Results

GAMSAT scores

You will receive a score for each of the three sections, together with an overall GAMSAT score. 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 using the following formula:

Overall Score =


(1 × Written Communication + 1 × Humanities and Social Sciences + 2 × Biological and Physical Sciences) ÷ 4

To assist you in evaluating your test performance your scores will be accompanied by a chart showing an approximate percentile ranking for your overall score. This will give you an indication of how you have performed against other test takers in the same GAMSAT sitting as you.

The universities will consider your section and overall scores, not your percentile ranking. The universities will set their own cut-off scores from year to year. These are the minimum scores acceptable for consideration for entry to the graduate-entry programs.

The schools may also choose to use the scores in other ways. Please see the universities’ websites for further information.

Scores are scaled by ACER to make them directly comparable from test to test.

What is a scaled score?

For GAMSAT, rigorous, best-practice psychometric techniques are used to transform test raw scores (the number of questions a test taker has answered correctly) and place them on a measurement scale. The transformed scores are called scaled scores. Compared to using raw scores this approach has a number of benefits. In particular, it is a vital equity measure that allows fair comparison of test takers who take different versions of a test. Multiple test forms are used for GAMSAT. Although test developers follow defined parameters so that test versions are broadly comparable in difficulty, some differences are unavoidable. Thus,raw scores may not reflect test difficulty as well as test taker ability. For example, suppose test taker A and B took different versions of the same test. If B has a higher raw score, is B the stronger test taker, or was A’s test harder? Which test taker has the better performance if they both scored the same? The analysis of GAMSAT results allows answers to such questions by accounting for differences in test difficulty and placing all test versions on a single scale. This ensures that all scores are directly comparable: the higher the score, the better the performance, regardless of which test version was taken.

Currency of Results

GAMSAT results obtained from different sittings are directly comparable and can be used when applying to certain universities for up to four consecutive years in Australia, and two consecutive years in the UK and Ireland. This means that test takers may apply for admission to graduate entry schools in Australia up to four years after their test date, and graduate entry schools in the UK and Ireland up to two years after their test date.

Test takers can sit either the March or September test and use the results of either to apply to Australian, Irish and UK programs. Test takers may choose to sit more than one test and use the best score in their application. There is no restriction on the number of times an eligible test taker may sit GAMSAT.

Test takers that have more than one current GAMSAT score may use their best score when applying for admission to graduate-entry programs. You should bear in mind that Admissions Committees may set thresholds for the section scores as well as for overall scores. If you have more than one eligible set of scores and are uncertain which scores to use for your application, you should contact your preferred schools for advice.

Withholding of results

Test takers will only receive their GAMSAT test scores if they have complied with the GAMSAT test policies and procedures and the terms and conditions of the GAMSAT Information Booklet. If ACER learns, either on or after the test day, that a test taker has violated the GAMSAT test policies and procedures and the terms and conditions of the GAMSAT Information Booklet, their scores may be withheld or cancelled. Even if ACER cannot confirm a test taker's direct involvement in the breach of policies and procedures their GAMSAT test scores may be withheld or cancelled if ACER has reason to question the validity of their scores or if ACER has reasonable basis for believing a test taker may have been in breach of the terms and conditions of the GAMSAT Information Booklet. Examples of when the validity of GAMSAT test scores may be challenged are:

• intended or unintended exposure to GAMSAT test content*
• contradictory performance on different parts of the GAMSAT test
• abnormal answer patterns in the GAMSAT test
• atypical performance over different GAMSAT test sittings

* If test takers attend a coaching course where they are exposed to questions that appear in the GAMSAT test, test takers risk having their GAMSAT test scores withheld.

Appeals and Complaints

If you have a serious complaint or wish to make an appeal in relation to your test sitting or results, please read the ACER complaint and appeals policy.

Should you wish to query a particular test question, please alert the supervisor of your concerns on the day of the test. Your query will be reviewed by the GAMSAT Office and forwarded to the test developers for review.

Similarly, any complaints relating to technical issues, the test venue or physical discomfort suffered should be reported immediately to the supervisor/proctor on the day so the issue can be addressed without delay, and in writing to the GAMSAT Office immediately after your test session so that the issues can be resolved within the testing window if necessary.

Please note: It is not possible to schedule tests outside of allocated test windows, all technical and or delivery issues arising must be addressed immediately and resolved during the advertised test windows in March or September each year.

You are advised that GAMSAT results are released only after careful calculation and extensive checking and errors in scoring are highly unlikely.