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Knowing the historical distribution of SJT bands is essential for understanding what you are aiming for, what is achievable, and how stable the system is year over year. This lesson analyses six years of data to give you a clear picture of where candidates typically land — and what it takes to move into a higher band.
| Year | Band 1 | Band 2 | Band 3 | Band 4 | Total candidates (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ~20% | ~37% | ~30% | ~13% | ~33,000 |
| 2021 | ~21% | ~36% | ~30% | ~13% | ~34,000 |
| 2022 | ~20% | ~36% | ~31% | ~13% | ~35,000 |
| 2023 | ~19% | ~36% | ~32% | ~13% | ~36,000 |
| 2024 | ~20% | ~36% | ~30% | ~12% | ~36,500 |
| 2025 | ~20% | ~36% | ~30% | ~12% | ~37,000 |
Note: Exact percentages are not published by UCAT to the decimal point. These figures are derived from official UCAT statistics releases and are accurate to the nearest whole percentage.
The most striking feature of this data is how stable the distributions are. Over six years:
| Band | Minimum | Maximum | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | 19% | 21% | 2 percentage points |
| Band 2 | 36% | 37% | 1 percentage point |
| Band 3 | 30% | 32% | 2 percentage points |
| Band 4 | 12% | 13% | 1 percentage point |
This stability is not accidental. It is the result of UCAT's equating process, which adjusts band boundaries each year to maintain comparable standards. If a particular year's questions are harder, the boundaries are lowered so that approximately the same proportion of candidates falls into each band.
What this means for you: The probability of achieving each band is roughly the same regardless of which year you sit the test. You are not disadvantaged by sitting in a "hard year."
The single most common result is Band 2, at approximately 36% of candidates. This tells us that the typical prepared candidate achieves Band 2.
| If you achieve... | You are in the top... |
|---|---|
| Band 1 | ~20% (top quintile) |
| Band 2 | ~56% (top half + some) |
| Band 3 | ~88% (most candidates) |
| Band 4 | Bottom ~12% |
Only about 12% of candidates receive Band 4. This means that the vast majority of candidates — 88% — avoid the worst outcome. Band 4 is not a trap that catches unsuspecting candidates in large numbers; it is the bottom segment that represents genuinely weak performance.
However, 12% of ~37,000 candidates is still approximately 4,400 candidates per year receiving Band 4. These are real people whose medical school options are severely restricted.
The gap between Band 1 and Band 2 represents the difference between roughly the top 20% and the next 36%. In raw score terms, this boundary is often just a few marks — perhaps 5–10 marks out of the total available.
| Illustration | Marks out of ~888 |
|---|---|
| Typical Band 1 threshold | ~750+ |
| Typical Band 2 range | ~620–750 |
| Typical Band 3 range | ~480–620 |
| Typical Band 4 threshold | Below ~480 |
These mark ranges are illustrative estimates based on the scoring mechanics discussed in earlier lessons. Actual boundaries vary by year and are not published.
What this means for you: The difference between Band 2 and Band 1 is not a massive gulf in ability. It is the difference between being "close" on most questions and being "exact" on a few more of them. This is achievable with focused preparation.
The 2020 UCAT cycle was disrupted by COVID-19. Test centres operated with reduced capacity, some candidates sat the test in unusual conditions, and the overall testing period was extended. Despite this:
By 2021, testing conditions had largely normalised. The distribution returned to its standard pattern, confirming that the 2020 stability was not a fluke.
These years showed the system operating as designed. The slight uptick in Band 3 in 2023 (32% vs the usual 30%) is within normal variation and was offset in 2024.
The most recent cycles show a very slight decrease in Band 4 (from ~13% to ~12%). This could reflect:
From 2025, the UCAT consists of four subtests: VR, DM, QR, and SJT. The removal of Abstract Reasoning has no direct impact on SJT scoring, but it does change the overall time structure of the test.
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