ISAT 2027 Complete Guide: Dates, Format, Scores and Universities

The ISAT is required by several Australian universities for international applicants to medicine and other health-related courses. For 2027 entry, the important questions are simple: what the test includes, when it must be taken, which universities accept it, what score is required and how results are used.

The key detail is that ISAT test dates for calendar year 2027 have not yet been announced. However, students applying for courses starting in 2027 may need to complete the test during 2026, depending on the university.

What is the ISAT?

ISAT stands for International Student Admissions Test.

It is an online admission test developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research, known as ACER. It is mainly used by selected Australian universities to assess international applicants for:

• Medicine
• Dentistry
• Certain health-related courses

The ISAT does not test a fixed school syllabus.

It measures how well a student can:

• Understand unfamiliar information
• Analyse written arguments
• Interpret graphs and tables
• Recognise logical relationships
• Use quantitative information
• Make reasoned decisions

Not every Australian medical school requires ISAT. Students must always check the rules of the specific university and course.

ISAT 2027 dates

ACER has not yet published the official testing calendar for 2027.

This means that the following details are still unavailable:

• 2027 test windows
• 2027 registration deadlines
• 2027 result release dates
• 2027 registration fee

Students should not assume that the 2027 calendar will follow the same dates as previous years.

For courses beginning in 2027, several universities require applicants to sit ISAT during 2026. The university deadline is therefore more important than the final ACER testing window.

ISAT test dates for 2026

The confirmed 2026 testing windows are:

The last 2 days of each window are normally reserved for approved resits caused by technical or delivery problems.

A student applying for 2027 entry cannot automatically choose any 2026 window. Some universities accept only results obtained before a specific date.

ISAT test format

The ISAT is completed online under remote supervision.

Its current structure is:

• 100 multiple-choice questions
• 180 minutes
• 4 or 5 answer options per question
• No penalty for incorrect answers
• Equal value for every question

Students can move between questions and review their answers before submitting the test.

The exam includes 2 main reasoning areas:

Critical Reasoning

Critical Reasoning assesses the ability to:

• Understand complex written information
• Identify assumptions
• Compare arguments
• Draw logical conclusions
• Evaluate evidence

Quantitative Reasoning

Quantitative Reasoning assesses the ability to:

• Interpret numerical information
• Read graphs and tables
• Recognise patterns
• Compare quantities
• Apply logical mathematical reasoning

The required information is normally included in the question. Students are not expected to memorise a specific science or mathematics syllabus.

How much does ISAT cost?

The confirmed registration fee for 2026 is AUD 435.

This is not yet the official 2027 fee.

The current deferral fee is AUD 72. A deferral may normally be requested once, subject to ACER’s conditions and deadlines.

Additional administrative rules may apply to:

• Refunds
• Missed tests
• Technical incidents
• Deferrals
• Reasonable adjustments

These conditions should be checked again when the 2027 candidate information becomes available.

How to register for ISAT

Registration currently involves 2 platforms.

Students must:

1. Create an ACER account.
2. Register for the selected ISAT window.
3. Pay the registration fee.
4. Receive instructions for remote proctoring.
5. Create or access a ProctorU account.
6. Book an available test time.
7. Complete the equipment check before test day.

Students should book early. Registration for a test window does not guarantee that every preferred time slot will remain available.

The name used during registration should match the student’s identification document. Universities may also ask for the student’s ISAT registration number to verify the result.

What equipment is needed?

ISAT is currently delivered remotely.

Students need:

• A compatible desktop or laptop
• A stable internet connection
• A working webcam
• A working microphone
• A private and quiet room
• Valid identification
• Permission to install or run the required proctoring software

A mobile phone or tablet should not be used as the main test device.

Technical checks should be completed well before the test appointment. Leaving them until test day creates unnecessary risk.

When are ISAT results released?

Results are normally released within approximately 2 weeks after the end of the testing window.

The published 2026 release dates are:

• Window 1: 14 February 2026
• Window 2: 23 May 2026
• Window 3: 22 August 2026
• Window 4: 21 November 2026

Students receive an email when results are available. The Statement of Results can then be downloaded from the ACER account.

How long are ISAT results valid?

ISAT results are generally valid for 2 years.

However, this does not mean that every university accepts every result obtained within that period.

Each university can decide:

• Which test years are accepted
• Which test windows are accepted
• The final date for submitting results
• The minimum score required
• Whether section scores are considered separately

Students must satisfy both the general ACER validity period and the university’s admission rules.

Can the ISAT be retaken?

Students can normally register for another ISAT only after 12 months have passed since the previous sitting.

This rule makes test planning important.

A student who takes ISAT too late or obtains an insufficient score may not be able to retake it before the next university deadline.

Which Australian universities use ISAT?

ISAT is currently used for international admission by selected pathways at:

• Monash University
• UNSW Sydney
• University of Tasmania
• University of Western Australia
• Western Sydney University

Requirements differ significantly between universities.

A score that meets the minimum at one institution may not be sufficient at another.

ISAT requirements for 2027 entry

Minimum scores do not guarantee an interview or an offer.

Universities may rank applicants using a combination of:

• Academic results
• ISAT score
• Interview performance
• Eligibility criteria
• Available places

Monash University ISAT requirements

For international direct-entry medicine applicants, Monash publishes a general minimum of:

• 170 overall
• 165 in Critical Reasoning
• 165 in Quantitative Reasoning

For the 2027 intake, the published score used for interview selection was 178 overall.

This distinction matters.

The lower score is a general eligibility threshold. The higher score reflects the competitive cutoff used for that admission round.

For the main international application round:

• ISAT had to be completed by 8 May 2026
• Course applications closed on 30 June 2026
• Interviews were scheduled for July 2026
• Offers were expected from August 2026

Different timing applied to students completing Australian Year 12, the International Baccalaureate in Australia or New Zealand, or NCEA in New Zealand.

These applicants could complete ISAT by 7 August 2026.

UNSW Sydney ISAT requirements

UNSW accepts either ISAT or UCAT ANZ from international medicine applicants.

Once a student submits one of the 2 tests for consideration, the other cannot simply be submitted later as a replacement.

The published minimum ISAT score is:

• 165

Students must complete ISAT and supply the result by 30 November 2026 for 2027 commencement.

Testing earlier is safer because interviews and offers may be organised progressively.

UNSW also considers:

• Academic performance
• Admission test result
• Interview performance

Meeting the minimum score does not guarantee selection.

University of Western Australia ISAT requirements

The University of Western Australia uses ISAT for its international assured pathway to medicine.

For 2027 commencement, it accepts ISAT results from:

• 2024
• 2025
• 2026 Window 1
• 2026 Window 2

Results from 2026 Windows 3 and 4 are too late for this intake.

Applicants need at least the 25th percentile in both Critical Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning.

The final ranking currently gives weight to:

• Academic result: 30%
• ISAT: 20%
• Interview: 50%

The application deadline for 2027 commencement was 30 June 2026.

UCAT ANZ is not accepted as an alternative for this specific international medicine pathway.

Western Sydney University ISAT requirements

Western Sydney University uses ISAT when ranking eligible international applicants for its medicine program.

The currently published handbook indicates:

• 160 overall
• At least 50% in each section

Admission criteria are reviewed regularly, so students should verify that this threshold remains valid for their specific 2027 application round.

The university also publishes an academic threshold equivalent to approximately:

• ATAR 93.5
• IB 37

Applications may be processed in rounds while places remain available.

University of Tasmania ISAT requirements

The University of Tasmania is included among the institutions using ISAT for international undergraduate medicine admission.

However, a clear 2027-specific score cutoff, accepted testing period and final submission deadline have not yet been published in the available course information.

Students should not rely on unofficial admission websites for these details.

What is a good ISAT score?

There is no single score that can be considered good for every university.

The relevant target depends on:

• The university
• The course
• The admission year
• The number of applicants
• The competitive interview cutoff
• Any minimum section requirement

For example:

• A score of 165 reaches the published UNSW minimum
• Monash requires at least 170 overall and 165 per section
• The Monash 2027 interview cutoff was 178 overall
• UWA uses percentiles rather than a single overall score threshold

Students should aim above the published minimum whenever possible. Minimum eligibility and competitive selection are not the same thing.

How to prepare for ISAT

ISAT preparation should focus on reasoning, timing and familiarity with the format.

Students should practise:

• Reading unfamiliar passages quickly
• Identifying the main argument
• Distinguishing facts from assumptions
• Interpreting graphs and tables
• Comparing numerical relationships
• Eliminating incorrect options
• Maintaining concentration for 3 hours
• Reviewing mistakes after each practice session

A useful pacing reference is around:

• 50 questions in the first 90 minutes
• 50 questions in the remaining 90 minutes

This is not a compulsory rule, but it helps prevent spending too much time on a small group of questions.

Students can review the complete ISAT Australia test overview before building their study plan.

How to structure an ISAT study plan

A practical study plan should include 3 stages.

Stage 1: Understand the test

Students should first learn:

• The question types
• The test interface
• The timing
• The scoring rules
• Their university deadline

Stage 2: Build accuracy

Preparation should then focus on:

• Untimed exercises
• One reasoning skill at a time
• Detailed mistake analysis
• Recognising repeated error patterns

Stage 3: Build speed and consistency

Closer to the test, students should complete:

• Timed question sets
• Mixed reasoning exercises
• Full-length simulations
• Regular performance reviews

With TestBuddy’s ISAT Australia practice platform, students can start free, practise by topic, complete realistic simulations and monitor their level through statistics and the TB™ Score.

The objective is not to complete as many questions as possible without analysis. Progress comes from understanding why an answer was wrong and correcting the reasoning process.

Common ISAT preparation mistakes

Students should avoid:

• Studying only school mathematics or science content
• Memorising formulas without practising interpretation
• Ignoring Critical Reasoning
• Completing exercises without reviewing mistakes
• Practising only untimed questions
• Taking the test too close to the university deadline
• Assuming the minimum score guarantees admission
• Registering without checking the 12-month retake restriction
• Waiting until test day to check technical equipment

What to do before booking the test

Before registering, students should confirm:

• The university and course
• The accepted ISAT testing period
• The minimum score
• Any minimum section score
• The application deadline
• The result submission deadline
• Whether an interview is required
• Whether UCAT ANZ is accepted as an alternative
• Whether the existing result is still valid
• Whether enough time has passed since a previous ISAT attempt

The university deadline should always guide the choice of test window.

Official information used

• The test structure, 2026 windows, registration process, fees, preparation guidance, result timing and retake rules are based on the official ACER ISAT information.
• The direct-entry medicine requirements and 2027 interview cutoff are based on the official Monash University international admissions information.
• The score threshold, application timing and test options are based on the official UNSW international medicine requirements.
• The accepted test years, percentile requirement and ranking weights are based on the official University of Western Australia medicine pathway.
• The international medicine requirements are based on the official Western Sydney University admissions information.
• The course pathway is based on the official University of Tasmania medicine course information.