The UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) is an important hurdle for anyone aiming to study medicine at a UK university. One of the trickiest sections is Decision Making, which tests your ability to think logically, analyse information, and make sound judgments under time pressure.
Decision Making isn’t just about problem-solving. It challenges you to weigh evidence, evaluate arguments, and pick the best course of action - skills that are essential for a career in medicine.
In this guide, we break down each question type, highlight common pitfalls, and share practical strategies to help you approach the subtest with confidence. With the average score over the last four years sitting around 632, these tips will give you a clear roadmap to aim for - and surpass - that benchmark.
Mastering Decision Making can not only boost your UCAT score, but also strengthen your overall medical school application.
Breaking down Decision Making
Why it matters for the UCAT, and for medicine
Good decision making is at the heart of medicine. From diagnosing patients to choosing treatments and handling ethical dilemmas, doctors are constantly making calls that matter. The UCAT Decision Making subtest is designed to test this skill - how well you can process information, spot what’s important, and reach a logical conclusion. A strong score shows admissions tutors you have the potential to handle the pressures of medical school and beyond into your career.
What to expect in Decision Making
Below is a snapshot of what you can expect when sitting down to take this portion of UCAT:
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35 questions in 36 minutes - a little less than one minute per question
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A mix of question styles, including: multiple choice, Yes/No, drag-and-drop
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On-screen calculator and keyboard shortcuts to save time - well worth memorising before test day!
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A slight change in test formatting. For more information, check out our guide on UCAT 2025
What’s the goal in Decision Making?
To pass? Of course. But to score well in Decision Making, you’ll need three things:
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Logic - To be able to break down complex scenarios into clear steps.
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Interpretation - The ability to read data accurately in any format, whether it’s text, diagrams, or charts.
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Efficiency - To be able to apply your skills under tight time pressure.
What skills are tested in Decision Making?
As much as you’ll need to interpret, the Decision Making subtest isn’t just about “working things out”. It’s about applying skills of reasoning and logic under time pressure…
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Identifying patterns & logical relationships - This involves being able to spot underlying connections between different pieces of information, and working out the logical consequences. This skill is vital for solving puzzles and making sense of complex data sets.
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Interpreting & combining information - Questions in Decision Making will often mix text passages, graphs, tables and diagrams; you’ll need to extract the key details and integrate them quickly. Strong Verbal Reasoning skills will help you to process the text, while visual data requires sharp analytical thinking.
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Evaluating arguments & spotting assumptions - You’ll be asked to judge the strength of arguments and uncover hidden assumptions, testing your critical thinking and ability to recognise flawed reasoning or logical errors.
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Applying probabilistic reasoning: Some questions require you to deal with chance and likelihood, often through quick calculations or estimates. It’s here where your Quantitative Reasoning skills will come into play to handle numerical analysis efficiently.
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Tackling syllogisms & deductive logic: Syllogisms will test your ability to assess the validity of logical arguments. Mastering deductive reasoning is key to answering these questions accurately and under pressure.
How to answer each question type
The Decision Making subtest covers a wide range of question styles, each one testing a slightly different skill. Not to worry; here’s what to expect, and how to approach each type.
Logical puzzles
These are often built around constraints and rules, and will ask you to arrange information logically. Have your notebook to hand and use it to sketch quick tables and/or diagrams - as this is a tried-and-tested strategy to untangle information in a way your brain can understand.
Syllogisms
Here you’ll be given logical arguments and asked to decide if the conclusions follow. You’ll need to be aware of common fallacies, and stick to rule-based strategies as you work through these questions. Top tip: These usually appear as Yes/No questions!
Interpreting visual data
You’ll need to become comfortable with extracting key details from visuals! Try not to get caught up in the image or diagram itself, and instead focus on labels, units, and trends that you can see, as the smallest detail can change the entire meaning of a question.
Recognising assumptions & flaws
These questions will ask you to judge the strength of an argument. To nail this type, look for hidden assumptions or weak reasoning - practise spotting these as quickly as possible!
Probabilistic reasoning
Expect to work with probabilities, statistics, and estimations! Have your onscreen calculator at the ready, and make sure you’re confident with the basics of probability.
Venn diagrams
Venn diagrams test how well you can handle overlapping pieces of information. As part of your revision, practise drawing them yourself to simplify complex relationships, and avoid getting caught up in the text.
How to approach Decision Making
Step 1 - What is the question really asking?
Before diving into the information, start by analysing the question carefully. What is the specific task you’re being asked to do? You could be asked to identify the strongest argument, come to a conclusion, or evaluate a probability - but you’ll need to know for certain before looking at the rest of the information provided.
Step 2 - Analyse
Once you understand what the question is asking you, now you can move onto the provided information, which you’ll need to review carefully. Look out for important keywords, constraints, and any nuances that might influence the answer. Remember, you must stick to the information provided, and ignore any pre-existing knowledge.
Step 3 - What’s the solution?
Based on the analysis of the information provided and the question itself, it’s now time to formulate a preliminary hypothesis, or a potential solution. If the question involves a logic puzzle, you may need to sketch a quick diagram, or make a table, in order to be a little more organised.
Step 4 - Evaluate your options
Carefully consider each answer choice in relation to the question prompt and the provided information. Use elimination techniques to rule out incorrect options, narrowing down the possibilities.
Step 5 - Does it make sense?
Before selecting your final answer, give it a once over ‘sanity check’. Does your chosen answer follow on logically from the information provided in the question? Does it tick the boxes of your initial hypothesis? Performing this final check could help you catch any last-second errors.
Our top Decision Making strategies
As we said earlier, scoring highly in Decision Making isn’t just about logic - it’s also about being able to work smart under pressure. The below are our top strategies to help you stay accurate and efficient throughout…
Active reading
Pay close attention to the wording of every question: Focus on keywords, constraints, and subtle cues in the text that can completely change the outcome. Even the smallest detail can make a big difference.
Noteboard usage
Your noteboard will be a loyal and valuable tool during Decision Making. Use it to draw diagrams, create tables, jot down key facts and keywords, and map out your potential solutions. Having a clear visual plan can save time and help reduce mistakes.
Onscreen calculator
You’ll have a calculator onscreen to use during this portion of the UCAT exam; make sure you know it inside and out. Practise its functions and keyboard shortcuts so you can calculate quickly without wasting time.
Time management
Every question counts equally, so don’t get stuck. Remember that you have just under 60 seconds per question, so set a steady pace from the off, flag tricky questions to return to later, and focus first on those you can answer confidently.
Decision Making can feel like one of the toughest parts of the UCAT, but it’s all about having the right approach. Focus on strengthening your core skills, practise each question type, and use the tools at your disposal efficiently.
Consistent practice with a reliable question bank and reviewing your mistakes will make a real difference. With the average UCAT score in 2024 at 2523 - 620 for Decision Making - aiming for 2920+ (the 90th percentile) will put you in a strong position for medical school applications.
Most importantly, don’t see Decision Making as a barrier. With the right preparation and a smart strategy, it can become a real strength in your UCAT performance - and a skill set that will serve you well in your medical career.