What is GAMSAT?
The Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) is the primary admissions test for graduate-entry Medicine and Dentistry programs at most Australian universities. Unlike the UCAT, which targets Year 12 students, the GAMSAT is designed for people who have already completed or are completing a Bachelor degree.
The GAMSAT is held twice each year, in March and September. It is a demanding full-day exam lasting approximately five and a half hours across three sections. Your overall score is reported out of 100 as a weighted average, with Section III weighted most heavily. Results are valid for two years, giving you some flexibility in when you apply.
The Three Sections
Section I: Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences asks you to interpret poems, prose extracts, cartoons, and other stimulus material. Questions test your ability to identify arguments, draw inferences, and evaluate reasoning. Despite the name, you do not need a humanities background — the section rewards careful reading and logical thinking rather than specific subject knowledge.
Section II: Written Communication requires you to produce two extended written responses to sets of quotations or thematic prompts. You need to construct coherent, well-argued essays that demonstrate clear thinking and effective communication. These are scored by human markers, so quality of argument and writing style both matter.
Section III: Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences is the science-heavy section. It covers chemistry (including organic chemistry), biology (cell biology, genetics, physiology), and physics (mechanics, optics, electricity). Most questions require knowledge at approximately first-year university level. This section carries the greatest weight in the overall score calculation.
Who Should Take It
Anyone applying to graduate-entry medical schools through the GEMSAS centralised application system will need a GAMSAT score. You do not need a science degree to sit the exam or to gain admission, but Section III does favour applicants with a science background. Non-science graduates can and do perform well, though they typically need to invest significant time in self-studying the relevant science content.
Preparation Timeline
Most candidates prepare for three to six months before sitting the GAMSAT. If you have a limited science background, consider starting earlier — six to twelve months is reasonable if you need to cover first-year chemistry, biology, and physics from scratch. Throughout your preparation, keep in mind that your undergraduate GPA matters just as much as your GAMSAT score for medical school entry. Sacrificing your grades to focus on GAMSAT preparation is counterproductive.
Section-Specific Strategies
Section I rewards broad reading habits developed over time. Read novels, poetry, opinion columns, and philosophical essays. Practice identifying the core argument in a piece of writing and evaluating whether the reasoning holds up. This section is difficult to cram for — students who read widely throughout their degree tend to perform well naturally.
Section II requires regular timed writing practice. Develop two or three flexible essay structures that you can adapt to different prompts. Read editorials and opinion pieces to observe how professional writers build arguments. Seek feedback on your essays from peers, tutors, or mentors, focusing on logical structure and clarity rather than word count.
Section III is where most preparation time should be directed, particularly if science is not your background. Focus your study on general chemistry, organic chemistry, human biology, and physics. First-year university textbooks are pitched at the right level. Work through practice problems to build both understanding and speed.
Key Differences from UCAT
The GAMSAT and UCAT serve different pathways and test different things. GAMSAT tests actual knowledge, especially in the sciences, whereas UCAT tests cognitive aptitude. GAMSAT is a full-day examination compared to roughly two hours for the UCAT. GAMSAT scores remain valid for two years rather than one. Most importantly, GAMSAT is the gateway to graduate-entry programs while UCAT is used for undergraduate entry.
Combining GAMSAT with Your Degree
Balancing GAMSAT preparation with your university coursework requires careful planning. Protect your GPA — medical schools evaluate both metrics, and a strong GPA with a moderate GAMSAT score can still be competitive depending on the university’s weighting. Some students take a lighter course load in the semester before their GAMSAT sitting, while others study alongside a normal load and simply start their preparation earlier. Find an approach that does not compromise either goal.
After the GAMSAT
Applications to graduate-entry medical schools go through GEMSAS, a centralised system where you rank your university preferences. Selection typically combines your GPA, GAMSAT score, and interview performance, with the weighting varying by institution. If your score falls below the competitive range for your preferred universities, you can re-sit the exam. Check each university’s policy on whether they accept your most recent score, your highest score, or an average — the rules differ.