What's a good GAMSAT score? (and how to set your target)
What GAMSAT scores mean, what's competitive for medicine, and how to choose a realistic target to train toward.
"What's a good GAMSAT score?" is the most common question — and the honest answer is it depends on where you're applying. But here are useful anchors.
The scale
GAMSAT scores sit on a 0–100 scale, but they cluster: over 95% of candidates score between 40 and 80, and recent sittings have averaged about 58. Your overall is a weighted average in which Section III counts double: (Section I + Section II + 2 × Section III) ÷ 4. A few universities recompute it as an unweighted average instead (Melbourne, UQ and Notre Dame among them) — so always check how your target programs read it.
Rough benchmarks
These bands map overall scores to approximate positions in the cohort, using percentile anchors from recent sittings. Exact figures shift a little each sitting, so treat them as goal-setting anchors, not official cut-offs.
How to set your target
- Look up the typical entry scores for the programs you're aiming at.
- Add a buffer — aim a few points above the cut-off, since it moves.
- Translate that overall into section targets. A weak Section III can quietly sink a strong S1/S2.
Closing the gap
Once you have a target, the work is mechanical: find your weakest section and topics, drill them, and re-test. Use a score calculator to model how improving one section moves your overall — it's often more efficient to lift your weakest section than to push your strongest higher.
Key takeaways
- There's no universal 'good' score — it depends on the programs you're targeting.
- Use score bands as approximate anchors, not official cut-offs.
- Aim a few points above a published threshold, since thresholds move.
- Lifting your weakest section is usually the cheapest way to raise your overall.
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