If you can't sit your UCAT appointment because you're sick, you've got a clash or you can't get there, sort it out through Pearson before the cut off if you possibly can. UCAT ANZ 2027 is the test you sit in July 2027 for 2028 entry, and its cancellation and reschedule dates haven't been published. The 2026 rules show you the options and costs to expect.
Can I reschedule UCAT if I am sick or have a clash?
Under the 2026 policy you could reschedule up to 24 hours before your appointment, as long as another slot was available. A change was free before 29 June at 11:59pm AEST and cost A$25 after that. The deadline and fee applied whatever the reason, illness included. The last weeks had few appointments left, so being allowed to change didn't mean you'd find a replacement that suited you.
| Action | 2026 rule | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Reschedule early | Before 29 Jun cut off | Free |
| Reschedule late | At least 24 hours before | A$25 |
| Cancel for refund | By Fri 12 Jun 2026 | A$50 deducted |
| Miss appointment | Phone after no-show status | Pay test fee again |
Sources: ucat.edu.au, checked 14 October 2026.
The 2027 rules could change. In 2026 the cancellation and free reschedule deadlines fell at 11:59pm AEST, so check the conversion to your local time once the new cycle is out. A reschedule also can't change the country you test in. Moving between countries meant cancelling and booking again from scratch.
Can I cancel my UCAT and get a refund?
For the 2026 test, if you cancelled by Friday 12 June you got the test fee back less A$50. You had to cancel in your Pearson account, and an email wouldn't do it. Late booking surcharges weren't refunded. After that date you could still cancel the appointment, but there was no refund. These rules applied whatever your reason.
If you know early that an exam, placement or family event will stop you getting there, change the appointment before the refund and reschedule windows close in. Save the new confirmation and make sure the appointment shows up in your account. Read the official rescheduling and cancelling page before you click through anything.
What happens if I miss my UCAT appointment?
In 2026, missing your appointment meant losing the original fee. Once Pearson marked it as a no-show, which took about 24 hours, you could phone Pearson Customer Services and try to book again by paying the standard test fee. Whether you got back in depended on what appointments were left. Illness, transport trouble and ID problems didn't get any special treatment in this process.
Being turned away over ID can cost you as much as missing the trip. At NZ centres the policy accepts an original current passport, a driver licence in its country of issue, and a Kiwi Access Card or New Zealand 18+ card. Student IDs and digital IDs weren't accepted. Our test day checklist has the short table. If your passport has expired or your account name doesn't match, check it now.
Should I sit while unwell?
UCAT ANZ's Fitness to Test rule says that by turning up, you declare yourself fit to sit. If you're unwell before the test, weigh up how much reschedule time you have left against the appointments still available. Don't count on asking for a score adjustment afterwards. The policy applied its reschedule deadlines to illness too. If something goes wrong during the test, tell staff straight away and request an incident investigation within one day.
Report a technical problem while you're still at the centre, because staff can record it as it happens. The official incident page explains which incidents can be reviewed. Under the published rules, normal centre noise, arriving late and ID issues weren't grounds for an investigation.
What if the testing window closes?
For 2026, the test window ended on 5 August and the final late booking deadline was 5 June. The Consortium said it wouldn't accept any more bookings after that final deadline under any circumstances. Missing your sitting can mean waiting for the next annual cycle, and you can't carry a UCAT score over from an earlier cycle to fill the gap. Check the 2027 dates page once UCAT ANZ updates it.
If you're aiming for Otago Medicine for 2028 entry, its 2028 UCAT thresholds and application closing date are still unpublished. Auckland Medicine has already said it will use Casper and an MMI for 2028, with no UCAT. Check the course requirements again before you pay to make up a missed test. Our UCAT ANZ 2027 guide explains the different university routes.
You're dealing with two separate problems here: keeping your sitting and getting money back. If the test window still has appointments, a reschedule can keep your chance to sit alive even after the refund deadline has passed. If you can't sit at all, cancelling in time may get you part of the original fee back. Each one has its own action and deadline, so look at your Pearson appointment and the official cycle page side by side. Ringing up after the appointment can't turn a no-show into an early cancellation.
If the problem happens inside the test room, the steps change again. Put your hand up and tell staff at the time, then use the official incident route within one day. If you sit through a serious technical interruption without saying anything, it's harder to establish what happened later. Keep your appointment details and write down a plain, factual account of what went on.
FAQ
Can I reschedule UCAT within 24 hours?
The 2026 policy only allowed a move up to 24 hours before the appointment, and only if a new slot was available.
Do I get a refund if I miss the test?
No. A no-show in 2026 didn't qualify for a refund. Rebooking meant paying another standard fee, and only if there was space.
Can illness waive the reschedule fee?
The published 2026 rule applied its deadline and fee whatever the reason, illness included.
Once you've got a new appointment sorted and want timed practice, see how Cutline UCAT practice works.
Cutline is not affiliated with or endorsed by the UCAT ANZ Consortium or the University of Otago. UCAT is used here only to describe the test. Official information checked 14 October 2026. Check ucat.edu.au for the 2027 cycle when it is published.
