UMAT or GAMSAT?

UMAT® Exam vs GAMSAT® Exam: Which One Is Right For Me?

With so many people interested in attaining spots in medicine courses, there is no one pathway for entry which is easier, or less competitive. No matter whether you choose to do, the UMAT® Exam or the GAMSAT® Exam, the road ahead will be long and challenging, but ultimately rewarding. Here's all you need to know about these two tests and how they differ.
  

When can I sit The UMAT® Exam/GAMSAT® Exam?

The UMAT® Exam can be sat as early as Year 12, in preparation for entry into undergraduate medicine courses. Hence, it is generally paired with your ATAR score as part of your overall application for entry to a course. However, the GAMSAT® Exam can only be sat once you are nearing the end of your undergraduate degree. You must be in at least your second last year of your degree to sit the GAMSAT® Exam. Your GPA will hence also be taken into account as well. Both graduate and undergraduate entry pathways will generally also involve an interview process.
 

What Does The UMAT® Exam/GAMSAT® Exam Involve?

The UMAT® Exam is a three-hour long, multi-choice exam which involves 134 questions split over three sections: logical reasoning/problem solving, understanding people and non-verbal/abstract reasoning.

The GAMSAT® Exam is over six hours long, though there is a one hour break for lunch, and also involves three sections. The first is humanities and social sciences. The second is an essay component, and the third is reasoning in biological and physical sciences.
 

Is There Assumed Knowledge?

The UMAT® Exam technically doesn't require any assumed knowledge, whereas the GAMSAT® Exam assumes knowledge of physics, chemistry and biology.
 

Does this mean that you don't have to prepare for UMAT® Exam?

Absolutely not! There is a lot of hard work to be done in terms of preparation for either the UMAT® Exam or the GAMSAT® Exam. Don't let the lack of 'assumed knowledge' in the UMAT® Exam throw you off! There's still a lot to be done in terms of gaining familiarity with the question types, and learning strategies for getting the questions right each and every time.
 

What's Easier To Prepare For?

Both the UMAT® Exam and the GAMSAT® Exam can be prepared for, given enough time and effort. Neither test is a free ride, nor can either be learned within a few months. That said, if you're willing to put in the work, neither is impossible.

Is The UMAT® Exam Or The GAMSAT® Exam Easier?

Neither is easier or harder: after all, the two tests are very different.  However, because of these differences, it may be that your situation sets you up to take one of the two.
 

So Which One Should I Take?

You should definitely take your own situation into account. For example, if you are still in high school, you should definitely look towards giving the UMAT® Exam a go.  Further, if you've never done any science during school or uni, UMAT® Exam might suit you more. However, that isn't to say that non-science students can't be incredibly successful at GAMSAT® Exam. It's all up to you and where you're currently at; indeed, many students will give both the UMAT® Exam and the GAMSAT® Exam a go at least once.
 

The Final Word

The UMAT® Exam and the GAMSAT® Exam are both difficult exams, and they are quite different. The GAMSAT® Exam has more of a focus on learned knowledge, and science, as well as an essay writing component. However, despite the supposed 'no assumed knowledge' of the UMAT® Exam, it involves many challenges in terms of gaining familiarity with the questions and learning strategies for approaching abstract concepts and logical problem solving.

Only you know your exact situation, and which test is the best for you at this time. After arming yourself with the knowledge of what these exams ultimately entail, you will be able to make an informed decision as to which, of the UMAT® Exam or the GAMSAT® Exam, you should dedicate your time to preparing for.