconds per question, and that includes reading time. So instead of reading every word, try:

• Skimming for keywords in the passage and matching them to the question

• Eliminating obviously wrong answers quickly

• Flagging questions you’re unsure about and moving on so as to not waste time

Decision Making

You have a bit more time per question here – just over a minute, but not by much - and the content is trickier. Don’t get caught overthinking; if the logic puzzle is taking too long, flag it and return later. Some questions are easier (like syllogisms), and worth securing quickly for easy points.

Quantitative Reasoning

With around 43 seconds per question, this section rewards speed and number sense. You’ll need to identify what’s actually being asked (often buried in wordy data) and make quick calculations – ideally with mental maths and minimal calculator use. Remember, it’s all about making fast decisions when under pressure and put on the spot. 

Some top tips…

• Round numbers when you can

• Don’t do more maths than you need

• If you’ve narrowed down the options, consider guessing and moving on. Any answer is better than no answer at all.

Situational Judgement

Although less time-pressured, SJT is best approached with a clear strategy. Don’t overthink things – go with the response that best reflects professional behaviour. You usually do have time here to consider your options, so slow down, take a breath, and aim for accuracy.

Practice, practice, practice

There’s a big difference between untimed practice and test-mode practice, especially when it comes to something like UCAT. 

It’s tempting to pause when you hit a tough question, and really try to work it out. But in the real UCAT, the clock keeps ticking. And so should you, so make sure to:

• Do timed mock tests under UCAT conditions

• Use section timers to mimic the real pressure

• Practise guessing and moving on, even when it feels uncomfortable.

At Pastest, our online UCAT question bank lets you practise under time pressure as though you were sitting the real thing - with over 7,000 questions, tailored mock tests, and a personalised predictive score.

Keep calm on test day

Time pressure doesn’t just affect your pace, it can also affect your nerves. That’s why mindset is just as important as method

If you get stuck, don’t panic. A few seconds of panic can cost you a lot more than a missed question. Instead:

• Take a breath, skip the question, and refocus on the next
• Use the flag function – it's your friend, and will help you come back to questions later with fresh eyes
• Remind yourself: missing one or two questions won’t ruin your score
• Don’t aim for 100% completion – aim for the highest number of correct answers you can manage in time
• Use keyboard shortcuts (like Alt+F for flagging)

The UCAT is fast, intense, and sometimes frustrating – but it’s also completely beatable. The time pressure can feel overwhelming at first, but it becomes manageable (even empowering) when you gain a better understanding of the pacing, apply smart strategies, and train your brain to make decisions under pressure.

Practise like it’s the real thing, learn when to move on, and keep your cool - and you’ll be ahead of the curve and on track to sail through UCAT!