Graduate Entry Selection Process
When selecting students for interview we use the GAMSAT results. We then use their performance at interview to decide who to issue offers to.
GAMSAT
We use the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT). This helps us find applicants who have the most appropriate reasoning abilities. These will help you to be successful in a clinical career.
Applicants to Graduate Entry Medicine must take GAMSAT before applying.
GAMSAT can be taken in March or September prior to the UCAS submission date and results are valid for two consecutive years.
Also, please make Acer aware that they can share previous results. You will not be penalised or viewed less favourably if you have up to eight sets of GAMSAT results. It just helps us ensure we use your highest overall score.
Find out more and sign up to take GAMSAT
Scoring
The GAMSAT scores you on three different sections:
- Reasoning in the humanities and social sciences
- Written communication
- Reasoning in biological and physical sciences
You will receive a score out of 100 for each section.
Official GAMSAT Overall Score
Your official GAMSAT score is a weighted average of the section scores and will be calculated using the following formula:
(Section 1 + Section 2 + (2 x Section 3)) ÷ 4 = Total Score
Example
(57 + 65 + (2 x 50)) ÷ 4 = 55.5
Nottingham GAMSAT Overall Score
We calculate your GAMSAT score as a mean average using the following formula:
(Section 1 + Section 2 + Section 3) ÷ 3 = Total Score
Example
(57 + 65 + 50) ÷ 3 = 57.33
We select for interview based on the highest of your two overall scores obtained up to two years before applying.
You cannot combine section scores from GAMSAT tests taken at different times to meet the entry requirements.
Selection for Interview
To be considered for interview, you must achieve a minimum score of:
- 55 in Section 2
- 55 in either Section 1 or 3
- 50 in the remaining section
Interviews are offered to the top percentage of candidates on their GAMSAT scores. This is dependent on them having provided evidence of work or voluntary experience in a healthcare setting.
Please note, we are not expecting any significant work experience to have taken place between March 2020 and May 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Your application for 2024 entry will not be affected negatively if you’ve not been able to complete as much work experience as you originally planned. We will however be looking for some experience, knowledge of the profession and an understanding of the scope of the role which we may ask you about if you are interviewed. For more help, you may wish to visit the resources provided by the Medical Schools Council.
We do not have a fixed GAMSAT threshold score when selecting for interview.
The threshold score varies depending whether you are a standard applicant or an international applicant; the number of places we have on offer; the number of interview slots we have available; and the number of applications we receive in that year.
Interview
If you are successful, you will be invited for an interview. This is usually in the form of a small panel interview or by Multiple Mini Interview (MMIs) format.
The interviews:
- usually last between 40 and 60 minutes
- are held face to face or on line using Microsoft Teams
- include questions on five to eight subject areas
Interviews, interviewing briefing sessions and Open Day events are sometimes offered on line, therefore, applicants will usually need access to IT equipment with a webcam and microphone, reliable Wi-Fi and a quiet space.
For 2024 entry, interviews may be face to face or online using Microsoft Teams. We will provide more details as they become available.
The interview is designed to assess the personal qualities usually considered important for the practice of medicine. You'll be expected to have:
- good communication and listening skills,
- an understanding of professional issues such as teamwork
- respect for patients and the contribution of those working in professions allied to medicine.
These qualities are based on the Medical School Council's guidelines.
You will receive more information about the interview day if you are invited for an interview.
Offer
Following the interview stage, we will review your performance and offer places to the applicants who performed well at interview.
All offers are made subject to success at interview. You'll also need to have a satisfactory occupational health assessment, DBS clearance, and no fitness to practise issues. If you've been offered a place with us, we'll contact you with more information on how to complete these processes.