What is the GAMSAT and who needs it?
The Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) is run by ACER, the Australian Council for Educational Research. It is used for graduate-entry medicine, so it is aimed at people who already have, or are finishing, a degree. Each medical school sets its own rules on which degrees it accepts.
For UK entry in 2027, ACER lists these GAMSAT courses: Brunel, Chester, Exeter, East Anglia, Pears Cumbria School of Medicine, Keele, Liverpool, Plymouth (medicine and dentistry), St Andrews with Dundee (ScotGEM), City St George's, Sunderland, Surrey, Swansea, Ulster and Worcester. Exeter and Keele advise checking their own eligibility rules.
In Ireland, graduate-entry medicine at RCSI, University College Cork, University College Dublin and the University of Limerick uses the GAMSAT, applied for through the CAO. The test is also used widely in Australia.
School-leavers applying for UK medicine usually need the UCAT; Irish school-leavers need the HPAT.
GAMSAT format, section by section
| Section | What you do | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences | Interpret written passages and other material | 62 multiple choice | 100 minutes |
| Written Communication | Write two pieces in response to given themes | 2 tasks | 65 minutes |
| Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences | Solve problems in biology, chemistry and physics | 75 multiple choice | 150 minutes |
- Calculators are not permitted.
- Written Communication is taken online with remote proctoring (by ProctorU) for everyone, usually about three weeks before the other two sections.
- The two multiple-choice sections are taken at test centres. Remote proctoring for them is only offered if you live more than three hours' drive from a centre or in a country with no centre.
The science section is the longest and carries the most weight, so many candidates without a science degree spend most of their preparation time there.
How the GAMSAT is scored and what a good score looks like
You get four scores, each on a scale of 0 to 100 (not a percentage): one per section, plus an overall score. The overall score counts the science section twice:
Results are valid for two years in the UK and Ireland (four years in Australia; Ulster University also accepts four-year-old results). There is no limit on how many times you can sit the GAMSAT.
UK and Irish schools use the GAMSAT as a threshold for interview, often alongside degree results, and the threshold changes each year. ACER does not publish a pass mark. Check each school's published entry criteria and treat online "cut-off" figures with caution.
GAMSAT dates and fees
The GAMSAT runs twice a year, in March and September. September 2026 registrations are closed. Registration for March 2027 opens in November 2026; ACER publishes the test dates, deadlines and results timing on its dates page, so check there before you plan.
Which sittings count depends on your entry year. For UK courses starting in 2027, ACER lists results from March 2025 to September 2026. Check ACER's table for your own entry year before you book.
Registration fee: £296 in the UK, €378 in Ireland and A$568 in Australia, paid in full by card when you register. Changing your test centre, date or session after standard registration closes costs £71 (UK) or €83 (Ireland).
How to prepare: a 6-week GAMSAT plan
- Days 1–3: Take a practice test of all three sections. Rate your science background honestly: biology, chemistry (including organic) and physics.
- Weeks 1–2, sciences: Rebuild weak areas, then practise reasoning from unfamiliar data, graphs and passages. Do this without a calculator from the start.
- Week 3, humanities: Practise timed passage sets at about 1 minute 35 seconds a question. Read widely: opinion columns, essays, poetry.
- Week 4, writing: Write two timed pieces three times a week. Plan quickly, take a clear angle on the theme and support it with examples.
- Weeks 5–6: Full mocks at real timing, sciences first, because they count double. Review each mock the next day and drill your weakest question types.
Practising with Principly: our 13 GAMSAT mocks follow the three-section structure (62 humanities questions, two writing tasks and 75 science questions) at full length, with explanations for every multiple-choice question.
Try a GAMSAT mock now. The free practice test gives you a decile estimate in one short sitting; the full set is 13 timed mocks with worked solutions.
March or September: which sitting should you take?
Because UK and Irish results last two years, you have some choice. A simple way to decide:
- Applying through UCAS this autumn? Your result must be from a sitting on ACER's list for that entry year.
- Weak in the sciences? Pick the sitting that gives you at least six clear weeks after you finish rebuilding your biology, chemistry and physics.
- Want a second try? There is no limit on attempts, so a March sitting leaves room for September if the first result is lower than you hoped.
- Plan for two test dates. Written Communication is taken remotely about three weeks before the two multiple-choice sections, so your writing practice needs to peak earlier than your science and humanities practice.
- Applying in Ireland? Irish courses go through the CAO with different deadlines. Check which sittings ACER lists for your Irish entry year.
Common GAMSAT mistakes
- Under-preparing the sciences. They count twice in the overall score.
- Relying on memorised facts. The sciences section tests reasoning with the information given.
- Running out of stamina. The test is long; practise full sittings.
- Treating Written Communication as an afterthought. It is a full quarter of the overall score.
- Not checking your remote set-up for the writing section against ACER's technical requirements.
- Using a result that has expired for your entry year. Check ACER's validity table.
GAMSAT FAQ
- Who needs the GAMSAT?
- Applicants to graduate-entry medicine at the UK, Irish and Australian schools that use it. Each medical school sets its own rules on which degrees it accepts, so check the course page.
- How is the GAMSAT overall score calculated?
- Overall = (Humanities + Written Communication + 2 × Sciences) ÷ 4. Each score is on a 0–100 scale and is not a percentage.
- Can I use a calculator in the GAMSAT?
- No. Calculators are prohibited.
- Is the GAMSAT taken online?
- The Written Communication section is remotely proctored for everyone. The two multiple-choice sections are taken at test centres unless you qualify for remote sitting.
- How long are GAMSAT results valid?
- Two years in the UK and Ireland and four years in Australia. Ulster University accepts four-year-old results.
- How many times can I sit the GAMSAT?
- There is no limit on the number of times you may sit it.
- How much does the GAMSAT cost?
- £296 in the UK, €378 in Ireland and A$568 in Australia.
- When can I register for March 2027?
- ACER says registration for the March 2027 sitting opens in November 2026. Check the official site for exact deadlines.
Try a GAMSAT mock now. The free practice test gives you a decile estimate in one short sitting; the full set is 13 timed mocks with worked solutions.
Sources
- ACER GAMSAT: Home and fees
- ACER GAMSAT: Registration
- ACER GAMSAT: University admission (UK)
- ACER GAMSAT: Information booklet (PDF)
Last checked: 31 October 2026
Principly is an independent practice provider. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any test body or university; test names are used only to describe what our mocks prepare for.