What to Do If You Get Stuck on a UCAT Question

It's June 2025, meaning that next month you are able to start taking the UCAT. It's important that you spend time at the moment trying to work out how to do the questions, and what to do if you get stuck on a UCAT question!

The UCAT is a fast-paced, high-pressure test — and no matter how well you prepare, it’s completely normal to hit a question that leaves you stuck.

But here’s the good news: getting stuck doesn’t have to ruin your score. Let's go through what to do if you get stuck on a UCAT question.

In fact, knowing how to handle tricky questions is part of what separates top scorers from the rest. Here’s exactly what to do when it happens:

1. Stay Calm — Don’t Panic

When you feel stuck, your heart rate might spike, your mind might start racing, or you might freeze. This is natural!

👉 Take a quick breath.

👉 Remind yourself: one question won’t make or break your test — but losing time or focus could.

2. Use the “Flag and Move On” Strategy

The UCAT is all about time management. In most sections, you only have less than a minute per question.

If you’re stuck for more than a few seconds:

✅ Guess strategically (see tip #3)

✅ Flag the question

✅ Move on

You can always return to flagged questions later if you have time.

3. Make an Educated Guess

There’s no negative marking in the UCAT — so never leave a question blank.

Even if you’re unsure, use elimination:

✅ Rule out obviously wrong answers

✅ Pick the best remaining option

Sometimes your instincts are better than you think — and guessing is much better than wasting precious time.

4. Refocus Immediately

After flagging and moving on, it’s crucial to refocus for the next question.

👉 Don’t let one tricky question throw you off for the rest of the section.

👉 Mentally “reset” and give your full attention to the next question. (This is an important skill as a doctor!)

Practice this during your mocks — it’s a valuable test-day skill!

5. Manage Your Time Across the Section

If you get stuck on multiple questions in a row, it can mess with your timing.

✅ Keep an eye on the section timer

✅ Prioritise getting through as many questions as possible

✅ Don’t obsess over flagged questions — return to them only if you have time after reaching the end of the section

Final Thoughts

Even top UCAT scorers get stuck sometimes — what matters is how you handle it.

Master these strategies during your practice, and you’ll feel much more in control on test day.

And if you’d like more personalised support — whether 1:1 tuition or small-group UCAT courses — we’d love to help:

👉Learn more about our UCAT tuition here

You’ve got this! 🚀