GAMSAT exam-day guide
GAMSAT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification matching your registration
Bring the original, current photo ID in the exact form the test provider requires (commonly a passport). The name must match your registration exactly. Confirm the accepted ID types with the provider before test day; a mismatch can bar entry.
Admission ticket or confirmation email
Print or save the confirmation showing your test centre, session time, and candidate number if one is issued. Check the venue address the day before, since centres can change. Confirm printing requirements with the provider.
Know your exact reporting time and arrival buffer
Arrive earlier than the stated reporting time to allow for security checks and seating. Late arrival rules vary, so confirm the cut-off with the provider and plan transport with a margin for delays.
Approved calculator (if permitted)
GAMSAT is known for a non-calculator quantitative reasoning section, but confirm the current policy directly with the provider. If any model is permitted, bring only an approved type with fresh batteries.
Analogue watch
A simple non-smart watch helps you pace sections if a clock is not clearly visible. Smart watches and wearables are almost always prohibited; leave them at home or in your bag.
Transparent water bottle and a light snack
Stay hydrated and bring a snack for scheduled breaks if the venue permits food. Confirm what is allowed at your centre, since rules on bottles and food vary.
Layers of clothing
Test halls can be cold or warm. Dress in layers you can remove, avoiding items with large logos or pockets that may complicate security checks.
Leave valuables and phones behind or switched off
Phones and smart devices are typically banned from the testing room. If you must bring a phone, confirm storage arrangements with the provider and keep it powered off and out of reach.
Review the section order and timing
Know the sequence of sections and the time allowed for each so you can plan pacing. Write a simple per-section time budget and rehearse it in practice.
Plan your route and backup transport
Do a dry run or map the route in advance, note parking or public transport options, and identify a backup plan in case of delays.
Prepare your body: sleep and normal meals
Keep the 48 hours before the test routine: consistent sleep, normal meals, and no new caffeine or medication habits. Avoid last-minute all-night study.
Confirm current test-day policies with the provider
Rules on calculators, breaks, ID, permitted items, and scoring change over time. Check the official provider guidance in the final week rather than relying on older accounts.
Plan the day
Shift from learning new content to consolidation. Review your error log and summary sheets, do one or two timed section practices under exam conditions, and stop heavy study by the evening before. Confirm your venue, transport, ID, and reporting time. Protect sleep.
Pack your bag with ID, confirmation, watch, water, snack, and layers. Re-read the section order and your time budget. Do a light review only, avoid practice tests that could dent confidence, eat a normal meal, and go to bed at your usual time. Set two alarms.
Eat a normal breakfast, avoid unfamiliar food or excessive caffeine, and leave with a generous buffer. Arrive early, complete security checks calmly, and use waiting time for breathing and a brief review of your pacing plan, not new material.
Follow the invigilator's instructions, check the section timing, and stick to your per-question time budget. Flag and move past stuck questions, use elimination, and return if time allows. Take scheduled breaks as directed, reset your focus, and manage nerves with slow breathing between sections.
Rules to check
Bring the exact photo ID specified by the provider, with names matching your registration; entry may be refused otherwise. Confirm accepted ID types with the provider.
Follow all invigilator instructions. Do not start early, continue after time is called, or communicate with other candidates during the test.
Phones, smart watches, and unauthorised devices must be switched off and stored as directed. Possession in the testing room can lead to removal or cancellation; confirm storage rules with the provider.
Only use permitted items such as an approved calculator or analogue watch if the provider allows them. Confirm the current permitted-items list with the provider before test day.
Breaks are taken only at scheduled times and under supervision. Do not leave the room unaccompanied; confirm break and restroom procedures with the provider.
Do not attempt to record, photograph, or share test content. Materials are confidential, and breaches can invalidate results.
Scoring and results timelines are set by the provider and may change. Do not rely on secondhand claims about scoring; confirm result dates and any rules with the provider.
If you feel unwell or face an emergency, notify an invigilator immediately and follow their instructions; confirm the provider's policy on illness and special circumstances in advance.