UCAT ANZ vs. GAMSAT

Which Exam Is Right for Me: UCAT ANZ vs. GAMSAT

The UCAT and GAMSAT are two clinical aptitude tests commonly required for entry into medicine and certain other health-related degrees in Australia and New Zealand. Given their popularity, many students often want to know whether one of the tests may be harder than the other and what differences exist between the two examinations. We know how hard it can be to prepare for and choose between different aptitude tests, so we’re here to help! Our UCAT ANZ and GAMSAT experts have compiled a handy list of the differences between the two exams and what you need to know about their difficulty. 

What Is the UCAT ANZ?

The University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand (UCAT ANZ) is a 2-hour long aptitude examination, delivered by Pearson VUE, that assesses cognitive abilities, attitudes and behaviours. Most medical schools in Australia and New Zealand require local students to sit the UCAT ANZ to be considered for a place in their undergraduate medicine programs. This test does not assess any particular high school curriculum but, instead, evaluates basic numeracy, literacy and reasoning skills. Most undergraduate ANZ medical schools provide international students the option of sitting either the International Students Admission Test (ISAT) or the UCAT ANZ.

If you wish to take the UCAT ANZ 2022, there are multiple centres across Australia and New Zealand where you can register to take the exam. In a nutshell, the examination consists of five sections, each of which tests a different competency. These sections include Verbal Reasoning (VR), Quantitative Reasoning (QR), Abstract Reasoning (AR), Decision Making (DM) and Situational Judgment (SJT). For detailed information about each of these UCAT sections, see our ‘guide to undergraduate ANZ medical schools’. 

Since we know how daunting it feels to take what is likely your first aptitude test, we have compiled some FREE practice material that you can use to bump up your scores. 

What Is the GAMSAT?

The Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) is a 4-hour and 25-minute long examination that is administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). Unlike the UCAT which is required for entry into undergraduate or provisional entry medical courses, the GAMSAT is required of local students applying to a graduate-entry medical course or healthcare programme. International students are usually given the option of sitting either the GAMSAT or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). 

If you wish to sit GAMSAT 2022, visit the ACER website for more information about test-taking sites and registration costs. In summary, the GAMSAT consists of three main sections that once again assess a different range of skills. These sections are numbered I-III and include, in order, Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences, Written Communication and Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences. For more detailed information about what each GAMSAT section entails, check out our ‘everything ANZ medical schools want you to know about the GAMSAT and MCAT’ article. 

If you’re not sure where to start, the ACER website has some practice materials that will give you a sense of how difficult the GAMSAT is. 

What Is the Difference Between the UCAT and GAMSAT?

The main differences between the UCAT and GAMSAT are outlined below:

•  The UCAT is required for entry into undergraduate medicine while the GAMSAT is required for entry into postgraduate medicine. This means that if you are a high school leaver wanting to apply to medical school in 2022, you will be required to sit the UCAT which will be evaluated in conjunction with your ATAR (or equivalent). On the other hand, if you have already completed an undergraduate degree and wish to apply to a post-graduate ANZ medical program, you will most likely have to sit the GAMSAT which will be considered parallel to your university GPA. 
• The exams are of different duration and structure. The UCAT ANZ takes a total of 2-hours to complete while the GAMSAT takes 4-hours and 25-minutes to conclude excluding break time. In terms of structure, the UCAT consists of five sections predominantly featuring multiple choice questions; the GAMSAT consists of three sections and requires students to answer a range of questions, from multiple choice to essay-based. 
• The content assessed is different. The GAMSAT requires a broader understanding of 1st year undergraduate biology, chemistry or physics. In contrast, the UCAT ANZ does not test scientific knowledge. 

While these two exams are different, they also share some similarities. For instance, both tests are aptitude-based and are used by ANZ medical schools in their selection processes. Additionally, most universities generally require students to have taken both the relevant exams in the year preceding their admission, although the GAMSAT is valid for up to two years.

The similarities and differences between the two exams are summarised in the table below:

Which Exam Is Harder?

In answering the age-old question of which examination is harder, it’s important to stress that difficulty is relative. 

The GAMSAT requires students to answer different question types, including essay questions, and assesses scientific knowledge. In contrast, the UCAT ANZ does not assess scientific content and instead evaluates basic cognitive and reasoning skills through mostly multiple choice questions. Although this may initially make the UCAT seem like an easier exam, it is actually at a proportionate level of difficulty to the GAMSAT when considering the fact that the UCAT is taken by high school leavers while the GAMSAT is taken by university graduates.

Regardless of which exam you are required to take to get into an ANZ medical school, the good news is that, with practice, it is possible to score highly on both tests! 

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