GAMSAT Full Form

The GAMSAT, which stands for  Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test, was initially designed as an exam for candidates to medical schools in Australia, particularly when the field of medicine was a Graduate Entry program. Its primary purpose is to assess the readiness and suitability of candidates for the rigorous academic and professional demands of medical school. Since then, several GEM courses in the UK have recognised its value and have incorporated it into their admissions process.

The test assesses the knowledge and skills you've acquired from previous training and experience. It covers fundamental science as well as writing, critical thinking, and problem-solving techniques.

The following UK medical schools now require the GAMSAT as a requirement for Graduate Entry:

• Cardiff University

• Nottingham

• St. George’s, University of London

• Pears Cumbria School of Medicine (UCAT or GAMSAT)

• University of Dundee

• University of Exeter (UCAT or GAMSAT)

• University of Liverpool (UCAT or GAMSAT)

• University of Nottingham

• University of Plymouth (GCSE, A levels and UCAT or GAMSAT)

• University of St. Andrews

• University of Sunderland (UCAT but could consider GAMSAT)

• University of Surrey (UCAT or GAMSAT)

• University of Worcester (UCAT or GAMSAT)

The following GAMSAT-required international graduate entry medical schools are:

• AUC (UCAT or MCAT or GAMSAT)

• Ulster 

• University of Nicosia (MCAT or GAMSAT)

The single-day GAMSAT exam has been divided up into three sections:

1. Reasoning in humanities and social sciences. 62 multiple-choice questions in 100 minutes. (Reading time 8 minutes, writing time 92 minutes.)

2. Written communication. 2 questions in 65 minutes. (Reading time 5 minutes, writing time 60 minutes.)

3. Reasoning in biological and physical sciences. 75 multiple-choice questions in 150 minutes. (Reading time 8 minutes, writing time 142 minutes.)

The first and second sections do not overlap. Between portions 2 and 3, there is an hour-long lunch break.

You must take the digital GAMSAT exam in a testing facility.

Typically, GAMSAT is available in March and September of each year. If you wish to take the GAMSAT in March, the only UK test centres available are London, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, or Derry. Registrations for the March sitting usually conclude in late January, having opened in November. There are more UK test centres offering the GAMSAT in September. Enrollment for the September session begins in May and ends in the middle of July.

The UK cost of sitting for GAMSAT is £271. A late registration fee of £65 will be charged. The test costs €344,00 in Ireland and $518,00 in Australia.

When your GAMSAT score is accessible through your online account, you will receive an email. Results for the March sitting are typically made public in May. Results for the September session should be available in November. Each of the three portions is scored, and candidates also obtain an overall GAMSAT score. The weighted average of the three section scores determines the overall score.

You are able to take the GAMSAT exam as many times as you like. This implies that if necessary, you might take the exam in March, retake it in September, and take it once more the following year. You can select which GAMSAT test results to include in your GEM application if you take the exam more than once.

Reading widely is the best approach to getting ready for sections 1 and 2 of the GAMSAT. While staying up to date on the most recent medical news is a good idea, you might also read magazines, novels, and poetry as part of your preparation. When you do this, practice drawing conclusions and opinions from the text and make an effort to understand what you're reading.

It is advisable to go through the GAMSAT section 3 preparation materials available online (or via the exam provider ACER). As you prepare for the GAMSAT, practice responding to sample questions. A-level physics textbooks and university-level first-year Chemistry and Biology volumes are also recommended reading.