UCAT Verbal Reasoning Practice

Question 1

Passage: 'Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) affect roughly 1 in 20 inpatients across NHS trusts. Hand hygiene compliance among clinical staff varies between 40% and 80% depending on the ward, and studies show that a 20 percentage-point rise in compliance can reduce HAI rates by nearly a third.' Statement: 'Improving hand hygiene compliance is the only way to reduce hospital-acquired infections.' True, False, or Can't Tell?

Accepted Answer

Can't Tell

Answer

The passage shows hand hygiene reduces HAIs but never states it is the ONLY method, so we cannot tell from the text alone.

Question 2

Passage: 'A 2024 survey of 3,000 UK sixth-form students found that 62% intended to apply to university, down from 71% in 2019. Of those not applying, half cited tuition costs and half cited a preference for apprenticeships.' Statement: 'More than half of the surveyed students who are not applying to university cited tuition costs as a reason.' True, False, or Can't Tell?

Accepted Answer

False

Answer

The passage says the non-applying group split evenly (half and half) between cost and apprenticeship preference, so exactly half, not more than half, cited cost. The statement is False.

Question 3

Passage: 'Remote work adoption rose sharply during 2020-2022, but by 2025 many large employers had introduced hybrid mandates requiring at least three office days per week. Productivity metrics under hybrid arrangements have been mixed, with some sectors reporting gains and others reporting no measurable change.' Statement: 'No sector has reported a productivity loss under hybrid working.' True, False, or Can't Tell?

Accepted Answer

Can't Tell

Answer

The passage only mentions gains or no change; it does not rule out losses in sectors not surveyed, so we cannot tell.

Question 4

Passage: 'The UCAT exam consists of five sections in its historical form, though Abstract Reasoning was removed as a scored component starting with the 2025 admissions cycle, leaving four scored subtests: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, and Situational Judgement.' Statement: 'Before 2025, UCAT candidates sat an Abstract Reasoning section.' True, False, or Can't Tell?

Accepted Answer

True

Answer

The passage explicitly says Abstract Reasoning was removed starting the 2025 cycle, implying it was present before then. True.

Question 5

Passage: 'Applicants to UK medical schools typically need a strong UCAT score alongside GCSE and A-level predicted grades. Admissions tutors at most institutions weight the Situational Judgement band separately from the cognitive subtests, and a Band 4 SJT result can disqualify an otherwise strong application at some universities.' Statement: 'All UK medical schools automatically reject applicants with a Band 4 Situational Judgement score.' True, False, or Can't Tell?

Accepted Answer

False

Answer

The passage says 'at some universities' a Band 4 can disqualify an application, not all universities, and 'can' is not the same as 'automatically does'. So the absolute claim is False.

UCAT Practice Test

UCAT Practice Test

UCAT Verbal Reasoning Practice