Re: How To Study For GAMSAT
GAMSAT Mock Exam: acegamsat.com/siii-mock-exam
Minimum GAMSAT Scores: acegamsat.com/minimum-gamsat-scores
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What you should know?
The GAMSAT is a reasoning test, not a knowledge test. Knowledge is required and it must be integrated into the question so that you can come up with a reasoned response. Do not just memorise the topics in physics, chemistry and biology – you must understand the actual concepts.
Time: Finishing on time is one of the hardest things about the GAMSAT. For Section 1 you have an average of 1.3 mins per question and approximately 1.5 mins per question for Section 3. If a question seems too difficult or time consuming just guess and move on to the next question. Do not let difficult questions throw you off for the rest of the test.
Probability: Aim to cross off wrong answers when finding the correct answer. Most times you can cross at least 1 or 2 answers off. This will increase the probability that you make a ‘good’ guess when you are not confident of the answer.
Practice: Please do not sit the GAMSAT exam unless you have completed all four of the ACER practice papers.
It is important that you learn how to study for GAMSAT and then implement these practises for at least 3 months before the exam.
Make sure you do at least two of the four papers under timed conditions. Even if you do not completely understand the answers, at least remember them! In the 2015 march exam some questions were repeated directly from section 3 of a practice ACER exam.
Practicing under timed conditions is important so you can get the feel of working under the same conditions of the exam and you will be able to adjust to the speed in which you must answers questions in the exam.
You may be thinking ‘what Score and GPA combination do I need?’ I have compiled the Minimum GAMSAT Scores from Students in PagingDr Forums so you can see the estimated scores required to gain acceptance to each University.
Section I: Humanities and Social Sciences
Outline:
Multiple-choice with 4 options
Candidates are provided with stimulus material – poem, magazine, novel, newspaper, song, textbook or journal.
Regular reading and practice are the best preparation for this section. An e-book reader is a worthy investment. E-books can easily be downloaded through the Amazon store and unfamiliar words can easily be learnt via the inbuilt dictionary.
Vocabulary
A sound vocabulary will be highly beneficial for SI. It will aid in the understanding of texts and can be helpful in crossing off the incorrect multiple-choice answers when in doubt.
Practice
Practice is key.
Practising questions in the vocabulary site given in the video is important. It will provide detailed feedback for each series of questions.
Work through the two half-length ACER booklets and save the two full length ones for just before the GAMSAT to sit under timed conditions.
I repeat. TIME YOURSELF! You will adapt to working at this pace and with consistency these stimulus questions will become like second nature.
Section II: Written Communication
Outline:
Candidates are to complete two essays – both task A and task B
Five quotes are provided for each task that surrounds a common theme.
Task A deals with socio-cultural issues and task B deals with social and personal issues.
A title is recommended for each essay. Be creative! The markers are looking for the best ideas. Ideas are more important than spelling, grammar and punctuation.
The best ideas get the best marks, so planning your essay in the first 5 minutes is the key to success.
Reading the newspaper is important in keeping up to date with socio-cultural issues. I recommend reading the comment section of the Sydney Morning Herald or the Economist. I recommend reading 3 articles per day (less than 15 minutes).
Section III: Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences
Outline:
This section includes biology, general and organic chemistry all at university level, and physics at year 12 level. Overall the exam consists of 40% biology, 40% chemistry and 20% physics.
