Leslie Massey
A good GAMSAT score is a relative concept that depends on the cohort, the university or medical school you are applying to, and your GPA. The GAMSAT is a standardised test used for graduate entry to medicine, dentistry, and other health science programs in Australia, Ireland, and the UK. It is scored on a scale of 0 to 100, with an average score of around 50-60, a good score of 60-65, and an excellent score of 70 or above. The GAMSAT is just one part of the admissions process, and universities will also consider your GPA, interview performance, and other factors when making their decisions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Theoretical top overall score | 100 |
| Top 0.1% of students score | Over 80 |
| Average GAMSAT score | 56-59 |
| Good GAMSAT score | 61-65 |
| Very high GAMSAT score | 72 or higher |
| Excellent score | Anything over 70 |
| Competitive cut-off score | Over 65 or 70 |
| Minimum individual section scores | Required by many universities |
| GPA | Considered by most universities |
| Interview skills | Considered by universities |
| University course | Cut-offs fluctuate from year to year |
| Number of attempts | No restriction |
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What You'll Learn
What is considered a good GAMSAT score?
GAMSAT scores are mapped onto a scale from 0–100, with a higher number indicating a better GAMSAT score. The score you receive in the GAMSAT is your scaled score, which is calculated using statistical adjustments to ensure that scores are comparable from year to year. The overall GAMSAT score is a weighted average of the three section scores, with the science section (Section III) having twice the weight of the other two sections.
There is no universally "good" GAMSAT score, as this depends on various factors such as your GPA, interview score, the specific medical institution you are applying to, and the number of places available. However, aiming for a score above the 50th percentile (an average score) is generally recommended to increase your chances of admission. For the March 2025 GAMSAT exam, this would be a score of 59.
A "good" GAMSAT score might fall in the range of 61–64, placing you in the top 25% of candidates (75th percentile). A score of 63 is considered good, as it puts you in about the top 20%–25% of all candidates (75th to 80th percentile). A score of 64 is roughly the 75th percentile.
A "very high" GAMSAT score would be 72 or higher, placing you in the top 2% of candidates (98th percentile). Scores above 85, while possible, are extremely rare. A score of 76 will place you around the 98th percentile and in an extremely competitive position.
It's worth noting that universities have different requirements and cut-off scores, and some may use alternative formulas to calculate overall scores, giving less weight to the science section. Therefore, it's essential to check with the specific medical schools you're interested in to understand their entry requirements and determine what score you should aim for.
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GAMSAT score percentiles
GAMSAT scores are used by universities to rank applications and decide on admissions to graduate-entry medicine courses. The scores are calculated using Item Response Theory (ITR) and are scaled to allow for comparison across different exam sittings. The scores are not released as raw scores but as scaled scores for each section, along with an overall GAMSAT score and a percentile graph. The percentile graph illustrates how your scores compare to the performance of other candidates who took the same sitting as you. While percentiles are not used in the application process, they offer a useful reference point for understanding your performance relative to others.
For the March 2025 GAMSAT Exam, a score of 59 was the average, or 50th percentile. A score of 64 will put you in the 75th percentile, while a score of 76 will place you in the 98th percentile. The theoretical top overall score is 100, but only the top 0.1% of students will score over 80.
It's important to note that what defines a "good" GAMSAT score depends on various factors, including your GPA, your medical school interview score, the medical institution you intend to apply to, and the course you want to get into. The cut-off scores set by universities can fluctuate from year to year, so it's best to check with the relevant medical school for further details.
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GAMSAT score calculation
GAMSAT scores are calculated using Item Response Theory (IRT) to ensure fairness across different sittings of the exam. The IRT is designed to account for two factors: the performance of the cohort and the difficulty of the test. This allows for a comparable score for universities to use.
The overall GAMSAT score is calculated using the following formula: (1 x Humanities and Social Sciences score + 1 x Written Communication score + 2 x Biological and Physical Sciences score) ÷ 4. The overall score is a weighted average of the three section scores. Each of the four GAMSAT scores is expressed on a scale of 0 to 100. These are not percentage marks. The overall GAMSAT score is calculated to several decimal places and then rounded.
The GAMSAT Percentile Curve is sent to each applicant along with their individual GAMSAT results. These graphs can be used to contextualise an applicant's score and determine how well they performed in comparison to other applicants. The percentile curve can also be used to judge how easy or difficult the test was, with a curve closer to the right indicating an easier test.
The GAMSAT is sat twice a year, in March and September, with multiple sittings within a 5-day period. Results are released after careful calculation and extensive checking. Applicants will receive their results via email, which will contain their three section scores and overall score.
It is important to note that there is no universal GAMSAT score that is considered 'good enough' to get into any medical school. A good GAMSAT score depends on various factors such as the applicant's GPA, their medical school interview score, the medical institution they intend to apply to, and any additional bonuses such as having lived rurally. However, as medical schools in Australia cannot accept every applicant, it is generally recommended to aim for a score higher than the 50th percentile, which is considered the average.
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GAMSAT score requirements for Australian universities
The GAMSAT is a requirement for graduate-entry medical programs in Australia, and is recognised as one of the primary and most important requirements for medical admission. It is also used for admission to dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, and veterinary science courses. The test is designed to measure knowledge of basic science concepts and the ability to apply them in various contexts, as well as general problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
The GAMSAT is a computer-based assessment developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) in conjunction with GEMPASS Australia Limited. It is available to anyone applying to a course that requires the GAMSAT as a prerequisite, and who meets the academic entry requirements set by the universities. To be eligible, candidates must have completed or be enrolled in a bachelor's or undergraduate honours degree, or meet the entry requirements outlined by their chosen institution.
The GAMSAT score is calculated by weighting the three sections of the test: Section 1 (Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences) = 25%, Section 2 (Written Communication) = 25%, and Section 3 (Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences) = 50%. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with a mean of around 50 and a standard deviation of 10. A good GAMSAT score is generally considered to be around 59-62, which will help secure an interview at some universities. However, the score needed may vary depending on the competitiveness of the course and the number of applicants.
Different Australian universities have different GAMSAT score requirements and cut-offs for their graduate entry courses. For example, the University of Sydney (USyd) requires a minimum score of 50 in each section of the GAMSAT exam (except for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants). Meanwhile, the Australian National University (ANU) Medical School, located in Canberra, requires a minimum score of 55, with no lower than 50 in any individual subsection. Flinders University, located in Adelaide, had a GAMSAT cut-off score of 66 for interview invitations for the 2020 intake.
It is important to note that some universities may not release official GAMSAT average and minimum scores, and that GAMSAT scores are just one component of the admissions process. Other factors that may be considered include GPA, academic performance, personal statement, work experience, and interview performance.
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GAMSAT score validity
GAMSAT scores are released after careful calculation and extensive checking. The test is developed to rigorous professional and technical standards, with all questions designed by a team of ACER writers who are experts in their fields. The test questions are subjected to detailed panelling, trial testing, analysis, and final review to ensure the testing programme is relevant, fair, valid, reliable, and culturally fair. The test data is also statistically analysed to ensure each question has performed as required.
GAMSAT scores are mapped onto a scale ranging from 0 to 100. These are not percentage marks. The overall GAMSAT score is a weighted average of the three section scores. Each of the four scores is expressed on this scale. The overall score is calculated using the following formula: (1 x Humanities and Social Sciences + 1 x Written Communication + 2 x Biological and Physical Sciences) ÷ 4.
Test-takers will receive a score for each of the three sections, as well as an overall GAMSAT score. The universities will consider the section and overall scores, not the percentile ranking. This is because the scores are manipulated to ensure the test is still considered valid and equivalent from year to year, allowing universities to accurately compare GAMSAT results from different sittings and candidates.
In 2022, ACER announced that GAMSAT results would be valid for four consecutive years when applying to certain universities in Australia, whereas they are valid for two years in the UK and Ireland. GAMSAT results obtained from different sittings are directly comparable. There is no restriction on the number of times an eligible test-taker may sit the GAMSAT. If a test-taker has more than one current GAMSAT score, they may use their best score when applying.
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Frequently asked questions
GAMSAT stands for Graduate Medical School Admissions Test. It is a standardised test used for admission to graduate medical schools in Australia, Ireland and the UK.
A good GAMSAT score is generally considered to be one that places you in a higher percentile ranking. An average score is around 50-59, which is the 50th percentile. A good score is around 61-64, placing you in the 75th percentile. A very high score is 72 or higher, which is the 98th percentile. However, it's important to note that a 'good' score may vary depending on the university and course you are applying for, as well as other factors such as your GPA and interview performance.
The GAMSAT is scored on a scale of 0-100, with a higher number indicating a higher score. The overall score is a weighted average of the three section scores, with the science section typically given twice the weighting of the other two sections. The score you receive is a scaled score based on statistical adjustment, allowing scores to be comparable from year to year.
There are many strategies and resources available to help improve your GAMSAT score. It is recommended to familiarise yourself with the test format and practice as much as possible. Having a first degree in biological sciences, biosciences, engineering or physical sciences can also help improve your score.
