The answer to this question depends largely on your personal college preferences and abilities. However, here are some general tips to help you decide:

• You should take both tests if you want to keep your options open or apply to medical schools that require different tests. By taking both the BMAT and UCAT, you can apply to any medical school in the UK, depending on how competitive your scores are. 
• If you decide to take only one of the two exams, consider taking the UCAT over the BMAT, since more med schools require UCAT scores. 
• You should take the BMAT if you are confident in your scientific knowledge and essay writing skills, and you are interested in applying to some of the top-ranked medical schools in the UK, such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, or UCL. 
• You should take the UCAT if you are confident in your cognitive abilities and personal attributes that are relevant to medicine, such as verbal reasoning, decision-making, numerical reasoning, etc. 

Universities in the UK That Accept the UCAT

Most of the medical schools in the UK accept and require applicants’ UCAT scores as part of the admissions process. Each school may have different cut-offs for minimum scores and other requirements for the exam, so be sure to check the admission requirements for your desired school before applying.  Below is a list of medical schools in the UK which require UCAT:

• University of Aberdeen  
• University of East Anglia  
• University of Leicester  
• Anglia Ruskin University 
• Edge Hill University 
• University of Liverpool
• Aston University 
• University of Edinburgh  
• University of Manchester 
• University of Birmingham 
• University of Exeter  
• University of Newcastle  
• University of Bristol 
• University of Glasgow  
• University of Nottingham  
• Brunel University London 
• Hull York Medical School  
• Plymouth University 
• Cardiff University  
• Keele University  
• Queen Mary University of London  
• University of Central Lancashire 
• Kent and Medway Medical School 
• Queen’s University Belfast  
• University of Chester 
• King’s College London  
• University of Sheffield  
• University of Dundee  
• University of Leeds 
• University of Southampton  
• University of St Andrews  
• University of Sunderland 
• University of Warwick  St George’s, 
• University of London  
• University of Surrey 
• University of Worcester

Universities in the UK That Accept the BMAT: 

6 medical schools in the UK do not require UCAT but use BMAT test scores to evaluate candidates instead. These are:

• Brighton and Sussex Medical School
• Imperial College London
• Lancaster University
• University College London
• University of Cambridge
• University of Oxford

Universities That Don’t Require Either UCAT or BMAT 

There are only two universities in the UK that don’t require either the UCAT or the BMAT to apply for medicine. These are:  

The University of Buckingham Medical School: This is a private university that uses its own computer-based test called the Multiple Mini Assessment for candidates who meet an academic threshold. However, you will need to self-finance your medical degree without student loans if you choose this option. 

The University of Central Lancashire Medical School: This university does not require any admissions test and selects interview candidates based on their statement and school/college reference.