Re: The Secret to GAMSAT Success

The Secret to GAMSAT Success

Let’s face it. For most people, studying for the GAMSAT requires long hours of study on a consistent basis for several months. It is so easy to procrastinate and avoid studying until ‘tomorrow’. When you think to yourself “When should I start studying and preparing for the GAMSAT” the answer is NOW!

The 4 techniques that helped me focus on my goals and brought upon my success in the GAMSAT are:

1. Early Study
2. Meditation
3. Affirmations
4. Visualisation

Early study:
Make sure you start studying and practicing all GAMSAT-related material at least 3 months before the GAMSAT exam. Students should aim to study as early in the day as possible.

As soon as you wake up do the 5 following things:
1. Wash face with COLD water
2. Drink a glass of water
3. Eat a light breakfast – Low GI
4. Brush Teeth
5. Stretch to loosen up muscles and increase blood flow

Now it is time for Meditation (3 mins):
Meditation will reduce your stress levels, to begin each day with a kind of calm, clarity, and peace of mind that will allow you to stay focused on what is most important in your life. Starting your day off with meditation will allow you to focus on your goals and priorities.

Find a quiet comfortable place to sit. Sit upright on the ground with legs crossed. You can close your eyes, or you can look down at the ground. Start by focusing on your breath, taking slow, deep breaths. Remember to breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. Breath the surrounding air into your belly, not just your chest. Pace your breath: Breath in for 3 seconds and out for 3 seconds. During this process you will feel your thoughts and emotions settling down as you focus on your breath.

Be aware that as you attempt to quiet your mind, thoughts will still come in to pay a visit. Acknowledge them, then let them go, always returning your focus to your breath.
The aim of meditation is to clear your mind for the following exercises and allow you to have laser-focus on your priorities for the day.

Affirmations (3 mins):
As Mohummad Ali stated – “It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. Once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.”

When you actively design and write out affirmations to be in alignment with what you want to accomplish, and commit to repeating them daily (out loud) – they will immediately make an impression on your subconscious mind. The affirmations you read out will go to work to transform the way you think and feel so you can overcome your limiting beliefs and behaviors and replace them with those you need to succeed.

You should create your own or tweak the following affirmations to suit your own specific goals. The following affirmations are similar to what I used when preparing for the GAMSAT.

I will put 110% everyday when studying for the GAMSAT. Nothing comes easy in life. I will write essays everyday and receive feedback so that I can improve my skills to the fullest. I will read all the recommended GAMSAT books for S1 and learn all the required S3 GAMSAT content. I am going to be a GAMSAT machine. I will practice all GAMSAT practice questions available until I master them all. I will practice questions under timed conditions so that I can breeze through the exam on the day. I do not care how long it will take, I will continuously put in hard work and will eventually score high enough in the GAMSAT to become a Doctor.

If I do not pass the GAMSAT the first time, will I give up? NO! I will go back and study twice as hard and as twice as long as last time. I will make sacrifices. I will work my hardest to improve on my weakest points and I will eventually SUCCEED.

I will eventually get a high GAMSAT score, no matter how long it takes and I will breeze through the MMI interviews.

I will achieve my dream and become a Doctor.

Visualisation (3 mins):

Visualisation refers to the practice of seeking to generate positive results in your outer world by using your imagination to create mental images of specific behaviors and outcomes occurring in your life. It is the process of imagining exactly what you want to achieve, and then mentally rehearsing what you’ll need to do to achieve it.

Spend 3 minutes listening to some relaxing music. Close your eyes, sit-upright and take a deep breath in and out (holding each for 3 seconds). Visualize yourself preparing for the GAMSAT for many hours each day. You are laser focused and your number one priority is to succeed in the exam. Visualise yourself breezing through the questions in S1 and S3, and writing that perfect, flowing essay. Visualize yourself checking your GAMSAT results and receiving a great score. Imagine yourself breezing through the medical school interviews and then imagine yourself as a Doctor in many years from now. What will you specialize in? Where would you live? What will your day consist of? Will you have a loving wife and many children? Will you be one of the most influential Doctors in the world? How will your parents feel about your success? How will you feel saving lives of people in need? And most of all how would you feel when you look back at all the hard work you put in to achieve this dream of becoming a Doctor?

Hope this helps,

Matt.
AceGAMSAT

Published by acegamsat.com