This guide by UCAT® and GAMSAT® tutors explains the differences between the two exams, highlighting their importance for medical students and their different entry points.
What is the UCAT® and GAMSAT®?
The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT®) is a computer-based test for Australian and New Zealand universities, assessing skills for Medicine, Dental, and clinical science programs. It consists of 228 multiple choice questions and is targeted towards final year secondary school students.
UCAT® vs GAMSAT®: Which seat should I take?
Decision Making – This is ultimately dependent on your situation and your goals. Any candidate who is completing or has completed Year 12 is eligible to sit the UCAT® for entry into undergraduate medical programs. Notably, some universities will only accept highschool leavers - This means that some undergraduate medical schools may not accept students who have already completed or even commenced an undergraduate degree. In contrast, the GAMSAT® is perfect for students who have already completed an undergraduate degree and are looking for entry into graduate medicine programs.
How can the UCAT® help me get into medicine?
Several colleges providing undergraduate programs use the UCAT® exam as part of their admissions criteria. The test is simply one component of the entrance requirements. To get accepted into an undergraduate medicine degree, you must have competitive academic results (such as ATAR) and interview scores.
How can the GAMSAT® help me go into medicine?
The GAMSAT® exam is part of the admission process for graduate-entry medicine schools, which require applicants to have earned an undergraduate degree before enrolling.
UCAT® vs GAMSAT®: What is the Difference?
UCAT®
The test, conducted annually in July, requires final year secondary school students to answer 228 multiple-choice questions on verbal, decision-making, quantitative, abstract, and situational judgment skills, with a score of 3600 marks.
GAMSAT®
The course requires a Bachelor's degree or final year of study, with annual testing between March and September. It consists of three sections: Humanities Reasoning, Written Communication, and Biological and Physical Sciences Reasoning. The exam tests critical thinking and logical reasoning in science and humanities.
UCAT® vs GAMSAT®: Conclusion
The UCAT® exam is for high school graduates pursuing an undergraduate medicine degree, while the GAMSAT® exam is for those completing their undergraduate studies and interested in graduate medicine programs. The choice between the two exams is up to the individual.
For more information, check out our full article here: https://gradready.com.au/ucat-vs-gamsat
