title: GAMSAT: A 10-year retrospective overview, with detailed analysis of candidates' performance in 2014.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Graduate Australian Medical Schools Admission Test (GAMSAT) is undertaken annually in centres around Australia and a small number of overseas locations. Most Australian graduate entry medical schools also use Grade Point Average and interview score for selection. The aim of this study was to review the performance of the GAMSAT over the last 10 years; the study provides an analysis of the impact of candidates' gender, age, language background, level of academic qualification and background discipline on performance; and details on the performance of higher-scoring candidates. These analyses were undertaken on the 2014 data; and trends in the data over the 10-year period are noted.
  
  
  METHODS
  In reviewing performance, the main variables considered were: - Overall GAMSAT score and scores for Section 1, Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences, Section 2, Written Communication, and Section 3, Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences. - Proportions of candidates achieving a Typical Entry Score. - Impact of gender, age, language background, level of academic qualification and undergraduate course (i.e. subject discipline) on test scores. Descriptive statistics and tests of significance were applied to determine the impact of demographic variables on performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of candidates is increasing. Test reliability is consistently high. Higher scores overall are more likely for candidates who are male; are less than 24 years old; have an English-speaking background; have an Honours degree or a doctorate; and have completed a degree which is not health-related.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Performance of the GAMSAT exam over the last 10 years has been stable with high reliability. There are significant variations in candidate performance related to age, gender, level and discipline of previous academic study and language background.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6011, Australia. annette.mercer@uwa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia. brendan.crotty@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Brendan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Crotty
authors.affiliation: Peninsula School of Medicine C410, Plymouth University, Portland Square, Drakes Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8A, Devon, UK. louise.alldridge@plymouth.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alldridge
authors.affiliation: Australian Council for Educational Research, 19 Prospect Hill Rd, Camberwell, VIC, 3124, Australia. luc.le@acer.edu.au.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Le
authors.affiliation: Australian Council for Educational Research, 19 Prospect Hill Rd, Camberwell, VIC, 3124, Australia. veronica.vele@acer.edu.au.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia; D003099:College Admission Test; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D012577:Schools, Medical; D012737:Sex Factors; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult