Pastest

Overview

Pastest is an exam-preparation service from a maker founded in 1972, with question banks, mock tests, revision plans and video lessons across several exam types. Its strongest fit is a UKMLA or UCAT candidate who wants exam-specific practice, with paid tiers that add substantially more questions or structured lessons.

The free Knowledge plan gives a useful starting point, but its question access is sharply capped; candidates who need extensive practice will need a paid plan.

Key features

Pastest combines question banks with full-length mock tests and revision plans, so it can serve both targeted practice and broader exam preparation. The materials vary by plan: Knowledge includes a learning textbook, a prescribing-skills question bank, 127 Gold Standard OSCE videos and 100 questions from the Early Years and UKMLA banks. That is a meaningful sampler, but not a substitute for a large question bank when repeated practice is the priority.

Knowledge+ expands access to more than 6,000 Early Years and UKMLA questions and six curated UKMLA past papers. Performance insights and exam-readiness tracking add a way to monitor progress. Knowledge+ Lessons includes those features and adds on-demand UKMLA lessons and expert-led video lessons, making it the more suitable option for learners who want instruction alongside practice.

The separate UCAT six-month offer focuses on that exam, with more than 7,000 questions, 10 full mock tests and a personalised predicted score. The combination suits candidates who want substantial question practice and full simulations in one package.

Pricing

Pastest uses a freemium model. Knowledge is free and includes the textbook, prescribing-skills question bank, 127 OSCE videos and 100 Early Years and UKMLA questions. It is a sensible way to sample the materials, but the 100-question cap is restrictive for sustained exam preparation.

Knowledge+ costs £9.99 a month, billed monthly. It raises access to over 6,000 Early Years and UKMLA questions, adds six curated UKMLA past papers and includes performance insights and exam-readiness tracking. This is the clearest step up for UKMLA candidates focused on practice and progress monitoring.

Knowledge+ Lessons costs £19.99 a month, billed monthly. It includes everything in Knowledge+ plus on-demand UKMLA lessons and expert-led video lessons. Choose it if lessons are worth the additional monthly cost; otherwise, Knowledge+ retains the question bank and tracking at a lower price.

UCAT 6 months costs £49.99 a month and includes over 7,000 UCAT questions, 10 full mock tests and a personalised predicted score. The plan is UCAT-specific and priced monthly; its six-month label makes the commitment period important to weigh against the preparation window.

Platforms

Pastest is available on the web, iOS and Android, giving candidates a choice of browser or mobile study.

Who it's for

Pastest is best suited to Early Years, UKMLA and UCAT candidates who want exam-specific question practice, with UKMLA learners able to add lessons and progress tracking. The free plan works for sampling materials, while serious preparation calls for the larger paid banks. It is a less natural fit for someone seeking preparation for an exam outside the materials covered by its plans.

Pros and cons

• Pros: The free Knowledge plan includes a textbook, prescribing-skills questions and 127 OSCE videos, giving learners several formats to explore without paying.
• Pros: Knowledge+ combines a large UKMLA and Early Years question bank with past papers and performance tracking, useful for candidates who want practice and progress signals together.
• Pros: The UCAT plan includes 10 full mock tests alongside more than 7,000 questions and a predicted score, supporting both practice and exam simulation.
• Cons: Knowledge provides only 100 questions from the Early Years and UKMLA banks, limiting its value for ongoing practice.
• Cons: Knowledge+ Lessons costs £19.99 a month, twice the monthly price of Knowledge+, so learners who only need questions and tracking pay for a format they may not use.
• Cons: The UCAT offer is a distinct plan priced at £49.99 a month, so its exam-specific package is not a flexible general-purpose subscription.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison of study tools, see the Exam Prep Apps category. Kaplan Test Prep is another freemium option available on web, iOS and Android; its exam-specific materials are not described here, so compare its offering against the exam you need.

Embibe is worth considering if you want a freemium service with an Achieve Unlimited study-material plan or an Achieve Sprint plan designed for shorter preparation periods. Pocket Prep offers a free Basic tier with 25–50 questions depending on the exam and three quiz modes; its Premium 1 Month plan is $15.99 a month, billed monthly.

Magoosh is a paid alternative for SAT candidates: its SAT Premium plan costs $129 a month and includes 12 months of access, over 2,500 practice questions, up to three full-length tests, study schedules, an AI tutor and score prediction. Manhattan Prep offers a freemium GRE app with questions and explanations, vocabulary, quizzes and math practice, making it the more relevant choice for GRE preparation.

UWorld has paid options including a $25 a month USMLE Step 1 Biostatistics Review with 90-day access, and a SAT Question Bank from $99 a month. ATI Testing has an Android and iOS free version with 80 questions, two quizzes per topic area, a results dashboard and a question of the day. IELTS Ready is a web-based free alternative with mock tests for IELTS preparation.

Verdict

Pastest is a strong choice for UKMLA and UCAT candidates who want dedicated question practice, with mock tests and optional UKMLA lessons. Start with Knowledge to sample its materials, then move to Knowledge+ for sustained UKMLA practice or the UCAT plan for full simulations. Look elsewhere if your exam is not covered by these focused plans or you need more than the free tier can provide without a paid subscription.