Understanding the ISAT
Thinking about studying medical or health-related courses in Australia? If you’re an international student, you’ve probably heard of the ISAT. The International Student Admissions Test (ISAT) is an exam designed for international students who want to study medical and health-related courses in Australia. It’s a 3-hour, online, multiple-choice assessment (100 questions) developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), which is designed to assess a student's critical and quantitative reasoning skills. Unlike traditional exams that focus on memorisation, the ISAT challenges your ability to think critically and solve problems.
Understanding whether the ISAT is the right path for you is an important first step on your journey to medical school!
Ideal candidates for taking the ISAT test
Not everyone can take the ISAT test, but for some students, the ISAT plays a key role in their university application. So, who should take the ISAT test?
International Students Targeting Australian Medical Schools
If you are applying as an international student (meaning you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident) and you are aiming for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy courses. You might be the perfect candidate to take the ISAT!
The ISAT is used by Australian universities to assess students from all backgrounds, and several Australian universities, such as Monash University and the University of New South Wales, use ISAT scores as part of the admission process for medical and related programmes.
Applicants Without a Science Background
You can do well on the ISAT without a science background! Unlike other medical tests, the ISAT tests students' critical and quantitative reasoning skills, and these skills can be developed from any major you studied.The questions in the test are drawn from the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences, but it doesn't require deep expertise in these subjects.
If you don't have a scientific background but are confident in thinking logically and solving problems, the ISAT test is right for you!
How to Decide if the ISAT is Right for You
Still not sure if ISAT is right for you? Here are a few things to consider:
- Which university do you want to apply to?
Some universities require ISAT, but some don’t. Always needs to be sure to check the admission page carefully. Or you can check out "Which Universities in Australia Accept the ISAT?" to see which universities we have sorted out that accept the ISAT.
- What are your strengths?
If you are more comfortable with critical and quantitative reasoning skills, logical analysis, and problem solving than memorisation, the ISAT can actually give you an advantage. Also, practicing sample questions can help you assess your readiness and comfort with the test format, and we have provided a Sample ISAT Exam for students to test their suitability for the ISAT.
Still Deciding on the ISAT? Fraser’s Can Help
ISAT plays an important role for international students applying for medical and health-related programmes in Australia. Contact us and we'll help you take the time to understand the format, eligibility requirements, and how it fits in with your university choices!
Once you've made your decision, Fraser's Medical offers a range of ISAT resources to support your preparation, and our ISAT Comprehensive Programme provides an effective approach to mastering the exam!
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