Requirements for Medical School
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Find out how YOU can get into medical school!
You know you want to be a doctor. You know it's going to take many years of hard work before you can actually operate on a patient. You know you need to go to medical school. But do you know what it actually takes to get into the top medical programs in Australia and New Zealand? What are you waiting for? It's time to find out what the prerequisites for medicine are in Australia and New Zealand!
What we’ll be covering:
- Entry Requirements to study Medicine in Australia & New Zealand
- UCAT Scores
- GAMSAT Scores
- Extracurricular Activities for Medical School
- Medical School Interviews
We’ll give you guidelines on the admission timeline and entrance exams, insider tips on building your extracurriculars, interview tricks, and the importance of high school grades. Enjoy this comprehensive breakdown!
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1. Entry Requirements to study Medicine in Australia & New Zealand
What subjects do I need in high school to become a doctor?
The good news is, it doesn't matter whether you do IB, A Levels, ATAR, NCEA, or any other curriculum – you can get into New Zealand/Australian medical school!
The bad news? There are a few subjects you should take to increase your chances of getting into your dream med program. Usually, universities want to see chemistry and a mid-level maths subject but let's let the university requirements speak for themselves.
Entry Requirements for Australia & New Zealand Med Schools
Studying Medicine in Australia vs New Zealand
As you can see, you do not need to fill your schedule with all science and maths courses in order to get into your dream medical school – no matter what your friends say!
If you're interested in Australian medical schools, you should be good to go as long as you take chemistry and a mid-level maths. Then, you can fill the rest of your schedule with subjects you're passionate about and focus on getting the best scores possible!
As for New Zealand medical schools, it would be wise for you to take the highest level of chemistry, physics and/or biology you can, as well as either statistics or calculus, and a language-rich class as described above. The rest of your schedule should be filled with subjects you will do well in, to ensure you get the highest score possible.
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Australian Medical School Admission Requirements
Speaking of scores, let's talk about what you need to get into AU and NZ medical schools!
If you are interested in Australian med schools in any state or territory except for Queensland, you will need an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank).
How do you get an ATAR if you're not from Australia?
Easy! The universities you apply to convert your grades into an ATAR for you. However, if you're interested in checking out what your ATAR might be, check out our table below!
ATAR, A Levels, IB Score Calculator
What grades do you need for Australian medical school?
To be safe, anyone interested in Australian medical schools should aim for an 98-99 ATAR at a minimum; that being said, if you're chasing top universities, your ATAR needs to be closer to 99.95. In fact, the USyd direct entry program only accepts people with a 99.95 ATAR so if you're keen on attending that program, you better start studying!
In Queensland, on the other hand, you need an OP (Overall Position), which is similar to an ATAR, just presented differently.
If you're applying tThe University of Queensland you need an OP of 1.
Side note: If you are in year 10 or below and are studying in Queensland, you will receive an ATAR. Surprise! Queensland is eliminating OPs and replacing them with ATARs in 2020. If you are in year 10 or above and/or don't study in Queensland, this will not affect you.
New Zealand Medical School Admission Requirements
New Zealand medical school grade requirements are a bit different because there's no direct entry into medicine. If you are applying directly from high school you will need to apply to and complete a First Year program in either health sciences (Otago/Auckland) or Biomedical Science (Auckland).
Because of this system, The University of Auckland and Otago University use your GPA score from your first year to assess your candidacy. Auckland has a GPA cut-off of 6.0 while Otago mandates that you receive a minimum of 70% in all of your first year papers, which equates to a GPA of 5.0, but realistically you will need a much higher GPA to have a shot due to the number of students vying for a place.
Still unsure about medical schools in New Zealand? Check out this video to learn about a day in the life of a medical student at Otago!
2. The UCAT Exam
The UCAT is a standardised admissions test used by Australian, New Zealand, and UK universities for admissions into medicine and dental programmes. If you're applying for an undergraduate medical degree in either Australia or New Zealand, you will be required to sit the UCAT.
The UCAT exam does not actually test you on any academic knowledge. So, what does it test?
Your logic! Sort of.
The UCAT has five sections:
You will be assessed on your comprehension, critical thinking, basic mathematics, your ability to understand patterns and anticipate pattern changes, as well as your ability to apply ethical and moral principles to new situations.
Not to say that you can't study for the UCAT, because you certainly can... and should.
For now, let's dig into when you need to sit the UCAT and what score you need to make your doctor dreams a reality.
When should you start studying for the UCAT?
If you want to go to medical school in Australia, you need to sit the UCAT in your final year of high school and your score will be highly important in your admission decision.
The earlier you start studying, the less it will interrupt your normal studies and extracurricular activities (because you're definitely 100% participating in extracurricular activities, right?)
Be smart, don't leave your studying to your last year of high school. You will thank me later, promise.
If you want to go to medical school in New Zealand, on the other hand, you can forget everything you've just read!
There's no UCAT in high school for you!
Before you start celebrating, you still need to sit the UCAT.
However, you'll most likely sit the UCAT in your first year of university.
As mentioned above, there is no direct entry into medical school in New Zealand so you will need to sit the UCAT during your first year of university, in addition to completing your insanely competitive papers.
That being said, many students applying to med school in New Zealand will sit the UCAT in year 13 for practice.
What is a Good UCAT Score?
Regardless of whether you're applying to medical school in Australia or New Zealand, you should aim for the 90th percentile in your UCATS to be competitive; although, the higher your UCAT scores, the better your chances of getting into med school.
For example, if you are interested in the top tier universities like The University of New South Wales, you need to be around the 98th percentile, so if you aim for the 95th percentile you should be very competitive.
3. Extracurricular Activities For Medical School
If you want to get into a top medical school in Australia or New Zealand you better get to work on your extracurricular profile!
Hate to break it to you, but just focusing on your grades and exam scores isn't going to cut it.
Although your written application will rarely ask you about your extracurricular activities (unlike in the US and the UK), the more diverse and in-depth your extracurricular profile is, the better you're likely to perform on your med entrance exams and interviews.
If you and another student get interviews based off your ATAR and UCAT result, you will be able to handle a range of interview questions regarding your character traits (e.g. leadership/teamwork) due to your extracurricular activities; whereas, candidate #2 would struggle with these types of questions if they had not participated in any extracurricular activities.
So, let's be clear on what we mean by "extracurriculars". There are three major criteria you should ensure your extracurricular activities hit:
- Medical Experience: i.e. shadowing a doctor in a hospital or general practice clinic or volunteering on medically-related activities. If shadowing a doctor, pharmacy/dental/physio work is less impressive because taking part in medical extracurriculars demonstrates a specific passion, not just an interest in "health sciences".
- Service: Volunteering, community work for people with disabilities or low socioeconomic background.
- Passion: Sports, music, debating, or something that you've accomplished a lot in outside of school/medicine.
Some universities, most notably James Cook University, have very specific extracurricular qualities they look for in applicants. James Cook University has a heavy rural focus and prefers students who have rural or indigenous extracurricular involvement, so if you're planning on applying to James Cook University, make sure you hit this requirement as well.
Otherwise, it really doesn't matter what extracurricular activities you participate in as long as you include the three aforementioned criteria and get involved early enough to make an impact and stand out.
Learn more about how MedView has helped hundreds of students gain admission into their dream medical school in NZ, AU and the UK!
4. The Interviews
Last but not least, your final prerequisite for medicine is... the interviews!
There are a three different types of interviews:
- Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)
- Semi Structured Interview (SSI)
- Unstructured Interview
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)
The most common interview is the MMI, which features a series of "mini" interviews set up through eight different stations, including one role playing station. At each station, you will read a prompt and then respond to questions about that specific situation. Then you will rotate to the next station.
It's sort of like speed dating except much harder (and hopefully more rewarding).
The MMI gives the university the chance to assess you in a variety of situations and see how you react in specific scenarios that you're likely to encounter as a doctor.
This is where your medical extracurricular activities come into play. While the MMI Interview can feel quite confronting and may push you out of your comfort zone, the more experience you have in the medical field, the more comfortable you're likely to feel during an MMI Interview. You should also set up mock stations with your friends and/or family to get used to the format.
Universities That Use MMI
- The University of Auckland (after your first year)
- The University of Sydney
- The University of Wollongong
- Australian National University
- The University of Melbourne
- Monash University
- Deakin University
- Griffith University
- The University of Notre Dame
- Bond University
- The University of Western Australia
- Curtin University
Semi-Structured Interview (SSI)
The semi-structured interview is the second most popular interview. Think of it more as a traditional job interview with two interviewers. This interview process analyses your character by asking more typical questions such as "what is a challenge you've overcome?".
By participating in service and/or leadership extracurriculars, you'll have plenty of challenges and leadership opportunities to draw on to ensure you leave a lasting impression on your interviewers.
Universities That Use SSI
- UNSW
- Flinders University
- James Cook University
- The University of Adelaide: A mix between MMI and SSI
Unstructured Interview
Last but not least, the unstructured interview. This interview is only used by University of Sydney’s double degree program, so if you're not planning on applying to this particular program, please feel free to skip ahead!
Here's the unstructured low down. This interview consists of a very casual group interview that tests your personality and how you interact to other applicants.
Any and all extracurricular activities will help you do well in this interview style.
Universities That Use the Unstructured Interview
- The University of Sydney Double Degree Program
Next Steps
Now that you know all about the prerequisites for medicine in Australia and New Zealand, it's time for you to get to work.
Start by picking extracurricular activities you're passionate about, then pick the right courses, study for either the UCAT or the GAMSAT, crush your interview and you will be good to go.
If you’d like to learn more about getting into Australian and New Zealand medical check out our blogs and free eBooks below!
- A Quick Guide to Australia Medicine
- A Quick Guide to New Zealand Medicine
- How to Prepare for the UCAT
- Preparing for the GAMSAT
- Medical Interview Preparation Guide
If you would like support with your high school studies, UCAT or GAMSAT preparation, or expert training for your medical interview, get in touch with the MedView team today!
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The UCAT
The UCAT, or the University Clinical Aptitude Test is the medical school admission test required for many universities in Australia and New Zealand. The UCAT is designed to assess applicants for the aptitude, attitudes and beliefs required of a doctor. In order to defeat the UCAT - we should understand what it is. First off, it’s a two hour computer based exam. There are 5 separately timed subtests - Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning and Situational Judgement. In this blog we break down each of the sections and offer guidance on how to prepare for this important exam.
Verbal Reasoning
Verbal Reasoning is meant to assess your ability to read something and draw appropriate conclusions. You can see why this would be important to a doctor - you’re part of a multidisciplinary team and will have to communicate effectively. In addition, doctors have to keep current with new research and draw reasonable conclusions from published findings. Decision making involves 11 text excerpts with 4 questions each, meaning this section has 44 questions in 21 minutes - that means an average of 29 seconds per question. That doesn’t even take reading the stem into account!
Decision Making
Decision Making is essentially data interpretation from graphs, tables, text and charts. You don’t need to have background knowledge on any subject, because part of what they’re testing is your ability to understand new information. Can you think of a time a doctor might have to do the same? This section has 29 questions in 31 minutes - an average of 64 seconds per question. Compare the timing of section to verbal reasoning, it’s more than double. Consider the length of time per question as an indication of how much the test writers want you to analyse.
Quantitative Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning is a straightforward mathematics section - there are nine scenarios each with four questions. You’ll have access to an on screen calculator - which is functional but pretty clunky! You’ll have to strike a balance between using mental maths to be quick, and keeping your wits about you, and staying accurate. This section has 36 questions in 24 minutes - an average of 40 seconds per question. It’s not a lot of time to question your maths abilities!
Abstract Reasoning
Abstract Reasoning is used to evaluate your ability to locate patterns and understand logic, separate from your language abilities. If you’ve seen the guides online with pictures asking you to find a pattern - that’s abstract reasoning. This section is sometimes hard for students to grasp, because it’s such a different set of skills. It’s also probably the biggest struggle with time management. This section has 55 questions in 13 minutes - that’s only 14 seconds per question. Don’t even think about going into this section unprepared!
Situational Judgement
Situational Judgement assesses your judgement and character in different situations - the situations are usually clinical or education based. Either situations you’ve likely been in, or a situation you could be involved in future. Then you’ll have to evaluate the appropriateness, importance or consequences of the situation. It’s one way for universities to evaluate the characteristics that are important for future doctors! Situational Judgement has 69 questions in 26 minutes - an average of 25 seconds per question.
With so much to do - how can I set myself up for success?
Prepare
This sounds like a no brainer, but preparation is the most important thing you can do if you want to succeed on the UCAT. Going over questions is one thing but the most effective thing you can do is to practice under exam conditions. That means doing computer based exams - so when you get to test day, you know what to expect. Luckily MedView has a bank of questions.
Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Time is a precious resource when you’re preparing for medical school admissions - you have to continue doing well in your studies, prepare yourself for an interview, and master a new exam. There’s not infinite time - so you have to learn how to study smarter, not just harder. So many students waste their time by continuing to drill skills that they’ve already mastered. It’s important to identify the weak points that need more TLC.
Learn Skills
Each type of question requires a specific psychometric approach to understand and answer so quickly. Skills and strategies to identify the problem and solve the challenging question are essential for success. MedView has a range of 1:1 tutoring, group workshops, practice exams and questions alongside our spiral learning curriculum to help students develop the skills necessary to succeed in time conditions. Our UCAT students are 5x more likely to receive an interview offer.
Sitting full-length practice exams under simulated conditions is the most effective preparation for developing UCAT skills. As this will familiarise yourself with the extreme time pressures, as well as allowing you to practise concentrating on psychometric skills for two hours. It is also important to practice using the computer-based platform that will be used when you sit UCAT as well.
Seek Help
Find friends that have taken the test before and ask for their experience. Better yet, schedule a free Academic Assessment with MedView today! When you start your journey as a MedView student, you are allocated an Education Coordinator who has experience helping hundreds of students get into med school. They’ll help you stay on track with your goals, offer you support, and help you succeed on your path to medical school.
Next Steps
The UCAT is an important exam that is key to medical school admission for undergraduates. We recommend starting your UCAT preparation early and integrating it into your study load to give yourself the best opportunity to succeed. If you’d like to learn more about the UCAT or how to get into Medical School, check out our free eBooks and blogs!
- What is the UCAT?
- How Universities use your UCAT Results
- A Quick Guide to Australia Medicine eBook
- A Quick Guide to New Zealand Medicine eBook
- How to Prepare for the UCAT
- What UCAT scores will get me into med?
MedView offers a range of UCAT preparation courses as well as personalised 1:1 tutoring with our expert team. If you would like to know more about the UCAT and how MedView can help, get in touch today.
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What can you do before the year starts?
Before the year starts, it is vital that you understand that the journey to becoming a doctor is a long and arduous process. Medicine is a life-long commitment whose pathway extends beyond the 6 years of study. It includes a progression from a house officer to a registrar, and application onto training schemes if you opt for the surgical pathway.
The vast majority of people who apply for medicine, do not have a clear picture of what they want to do in the future. This uncertainty is not something to worry about now – you have plenty of time to figure out exactly what you want to do. There is something in medicine for everyone. If you are still uncertain about the medical pathway beyond the 6 years of study, I would recommend doing further research.
Another thing you can do over the summer break is to identify your motivation to become a doctor. If it’s for the money, you may not be in the correct profession - it will be at least 10-12 years until you start earning the big bucks that all doctors are known for! If you have an inherent nature to help people and seek to make our society healthier, then you are on the right track.
Once your head is in the right place, enjoy your summer! The year will belong, and you will have to make social sacrifices to make your studies a priority. Make the most of the time you have by seeing friends and family, as you will inevitably see less of them throughout the year. You are likely to experience burnout sometime during the year, so optimising your rest now is important.
The single most effective way to distance yourself from your competitors is to start early and hard. After you have rested throughout December and into the new year, it is time to get started and get ahead. The Flying Start Course offered by MedView was my ticket to success. It is a highly intensive programme starting in late January that covers the first 6 weeks of content for the three core papers in the first semester. The advantages of this course are numerous:
- The most valuable aspect of Flying Start is the content covered. As the first semester contains 3 out of the 4 core papers, it is so important to get a good start. An early lapse within the first few weeks can completely derail your entire year. Being exposed to similar content ahead of time builds your confidence and gives you the opportunity to begin learning before others.
- There is a radically different teaching style from high school to university. Flying Start emulates the style you are accustomed to, while simultaneously teaching university material. This eases your transition and places students into a more comfortable and familiar environment.
- You can meet other motivated people. You may have heard the horror stories of people sabotaging each other, taking their notes and hiding their bags. While these are mostly exaggerated, there will still be those who resort to other measures to gain an advantage. The people doing Flying Start will be motivated just like you, and eager to get ahead. Working together and building these strong relationships before the year starts means that you have a better support group in place. I have met several bright individuals who were passionate and together, we were able to navigate the difficult year and succeed as a group!
MedView believes in a holistic approach to medical school admissions, meaning we surround the student with a team of experts to help develop their candidacy and skills in all three major pillars in their journey to medical school, and now it’s even more accessible with the MedView Hub App!
Over the last decade there’s been a mass adoption of smartphones and a shift in the way people behave online and communicate. Australians are spending more time online, often using multiple screens, and consuming vast amounts of content each day. And it’s only going up!
Recent figures show that almost eight out of ten Australians use social media, and 87% of them use their mobile phones to access it. Fifty-nine percent of Australians access social media everyday or most days, and over a third of people check social media more than five times per day.
We often go online to chat with friends and family, share photos, or be entertained by cat videos. But the very same platforms we use to socialise can also be used to gather knowledge that we can apply in our offline lives. One of the areas where users can reap the benefits is online communities. MedView prides themselves on finding the best tutor, strategist or consultant for each student whether they be in Australia, New Zealand or the United Kingdom and having an online community platform allows even more core benefits for our students in a shorter amount of time. Now students can access over 320 tutors, strategists and consultants and get answers to their Synapse questions, interact in exclusive workshops, and most importantly make friends. The meaningful relationships with other members of the community increases knowledge and collective wisdom.
The MedView Hub App is our own online community platform for students, parents, tutors, and alumni to create a network of opportunities to participate in smart, focused conversation on specific medical school admissions topics (unlike the Instagram and Facebook chatter).
Over the last decade there’s been a mass adoption of smartphones and a shift in the way people behave online and communicate. Australians are spending more time online, often using multiple screens, and consuming vast amounts of content each day. And it’s only going up!
Recent figures show that almost eight out of ten Australians use social media, and 87% of them use their mobile phones to access it. Fifty-nine percent of Australians access social media everyday or most days, and over a third of people check social media more than five times per day.
We often go online to chat with friends and family, share photos, or be entertained by cat videos. But the very same platforms we use to socialise can also be used to gather knowledge that we can apply in our offline lives. One of the areas where users can reap the benefits is online communities. MedView prides themselves on finding the best tutor, strategist or consultant for each student whether they be in Australia, New Zealand or the United Kingdom and having an online community platform allows even more core benefits for our students in a shorter amount of time. Now students can access over 320 tutors, strategists and consultants and get answers to their Synapse questions, interact in exclusive workshops, and most importantly make friends. The meaningful relationships with other members of the community increases knowledge and collective wisdom.
The MedView Hub App is our own online community platform for students, parents, tutors, and alumni to create a network of opportunities to participate in smart, focused conversation on specific medical school admissions topics (unlike the Instagram and Facebook chatter).
Find out more and begin your journey to medical school by speaking with a MedView Academic Advisor for free today!
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