GAMSAT study plan: how to prepare in three to six months
How long to study for the GAMSAT, what to do in each phase of preparation, a sample week that fits around work or uni, and how to use the last month before test day.
How long to study for the GAMSAT
It depends mostly on your science background and how much time you have each week.
- Science degree, recent study: around three months of regular practice, focused on exam technique, timing and Sections I and II.
- Science degree, some time ago: around four months, with a refresher on chemistry and physics before practice.
- No science background: six months or more, with the first part spent on Section III foundations.
The GAMSAT is held in March and September each year, so count back from your sitting to pick a start date.
Phase 1: baseline and foundations
First quarter of your preparation.
- Do a few untimed units in each section to find your starting point. A set of free practice questions is enough to start.
- Build Section III foundations: maths without a calculator, moles and concentration, equilibrium, acids and bases.
- Start reading widely for Section I: essays, opinion pieces, poetry and short fiction, a little every day.
- Collect ideas for Section II: note arguments and examples from history, science, current events and your own experience.
Phase 2: content and exam-style practice
The middle half.
- Work through the rest of the Section III content: organic chemistry, biology and physics, applying each topic in exam-style units straight after learning it.
- Practise Section I units several times a week and review every miss against the text.
- Write one or two Section II essays a week, alternating Task A and Task B, and get feedback.
- Keep a short mistakes log. Revisit it weekly; the patterns tell you what to study next.
Phase 3: timing and full-length practice
The final four to six weeks.
- Switch to timed practice: two minutes a question for Section III, about 1.6 for Section I, 30 minutes per essay for Section II.
- Sit full-length practice papers under exam conditions, including the breaks, to build stamina. Official ACER practice tests are best saved for here.
- Spend as long reviewing each paper as you did sitting it.
- Ease off in the final few days. Light review and good sleep do more than a last-minute cram.
A sample study week
Around ten hours, built to fit around full-time work or study. Adjust the balance towards your weakest section.
- Monday: one Section III unit, plus one short science lesson.
- Tuesday: Section I unit, then 20 minutes of wide reading.
- Wednesday: one Section III unit and a review of the week’s mistakes.
- Thursday: one timed Section II essay.
- Friday: one Section III unit, plus one short science lesson.
- Saturday: a longer timed block: a Section III set and a Section I set, then review.
- Sunday: rest, or rewrite the week’s essay with the feedback in mind.
GAMSAT preparation tips
- Prioritise Section III. It counts twice towards the overall score. See our Section 3 tips for how to study it.
- Don’t neglect writing. Section II improves slowly, so start early. The Section 2 guide has practice prompts.
- Read outside your comfort zone for Section 1. Unfamiliar poetry and dense argument are where marks are lost.
- Review reasoning, not just scores. Knowing why you missed a question is what stops you missing the next one.
- Track your estimated score. Use the score calculator to see how gains in each section move your overall result.
Common questions
How long should I study for the GAMSAT?
Most candidates prepare for three to six months. With a recent science degree, three months of steady practice can be enough. Without one, allow six months or more so you can build the Section III content before timed practice.
How many hours a day should I study for the GAMSAT?
Consistency matters more than volume. An hour or two on most days, with a longer session on weekends, is a sustainable pace alongside work or study. Short daily practice builds reading stamina and data fluency better than occasional marathons.
How should I split time between the sections?
Section III is double-weighted, so it usually gets the most time, especially without a science background. Keep Section I reading going every week and write at least one Section II essay a week from early on, since writing improves slowly.
Can I prepare for the GAMSAT for free?
You can make a good start. Get Into Med’s free plan gives you a Section III unit every day and the first 4 Learn syllabuses, and our guides include free practice questions for every section. Official full-length practice tests from ACER are mostly paid.
More GAMSAT guides
- What is the GAMSAT?The three sections, how long each takes, how it’s scored and who sits it.
- Free GAMSAT practice questionsSample questions for all three sections, each with a worked answer.
- GAMSAT Section 1 practiceHumanities and social sciences: what’s tested, how to read it and a sample question.
- GAMSAT Section 2 essay practiceTask A and Task B practice prompts, how essays are marked and how to plan one.
- GAMSAT Section 3 practice questionsBiology, chemistry and physics without a calculator. Try a free sample unit.
- GAMSAT Section 3 tipsWhat to study first, maths without a calculator, pacing and non-science advice.
- GAMSAT chemistryMoles, equilibrium, acids and bases, thermodynamics and redox, with practice questions.
- GAMSAT organic chemistryFunctional groups, stereochemistry and mechanisms, with practice questions.
- GAMSAT physicsMechanics, energy, waves, electricity and fluids, with practice questions.
- GAMSAT score calculatorWork out your overall score and see what makes a score competitive.
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