What Is The GAMSAT?

March 25, 2022

Becoming a doctor might have been your childhood dream or inspired by a life-changing visit to the emergency room. For some, the title Dr confers a sense of honour, and for others, a stable job with security. No matter your motivation, admission into postgraduate Medicine in Australia, Ireland, and the UK requires you to sit the Graduate Medical School Admission Test (GAMSAT). Such is the popularity of the GAMSAT, it is now required for entry into certain medical programs in Israel, Poland, Singapore, and the USA.

Offered twice a year in March and September, the GAMSAT is a cognitive test developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). Those familiar with the GAMSAT know it’s a monster of an exam divided into three sections:

Section I: Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences

Section II: Written Communication

Section III: Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences

Traditionally, the GAMSAT was facilitated in a paper format; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the test had been moved online. The structure and content of the GAMSAT exam had changed considerably during the pandemic but such was the age of uncertainty, it could be forgiven. Testing centres are now more numerous and due to the digital nature of the exam, is accessible right across the world. Fast forward to 2022 and ACER has settled on an all-day 5.25-hour exam consisting of 62 questions for Section I, 2-typed exams for Section II, and 75 questions for Section III. You can sample our free trial GAMSAT exam here.

The structure and content of the 2022 GAMSAT exam.

	Number of Questions	Reading Time	Writing Time	Total Test Time
Section I Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences	62	8 minutes	92 minutes	100 minutes
Section II Written Communication	2	5 minutes	60 minutes	65 minutes
Section III Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences	75	8 minutes	142 minutes	150 minutes

You might think sitting the GAMSAT is form of capital punishment, but ACER argues its purpose is to assess your ability to understand and analyse material, and to think critically about issues. Since candidates with non-science backgrounds are eligible to sit the exam, the GAMSAT purposefully tests a wide content base to minimize bias. A recent study commissioned by ACER suggests that students with non-science backgrounds perform better in Section’s I and II than students with science backgrounds. However, candidates with a physical science background tend to perform better overall on the exam.

Entry into Medicine can be divided into two parts: the application process and the interview process. The process of applying for admission to postgraduate Medicine is separate from the process of registering to sit GAMSAT. There are a total of nineteen postgraduate medical school streams in Australia, twelve of which requiring a GAMSAT score for entry. Ten of these medical schools utilise the Graduate Entry Medical School Admissions System (GEMSAS) to process applications.

When you receive your GAMSAT results, they will show an Overall GAMSAT Score and a score for each of the three test sections. Generally, most medical schools rank applicants with this overall score (you must score a minimum of 50 overall, with no individual section below 50), whereas other universities take an average of the three GAMSAT sections. All medical schools consider your weighted or unweighted Grade Point Average (w-GPA and uw-GPA, respectively) in some form, so it helps to have at least a credit-average to be competitive. And to add another layer of complexity, some schools require a portfolio and personal statement for consideration of an interview offer. Additionally, if you have lived in an Australian rural area, you may be eligible for consideration in rural schemes. The Australian Government currently defines “rural origin” as residency for at least 10 years cumulatively or any 5 years consecutively in regional/rural or very remote communities (Modified Monash Model area, MM2–7).

Not to worry, we have done the hard part for you and summarized the important information for select medical school entries below. More information can also be found on the official ACER and GEMSAS webpages.

Your GAMSAT results are valid for two years, i.e., if you sat the March test in 2022 you can use the results obtained to apply for a graduate entry course commencing in 2023 and/or 2024. If you sit the September test in 2022 you may use the results obtained to apply for a graduate entry course commencing in 2024 and/or 2025.

Overwhelmed yet? The friendly team at the Institute of Medical Education is here to help! In addition to providing comprehensive GAMSAT preparation packages, we also oversee your medical school applications and guide your choices. If you are lucky enough to receive an offer for interview, our Interview Mentorship Program will give you the best chance at entry. We want to make sure you focus all your attention on GAMSAT and interview preparation, so get in contact with us today and we can lead this journey together.

GEMSAS and non-GEMSAS Australian medical school places available for postgraduate Medicine entry in 2022, including Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP), Bonded Medical Program (BMP), and Domestic & International Full-Fee.

	Medical School	CSP	BMP	Domestic Full-Fee	International Full-Fee	Comments
GEMSAS	University of Queensland	100	40		180	Approximately 275 places are available for domestic students each year. Provisional cohort of 135 (including rural and BMP quotas), no set quota on ATSI, and International includes 90 UQ-OCHSNER
	Griffith University	142	56		35	80 of the available CSP and BMP places include BMedSci Pathway (Griffith University and University of Sunshine Coast)
	University of Notre Dame (Sydney)	43	17	60
	University of Notre Dame (Fremantle)	71	29
	University of Melbourne	177	70	105		Places are also available to eligible Chancellor’s Scholars applicants and Guaranteed Entry Full-Fee applicants. BMP: 30 places available via MD Rural Pathway
	Deakin University	86	35		15	5% of domestic places held for Indigenous applicants who apply through the Indigenous Entry Stream. Rural applicants: 25% of places reserved for rural applicants and 30 domestic places are reserved for the Rural Training Stream
	University of Wollongong	50	17	17		Students will be placed at either Wollongong or Shoalhaven campuses for the first 18 months of the program
	University of Western Australia	63			15	30% of places are available for rural applicants, 10% of places are available for Indigenous students, and 28.5% of all domestic medical places are BMPs
	Macquarie University			40	20
	Australian National University	64	26		20	40 of the available places are reserved for students through an ANU pathway program
Non-GEMSAS	University of Sydney	225			70	The intake is usually 300 students each year. The 24 student places in the Dubbo Stream are only available to students eligible for a CSP
Non-GEMSAS	Flinders University	75		6		A maximum 75% of the total places available are for Flinders University graduates. At least 28% of CSP are available for applicants who come from an Australian rural background. Up to five places are reserved for eligible ATSI applicants and four places are available to Humanitarian Visa holders

GEMSAS and non-GEMSAS Australian medical schools that require a GAMSAT score for postgraduate entry in 2022.

	Medical School	Program Offered	GPA Requirements	Portfolio/Personal Statement	Interview Selection	Comments
GEMSAS	University of Queensland	Medicine	uw-5.0/7.0		GAMSAT and GPA	There will be no variation to the GPA assessment methodology for periods of study that were affected by COVID-19. PhD and Master’s by Research given maximum GPA of 7.0. Must complete two prerequisite biological science courses
	Griffith University	Medicine	uw-5.0/7.0		GAMSAT and GPA	2020 Calendar year scores can be omitted from GPA calculation at the request of the applicant. PhDs and Master’s by Research receive automatic GPA of 7.0
	University of Notre Dame (Sydney)	Medicine	w-5.2/7.0	✓	GAMSAT, GPA, and Portfolio	There will be no variation to the GPA assessment methodology for periods of study that were affected by COVID-19. Calculate GPA on most recently completed three years FTE of study (not including Master’s by Research or PhD). Portfolio assesses personal statement, leadership experience, service to community/church involvement, and other academic or life achievements
	University of Notre Dame (Fremantle)	Medicine	w-5.2/7.0	✓	GAMSAT, GPA, and Portfolio
	University of Melbourne	Medicine, Dentistry, Optometry	w-5.0/7.0		GAMSAT and GPA; interview for Medicine, only	2022 COVID-19 pandemic results not considered in GPA calculation; however, Honours will be considered. Prerequisite courses must be considered for Dentistry and Optometry. Minimum 65 WAM for Optometry
	Deakin University	Medicine	w-5.0/7.0		GAMSAT and GPA	2020 Calendar year results will not be used in the GPA calculation. Calculate GPA on most recently completed three years FTE of study (not including Master’s by Research or PhD). Applicants may be eligible for interview offer bonuses: rural residency (4–8%), prior clinical experience (4%), work experience (2%), financial disadvantage (2%), and Deakin graduate (4%).
	University of Wollongong	Medicine	w-5.5/7.0 hurdle	✓ + Altus Suite (CASPer & Snapshot)	GAMSAT and Portfolio	There will be no variation to the GPA assessment methodology for periods of study that were affected by COVID-19. GAMSAT/GPA not used for offer. Portfolio assesses leadership, capacity to work with others, service ethic, high-level of performance, and rural residency
	University of Western Australia	Medicine, Dentistry	uw-5.5/7.0		GAMSAT and GPA; no interview for Podiatry	Domestic applicants who were successful in obtaining an interview for 2022 entry averaged a GPA of 6.75 and GAMSAT score of 72.2. PhDs receive automatic GPA of 7.0. There is no 10-year rule for entry to UWA which means that we will consider applicants with degrees older than 10 years.
	Macquarie University	Medicine	w-5.0/7.0 or 65 WAM	✓	GAMSAT, GPA, and Personal Statement	There will be no variation to the GPA assessment methodology for periods of study that were affected by COVID-19. PhD and Master’s by Research given maximum GPA value in w-GPA calculation. A 3% bonus will be applied to the w-GPA of ATSI, rural, and Macquarie University Bachelor of Clinical Science applicants
	Australian National University	Medicine	w-5.6/7.0		GAMSAT and GPA	Applicants may be eligible for interview offer bonuses: Honours (2%) and Master’s/PhD (2–4%)
Non-GEMSAS	University of Sydney	Medicine, Dentistry	w-5.0/7.0 hurdle	✓ Dubbo Medicine stream	No Interview	Offers consider GAMSAT and GPA, only. Medicine will be offered concurrently in Sydney and Dubbo streams. Dentistry requires biology prerequisites
Non-GEMSAS	Flinders University	Medicine	w-5.5/7.0 hurdle		GAMSAT	Offers include GAMSAT, GPA, and interview score. A maximum 75% of the total places available are for Flinders University graduates

GEMSAS and non-GEMSAS Australian medical school evaluation of domestic offers for postgraduate Medicine entry in 2022.

	Medical School	GPA %	GAMSAT %	Portfolio/Personal Statement %	Interview %
GEMSAS	University of Queensland	25	25		50
	Griffith University	25	25		50
	University of Notre Dame (Sydney)	50*			50
	University of Notre Dame (Fremantle)	50*			50
	University of Melbourne	25	25		50
	Deakin University	25	25		50
	University of Wollongong			50	50§
	University of Western Australia	30 (22.5)‡	20 (15)‡		50 (37.5)‡
	Macquarie University		50		50
	Australian National University	25	25		50
Non-GEMSAS	University of Sydney		100†
Non-GEMSAS	Flinders University	33	33		33

* Applicants are ranked for interview by combining the scores calculated from the GPA, uw-GAMSAT, and Portfolio

‡ Rural entry requirements, including 25% rural rating

§ CASPer score included

† Should it arise that applicants are ranked equally, further selection tools such as interview, Situational Judgement Test, or GPA may be used

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What Is The GAMSAT?