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Are you planning to take the GAMSAT Exam in 2024? If so, you're joining thousands of ambitious students who are embarking on their GAMSAT 2024 preparation - a significant step on their journey to a career in medicine.
The GAMSAT is more than just an exam; it's a measure of your ability to think critically, solve problems, and demonstrate a solid understanding of basic science concepts. It's a psychometric test that's designed to identify those who have the intellectual capacity to excel in demanding medical and health science programs.
Starting your preparation early gives you ample time to familiarize yourself with the GAMSAT exam format, hone your problem-solving skills, and deepen your understanding of the necessary scientific concepts.
Through this comprehensive guide we aim to provide you with all the essential information you need to navigate the GAMSAT process. Here’s what to expect:
Understanding the timing of the GAMSAT exam is crucial for effective preparation and planning. The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), the organization responsible for conducting the GAMSAT exam, typically offers two testing windows each year. For Australian candidates, the primary testing period is in March, while for those in the UK and Ireland, it's in September.
If you're aiming to start medical school in 2025, you’ll need to be aware of the GAMSAT March 2024 Dates. Keep in mind that the application cycle for medicine programs starting in 2025 begins in May 2024, so you'll need a valid GAMSAT score from the March 2024 exam to apply.
For GAMSAT 2024, ACER is most likely to retain the format used in the previous years. This means, the entire exam duration is set at 5 hours and 25 minutes with the following breakdown:
For detailed insight into the topics to be covered in each section refer to the GAMSAT Syllabus for 2024.
Now that you have a general understanding of the GAMSAT 2024 structure, to delve deeper into each section read our articles on how to get started on Section 1, Section 2 and Section 3. There is a crucial change to the logistics of the GAMSAT that will be discussed in the next section.
For the first time, ACER has split up how the exam is delivered across the Sections. Students will complete Section 2 on 9 or 10 March (and 31 August or 1 September for the September GAMSAT). The Section 2 component will be completed at home where students have to type and submit their pieces of writing on their computer through the ACER Portal with an Online Proctor (ProctorU) watching everything you type and do on your screen.
Then, roughly 2 weeks later, students will complete their Section 1 & Section 3 components together at a test centre. From 22-24 March 2024, or 13-15 September 2024 for the September GAMSAT, students will complete S1 & S3 via a computer (not their own) at a test centre with a 20 minute break in between each section to eat and go to the bathroom. You will have a choice between arriving at the test centre at 8am, or completing the exam in the afternoon session starting at 2:30pm.
Please note that these times are a guide only, and actual times may vary on the test day depending on the speed of the invigilators and students during registration & announcement periods.
It's important to note that there is no break between Section I and Section II. During this time, all test takers must remain at their desks under exam conditions. After completing Section II, there will be a 1-hour break before commencing Section III.
To get a more in depth understanding of the GAMSAT 2024 logistics read our article What will the March 2024 GAMSAT look like?.
Before you embark on your GAMSAT journey, it's important to ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria. The GAMSAT is open to anyone who is applying to a course that requires the GAMSAT and can meet the academic entry requirements set by the universities.
Registering for the GAMSAT exam is straightforward, but it's essential to get it right to avoid any complications later on. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the GAMSAT 2024 registration process:
The first step is to create an ACER online account. This account will be your gateway to all GAMSAT-related activities, including registration, receiving announcements, obtaining your GAMSAT Admission Ticket, and accessing your GAMSAT Statement of Results.
Once your ACER account is set up, you can register for the GAMSAT during the relevant registration window. To do this, you'll need to fill in the registration form and submit the required payment.
After completing your registration and payment, you'll receive a confirmation email and a payment receipt.
Your admission ticket, which contains details of your reporting time and test center address, will be available for download from your online account two to three weeks before the test window. You'll be notified by email when your admission ticket is ready.
Moving forward, let's discuss the GAMSAT fee structure.
The table below provides the fee structure for the GAMSAT 2024 based on ACER's 2024 booklet.
If you change your mind about undertaking the test in a specific testing window, you may be allowed to defer your registration to the next available testing period. Say for instance, you do not wish to sit the March 2024 GAMSAT, you can defer your registration to the September 2024 GAMSAT or even a 2025 GAMSAT. However, remember that you can defer your test sitting only once per registration.
The deferral procedure is relatively straightforward and requires you to log into your GAMSAT account and select the ‘Manage’ icon to then click on the ‘Apply for deferral’ option.
The following table displays the test centers that were allocated for the March and September 2023 GAMSAT sitting across Australia:
When you register for the GAMSAT, you can pick which day to sit the exam during the testing window. The March 2023 GAMSAT had a 5 day testing window, and it is likely the March 2024 GAMSAT will be similar.
This means that yes, you can modify your test date or test center until the close of late registrations, subject to availability. However, changes made after the standard registration deadline will incur a late fee. No alterations can be made once registrations close
Note: ** Medical schools that are part of the GEMSAS Consortium whereas Flinders and USyd are known as non-GEMSAS med schools in Australia
It is critical to note that meeting the minimum doesn’t guarantee a successful application. Each university offers medical school places to students using a combination of factors - such as GPA, GAMSAT Score & Interview Performance. For more detail, check out our article relating to GPA and GAMSAT Cut Off Scores!
It is good to leave home early, taking into account any possible disasters that could occur on route to your test center. You are required to be at the test centre at 8am, so targeting to arrive between 7:30-7:45am would be optimal. You do not want to arrive so early that you are waiting around for too long - this will increase your nerves & may psyche you out before entering the room. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the mode of transportation a few days early. This can help you avoid any unforeseen circumstances on the day of the exam.
Ensure that you bring to your GAMSAT:
The GAMSAT is a challenging exam that demands dedication and often multiple attempts to achieve a high score. To make the most of your preparation, Fraser's GAMSAT offers a wealth of resources and courses tailored to help you excel.
Our Comprehensive GAMSAT Programs removes the guesswork from your preparation as we guide you every step of the way on your GAMSAT Journey. The focus of this Program is to make your GAMSAT Tuition Truly Personal - with an abundance of face-to-face classes, Private Tutorials, a Personal Mentor, Mock Exams & thousands of GAMSAT-style questions to ensure that you are ready to smash the GAMSAT on the day!
If you are looking for some resources to get going in your self-study, check out our Free Fraser's Learning Academy. This is our LMS Platform - hosting hundreds of questions, theory, videos & GAMSAT content to give you a springboard into your GAMSAT Prep. We have scheduled Weekly Content Drops every Thursday at 5pm (AEDT) where we drop mini-mocks, videos & GAMSAT content to ensure that everyone has access to premium GAMSAT resources to get you going on your journey.
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