UCAT vs GAMSAT: Similarities and Differences
Are you pursuing or considering graduate entry medicine, and wondering how the UCAT and GAMSAT compare? In this article, we cover what each exam entails, break down the entry requirements for graduate courses (GAMSAT vs UCAT), and explore how you can take advantage of both admissions tests to maximise your chances of getting into medical school.
Just starting your GAMSAT preparation journey? Take a look at our GAMSAT blogs for in-depth section-specific guides, top tips to succeed in the GAMSAT, common GAMSAT preparation mistakes to avoid, and guidance on how to master GAMSAT timing.
Table of contents
UCAT vs GAMSAT – how do they compare?
What are the advantages of sitting both the UCAT and GAMSAT?
What are the challenges of sitting both the UCAT and GAMSAT?
Graduate entry vs standard entry as a graduate
Admissions journey for applicants sitting both the UCAT and GAMSAT
What is the UCAT ANZ?
The UCAT ANZ (University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand) is an admissions test which assesses important aspects of being a medical or dental professional. The skills-based test is used as a way of differentiating applicants during the admissions process and plays a role in interview selection (and sometimes final selection).
What is the GAMSAT?
The GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admissions Test) is an admissions test for graduate entry medicine or dentistry. You can sit the exam if you have an undergraduate degree, or if you’re in the final or second to last year of university when you take the test. Like the UCAT, the GAMSAT is used to differentiate applicants during the admissions process, however there are key differences between the two tests.
UCAT vs GAMSAT – how do they compare?
Here’s a basic overview of the GAMSAT and UCAT:
What are the advantages of sitting both the UCAT and GAMSAT?
Sitting both the UCAT and GAMSAT can provide a strategic advantage by increasing your chances of being accepted into medical or dental school. Although the two exams are fundamentally different, you may find that preparing for one exam could help with the other. For example, there is a broad overlap between GAMSAT Section 1 (Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences Section) and UCAT Decision Making and Verbal Reasoning sections, as they’re related to comprehension. In addition, many graduate entry students have sat the UCAT before, so will already be familiar with the exam format and test-taking process.
As the GAMSAT is offered twice a year, there are more opportunities for you to perform well. Keep in mind that your UCAT score is only valid for a year, but your GAMSAT results are valid for four years. In addition, you can retake the GAMSAT up to twice a year (once per test window). Overall, preparing for and sitting both exams allows you to have ‘multiple shots’ at achieving a favourable score that will increase your chance of success.
What are the challenges of sitting both the UCAT and GAMSAT?
If you decide to sit both the UCAT and GAMSAT, there are some challenges to be aware of:
- Burning out – as you’ll be revising for two exams, and splitting your preparation time, there is a risk of doing worse in both exams. To counteract this, create a study timetable and try to space out revision in a logical and manageable way. You should ensure that you dedicate enough revision time for both exams without compromising your performance in either exam. We’ve suggested a possible timeline for how your preparation journey might look, but feel free to adapt this accordingly.
- UCAT performance – if you struggled with the UCAT in the past, you must identify your mistakes and learn how to overcome them, otherwise you risk making them again. Did you lack confidence? Did you not prepare for long enough? Did you not identify your weaknesses in practice questions and each practice test? Whatever it is, use your previous experience as a guide for how to improve next time.
- Exam costs – sitting exams, especially the GAMSAT, is expensive for many students. In addition, if you decide to resit your exams, you will need to consider the financial implications as this may not be viable for you.
Graduate entry vs standard entry as a graduate
There are 12 graduate entry medical programs throughout Australia and New Zealand, and most of these require the GAMSAT:
There are eight standard entry medical programs in Australia and New Zealand which also accept graduates. If you sit the GAMSAT and apply for standard entry as a graduate, you would have the choice of just two universities to apply to. However, if you sit both the UCAT and GAMSAT, you could apply to any of the eight universities listed in the table below, thereby boosting your odds of being accepted into medical school.
Admissions journey for applicants sitting both the UCAT and GAMSAT
This following diagram shows an admissions journey for an applicant who is enrolled in a 3-year degree, and plans to sit both the UCAT and GAMSAT for applying to medical schools. Please note, this is an example timeline. Depending on your progress and performance, the preparation and test-taking strategies should be adapted accordingly.
With this approach, you would start preparing for the GAMSAT towards the end of your first year at university ahead of the March test window in year 2. You should give yourself at least 3 months to prepare for the GAMSAT. However, if you’re from a non-science background, or speak English as a second language, we recommend extending the preparation time to at least 5–6 months. Of course, preparation times will vary for test takers depending on your natural abilities and other commitments. What matters most is being intentional, and giving yourself as much time as needed to build and refine various skills.
Once you’ve sat the GAMSAT in March in your second year, you will need to decide what the next best step is. For instance, if you achieve a good score in the first sitting, ask yourself if sitting the GAMSAT another time to improve your score even further would be worth it, versus focusing on university studies to raise your GPA and preparing for interviews. If your GAMSAT score isn’t as good as you hoped it might be, ask yourself whether you want to consider the UCAT too (so choosing between sitting only the GAMSAT again, or sitting both the UCAT and GAMSAT).
If you decide to sit the GAMSAT again, make a note of how the first sitting went and spend some time reflecting. What did you struggle with? Do you need to improve your pacing or stamina? Did you not spend long enough tackling your weaknesses? Repeat this process for any exams you sit after this, as it should increase the likelihood that you’ll perform better over time (so long as you’re able to sustain a strong mindset throughout this period). If you decide to sit the UCAT too, and you’ve sat the UCAT before, now is an ideal time to reflect on what didn’t go so well the last time. Use your preparation time to really hone in on your weaknesses to optimise your performance as much as possible.
If you end up sitting the GAMSAT multiple times by the time you submit your application, you'll have two or three GAMSAT scores that can be used (you’ll be able to submit your highest score for your application). If you don’t do as well as you hoped in one or both exams, or aren’t ready to submit your application, you can resit the UCAT the following year (as UCAT is only valid for one year). You can also take the GAMSAT another two times, and use any of your scores, as the GAMSAT is valid for four years. Keep in mind that if you do resit your exams, this will delay starting medical/dental school by a year.
Before applying, you should decide if graduate entry or standard entry as a graduate is the best option. There are pros and cons for each pathway, such as:
- Course length – graduate entry courses tend to be shorter and more accelerated compared to standard entry (graduate entry is usually four years long whereas standard entry is typically five or six years long).
- Expense – if you opt for standard entry, you’ll need to study for longer, resulting in more expenses and delayed earning potential, so this is something to take into consideration.
- Competition – graduate entry is considered to be more competitive than standard entry. However, the competitiveness of each pathway can vary as it will depend on where you apply, how many slots are available, how many students have applied, and the quality of the applicant pool. You should always research the admission requirements for the universities you’re interested in to put yourself in the strongest position when applying.
Of course, if feasible, you can apply to a mix of standard entry and graduate entry programmes to further maximise your chances of getting into medical school.
Succeed in the UCAT and GAMSAT with Medify
Do you need help with preparing for your UCAT and GAMSAT exams?
Our UCAT ANZ Online Course provides 20,000+ questions, 24 unique full mock exams, 40+ mini-mock exams, 50+ hours of video tutorials, and performance feedback.
Our GAMSAT Online Course provides 700+ original GAMSAT-style questions, 7 realistic GAMSAT mock exams, 50+ in-depth tutorials, and Medify’s science syllabus with key topics for biology, chemistry, and physics.
What should I do one month before my UCAT?
Keep practising! A month sounds like a long time, but time will quickly vanish. Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) goals such as reaching a certain score by a certain date or time.
Niche down even further on your weaknesses – by this stage you should just be focusing on what you find hardest. Make sure you factor in breaks and days off into your schedule, as well as any important events which you need to attend.
Read the 'Good medical practice' by the Medical Board of Australia if you haven’t already. It will inform you about the different duties of healthcare professionals and how they should respond to different scenarios, which is essential for the Situational Judgement Test section of the UCAT.
Try Medify's Skills Trainers, such as inference scanning for Verbal Reasoning, to maximise your score (these are included in our UCAT ANZ Online Course). Make sure you've also completed plenty of UCAT practice tests.
The UCAT exam is two hours with no breaks in between, so practise at least two hours each time to build your mental stamina. You should also simulate the exam environment as closely as possible – this means treating every mock test as if it were a real one.
For instance, you should sit mock exams at the same time of the day as your actual UCAT exam and ensure there are no distractions. By mirroring the test conditions, not only will it prepare you for what to expect on test day, it should also help to decrease any anxiety leading up to the exam. Otherwise, your brain has to process the ‘new’ way of completing the test.
What should I do one week before my UCAT?
At this point, you'll know the format of the exam inside out and will have practised the questions enough times to get used to UCAT timings. Don’t give up – keep preparing in an environment where you cannot be interrupted.
Remember, a lot of your preparation will have been done in the weeks and months before this final week, so be careful not to overdo it and become too fatigued. Your motivation may drop or you might ‘peak’ before the test. Your body needs rest too.
Now is a great time to introduce or increase self-care in your regime. Whether it’s watching Netflix, gaming, or just running a bath, it’s important to detach yourself from UCAT revision from time to time to avoid the risk of burnout.
In this week you should also prioritise your nutrition and sleep. Eat well, do not miss meals and keep hydrated. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep in the days before the test by avoiding late night cramming or staying awake into the early hours.
If it puts your mind at rest, you can check last year’s UCAT scores, but remember that this is all about your personal journey and performance, so don't get hung up on that information!
What should I do one day before my UCAT?
We do not advise doing a mock this close to the exam. Revision won't help you much at this stage and can actually leave you worse off. Instead, use this time to wind down and get yourself into a relaxed state. This will enable you to perform at your best on test day.
Try to get to bed early and avoid things that can affect sleep, such as looking at your phone before bed. If you think that you will struggle to sleep on time, you could try doing some exercise during the day to tire yourself out.
Exercise can boost your brainpower by oxygenating your brain, helping you learn and aid sleep. Plus, activity makes your body release endorphins, which can reduce anxiety and stress levels.
Make sure you double check your UCAT test centre information, the travel route to the test centre, the time of your UCAT exam, and so on, so you’re well prepared for test day. If someone else is giving you a ride to the test centre, it’s worth reminding them.
What should I do on the day of my UCAT?
You should start the day off with a nutritious breakfast and give yourself enough time to arrive early to the test centre to avoid feeling flustered, rushed or stressed.
Remember that buses and trains can be late and that traffic may be heavier than you had hoped, so allow extra time whichever way you are travelling. Find out how to choose a UCAT test centre.
Make sure you know how to get to the test centre – for instance you could consider taking a map with you. If you’re using your phone for directions, make sure it’s sufficiently charged and that you have spare data (otherwise you can download the map ahead of time to use offline).
On test day you will be expected to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled test time to complete the check-in process.
You need to bring:
- Your test confirmation email
- Photographic ID from the approved list
When you arrive at the test centre, it’s likely that you’ll be experiencing a heightened sense of adrenaline. This is completely normal, but it could be helpful to learn some mindfulness tricks to reduce your stress levels. For instance, you could focus on your breathing to help you relax.
Don’t forget, during your test there are one minute introductions between each subtest. You can skip these, but we recommend using the time to mentally refresh yourself.
If you’ve stuck to your revision plan, and followed our advice above, the best thing you can do on test day is to try and keep as calm as possible. Take solace in the fact that you have prepared for weeks/months to get to this point, and channel any nervous energy into doing the best you can during your UCAT test.
What should I eat and drink leading up to the UCAT?
You should think about your diet well ahead of UCAT test day. Focus on foods that release energy slowly (that is, which have a low glycaemic index, or GI) which will stop you from feeling hungry. These are ideal for UCAT preparation, as well as on test day itself.
Try eating protein and low-GI carbohydrates, such as meat or baked beans, brown (whole grain) rice or pasta, or wholegrain breakfast cereals or muesli. However, do not stray far from your usual diet on the day of the test in case you feel sick. You may want to try these foods out at the same time of day a few weeks in advance.
Be wary of energy drinks and coffee. If you’re not used to them then don’t drink them, especially in large quantities. Caffeine can acutely increase anxiety, and the sugar rush of an energy drink is soon followed by insulin slamming on the brakes, leaving you feeling worse than before. These products are no substitute for a good night’s sleep, eating properly and exercising.
No food or drink is allowed in the test room so eat a healthy meal before your UCAT test and ensure you’re hydrated. While you should make sure you’re drinking enough water, do not overdo it, otherwise you might need the toilet while the timer is ticking.
Please note, access arrangements are available if you have a disability, learning difficulty or long-term medical condition. You may be entitled to extra time and/or rest breaks, and allowed certain items, such as water, at your test centre workstation.
What happens at the UCAT test centre?
- At the registration desk, you will be asked to show a valid photographic ID and a printed/electronic copy of your confirmation email from Pearson VUE.
- You will be asked to sign a signature pad and take a photograph.
- You will be given spiral bound laminated sheets and a black marker pen. You may also request earplugs.
- Do not take anything other than your ID into the examination room. A locker or a coat hanger will be available.
- Go to the bathroom if you need to.
- Once the staff have prepared your exam, you may enter the exam room. You may be asked to undergo a body check (e.g. turning up your pockets and rolling your sleeves).
- The staff will guide you to the seat, or you may be able to choose your desk. Take some time to prepare yourself and relax. Your two hours have not yet started.
What is the UCAT test environment like?
This image shows a typical UCAT test environment:
There is no audio element to the test, but you can request earplugs to block out any noise that might disrupt your concentration.
You will have access to a basic onscreen calculator which may be useful for the Quantitative Reasoning and Decision Making sections.
You will be given a laminated notebook and marker pen. Consider using these for:
- Quantitative Reasoning: Noting down numbers during multi-step workings
- Abstract Reasoning: Writing down mnemonics for pattern recognition
- Decision Making: Noting calculations and drawing diagrams
If you require an additional notebook and pen, you can raise your hand and ask the invigilator. Although the invigilator will check that your pen is working before the test, we advise double-checking this to avoid seeking assistance during the test.
What happens during my UCAT test?
- Once you are ready, follow the on-screen instructions.
- Your exam will be in the following order:
- Verbal Reasoning
- Decision Making
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Abstract Reasoning
- Situational Judgement
- You will have one minute before each section to read the instructions. You can skip it, but this will not give you an extra minute to answer the questions. Use this time to give your mind a quick break.
- If you have any issues, such as requiring a toilet break, you can quietly raise your hand. However, your time will continue running.
- After your exam, there may be an opportunity to answer a short optional survey on UCAT ANZ preparation and the quality of the venue.
- Raise your hand when you've finished and the examiner will guide you out of the exam room. You need to return your laminated board and marker pen.
- Collect your belongings and leave the test centre.
- Your UCAT ANZ results will be emailed to you shortly (usually between 30 minutes and one hour). All results will be delivered to UCAT ANZ Consortium universities automatically.
- If you’ve achieved the scores that you desire, well done.
- Even if you haven’t achieved the scores you wanted, congratulate yourself for getting through a really tough process. You've done exceptionally well just to get to this point. Plus, you can always take the UCAT again next year or consider graduate entry to medicine – do not give up on your dream!
Do you need help preparing for the UCAT ANZ? Head over to our UCAT ANZ Online Course and we’ll get you signed up to guide you through the whole process.
We provide a huge bank of 20,000+ questions, 24 unique full mock exams, 40+ mini-mock exams, 50+ hours of video tutorials, and performance feedback. We've also upgraded our UCAT mock exams 13-24 and revised our practice question bank to enrich your preparation journey.
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