If you're finishing high school overseas and you want to study medicine in Australia without completing a bachelor's degree first, the ISAT is the test standing between you and an offer.
It's the International Student Admissions Test, and a small group of Australian universities use it as their direct-entry admissions test for international applicants. Here's what actually matters before you sit it.
It tests reasoning, not subject knowledge
The ISAT covers Science Reasoning, Mathematical Reasoning, Reading, and Critical Reasoning. There's no fixed syllabus to memorise. It's designed to assess how you think under pressure, not what you've studied, which means strong English comprehension and time management matter just as much as any science background.
Not every university treats it the same way
Some schools use ISAT as their primary direct-entry test. Others let you choose between ISAT and UCAT ANZ. And at least one major university doesn't accept it at all for its main direct-entry pathway. The requirement, and the score you'll need, genuinely varies by university, so confirm the current threshold directly with each school rather than assuming.
Test windows shift year to year
Universities don't always accept every ISAT sitting. Some restrict eligible test dates to a specific window in the year or two before commencement. If you're planning around a particular intake, check which sittings that university actually accepts before you book.
English and academic requirements still lead
A high school diploma with excellent grades (A-Levels, IB, or equivalent) is the baseline, and Chemistry and English are the prerequisites that come up most often. Your ISAT score works alongside those results in the final ranking, not instead of them.
Fraser's ISAT students
Fraser's ISAT cohort has a strong track record of first-preference offers into Australian medical schools, built through one-on-one mentoring designed specifically around the challenges international students face: English as a second language, unfamiliarity with Australian entry pathways, and adjusting to a different exam style altogether.
Get the full breakdown, free
We've put together a complete guide for international students considering the direct-entry pathway: admissions tests, English requirements by university, the application and interview process, visas, costs, and what happens after you graduate.
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