ISAT Guide

What Is the ISAT? 2026 Test Guide

The International Student Admissions Test (ISAT) is a three-hour, remote-proctored admissions test developed by ACER for international applicants to specified medicine and health-related courses. It contains 100 multiple-choice questions and assesses critical and quantitative reasoning; it does not test curriculum knowledge.

This guide explains who may need the test, its 2026 format and dates, scoring and results, pacing, preparation, and the practical differences between ISAT and UCAT ANZ.

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Core exam facts checked against official 2026 ACER and UCAT ANZ information10 min read

3-hour assessment

180 minutes

ACER runs ISAT as one continuous online multiple-choice test.

100 questions

1.8 min each

That works out to an average of 108 seconds per question across the full paper.

4 test windows

2026 cycle

All 2026 sessions are remotely proctored. The final two days of each window are reserved for resits.

Results timing

Within 2 weeks

ACER publishes a no-later-than result date for each 2026 test window.

Validity

2 years

Results remain current for two years, with at least 12 months required between sittings.

Marking approach

No negative marking

ACER advises candidates to attempt as many questions as possible because wrong answers are not penalised.

Exam Breakdown

What the ISAT actually measures

The ISAT is not a biology, chemistry or memorisation exam. ACER describes it as a cross-curricular reasoning assessment that measures how well you analyse information, make logical deductions and form judgements in unfamiliar contexts.

Critical reasoning

This is about understanding written material, extending ideas, drawing sensible conclusions and evaluating arguments. The stimulus material usually draws from humanities and social science contexts.

Quantitative reasoning

This tests numerical interpretation, decision-making, and problem solving using mathematical and scientific information. Strong performance depends on disciplined arithmetic and calm handling of data.

What matters strategically: ACER explicitly notes that ISAT is not a subject knowledge test, that there is no negative marking, and that cramming offers limited benefit. That means your preparation should focus on reading quality, reasoning quality and pace control.

Eligibility

Who needs to take ISAT?

ISAT is not a general requirement for every international medical applicant. ACER lists specific courses that require the test, and each university controls its own admissions rules.

Australia and Malaysia

  • Monash University (Melbourne) — undergraduate medicine
  • Monash University Malaysia — undergraduate medicine
  • UNSW — undergraduate medicine
  • University of Tasmania — Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine
  • University of Western Australia — international direct pathways to graduate-entry medicine and dentistry
  • Western Sydney University — undergraduate medicine applications made through its International Office

Ireland

  • University of Limerick — occupational therapy
  • University of Limerick — speech and language therapy

Continental Europe

  • Estonian University of Life Sciences — veterinary medicine
  • Universidad de Navarra — undergraduate medicine

Course requirements can change. Check the current ACER ISAT course list and the university’s own admissions page before registering.

2026 Registration

ISAT 2026 test windows, result dates and fees

All 2026 ISAT sessions are remotely proctored. ACER reserves the final two days of each window for resits, so first-time sittings must be booked earlier in the window.

Window 1

Testing:
19–30 Jan
Resits only:
29–30 Jan
Results:
By 14 Feb

Window 2

Testing:
27 Apr–8 May
Resits only:
7–8 May
Results:
By 23 May

Window 3

Testing:
27 Jul–7 Aug
Resits only:
6–7 Aug
Results:
By 22 Aug

Window 4

Testing:
26 Oct–6 Nov
Resits only:
5–6 Nov
Results:
By 21 Nov

Test fee

AUD $435

Deferral fee

AUD $72

Between sittings

At least 12 months

These dates and fees were checked on 26 August 2026. Confirm availability and booking conditions on the official ACER registration page before making travel, study or application plans.

Scores and Results

ISAT results, validity and what counts as a good score

Your statement of results reports Critical Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Overall scores. Universities decide how they use those results, so there is no universal ISAT pass mark.

Score scale

Critical Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Overall scores are each scaled from 100 to 200. The Overall score is the scaled average of the two reasoning scores.

How scoring works

ACER uses Item Response Theory, so a raw count of correct answers cannot be converted directly into a scaled score. Question characteristics are considered in the calculation.

What is a good ISAT score?

There is no guaranteed “good” score. Percentile tables describe performance relative to a cohort and can change, while each university sets its own admissions interpretation.

Release and validity

Results are released by ACER’s published deadline after each window and remain current for two years. Candidates must wait at least 12 months before sitting again.

A scaled score is intended to be comparable across sittings, but its associated percentile may vary between cohorts. See the official ACER result explanation. For practice data inside Medley—not an ACER score conversion—read our mock scoring and accuracy guide.

Pacing Statistics

The numbers that matter on test day

ACER’s official checkpoint is to be around Question 50 at 90 minutes. Dividing that evenly gives a simple planning reference of about 25 questions every 45 minutes—not a rule for every question.

Average pace
108 secper question
Halfway cue
50 questionsby 90 minutes
Wrong answer
No penaltyattempt every question

Planning checkpoints

Use these as prompts, not hard cut-offs.

  1. 45 min

    Question 25

  2. 90 min

    Question 50

  3. 135 min

    Question 75

  4. 180 min

    Question 100

If you are behind, avoid trying to recover all the time on one difficult item. Make your best supported choice and reassess at the next checkpoint.

UCAT Comparison

Average time per item: ISAT vs UCAT ANZ

The exams create different timing demands. ISAT provides a single average across one continuous paper; UCAT ANZ gives each subtest its own fixed time limit.

Why one UCAT average is misleading

UCAT ANZ uses four separately timed subtests. The chart therefore shows each subtest rather than combining them into one pace figure.

2026 UCAT candidates
Just over 17,330
ISAT average
108 sec/item

Calculated from official 2026 times and item counts. Values are rounded, and actual time varies by item type.

Chart data in seconds per item: ISAT 108, UCAT VR 30, UCAT DM 63, UCAT QR 43, UCAT SJT 23.

Comparison Table

Full ISAT vs UCAT ANZ comparison

Use this table as a fast admissions-planning reference. The tests overlap in purpose, but they reward different preparation habits and produce different score reports.

Primary use

ISAT
Used for international applicants to selected high-stakes university courses, especially medicine and related programs.
UCAT ANZ
Used by the UCAT ANZ Consortium for medicine, dentistry and clinical science admissions in Australia and New Zealand.

Structure

ISAT
One continuous paper focused on critical and quantitative reasoning.
UCAT ANZ
Four separately timed subtests: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning and Situational Judgement.

Total test time

ISAT
3 hours for 100 questions.
UCAT ANZ
Just under 2 hours, plus timed instruction sections.

Time pressure

ISAT
Lower per-question speed pressure, but longer endurance and focus demands.
UCAT ANZ
Much faster per-question pace, with rapid context-switching between subtests.

Scoring

ISAT
Critical Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Overall scores are each reported on a 100–200 scale, with percentile information.
UCAT ANZ
300 to 900 per subtest, total cognitive score 900 to 2700, Situational Judgement reported separately 300 to 900.

Result validity

ISAT
Current for 2 years.
UCAT ANZ
Valid for the current admissions cycle only.

In practice, ISAT preparation should include sustained mixed reasoning and measured checkpoints. UCAT ANZ preparation needs to reflect each subtest’s separate timing and question style.

Preparation

How to prepare for ISAT

Use your own error data to decide what deserves the most attention. The principles and example timeline below provide structure without assuming that every student has the same baseline or schedule.

Five preparation principles

  1. 1

    Build pace around checkpoints, not panic

    Use the halfway rule ACER gives: by 90 minutes, aim to be around Question 50. That automatically gives you 25-question checkpoints every 45 minutes.

  2. 2

    Train reasoning, not content memorisation

    ISAT does not test curriculum knowledge. Practise reading complex material, identifying assumptions, testing conclusions and working accurately with numerical data.

  3. 3

    Use no negative marking strategically

    Never leave easy points behind. If a question is dragging, eliminate the weakest options, mark a choice, and return later if time remains.

  4. 4

    Review by error pattern

    Sort mistakes into categories such as misread stem, rushed arithmetic, weak inference, over-assumption or poor elimination. Recurring categories give you a clearer target for the next practice session.

  5. 5

    Use official-style practice intelligently

    ACER's practice tests are designed to mirror the balance of a full paper. Treat each attempt as a data point for pace, accuracy and fatigue, not just a raw score snapshot.

Example 8-week framework

Adapt the sequence to your deadline and judge progress by reasoning quality, accuracy and pacing—not a fixed number of hours.

  1. Weeks 1-2

    Baseline and diagnosis

    Find your starting pace, weakest reasoning pattern and strongest question families.

  2. Weeks 3-4

    Critical reasoning depth

    Work on argument evaluation, inference, assumption detection and conclusion testing.

  3. Weeks 5-6

    Quantitative speed and accuracy

    Tighten estimation, ratio work, graph reading and multi-step numerical decisions under time pressure.

  4. Week 7

    Mixed timed sets

    Practise switching between verbal and numerical reasoning without losing rhythm.

  5. Week 8

    Full-test simulation and taper

    Run one realistic paper, review deeply, then reduce load so you arrive fresh on test day.

ACER does not recommend or endorse preparation courses. Medley is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ACER or the UCAT ANZ Consortium. Use ACER’s official materials as the source of truth for exam rules.

FAQs

Common ISAT questions

Quick answers to the questions applicants commonly ask when deciding whether they need ISAT and how to plan for it.

What does ISAT stand for?

ISAT stands for International Student Admissions Test. It is developed by ACER and used as one component of admission for selected university courses, particularly for international applicants.

How long is the ISAT?

The ISAT runs for 3 hours and contains 100 multiple-choice questions. That gives you an average of 1.8 minutes per question, although some will take far less and others more.

Is there negative marking in the ISAT?

No. ACER states that there are no marks deducted for incorrect answers, so attempting as many questions as possible is strategically important.

What score is a good ISAT score?

There is no universal ISAT pass mark or guaranteed 'good' score. Universities interpret results differently and competition changes by course and admissions cycle, so compare your result with the current requirements for every program you are applying to.

Is the ISAT harder than the UCAT?

They are difficult in different ways. ISAT is longer and rewards sustained reasoning endurance, while UCAT ANZ is more intensely time-pressured and split into fast subtests.

How often can you sit the ISAT?

ACER states that results remain current for 2 years, but candidates may only re-sit after 12 months have elapsed from the previous sitting.

Internal editorial review

Who reviewed this guide?

Published 25 May 2026
Last reviewed 26 August 2026

Samarth Vemala, Medley co-founder and Monash medicine student, reviewed the ISAT sections. He received an ISAT score of 190, reported at the 99th percentile for his sitting year.

Mark Xu, Medley co-founder and medicine student, reviewed the UCAT comparison. His UCAT result was reported at the 99th percentile for his sitting year.

Medley’s co-founders performed this internal review. Medley is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ACER or the UCAT ANZ Consortium.

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