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GAMSAT in Australia — the complete guide

2027 Entry · Structure · Scoring · School cut-offs

The Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) is the gateway to almost every 4-year graduate-entry medical programme in Australia. Run by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), it is a five-and-a-half-hour test of reasoning across the humanities, written communication, and biological and physical sciences. This guide explains the test in detail — structure, scoring, validity, sitting windows — then lists every Australian medical school that uses it with current median cut-offs, walks through 6-month and 12-month preparation plans, and helps you decide between GAMSAT and UCAT-ANZ for your pathway into medicine.

What is the GAMSAT?

The GAMSAT is a graduate-entry reasoning exam used by Australian, UK, and Irish medical, dental, optometry, pharmacy and veterinary programmes. Within Australia its primary use is for the 4-year graduate-entry Doctor of Medicine (MD or MChD) — the standard route into medicine for applicants who already hold a bachelor degree.

ACER, a not-for-profit educational research body based in Camberwell, Melbourne, has run GAMSAT since 1995. The test is designed to measure reasoning capacity rather than recall — what you do with information rather than how much you have memorised. That said, the science section assumes first-year university-level knowledge of biology, chemistry, and physics, so "reasoning only, no content" is not strictly accurate.

Three things make GAMSAT distinctive. First, it is long — a single five-and-a-half-hour sitting tests endurance as much as ability. Second, it requires written communication — most other medicine admissions tests are entirely multiple choice. Third, the science section combines biology, chemistry, and physics into one paper and weights physics and chemistry significantly more than most candidates expect. Misjudging that weighting is the single most common preparation mistake.

Structure — the three sections

GAMSAT runs as three sections in a single computer-based sitting, separated by short breaks plus a longer lunch break between Section 2 and Section 3.

Section 1 — Humanities & Social Sciences

62 multiple-choice questions · 100 minutes

Reading comprehension across literary extracts, poetry, cartoons, philosophical and social-science passages. Each stimulus is followed by 2-6 questions testing inference, tone, argument structure, and authorial intent. Heavy emphasis on close reading and arguments about what is implied rather than stated.

Section 2 — Written Communication

Two essays · 60 minutes total

Two prompts, each a cluster of five quotations on a single theme. Task A is typically argumentative or socio-political; Task B is typically reflective or personal. 30 minutes per essay. Examiners score on Thought & Content and Organisation & Expression. Spelling and grammar matter but matter less than coherence and depth.

Section 3 — Reasoning in Sciences

75 multiple-choice questions · 150 minutes

Biology, chemistry, and physics. Roughly 40% chemistry, 40% biology, 20% physics — though weightings vary sitting to sitting. Each stimulus may include a graph, a reaction scheme, an experimental setup, or a clinical scenario. Mathematical fluency at year-12 level is assumed; calculators are not allowed.

Sitting day runs from approximately 8.30am to 4.30pm including breaks and registration. Bring photo ID, an analogue watch (digital watches and phones are prohibited), and water in a clear bottle. ACER provides scratch paper.

Test windows and registration

ACER runs two GAMSAT sittings per year — one in March and one in September. Both sittings are held over a single day in cities across Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin) and overseas (London, Dublin, Singapore, Washington DC). The two sittings use different exam papers but are equated in scoring so neither is "easier".

Registration windows. Registration opens roughly four months before the test date and closes around six to eight weeks before. For the March sitting, registration typically opens in November and closes in mid-January. For the September sitting, registration opens in May and closes in mid-July. Late registration is available for a higher fee until approximately four weeks out.

Costs. Standard registration is approximately AUD $560 (2026 fee — confirm current pricing with ACER). Late registration adds roughly $115. International test-centre fees may apply on top. There is no discount for repeat sittings.

Which sitting to choose. For most applicants targeting an upcoming application cycle, the September sitting is decisive — its results release in mid-November aligns with most graduate-entry application deadlines in late November and early December. Sitting in March gives you a diagnostic and a safety-net score; sitting in September lets you act on the diagnostic. Strong applicants often sit both and use the better overall score.

Scoring — how the overall is calculated

Each section is reported on a 0-100 scale. The mean for the sitting is typically around 50; scores above 70 are uncommon; scores above 80 are rare. ACER uses item-response theory to equate scores across sittings, so a 65 in March 2026 is comparable to a 65 in September 2026.

Overall GAMSAT score

Overall = (S1 + S2 + 2 × S3) / 4

Section 3 (Sciences) is weighted twice as heavily as Sections 1 and 2. This is the central scoring rule and the reason a strong science background gives a major advantage on overall composite.

Most Australian medical schools require a minimum overall AND minimum sub-scores in each section — typically 50 in every section. A 75 in Section 3 will not save you if Section 1 or Section 2 falls below 50. Always check the section minima per school.

Median offer-holder GAMSAT at competitive Australian programmes sits in the 64-68 range. Sydney MD and ANU MChD historically sit at the upper end (median ~66-68). Newer programmes and full-fee programmes may admit at slightly lower thresholds. Section 3 is almost always the differentiating section at the top end.

Australian medical schools using GAMSAT (2027 entry)

14 Australian medical programmes currently use GAMSAT — primarily 4-year graduate-entry MDs, plus the graduate stream at dual-pathway schools (Monash, UWA). Click any school for the full how-to-get-in guide including median GAMSAT, GPA threshold, MMI format and intake size.

School-by-school GAMSAT cut-offs

Median GAMSAT and GPA thresholds for each Australian school. Cut-offs shift cycle to cycle — these are our latest tracked numbers from the cycle ending 2026 and indicative for 2027 applicants.

SchoolStateGAMSAT (median / threshold)GPA
ANUACTMinimum 50 overall + 50 in each section. Used at 50% weight for interview-ranking composite (alongside 50% GPA). Median offer-holder GAMSAT not officially published; aggregator estimates ~65-68.Minimum weighted GPA 5.0 (latest guidelines; 5.6 historically quoted as practical interview threshold). ANU uses weighted GPA (most recent results weighted heaviest).
DeakinVICMinimum 50 in each section + 50 overall. Aggregated average accepted GAMSAT (Fraser's): 66 (2024), 62 (2023), 68.4 (2022), 66.9 (2021). General-stream interview shortlist: GPA + GAMSAT + adjustments equally weighted.Minimum 5.0/7.0 weighted. GEMSAS weighting (Final-2 × 1 + Final-1 × 2 + Final × 3) / 6. Aggregated average accepted GPA: 6.67 (2024), 6.6 (2023), 6.76 (2022), 6.74 (2021).
FlindersSAMinimum 50 in each section. Flinders explicitly does not publish a fixed cut-off — "dependent upon the profile of the applicant pool and places available for each sub-quota, and therefore vary every year". Forum-derived range ~62-67 for CSP.Minimum 5.00 (Flinders MD Admissions Guide 2027). Typical successful ~6.0+ (forum-derived).
GriffithQLDMinimum 50 in each section AND 50 overall. Interview shortlist rank: 50:50 unweighted GPA (as %) + overall GAMSAT (out of 100). Final offer rank: 50% interview-selection rank + 50% GUMSAA interview score. 2025 intake average GAMSAT 66.39.Minimum 5.0/7.0. Griffith explicitly states "a GPA required for interview selection is likely to be significantly higher than 5.0". 2025 intake average GPA 6.68.
MacquarieNSWMinimum 50 overall, 50 in each section. Used at 50% weight (alongside 50% GPA) for interview shortlist. 2024 intake average successful GAMSAT ~66.Minimum 5.0/7.0 (or WAM 65). 2024 intake average successful GPA ~6.7/7.0.
MelbourneVICMinimum 50 in each of the three sections. Ranking formula uses GAMSAT at 25% post-interview (MMI 50%, GPA 25%, GAMSAT 25%). Aggregated average accepted GAMSAT: 67 (2024), 65 (2023), 67 (2022), 69.35 (2021) per Fraser's.Minimum weighted GPA 5.0/7.0. UoM weighting formula: (Final-2 × 1 + Final-1 × 2 + Final × 2) / 5. PhD / Masters in a related discipline can adjust GPA in applicant's favour (strict quotas).
MonashVICNOT required. Removed from Graduate Entry selection in 2017; never used for Direct Entry.Graduate Entry: WAM minimum 70. Lowest accepted WAM (2025 cycle, student-reported) 81.179.
Notre Dame FremantleWAMinimum 52 overall + 50 in each subsection (UNDA averages the three sections rather than using the overall weighted GAMSAT). 2023 intake average successful GAMSAT 66 (3-year avg ~60+).Minimum 5.2/7.0. 2023 intake average successful GPA 6.70 (3-year avg ~6.7); competitive ≥6.3.
Notre Dame SydneyNSWMinimum 52 overall, 50 in each subsection. UNDA averages the three sections rather than using the overall weighted GAMSAT. 2023 intake average successful GAMSAT ~66.Minimum 5.2/7.0 weighted from 3 years FTE. 2023 intake average successful GPA 6.70; competitive target ≥6.3.
SydneyNSWHard minimum 50 in each of the three sections (USyd MD Admissions Guide); ranking on individual section scores (S1 → S2 → S3) rather than overall weighted score. Median offer-holder overall GAMSAT ~66 (aggregated 2022-2024 cycles). Only results from the past 2 years accepted.Minimum 5.0/7.0 weighted GPA (4.5 for rural applicants). GPA functions as a hurdle only — a 5.1 and 7.0 rank equally once above the floor.
TasmaniaTASGraduate stream only: minimum 50 in each section.Graduate stream only: unweighted minimum 6.5.
UQQLDMinimum 50 in each of Sections I, II, III (any section below 50 = ineligible). Interview shortlist: 50% unweighted GAMSAT (mean of 3 sections) + 50% GPA, GPA as tiebreaker. Final offer: 25% ATAR/GPA + 25% UCAT/GAMSAT + 50% MMI (Fraser's reconstruction).Minimum 5.0/7.0 in key degree. Currency rule: degrees > 10 years before commencement require ≥ 0.50 FTE subsequent coursework at GPA ≥ 5.0.
UWAWAGraduate Pathway: minimum 55 overall, 50 each section. 2027 interview shortlist: 60% GPA + 40% GAMSAT (changed from prior 50/50). 2026 successful interview cohort average GAMSAT 68.53.Graduate Pathway minimum 5.5 unweighted. 2026 successful interview cohort average GPA 6.82. Direct Pathway: students enrol in Bachelor of Biomedicine (Specialised) UG056 for 2 years, then progress to MD conditional on GPA 5.5 minimum.
WollongongNSWMinimum 50 overall, no section below 50. From 2027 entry, GAMSAT becomes a pure qualifying hurdle — not used to rank after threshold met.Minimum 5.5/7.0 at time of interview selection. GPA functions as a hurdle only — not used in offer ranking.

Preparation timelines

Two realistic prep plans — 6 months for science graduates with a working knowledge of first-year biology, chemistry and physics, and 12 months for humanities and life-sciences graduates who need to build up Section 3 content from scratch.

6-month plan (science background)

  • Month 1. Take a diagnostic full ACER practice paper under timed conditions. Score every section honestly. Map weak areas — most science graduates discover Section 1 (humanities) is their actual weak point, not Section 3.
  • Months 2-3. Section 3 content review across biology (cell biology, physiology, genetics), chemistry (organic mechanisms, kinetics, equilibria), and physics (mechanics, electricity, waves). 90 minutes per day, weighted 40/40/20.
  • Months 2-3 in parallel. Section 1 daily reading habit — one essay, one poem, one philosophical or social-science extract per day. Practise inferring tone and argument structure. Use ACER's practice questions and past sittings.
  • Month 4. Section 2 writing practice — one Task A and one Task B per week, marked against the ACER scoring criteria. Build an idea bank around 8-10 themes (justice, technology, identity, freedom).
  • Month 5. Three full timed practice papers, one per week, with full essay sections completed. Review every mistake; classify by content vs reasoning vs time-pressure error.
  • Month 6. Two more full practice papers in the first half, then taper. Focus on sleep, exam logistics and pacing in the final week. Sit the test.

12-month plan (humanities background)

  • Months 1-3. First-year university biology + chemistry from a structured textbook (Campbell Biology and Atkins or Clayden chemistry are standard). Two hours per day, six days per week. The goal is fluency, not memorisation.
  • Months 4-6. First-year physics (mechanics, electricity, waves, thermodynamics). One hour per day; less than biology and chemistry because physics is less of Section 3 by content weight.
  • Months 4-6 in parallel. Section 1 daily reading practice — build the close-reading muscle early, it's easier to maintain than to acquire.
  • Months 7-9. Section 3 reasoning practice — applying the content you've built up. ACER practice questions, third-party question banks, and full timed sections.
  • Months 10-11. Section 2 essay practice, weekly. Three to four full timed practice papers across the two months.
  • Month 12. Two final timed papers, gap analysis, taper. Sit the test.

Both plans assume 90-120 minutes per day on weekdays plus longer weekend blocks. Doubling that does not double improvement — fatigue and burnout are real risks. Sustainability matters more than intensity.

Common pitfalls

  • Under-prepping Section 1. Most science graduates assume Section 1 is the easy section because there's no content to learn. It isn't. The humanities passages reward close reading at a depth most candidates haven't practised since secondary school. Treat Section 1 with the same discipline as Section 3.
  • Ignoring Section 2 until the last month. Essays are weighted equally with Section 1 in the overall composite, and they're the easiest section to lift with structured practice. Two essays per week from month 4 onward beats a panicked sprint in month 6.
  • Treating Section 3 as a content test. The science section assumes content but tests reasoning. Candidates who memorise reaction mechanisms and forget to practise applying them to novel stimuli underperform their content knowledge. Practise reading complex prompts and extracting the experimental claim before reaching for memorised facts.
  • Under-pacing Section 3. 150 minutes for 75 questions sounds generous. It isn't — most candidates run out of time on the final 10 questions. Practise a strict 2-minute-per-question pace from month one and learn to flag-and-return rather than dig in on a hard question.
  • Burning out before the sitting. GAMSAT is a five-and-a-half-hour exam. Practising late nights for six months in a row produces a tired candidate, not a prepared one. Build in two rest days per week and one full rest week per month.

GAMSAT vs UCAT-ANZ — which to take

For most Australian applicants the choice is determined by the pathway, not preference. School leavers applying to undergraduate medicine sit UCAT-ANZ; degree holders applying to graduate medicine sit GAMSAT.

The decision tree:

  • You finish year 12 in 2026 and want a 5-6 year undergraduate MD → UCAT-ANZ.
  • You already hold a bachelor degree (or will by 2026 entry) and want a 4-year graduate MD → GAMSAT.
  • You hold a bachelor and want flexibility across both pathways → sit both. Several applicants do this each cycle. Costly but maximises school choice.
  • You're applying to dual-pathway Monash and want both the undergraduate (UCAT-ANZ + CASPer + ATAR) and graduate (GAMSAT) streams → sit both, but commit fully to one.

The two tests share almost no skills. UCAT-ANZ rewards fast pattern recognition, mental arithmetic, and lateral reasoning under intense time pressure. GAMSAT rewards depth, written expression, and applied science reasoning. Most candidates find one materially easier than the other after taking a diagnostic of each.

For more on the differences and a UCAT-ANZ deep-dive, read our UCAT-ANZ guide and the broader undergraduate vs graduate pathway guide.

Free GAMSAT sample questions

Section 1, 2, and 3 sample questions from our tutoring team — built to the same difficulty as ACER's released materials. Or book a one-to-one GAMSAT diagnostic with a tutor who's sat the test.

Free sample questions Book a GAMSAT diagnostic

Frequently asked questions

How long is a GAMSAT score valid?
A GAMSAT score is valid for two years for most Australian medical schools. If you sit GAMSAT in March 2026, you can use that score to apply for 2026 entry, 2027 entry, and (at some schools) 2028 entry. If you sit twice within the validity window, schools use your most recent score — they do not cherry-pick your highest. Always confirm validity with each individual school before relying on an older sitting.
Can I sit GAMSAT more than once?
Yes. There is no limit on the number of times you can sit GAMSAT. ACER runs March and September sittings each year, and you can register for both. Each sitting costs the full fee (no resit discount). Most applicants sit twice before applying — once early as a diagnostic and once closer to the application cycle to lock in their best score.
Is GAMSAT the same as the MCAT?
No. GAMSAT (used in Australia, the UK, and Ireland) is shorter, includes a written communication section, and tests reasoning across humanities and three sciences. The MCAT (used in the US and Canada) is computer-based, longer, and tests biology, biochemistry, physics, chemistry, psychology and sociology. MCAT scores are not accepted by Australian medical schools — Australian graduate entry requires GAMSAT specifically.
Do international applicants have to sit GAMSAT?
International applicants to graduate-entry Australian medical schools generally sit GAMSAT. A small number of programmes accept the ISAT (International Student Admissions Test) in lieu of GAMSAT for international applicants — Sydney MD is the main example. Check each school individually. UK and Irish graduates can sit GAMSAT at UK and Irish test centres rather than travel to Australia.
What is a good GAMSAT score for Australian medicine?
Median offer-holder GAMSAT for competitive Australian graduate-entry schools sits around 64-68 overall, with individual section scores of 60+. Sydney, Melbourne and ANU MChD typically require a stronger score (65+). Newer programmes like Wollongong, Macquarie and Notre Dame Sydney may admit at slightly lower thresholds. There is no "pass mark" — entry is competitive against the applicant pool.
When are GAMSAT results released?
ACER releases GAMSAT results approximately 9-11 weeks after the test date. The March sitting typically delivers results in late May; the September sitting delivers in mid to late November. The November release lines up directly with most graduate-entry application deadlines, which is why September is often the cycle's decisive sitting.
Do I need a science background to sit GAMSAT?
You do not need a science degree to sit GAMSAT, but Section 3 (Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences) covers first-year university biology, chemistry, and physics. Humanities graduates can succeed on GAMSAT but typically need 6-12 months of structured science self-study. Some applicants take a one-year postgraduate science course (or open-uni modules in biology/chemistry/physics) specifically as GAMSAT prep.
How is GAMSAT used at dual-pathway schools like Monash?
Dual-pathway schools (Monash, UWA) keep their undergraduate and graduate intakes separate. GAMSAT is used only for the graduate-entry stream. School leavers applying to the undergraduate stream sit UCAT-ANZ instead. You cannot mix and match — choose the pathway that matches your prior-degree status and commit to the right test.
Is GAMSAT harder than UCAT-ANZ?
They test different things. UCAT-ANZ is a fast-paced two-hour psychometric test — verbal, quantitative, abstract, decision-making, situational judgement. GAMSAT is a five-and-a-half-hour reasoning test built around humanities, written communication, and university-level science. Most candidates find UCAT-ANZ more about time pressure and pattern recognition; GAMSAT more about depth, stamina and writing. Whichever you find harder depends on your academic background — not an absolute difficulty difference.
Can a strong GAMSAT compensate for a weak GPA?
Partially, but not fully at most schools. Each Australian graduate-entry medical school weights GAMSAT and GPA differently in pre-interview ranking — typically 50/50 or 60/40 in favour of GAMSAT. A standout GAMSAT (75+) can lift a 5.5 GPA into a competitive composite at some schools, but minimum GPA gates (5.0/7.0) still apply. Always check the published weighting per school before counting on GAMSAT to rescue a weak academic record.

Related Australian medicine guides

Reviewed by Isaac Butler-King, medical student at the University of Glasgow. Last reviewed: 28 May 2026