# ISAT Complete Guide for Australian Medical Admissions

> ISAT Australia guide for medical admissions: format, 2026 test dates, scores, university requirements, validity, resits and 2027 application rules for students.

- Page: https://testbuddy.ai/en/blog/isat-complete-guide-for-australian-medical-admissions
- Last updated: 2026-08-12

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If you are applying to medicine in Australia as an international student, the **ISAT can be one of the most important parts of your application**. But which universities actually use it? What score do you need? How long is the test, when can you take it, and how long does your result stay valid?

Here we cover the rules that matter, the 2026 testing schedule, the requirements for each Australian medical school using ISAT, and what students need to pay attention to for **2027 entry**.

## What is the ISAT?

The **International Student Admissions Test (ISAT)** is an admissions test used by selected Australian universities, mainly for international applicants to competitive courses such as medicine.

For Australian medical admissions, ISAT is currently relevant to pathways at:

- **Monash University**
- **UNSW Sydney**
- **University of Tasmania**
- **University of Western Australia**
- **Western Sydney University**

The exact role of ISAT changes between universities. Some require it, while others also accept alternative admissions tests.

There is therefore **no single ISAT rule or score that applies to every Australian medical school**.

## ISAT format

The test lasts **3 hours** and contains **100 multiple-choice questions**.

It assesses 2 areas:

- **Critical Reasoning**
- **Quantitative Reasoning**

### Critical Reasoning

Questions can use material from areas such as humanities and social sciences.

You may need to:

- understand information
- analyse arguments
- make inferences
- evaluate conclusions

### Quantitative Reasoning

Questions use mathematical and scientific information to assess reasoning.

You may need to:

- interpret data
- solve problems
- make decisions
- identify logical conclusions

ISAT is **not a subject-knowledge exam**. It does not require you to memorise a specific biology, chemistry or mathematics syllabus.

Each question has 1 correct answer.

There is **no negative marking**, so unanswered questions do not give you an advantage.

For a closer look at the test structure and preparation options, students can also check our [ISAT Australia test overview](https://testbuddy.ai/tests/isat-australia).

## 2026 ISAT test dates

ISAT has **4 testing windows during 2026**.

| Testing window | Standard testing dates | Registration deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Window 1 | 19 to 30 January 2026 | 6 January 2026 |
| Window 2 | 27 April to 8 May 2026 | 13 April 2026 |
| Window 3 | 27 July to 7 August 2026 | 13 July 2026 |
| Window 4 | 26 October to 6 November 2026 | 12 October 2026 |

The final 2 days of each window are reserved for resits where applicable.

As of **12 August 2026**, Windows 1, 2 and 3 have finished.

**Window 4 is the remaining 2026 testing opportunity**, but students must check their university deadline before registering. A test session can still be available through ACER while being too late for a particular medical application.

## How much does ISAT cost?

The **2026 ISAT registration fee is AUD 435**.

A deferral costs **AUD 72**.

A registration can only be deferred **once** to a later available testing window.

## How is ISAT taken?

ISAT is currently delivered **online through remote proctoring**.

Students sit the test on their own suitable computer while being supervised remotely.

For test day, you need:

- a compatible computer or laptop
- stable internet access
- accepted photo identification
- an appropriate private testing space
- a small erasable whiteboard or 2 A4 sheets for working
- a mirror or similar reflective object for the remote security check

A tablet or smartphone cannot replace the main testing computer.

## What can you use during ISAT?

**Calculators are not allowed.**

Students also cannot use:

- phones
- watches
- headphones
- Bluetooth devices
- recording equipment
- dual monitors

Candidates whose first language is not English may use an eligible **printed bilingual dictionary**.

Always check the current test-day rules before sitting the exam, especially because remote-proctoring requirements can change.

## When are ISAT results released?

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

For 2026, the latest scheduled release dates are:

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

Students access their results through their **ACER account** and can download a Statement of Results.

## How long is an ISAT score valid?

ACER considers ISAT results current for **2 years**.

However, this does not automatically mean every university will accept every score taken during those 2 years.

Medical schools can set their own:

- eligible test years
- eligible testing windows
- application deadlines
- score requirements

Always apply the **university-specific rule first**.

For example, UWA's 2027 international school-leaver pathway accepts results from **2024, 2025 and only Windows 1 and 2 of 2026**.

## Can you retake the ISAT?

Yes, but there is an important restriction.

You must wait **12 months between ISAT sittings**.

If another ISAT is taken before the 12-month period has passed, the later result can be cancelled.

This makes timing particularly important. Taking ISAT without checking future admissions deadlines can restrict when you are able to try again.

## What is a good ISAT score for medicine?

There is **no universal ISAT pass score for Australian medicine**.

Each university sets its own minimum or ranking criteria.

| University | Current ISAT requirement for relevant international medicine pathway |
|---|---|
| Monash University | Minimum **170 overall**, with at least **165 in each section**. 2027 interview cutoff was **178 overall** |
| UNSW Sydney | Minimum **165** |
| University of Tasmania | Minimum **170 overall**, with at least **165 in each section** |
| UWA | At least the **25th percentile in both sections** |
| Western Sydney University | ISAT used for ranking, with **no fixed minimum currently published** |

A published minimum should never be treated as a guaranteed competitive score.

At universities that rank applicants, the score needed to progress can be higher depending on the applicant pool.

## Monash University ISAT requirements

For international applicants to **direct-entry medicine at Monash**, ISAT is compulsory.

The minimum requirement is:

- **170 overall**
- at least **165 in Critical Reasoning**
- at least **165 in Quantitative Reasoning**

For **2027 entry**, however, the actual ISAT cutoff used to select candidates for interview was **178 overall**.

This distinction matters.

A student can satisfy the formal minimum requirement without achieving a score high enough to receive an interview invitation.

For international direct-entry applicants, final selection considers:

- academic performance
- ISAT
- Multiple Mini Interview

These 3 components are weighted equally.

### Monash 2027 deadlines

For the main international round:

- ISAT had to be completed by **8 May 2026**
- the application deadline was **30 June 2026**

Students completing Australian Year 12, the IB in Australia or New Zealand, or NCEA in New Zealand could use the later testing schedule, including Window 3.

Their ISAT had to be completed by **7 August 2026**.

## UNSW ISAT requirements

International applicants to the **Bachelor of Medical Studies / Doctor of Medicine** can use either:

- **ISAT**
- **UCAT ANZ**

The published minimum ISAT score is **165**.

Students may sit both tests, but UNSW requires them to nominate which admissions test will be used for their application.

Once that choice has been made, a later alternative score is not considered in its place.

UNSW uses academic performance and the nominated admissions-test result to determine interview selection.

### UNSW 2027 ISAT deadline

For relevant 2027 international applications:

- ISAT must be completed by **30 November 2026**
- the medicine application deadline is **30 November 2026**

This means **ISAT Window 4 can still be used for UNSW 2027 entry** under the current admissions schedule.

## University of Tasmania ISAT requirements

International applicants to the **Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine** may use:

- ISAT
- UCAT ANZ
- MCAT

For ISAT, the minimum is:

- **170 overall**
- at least **165 in Critical Reasoning**
- at least **165 in Quantitative Reasoning**

The published academic minimum is equivalent to an **ATAR of 90**, together with the required prerequisites.

Meeting the minimum standards does not guarantee admission because places are competitive.

One important difference from several other Australian medical schools is that the **University of Tasmania does not conduct an interview as part of medicine selection**.

### Tasmania 2027 application dates

Applications for 2027 entry:

- opened **1 August 2026**
- close at **11:59 pm AEST on 30 September 2026**

Late medicine applications are not accepted.

## UWA ISAT requirements

ISAT is relevant to the **international school-leaver Assured Pathway to Medicine** at the University of Western Australia.

International applicants need at least the:

- **25th percentile in Critical Reasoning**
- **25th percentile in Quantitative Reasoning**

For this pathway, **UCAT ANZ is not accepted as an alternative to ISAT**.

The minimum academic requirement is equivalent to an **ATAR of 98**.

Final ranking is weighted as follows:

- **50% interview**
- **30% academic performance**
- **20% ISAT**

### UWA 2027 eligible ISAT results

For 2027 commencement, UWA accepts ISAT results from:

- **2024**
- **2025**
- **2026 Window 1**
- **2026 Window 2**

Later 2026 testing windows cannot be used for this intake because the international school-leaver application deadline was **30 June 2026**.

If a candidate has more than 1 eligible ISAT score, UWA uses the **higher result**.

This pathway leads through an undergraduate degree before progression into the MD and takes **6 years full-time** overall.

## Western Sydney University ISAT requirements

International applicants to medicine at **Western Sydney University** are required to sit ISAT.

The university uses the result to **rank applicants when the number of eligible candidates exceeds the available places**.

Unlike some other medical schools, Western Sydney currently does **not publish a fixed minimum ISAT score**.

Students should therefore avoid relying on unofficial cutoff figures.

The published academic threshold is equivalent to an **ATAR of 93.5**.

Western Sydney offers a minimum of **20 international Year 1 medicine places each year**.

International applications are processed in interview rounds and offers can continue until available places are filled.

## Which medical schools require ISAT only?

The admissions-test rules differ significantly.

For the pathways covered here:

- **Monash:** ISAT required
- **UNSW:** ISAT or UCAT ANZ
- **Tasmania:** ISAT, UCAT ANZ or MCAT
- **UWA international school-leaver pathway:** ISAT required
- **Western Sydney:** ISAT required for international MD applicants

ISAT should therefore not be treated as the admissions test for **every medical course in Australia**.

It is mainly relevant to specific international and school-leaver pathways.

Graduate-entry medicine can follow completely different admissions systems.

## How to prepare for ISAT

Because ISAT measures reasoning rather than memorised subject knowledge, preparation should focus on **how you solve unfamiliar problems under time pressure**.

Useful areas to practise include:

- identifying relevant information quickly
- interpreting graphs and numerical data
- comparing arguments
- recognising assumptions
- drawing conclusions from limited information
- managing approximately **100 questions across 3 hours**
- keeping accuracy stable under time pressure

Practice is especially useful when performance is measured instead of simply counting completed questions.

With [TestBuddy ISAT practice](https://testbuddy.ai/practise/isat-australia), students can work on ISAT-style practice, exercises and simulations while using performance statistics and the **TB™ Score** to track their current level. It can be started for free.

## Official ISAT preparation material

ACER provides:

- official sample questions
- purchasable practice tests

Official practice tests are approximately **half the length of the real exam** and aim to reflect a similar balance of question types.

ACER does not endorse commercial preparation providers.

Students can still prepare extensively, but they should distinguish between **official test information** and third-party preparation material.

## What to check before booking ISAT

Before paying for a test session, confirm:

- **which medical school you are applying to**
- whether ISAT is compulsory or optional
- the university's minimum score
- the university's application deadline
- the final eligible ISAT testing window
- whether your existing ISAT result is still accepted
- whether you are eligible to resit under the 12-month rule

The most important date is not simply the next available ISAT session.

It is the **latest ISAT session your chosen university will accept**.

For 2027 entry, this already differs significantly between universities. UWA and the main Monash international round required earlier testing, while UNSW can currently accept the final 2026 window.

## Official information used

- Current test structure, administration and general ISAT information are based on the [official ACER ISAT website](https://isat.acer.org/).
- Testing windows, registration fees, deferrals and deadlines are based on [ACER registration information](https://isat.acer.org/registration).
- Remote testing requirements are based on [ACER remote proctoring guidance](https://isat.acer.org/remote-proctoring).
- Score validity, release dates and the 12-month resit restriction are based on [ACER results guidance](https://isat.acer.org/results).
- Preparation rules and official practice material are based on [ACER preparation guidance](https://isat.acer.org/preparation).
- Equipment and prohibited items are based on [ACER test-day guidance](https://isat.acer.org/test-day).
- Monash requirements are based on the university's [international direct-entry medicine requirements](https://www.monash.edu/medicine/medical-school/direct-entry/international/entry-requirements) and [international medicine application information](https://www.monash.edu/medicine/medical-school/direct-entry/international/applications-fees).
- UNSW requirements are based on its [international medicine admissions information](https://www.unsw.edu.au/medicine-health/study-with-us/undergraduate/international-applicants).
- University of Tasmania requirements are based on its [Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine admissions page](https://www.utas.edu.au/courses/health/courses/h3x-bachelor-of-medical-science-and-doctor-of-medicine).
- UWA requirements are based on its [Doctor of Medicine admissions information](https://www.uwa.edu.au/study/courses/doctor-of-MEDICINE) and [Integrated Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice pathway information](https://www.uwa.edu.au/study/courses/integrated-medical-sciences-and-clinical-practice).
- Western Sydney requirements are based on its [international MD applicant information](https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/future/study/how-to-apply/md-applicants/international-applicants).

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