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Free GAMSAT Questions | GAMSAT Practice Tests 2023

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GAMSAT Section I | GAMSAT Section 1 Questions

50 | GAMSAT Section 1 Questions: Non-Fiction

36 | GAMSAT Section 1 Questions: Fiction

29 | GAMSAT Section 1 Questions: Diagrams

GAMSAT Section III | GAMSAT Section 3 Biology Questions

32 | GAMSAT Section 3 Questions: Biology Part 1

32 | GAMSAT Section 3 Questions: Biology Part 2

GAMSAT Section III | GAMSAT Section 3 Chemistry Questions

73 | GAMSAT Section 3 Questions: Chemistry Part 1

73 | GAMSAT Section 3 Questions: Chemistry Part 2

GAMSAT Section III | GAMSAT Section 3 Physics Questions

13 | GAMSAT Section 3 Questions: Physics Part 1

13 | GAMSAT Section 3 Questions: Physics Part 2

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Book your medic mind consultation, start your medic mind journey, still got questions don’t worry, we’ve got you covered., →what types of questions are in the gamsat.

GAMSAT is comprised of three unique sections and lasts 4.45 hours with a 30-minute recess between sections II and III.

Section I: Reasoning in humanities. Candidates will be presented with material to analyse such as cartoons, data and excerpts of plays, scientific articles and essays.

Section II: Written communication. Candidates are presented with 5 quotes on a particular topic for essay A and 5 for essay B. Essay A tends to be socio-cultural and B more personal in nature.

Section III: Reasoning in biological and physical sciences. Candidates answer scientific questions using prior knowledge and logical reasoning. 40% of questions are biology, 40% are chemistry and 20% are physics.

→Is GAMSAT a difficult exam?

GAMSAT is a challenging exam and your success in it depends upon the efficacy of your preparation. GAMSAT tests your ability to understand interpret and analyse different texts, express your ideas in the form of two different styled essays and your ability to reason through and solve scientific problems. GAMSAT is a skills-based exam, the more you practice and improve your skills the better you will perform. Being a top student does not guarantee a high score, GAMSAT practice is the determinant of success.

→Is it hard to get above 50 in GAMSAT?

If you work smart and prepare well for GAMSAT you can achieve over 50. Candidates who fail to prepare adequately are unlikely to score above 50. GAMSAT tests your skills to reason, interpret and extract information therefore candidates should work hard to gain proficiency at doing this as opposed to relying on prior knowledge in order to succeed in the exam.

There is a clear difference in marks for candidates who take the time to develop the skills to succeed in the exam, do GAMSAT questions and GAMSAT practice tests. Obtaining help, support, feedback and guidance as well as being taught the knowledge needed for each section by those who have sat the exam before through services such as medic mind can significantly boost a student’s GAMSAT score.

→What is a good GAMSAT score?

Markers use the following equation to calculate a candidates GAMSAT score:

(1 x section I score + 1 x section II score + 2 x section III score)/4

GAMSAT is scored between 0 and 100. An average score, one that places a candidate in the top 50% of the cohort, typically ranges between 56 and 58. A good score, that which places candidates in the top 25% of the cohort ranges between 61 and 64. An exceptional score, that which would place the candidate in at least the top 5% of the cohort, would be 72 or above.

However, it is important to know that a score which may be enough to meet the cut off for one university may not be enough for another.

→How do you do well in the GAMSAT?

Section I requires candidates to be proficient at analysing, interpreting and extracting key details from texts. Developing these skills requires taking the time to do GAMSAT questions and GAMSAT practice tests until an understanding of how to approach the different question styles is obtained. Gaining guidance for this section can improve practice and performance in GAMSAT.

Section II is an often-forgotten area when candidates are preparing for GAMSAT. Scoring highly in this section can significantly benefit your score. Writing and obtaining feedback on GAMSAT practice essays is crucial.

Section III accounts for 50% of your overall score therefore ensuring you have strong skills and decent scientific understanding in this section is very important. Playing to your strengths in this section is a beneficial, and perhaps counterintuitive, strategy to use during exam preparation. Devoting a greater portion of time to enhancing areas you’re already strong at, as opposed to investing significant time in getting a passable understanding of those you struggle with, can be highly beneficial. No area should be neglected in your preparation, but it would not be unwise to move on from an area you struggle with and spend more time revising and completing GAMSAT questions on your stronger areas.

→How much should I study for GAMSAT?

To prepare appropriately for GAMSAT will require a couple of hours per day for 6 months, or more if starting closer to the exam date. Candidates would be wise to determine where their strengths and weaknesses lie and how much time must be dedicated to each section during their GAMSAT practice. Utilising a GAMSAT tutor can be very beneficial in doing this. In addition to completing GAMSAT practice candidates need to read the news and relevant books and articles.

→Can you study for GAMSAT in 2 months?

Yes, you can study for GAMSAT in two months. However, the amount of time you spend studying a day could be draining and you may not be sufficiently prepared for the exam.

Though everyone studies differently utilising an approach of studying for a couple of hours a day over a longer period of time, perhaps 6 months, will be highly effective. Candidates will have the time to recognise and address areas of weakness, develop the skills needed to successfully tackle exam questions and achieve strong time management skills, allowing a good score to be achieved. Additionally, by starting preparation 6 months before the exam candidates are less likely to fee stressed and experience preparation burnout.

→How many GAMSAT questions should I do to get a good score?

GAMSAT practice must be appropriately tailored to you, everyone is different.

GAMSAT practice tests are key in preparation. Candidates should aim to sit multiple complete practice papers before their exam. Starting revision 6 months before the exam date will allow sufficient time to complete numerous GAMSAT questions and GAMSAT practice tests which will enable shortcomings in knowledge and skills to be recognised and comprehensively addressed prior to sitting GAMSAT. Completing all GAMSAT questions available to you from resources you utilse is an appropriate ambition to have in GAMSAT preparation.

→Where can I find GAMSAT Questions?

GAMSAT questions can be found on the following sites: Medic Mind ACER GAMSAT Ace GAMSAT Grad Ready Gradmed Fraser’s GAMSAT

→How many questions are in the GAMSAT?

Section I contains 47 questions and lasts 70 minutes. Candidates are given 6 minutes to read the questions and then 64 minutes to answer them.

Section II lasts 65 minutes. Candidates are given 5 minutes of reading time and then 60 minutes in which to write the two essays.

Section III lasts 150 minutes. Candidates are provided with 8 minutes of reading time and then 142 minutes to answer 75 questions.

→What is the GAMSAT Exam?

The Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) is a standardized test that assesses the readiness of students to pursue a graduate-level medical degree. It is used by medical schools in Australia, the UK, and Ireland as part of their admissions process.

→What subjects are tested on the GAMSAT exam?

The GAMSAT exam tests three main areas: scientific knowledge, critical reasoning, and written communication skills. The scientific knowledge section covers biology, chemistry, and physics, while the critical reasoning section tests your ability to analyze and evaluate arguments. The written communication skills section assesses your ability to construct well-written responses to given prompts.

→How is the GAMSAT exam structured?

The GAMSAT exam consists of three sections: Section 1: Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences; Section 2: Written Communication; and Section 3: Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences. Each section is timed, with a total testing time of around 5 hours and 15 minutes.

→What is the hardest section of GAMSAT?

The GAMSAT is designed to test a wide range of skills and knowledge, and each section of the test presents its own unique challenges. That being said, many candidates find Section 3 to be the most difficult section of the GAMSAT. This section is focused on scientific reasoning and is designed to test candidates' ability to analyze and interpret complex scientific information. Section 3 requires a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as critical thinking and problem-solving skills. However, it's important to note that the difficulty of each section may vary depending on the individual candidate's strengths and weaknesses.

→How do I register for the GAMSAT exam?

To register for the GAMSAT exam, you will need to visit the official GAMSAT website and create an account. From there, you can select your preferred testing location and date, and pay the registration fee.

→What is a good score on the GAMSAT exam?

A good score on the GAMSAT exam will vary depending on the medical school you are applying to and the competition for spots. Generally, a score of 50 or above is considered competitive for most medical schools.

→Can I take the GAMSAT exam more than once?

Yes, you can take the GAMSAT exam multiple times. However, you should keep in mind that each time you take the exam, you will need to pay the registration fee again.

→How can I prepare for the GAMSAT exam?

There are several ways you can prepare for the GAMSAT exam:

Review relevant scientific concepts: Make sure you have a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, and physics. Practice critical reasoning: Work on your ability to analyze and evaluate arguments by reading and analyzing a wide range of material. Improve your writing skills: Practice writing essays and other types of written communication to improve your skills in this area. Use study guides and practice exams: There are many resources available, including study guides and practice exams, that can help you prepare for the GAMSAT exam.

→Are GAMSAT practice questions and tests the same as the current year's test?

While GAMSAT practice questions and tests may be similar in format and content to the current year's test, they are not identical. The GAMSAT is designed to test a wide range of skills and knowledge, and the specific questions and topics covered on the test may vary from year to year. However, practicing with past papers and questions can help you develop the skills and strategies necessary to succeed on the test.

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Struggling with your GAMSAT Section 2 preparation? Get study tips on how to prepare and write the perfect GAMSAT Essay under time pressure, and expand your essay idea bank with our GAMSAT Reading List.

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GAMSAT Section 2 Essays: How to Prepare in 2024

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Section 2 of the GAMSAT ® exam, also known as ‘Written Communication’, assesses your ability to express your thoughts in a logical and effective manner in response to two sets of stimuli. According to ACER , it is meant to be a reflection of your ability to produce and develop ideas in writing. Section 2 is more often than not the bane of most students sitting the exam, particularly those with a pure science-background. As the only written section of the exam, students commonly struggle with both their writing skills as well as the need to write under time pressure, skills that may have been neglected since high school. This guide aims to provide you with an overview of how to prepare for and approach Section 2 of the GAMSAT ® exam.

• What is GAMSAT ® Section 2?
• How is GAMSAT ® Section 2 marked?
• What is the purpose of GAMSAT ® Section 2?
• What to expect from GAMSAT ® Section 2
• How to prepare for GAMSAT ® Section 2
• GAMSAT ® Section 2 Essay Topics
• GAMSAT ® Section 2 Essay Study Guide
• GAMSAT ® Section 2 Essay Tips
• Building a GAMSAT ® Essay Idea Bank
• GAMSAT ® Section 2 Reading List
• GAMSAT ® Section 2 PDF Checklist
• What is a good GAMSAT ® Section 2 essay score?

Further Preparation Materials

Feeling overwhelmed with all the information available and not sure how to improve your essay writing skills for GAMSAT ® Section 2? Our expert tutor, Catarina, has summarised the contents of this page in this GAMSAT ® Section 2: How to Prepare video guide.

What is GAMSAT Section 2?

Gamsat section 2 timing.

With 60 minutes in total for two essays, this means 30 minutes per essay. In terms of breaking down your time, a common piece of advice is to follow the below:

• 5 minutes to plan
• 25 minutes to write and review

GAMSAT Section 2 Structure

Section 2 of the GAMSAT ® exam consists of written responses to two sets of stimuli, commonly referred to as Task A and B. You will be presented with two set of quotes that are each related to a common theme.

GAMSAT Section 2: Task A

Gamsat section 2: task b.

This section is strongly believed to be where you can demonstrate to the markers how strong your understanding and comprehension of human emotion is, an obviously critical skill in the profession of a doctor.

GAMSAT Section 2 Essay Length

ACER does not provide any guidelines in regards to a minimum word count, or how long your Section 2 essays should be. However, a maxim that holds true even for the GAMSAT ® Exam is Quality over Quantity.

The quality of what you write is much more important than the quantity and as such, you should focus on what you write about and your expression and organisation of ideas. A good guideline is to aim for:

• An Introduction
• 3 Body Paragraphs
• A Conclusion

Note however that this example structure is not necessarily applicable to every type of essay. If you were to write a creative piece, the structure of your GAMSAT ® essay could certainly be more flexible. The main factor to take into account is how best to organise your ideas to ensure that your arguments are conveyed logically and coherently.

A common piece of advice is to aim for about 500 words, but the most important point is to focus on the quality of your essay rather than the quantity. If you can express an idea clearly and effectively in less words then do it.

For further tips on Section 2 of the GAMSAT ® exam, download our Essay Writing Guide today – our guide includes a summary of the key principles needed to help you develop your essay writing skills along with 3 example Marked Essays featuring a low, medium, and high quality response.

For general tips and strategies on how you can prepare for the GAMSAT ® Exam, visit our Guide to GAMSAT ® Preparation.

How is GAMSAT Section 2 marked?

Gamsat section 2 criteria.

According to ACER , your Section 2 essay is assessed on two main criteria. The information in the table above is taken from the GAMSAT Information Booklet.

Unfortunately, ACER does not provide a clear essay marking criteria or rubric but does note that assessment is based on:

Control of language, i.e. grammatical structure and expression, is not assessed as an isolated criteria but incorporated into the assessment of the overall effectiveness of the response. Your GAMSAT ® essays will also be assessed on the depth of the ideas presented rather than their breadth so it is often more effective to take a few concepts and analyse them in depth rather than inundating your essay with different arguments.

Finally, ACER also notes that candidates are not assessed on the ‘correctness’ of the ideas or attitudes they display – it is not your opinion that matters but the way in which you express it. Each individual essay will be assessed by three independent markers.

If you’re struggling with your writing, consider getting your GAMSAT ® essays professionally marked. GradReady has a GAMSAT ® essay marking service where you can get 10 essays marked by our expert Section 2 tutors with personal feedback within 72 hours.

What is the purpose of GAMSAT Section 2?

If Section 1 of the GAMSAT ® exam aims to test your comprehension and interpretation skills, Section 2 is all about how you construct your ideas and communicate effectively.

Communication skills are paramount in any medical profession. Medical professionals are expected to communicate verbally and through written material regularly to patients, colleagues and the broader community. The ability to convey information succinctly and clearly is essential to a professionals’ ability to provide care, especially when you are discussing complex scientific ideas.

In addition to challenging your written communication skills, Section 2 of the GAMSAT ® exam provides students an opportunity to demonstrate the way they build and present their ideas. This is an interesting way of assessing your ability to think logically through a problem. While the link may not seem immediately obvious, having the ability to communicate your reasoning in a logical manner under time-pressure is essential to the demands of a medical professional. You may use this skill when explaining your decision-making to patients and colleagues, or when justifying community health measures to the general public.

Finally, Section 2 of the GAMSAT® exam is the perfect chance to show examiners your capacity for empathy and your understanding of the world. Medical professionals do not work in a bubble! It’s important for any person working in healthcare to show an interest in broader societal systems, especially those that may have an impact on community health. The essay section of the GAMSAT ® exam is a relatively open platform for you to discuss ideas and problems that are important to you - whilst also illustrating your written communication skills.

What to expect in GAMSAT Section 2?

There are three main challenges you can expect for this section of the GAMSAT ® exam.

• Being able to identify a general theme from the prompts.
• Having evidence and substance to support your ideas
• Writing under time pressure

Let’s begin with the first challenge - You’ll need to be able to quickly and effectively analyse the provided prompts and generate themes and ideas around which to focus your response. We go into more detail about this process in the section below. While this can seem like a really difficult task at first, this is a skill which almost all students become confident in through practice.

The second is having evidence and substance to support your ideas. Many students forget that even when writing reflectively, it is important to explain and substantiate your ideas with examples, analogies, imagery or any other writing tools you have available to you. The easiest way to improve this aspect of your writing is to read widely and regularly, whether that be reputable journals or short stories, and to essentially build an ideas bank.

Finally, and possibly the greatest challenge, is the time pressure. Thirty minutes is an extremely limited amount of time in which to write an essay and this is often something students initially struggle with. Nonetheless, this is also an aspect of the task which is greatly improved with practice.

How to Prepare for GAMSAT Section 2

Your preparation for GAMSAT ® Section 2 can be seen as having several key steps:

• Begin writing GAMSAT ® essays regularly – whether this be once a day or once a week, the key is to get into the habit of doing this. Remember, the earlier the better.
• Generate an essay writing process and get into a rhythm.
• At the same time begin building an idea bank – try and cast the net wide and look at a variety of issues, and from viewpoints outside your comfort zone.
• It can be useful to develop a list of resources to read or view - You can learn more here: GAMSAT ® Section 2 Reading List.
• As you begin to write, don’t feel as though you need to stick to the time limit immediately. It’s better that you develop a process and gradually apply time pressure.
• Make sure that you get feedback. Use friends, family, other students, anyone else willing to read your essays. Accept their feedback and criticism and use it to improve your writing.
• Consider getting your essays professionally marked if you’re able to – GradReady has a GAMSAT ® essay marking service with personal feedback from our expert tutors.
• As you near the exam begin to write under realistic conditions to stimulate the time pressure on the day.

For further free advice, sign up for our Free Trial which includes a GAMSAT ® Study Guide with an in-depth, day-by-day study schedule for Section 2 along with a recording of our GAMSAT ® Essay Writing Workshop. You’ll also get access to 50 MCQs from our Intelligent MCQ Bank and a wealth of other free resources.

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Get a study buddy, upcoming events, gamsat section 2 essay topics.

As noted above in the What is GAMSAT ® Section 2? , Section 2 consists of two different essays (usually called Task A and Task B), each in response to their own set of stimuli. These prompts are presented as a set of 5 quotes, with each set centred around a common theme.

GAMSAT ® Section 2 Task A Themes:

Gamsat ® section 2 task b themes:.

• Originality

GAMSAT Section 2 Questions

Theme: truth.

• Gossip, as usual, was one-third right and two-thirds wrong. (L.M. Montgomery, Chronicles of Avonlea)
• The truth is rarely pure and never simple. (Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest)
• Truth is a matter of the imagination. (Ursula K. Le Guin, The Left Hand of Darkness)
• You don't destroy what you want to acquire in the future. (Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay)
• To be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow - this is a human offering that can border on miraculous. (Elizabeth Gilbert, Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage)

Theme: Justice

• Being good is easy, what is difficult is being just. (Victor Hugo)
• I don't want tea, I want justice! (Ally Carter, Uncommon Criminals)
• It is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one. (Voltaire, Zadig)
• Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. (William Penn)
• Keep your language. Love its sounds, its modulation, its rhythm. But try to march together with men of different languages, remote from your own, who wish like you for a more just and human world. (Hélder Câmara, Spiral Of Violence)

Theme: Choice

• There seemed to be three choices: to give up trying to love anyone, to stop being selfish, or to learn to love a person while continuing to be selfish. (Lydia Davis)
• My mother's menu consisted of two choices: Take it or leave it. (Buddy Hackett)
• Love is a choice you make from moment to moment. (Barbara De Angelis)
• Gay marriage rights coming and going, always being an issue for the voting public when it should be an individual‘s private choice. (G.A. Hauser, Being Screwed)
• I wish sometimes that the gods would either choose better, or make their wishes clearer. (Jacqueline Carey, Kushiel’s Choice)

For more essay topics, take advantage of our free and comprehensive GAMSAT ® Quote Generator with over 90 Section 2 Essay Prompts, covering 40+ themes.

GAMSAT Section 2 Essay Study Guide

Developing and practising your essay writing skills is arguably the most important aspect of your Section 2 Preparation, and something you should aim to start from early on. Indeed, a lot of the preparation for Section 2 of the GAMSAT ® Exam should revolve around simply writing a lot of essays, at least one a week. However, this advice comes with several caveats:

• You need to get feedback on your essays. It is vital that you get your friends, family, tutors, and anyone else to read these essays, and be modest and inviting of critique. It is of utmost importance to be criticised and then learn from your mistakes. GradReady has a GAMSAT ® essay marking service where you can get 10 essays marked by our expert tutors with personal feedback within 72 hours.
• You need to possess a great deal of self-critique. After every essay you write, you must read it out loud to yourself, and listen if it makes sense.
• Don’t feel the need to write under time pressure from the word go. It’s more important that you develop and improve your essay writing skills before gradually applying realistic time pressure.
• You need to vary the type of essays that you write! You should make sure you try argumentative, personal reflective essays, fictional creative essays , poetry, and any other medium that can work in the GAMSAT ® exam. Even though it’s recommended you write an argumentative essay, you are able to write in almost any style in the ‘reflective’ essay segment – this is meant to be a creative endeavour and demonstrate that you can identify, and express emotions of the characters involved.

For more tips on Section 2 of the GAMSAT ® exam, download our Essay Writing Guide which includes 3 example Marked Essays of low, medium, and high quality to help you develop your essay writing skills.

The below is an abbreviated strategy guide provided by our Section 2 GAMSAT ® Tutors and essay markers. The guide is meant to act as a step-by-step guide to writing the best GAMSAT ® Essay.

Step 1: How to plan your GAMSAT Essay

• Understand the Theme: Read the quote and make sure that you look for the related ideas, not just the main theme.
• Brainstorm Ideas: Use whatever techniques you find the most useful and make the most of the Idea Bank that you’ve prepared.
• Create a Thesis: What is your main message? Is it clear? Is it communicated regularly?
• Choose a Structure: Consider what is most appropriate for the theme and explore your options.
• Plan Body Paragraphs Thematically: Plan your topic sentences and the main points of your thesis.

Read on for a breakdown of what each step involves:

Understand the theme

Read the provided quotes, determine the theme, and argue for or against one/some of them. Whilst this is a common approach, it’s not always the one that will stand out. Always look for related ideas associated with the main theme of the quotes. There’s rarely just one theme in the quotes provided, and this raises the point of the brainstorm.

Brainstorm Ideas

By whatever means most accessible to you (mind maps, lists or drawings), flesh out the main theme of the quotes into related information and sub-themes and sub-ideas. This process, as part of your Section 2 preparation at home, can take some time, but on the examination day, you’ll need to work fast! Work out which groups of ideas can be linked together most easily by a recurring argument, or can be substantiated the best, and use these for your writing.

For advice on how to build up your idea bank, visit the section below: Building a GAMSAT ® Essay Idea Bank

Create a Thesis

This is a statement that should be maintained or proved in your writing. A thesis is essential to all forms of writing, no matter the format (including essays, argumentative or reflective, and creative pieces including short stories, diary entries, letter-to-the-editor, etc.). The thesis, or main message, must be communicated regularly, explicitly, and implicitly throughout your writing. The best theses (plural of singular thesis) address the theme, are creative, sometimes witty, and often make meaningful commentary on the issues(s) at hand, i.e. the theme.

Choose a Structure

Select a medium to write in that is most appropriate for the theme of the quotes. Many formats can be chosen for the Section 2 of the GAMSAT ® exam: your task is to select the most appropriate medium to effectively and engagingly communicate your thesis.

For example, if the theme of the quotes refer to ‘political governance’ in general, an argumentative essay is likely to be an effective and easy format to support a line of argument on this topic. If the theme however, refers to ‘relationships’, some students may wish to demonstrate the value or importance of relationships through a more reflective, personal, or emotional format that resembles a narrative, such as diary entries or a short story.

These forms of writing are likely to be less familiar to many students, and the different styles of writing can make some students feel uncomfortable. Nevertheless, if an alternative format suits your writing style (or you feel it is more appropriate for the theme), you should make the judgement call. Playing with different writing styles and formats is a task that should most certainly be undertaken during your preparation for the GAMSAT ® Section 2 Essay.

To read an example of a Creative GAMSAT ® Section 2 Essay written by one of our essay markers, click here: Writing the Creative GAMSAT ® Essay

Plan Body Paragraphs Thematically

Using those ideas that you came up with in brainstorm, plan a number of ‘topic sentences’ that form the main idea for each paragraph, or chunk of writing, in your piece. Each paragraph should address one idea only and should be directly related to the thesis. Each idea should continue to build and extend the thesis, convincing and compelling the reader of your overall contention (opinion) on the issue.

On the big day, planning your essay should take no longer than five minutes. Practice makes perfect, and most importantly, improves your speed.

Step 2: Write your GAMSAT Essay

Now’s the time to put pen to paper and etch those stupendous ideas into a fully-fledged piece of writing.

Be Clear & Succinct

Write in logical and well-phrased sentences that can be easily understood by a marker who will be reading your essay at a fast pace because that’s the reality of it.

Support What You Write

Each topic sentence needs to have some form of ‘evidence’ or reasoning to support what you contend. Depending on the form you have chosen to write in (e.g. essay, short story), this may occur in the style of real-life events, personal narrative, creative narrative, experience, or logical reasoning that is theoretical.

Always Come Back to the Thesis

If in doubt, word your paragraph in such a way that the ‘supporting evidence’ demonstrates the topic sentence AND the thesis. Your aim is to persuade the reader such that they truly believe what you have written.

You can find some further writing tips below: GAMSAT ® Section 2 Writing Tips

Step 3: Review your GAMSAT Essay

Review what you have written and ensure it makes sense. There’s not much time to do this, so it’s a quick fly-by of your writing to ensure it is logical and communicates what you are actually thinking.

GradReady has a GAMSAT ® essay marking service where you can get 10 essays marked by our expert tutors with personal feedback within 72 hours.

GAMSAT Section 2 Essay Tips

Students often ask for specific pieces of advice to improve their essay writing, but such advice is most effective when it is specific to the individual. However, below are some general GAMSAT ® Essay Writing Tips:

• Sentence Structure: Keep it concise and vary your sentence length to create cadence.
• The Rhetorical Question: Commonly overused by students. Make sure that you use it in the appropriate context.
• Creating a Narrative: Keep the reader engaged and organise your writing as a series of causal steps.
• Using Analogies: A great literary technique to explain difficult concepts and to trigger emotions.

Sentence Structure

This aspect can be divided into the two following features:

This is about those long wordy sentences which have several ideas packed into a single sentence. This veils the meaning of your sentence and makes your point difficult to decipher. As a rule, it is better to have just one idea within a single sentence. This makes it easier for the reader to understand your point in the sentence.

Sentence length should also have variety. Long sentences interspersed with short sentences create a good cadence for the essay. Cadence means rhythm, it is the way the words interact and show meaning. Lengthy sentences all together can make an essay monotonous and the meaning would be blurred. Think about making short and sharp statements before or after a long sentence. Variety in sentence length helps to put out your point in fewer words but with more impact.

The Rhetorical Question

Use this as sparingly as you would with a future patient.

At one point or another, most students feel the impulse to use a rhetorical question – sometimes to the detriment of their essays. The GAMSAT ® Section 2 essay usually requires a response that is reflective or argumentative. The latter may engender the use of the rhetorical question to make an argument persuasive by asking the reader to consider a point, while providing an underlying response to their concern.

As far as persuasion goes, the rhetorical question is quite effective but only when backed up with appropriate argumentation throughout the essay. Your argument itself should be the most effective feature of the essay. If the rhetorical question only distracts from the argument, it is better to use it carefully. A quick checklist can be used to confirm its appropriate use:

• Is my argument strong enough to leave out the rhetorical question?
• Do I want to introduce a counter argument?
• What effect will the rhetorical question create?
• Does the question fall flat because the answer is obvious?

It is rarely necessary to use a rhetorical question. There are usually other ways of conveying the point without using a question. If, however, you feel strongly about it, use the checklist above to confirm that your rhetorical question is contributing to your essay effectively. Each word in your essay should have a purpose, and there is nothing more problematic than having a question that does not achieve its desired effect. Nevertheless, used appropriately, the rhetorical question is an emotive device which can make reader’s question themselves and their actions.

Creating a Narrative

With a limited amount of time and a less-than-captive audience, it is important to make as big an impact as possible, as quickly as possible. This is so you distinguish yourself from the hordes of competitors and improve your chances.

One way to bring colour to your writing is in forming a narrative and the use of metaphors.

Humans as a part of their cognitive evolution will always seek out patterns to make sense of any information that they are presented with. More so than patterns, they will also seek out narratives to establish causal relationships.This is something that can be used to your advantage. By simply presenting your writing as a sequence of causal relationships, you will grip your reader as they seek to understand the pattern and keep reading to determine the endpoint.

This can be accomplished in both creative and analytical writing. The former should be obvious, but in the latter by starting at the beginning of a chain of evidence and slowly building from causal step to causal step, your ultimate conclusion will be all the more persuasive.

Using Analogies

Analogies are a great tool to help readers understand abstract or unfamiliar content. By linking abstract information to a concrete concept, it becomes easier for people to understand the information.

How many times have any of us had the experience when a concept we were familiar with but never understood was explained in a slightly different or novel way, leading to an immediate, illuminating understanding – this is the power of an analogy. Whilst precision and technical language are all well and good, it can sometimes be inaccessible to those who do not have a grounding in the field. In these cases, analogies can be invaluable by couching unfamiliar concepts within familiar, or at least intuitive examples.

Not only this, analogies can also be very effective for triggering emotions. This is valuable, because if people experience some elevation of emotion during their reading, not only will it make their experience more enjoyable, but also more memorable compared to the many other examples of essays. Emotions not only make your design appealing to people but also more effective, enjoyable, and memorable.

For more specific feedback, GradReady has a GAMSAT ® essay marking service where you can get 10 essays marked by our expert tutors with personal feedback within 72 hours.

For further tips on Section 2 of the GAMSAT ® exam, download our Essay Writing Guide today. The guide includes a summary of the key principles needed to help you develop your essay writing skills along with 3 example Marked Essays featuring a low, medium and high quality response.

Building a GAMSAT Essay Idea Bank

Having a wide-reaching, dynamic and interesting idea bank for GAMSAT ® Section 2 is crucial to your overall GAMSAT ® Preparation. Having interesting topics to write about can ultimately make or break the essays that you write. ACER states that originality is one of the modalities they assess, and so being able to create a piece that the essay marker enjoys reading greatly enhances your marks and it’s not hard to see why.

For example, if we look at the microcosm of a single city where GAMSAT ® essays are being marked, imagine a set of stimuli for the exam were about standing up to tyranny and oppression. A large proportion of people will likely fall into the trap of writing about clichés such as Hitler, WW1, and similar high school history topics. Therefore, the essay markers in that single city could mark literally hundreds of similar essays. Not only does it get repetitive and boring, they are then subconsciously comparing your essay to every similar essay, something you’d likely want to avoid. If you can pull strong, unique examples to support your arguments you will demonstrate a large knowledge base and will stimulate the essay markers.

Note however that examples should directly relate to the theme and your discussion regarding it. If your example only makes up one sentence in the whole paragraph, that usually means the example is not detailed enough.

Furthermore, many students like to use personal examples in their essays. These can be quite good as people can reflect on their lives and write about them in length. These are great when they are paired with descriptive language about specific incidents and events in the life of a person.

Nevertheless, in generating an Essay Idea Bank, it’s important for you to cast your net wide and look at a range of different issues. Some ideas include:

• Business/Finance/Economy
• Environment
• Medicine/Health

These categories allow you to build ideas in a deliberate way, covering a broad spectrum of topics. While making sure that you cover all your bases is important, don’t get too caught up if you find yourself gravitating towards specific areas. Remember, this is only one aspect of your GAMSAT ® preparation, and it’s important that you concurrently dedicate time to practicing essay writing, argument development, and working under time pressure.

It’s a synthesis of efforts across these different areas over an extended period of time that makes a great GAMSAT ® essay. Be sure to check out our GAMSAT ® example essays page for more examples of a good GAMSAT ® essay.

GAMSAT Section 2 Reading List

To help you build your GAMSAT ® Essay Idea Bank, we’ve compiled the below Section 2 Reading List. A common piece of advice is to read widely in order to expose yourself to different media in preparation for Section 2 of the GAMSAT ® exam. However if this is not performed mindfully in a systematic manner, it is next to useless and may in fact harm you as it will essentially become busy work with limited gains.

It is therefore important to have in mind what you are wanting to achieve out of your readings and use these goals to ensure that you read actively.

Below are some guidelines on how to achieve this:

• Read in detail rather than prioritising quantity. Sometimes the more time you spend with a piece of writing, the more likely it is to elicit a profound response from you, allowing you to build a more developed perspective on a particular issue.
• Practice developing a personal response and opinion on a theme or subject. GAMSAT ® Section 2 requires students to display critical thinking and actively developing an opinion on what you read will help with this.
• Push yourself to expand your boundaries and look for views outside of your bubble. Not only will this offer insight into differing views and experiences, but it will also allow you to practice argument development.
• Embed your reading into different aspects of your everyday life to maximise your time. For example, read the news with your morning tea break instead of scrolling through social media. Find ways to expand your idea bank in your leisure time.

If you’re looking for a reading list specific to Section 1 of the GAMSAT ® exam, visit our guide to preparing for Section 1 here: GAMSAT ® Section 1 - How to Prepare

Section 2 Reading List

To appreciate current affairs, social issues, and how good (and bad) argumentative writing may appear, reading the news/newspapers is a good idea. Stay away from anything that is known for sensationalism, such as The Courier Mail, A Current Affair (TV), Today Tonight, the Herald Sun etc.

Scouring the opinion columns of reputable news sources can be helpful to get some ideas as to how you may approach the argumentative essay, and the news will generally help you stay relevant with your writing (and assist in using real-world/contemporary examples). The newspapers listed here arguably offer some of the least biased and fairest reporting:

Free Resources:

• The Conversation
• The Economist
• The Guardian
• Australian Financial Review

Books & Short Stories

Reading excellent writing is crucial. There is no better way to expand your vocabulary than to sit down with an excellent fictional novel, poem, or play, along with a dictionary – and then look up each word you are unfamiliar with. Utilising a dictionary as you read will help develop your vocabulary, and reading is just beneficial overall to help expand your thoughts and enhance your own personal development.

It is best to focus on authors who have mastered the short-story modality, such as those listed below. However, reading any book at all is going to help you in both Sections 1 and Section 2 of the GAMSAT ® , and it is purely just crucial to expanding your thoughts and enhancing your own personal development.

• Oscar Wilde
• Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Noam Chomsky
• George Orwell

Again, take advantage of the shorter texts allowing you to read one a day.

• Humanities Open Access Journal
• Arts and Letters Daily
• Australian Humanities Review

TV Programs and Visual Media

Often forgotten as a legitimate channel through which you can expose yourself to new ideas and issues, this medium can be readily incorporated into your daily routine. For example, you can move away from regular TV programs and switch to any of the below resources. Any program or medium that has a certain amount of depth and substance to them can be beneficial.

GAMSAT Section 2 PDF Checklist

We’ve provided quite a few tips on how to prepare for GAMSAT ® Section 2. If you’re finding it difficult to keep track of all the information, download this free GAMSAT ® Section 2 preparation checklist PDF file today. It’ll help guide your Section 2 studies and essay writing practice.

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What is a good GAMSAT Section 2 score?

As always, it’s useful to have a solid understanding of how GAMSAT ® scores work in general, and our guide is a great place to start. The same percentiles that apply to the overall exam scores apply to the specific section scores. As such, a score of roughly 59 will place you around the 50th percentile, that is to say the average score for Section 2. A score of around 65 will place you at around the 75th percentile, or the top 25% of students. Students should typically aim for a score of 65 and above as this is generally considered a good score, and anything over 70 is considered excellent.

That said, what determines a good score for Section 2 is highly dependent on your performance across the other sections of the exam. Section 2 can be a difficult section for many students, particularly those from a pure science background, and as such, a lower score can be deemed ‘good enough’ provided you do well in other sections to counterbalance a low Section 2 score.

Your ‘good score’ is also dependent upon the university for which you are applying. Whilst the university cutoffs may be low, the average mark for acceptance at a particular university may be significantly higher and will vary from institution to institution. If in doubt, the best course of action is to contact the universities for which you are applying and inquire directly about your chances of acceptance.

What is the GAMSAT ® ?

Everything you need to know about the GAMSAT ® exam from structure and overview to which universities require the GAMSAT ® .

Understanding your GAMSAT ® Results

Covers everything you need to know about your GAMSAT ® results – How the scoring works, result release dates and even GAMSAT ® score cutoffs.

How to study for the GAMSAT ® Exam

A breakdown of how to approach study effectively and how to set up a GAMSAT ® study schedule

Free GAMSAT ® Example Essays

Download our Essay Writing Guide and read through our free Example Essays featuring low, medium and high quality responses.

Free GAMSAT ® Quote Generator

Take advantage of our free and comprehensive GAMSAT ® Quote Generator for over 90 Section 2 Essay Topics covering 40+ different themes.

How to prepare for GAMSAT ® Section 1

An overview of what to expect in Section 1 of the GAMSAT ® exam, and how to prepare

How to prepare for GAMSAT ® Section 3

An overview of what to expect in Section 3 of the GAMSAT ® exam, and how to prepare for each of the topics: Biology, Chemistry, & Physics.

GAMSAT ® Non-Science Background: How to Prepare

Tips on how to prepare for the GAMSAT ® if you come from a non-science background.

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GAMSAT Practice Test Collection

Are you looking for GAMSAT preparation resources? You’ve come to the right place!

• Find links to every official GAMSAT practice test available.
• Discover GAMSAT Ninja's GAMSAT practice exams and free mini-mock test.
• Explore tonnes of tips and tricks for your GAMSAT preparation.

Create a free Exams.Ninja account in less than 30 seconds and access 6 GAMSAT Practice Tests.

GAMSAT Ninja Practice Tests

• GAMSAT Mini-Mock Test (Free)
• GAMSAT Practice Test 1 (£20)
• GAMSAT Practice Test 2 (£20)
• GAMSAT Practice Test 3 (£20)
• GAMSAT Practice Test 4 (£20)
• GAMSAT Practice Test 5 (£20)
• GAMSAT Practice Test 6 (£20)

When you sign up to access these practice tests, you will also get fully worked solutions for all questions! Start for free with a GAMSAT.ninja account !

GAMSAT Official Practice Tests

• Official GAMSAT Practice Test (£28)

There are 3 official practice tests from Acer GAMSAT which are charged at £28 each. You can access a our GAMSAT mini-mock with a  free GAMSAT.ninja account !

Why use Past Papers?

Practice materials are crucial for effective exam preparation, and when it comes to authenticity, nothing beats past papers—they are actual exam papers! However, finding official past papers for the GAMSAT exam is not possible as they are not released each year. The closest thing you can get to past papers is practice papers. These papers are incredibly valuable for your preparation giving you the most realistic exam practice.

After dedicating some time to preparation, you’ll likely want to assess your progress by attempting a practice exam. This is where these practice papers prove invaluable. Not only do they provide an accurate simulation of the actual exam, but you may find they also come with detailed answers for every question, simplifying the grading process for you.

You can only find worked solutions for GAMSAT.Ninja’s practice tests in our Exam Arena. Access to these materials becomes available when you upgrade your GAMSAT.Ninja account!

History of the GAMSAT

The Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) is an exam used in the UK and several other countries as a tool for selecting candidates seeking admission to graduate-entry programs in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, and other healthcare-related courses.

The GAMSAT was first administered in the UK in 1998 by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), the organization responsible for the development and administration of the exam. Since then, it has become an essential part of the admission process for graduate-entry medical courses in the UK.

Over the years, the GAMSAT exam has evolved, with revisions made to ensure its effectiveness in assessing the skills and knowledge necessary for medical studies.

Unfortunately, the past papers from the GAMSAT are not made available to the public, meaning applicants like yourself will have less revision material than ideal available online. However, GAMSAT.Ninja alleviates that issue, as we have a giant collection of over 1,800 practice questions available for free when you make an account !

GAMSAT Practice Tips

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you optimise your GAMSAT Preparation with these practice papers:

• Start with Diagnostic Tests : Begin your preparation with diagnostic tests to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Practice tests help gauge your initial performance level.
• Regular Practice Questions : Work through a variety of practice questions regularly to improve your problem-solving skills. Focus on both speed and accuracy to simulate real exam conditions.
• Utilize Official Materials : When you book your GAMSAT exam, you will get access to some official practice questions for free. These are valuable questions that you should use outside of your preparation with GAMSAT.Ninja!
• Review Worked Solutions : After attempting practice questions, review the worked solutions meticulously. Understand the thought process and techniques used to solve problems, reinforcing your understanding of concepts.
• Timed Practice : Practice under timed conditions frequently. Time management is crucial in GAMSAT. Timed practice helps you allocate your time wisely during the exam.
• Track Progress : Keep a record of your performance over time. Monitor your improvement, identify persistent challenges, and adjust your study strategy accordingly to enhance your overall GAMSAT readiness.

Here on Exams.Ninja, you’ll find amazingly in-depth guides to show you through every section of the exam, along with guides to help you with your planning and revision. Check out one of our Definitive Guides below! 

• Definitive GAMSAT Starter Guide
• GAMSAT Section 1 Definitive Guide
• GAMSAT Section 2 Definitive Guide
• GAMSAT Section 3 Definitive Guide
• How To Prepare For The GAMSAT
• GAMSAT Scoring & Results Guide

Get the most out of your GAMSAT Papers with GAMSAT.Ninja

Your GAMSAT.Ninja account gives you access to a free GAMSAT mini-mock practice papers and tonnes of practice questions. You can even upgrade your account to access worked solutions and other amazing features. To access your mini-mock paper, just follow these simple steps: 

Sign up for your free Exams.Ninja account.

Enter the Exam Arena on the home page.

Pick the mini-mock exam in the Exam Arena.

Take the exam!

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Guides & Info

The Ultimate Guide to GAMSAT Section 2

Please note that GAMSAT ‘Section II: Written Communication’ has been renamed to ‘Written Communication Section’. To ensure this article is easy to follow, we’ll refer to this section as ‘Section 2’ throughout. Read about the latest changes to the GAMSAT .

In our GAMSAT Section 2 guide, we’ll walk you through what to expect in Section 2 and how best to prepare for it. We’ll also go through a free example Section 2 task with expert guidance on how to structure this essay.

Just starting GAMSAT revision? We recommend building your GAMSAT knowledge by going through GAMSAT preparation material, such as:

• GAMSAT FAQ – view 30+ GAMSAT questions, including which dental/medical schools require the GAMSAT
• GAMSAT preparation tips – find out how to get the most from your revision
• GAMSAT preparation mistakes – explore common pitfalls to avoid while preparing
• GAMSAT timing – learn how to overcome GAMSAT time pressure

Once you’ve finished going through this article, we recommend reading the ultimate guide to GAMSAT Section 3 , to give you a comprehensive overview of the entire GAMSAT exam. If you missed the first article in this series, make sure you check out our ultimate guide to GAMSAT Section 1 too.

Table of contents

GAMSAT Section 2 structure What does GAMSAT Section 2 test? How should I approach preparation for GAMSAT Section 2? Free example task for GAMSAT Section 2

GAMSAT Section 2 structure

GAMSAT section

Number of GAMSAT questions

Section time

Time per question

Written Communication

Approximately 30 minutes

For GAMSAT 2024 testing, Section 2 will now be delivered via remote proctoring and will take place approximately two weeks before Section 1 and 3 (these sections will take place at a test centre as normal). Remote proctoring is a form of online remote test delivery which includes being supervised by a remote proctor via screen sharing and webcam monitoring. Learn more about how remote proctoring will work including top tips for ensuring it goes smoothly.

What does GAMSAT Section 2 test?

The purpose of GAMSAT Section 2 is to test your ability to effectively and logically express your thoughts. Essays marked will be judged on quality of thinking and how well you articulate this thinking through written language. In order to do this, you must identify the common theme running through the presented comments, and plan and structure your essay before you begin writing.

This section is split into two writing tasks: Task A and Task B. In each GAMSAT Section 2 task, you will read four or five comments on a common theme and must write an essay that responds to one or more of them.

• Task A tends to focus on socio-cultural issues, such as law, religion and economic narratives. It’s best suited to an argumentative essay style. 
• Task B tends to focus more on personal and social issues, such as emotions, feelings and the lived experience. Therefore, a creative or reflective essay could be the best option if you feel comfortable writing in this style.

For those with a pure science background, Section 2 can be the most daunting part of the GAMSAT exam. Not only this, the digital exam format means you’ll need to type out your responses (with no automatic spelling and grammar checks). If this is something you struggle with, we advise improving your typing speed and accuracy before sitting the GAMSAT.

How should I approach preparation for GAMSAT Section 2?

For GAMSAT Section 2 preparation, we recommend that you break down the steps and timing for each task as follows:

• Assess the task (2 minutes)
• Brainstorm your response (4 minutes)
• Outline your essay (4 minutes)
• Write your essay (17–18 minutes)
• Review your essay (2–3 minutes)

As you can see, you should spend just over a third of the time limit planning and reviewing your essay, and allocate the rest to writing time. 

According to the ACER GAMSAT Information Booklet , you’ll be assessed on ‘the quality of the thinking about a topic’ and ‘the way in which ideas are integrated into a thoughtful response to the task’. This means you should concentrate more on the depth and organisation of ideas, rather than breadth, to improve your essay writing. A sensible guideline to follow for a non-creative essay is an introduction, a few body paragraphs, and a conclusion. 

High scoring essays demonstrate an understanding of the theme, and show that you’ve thought through different angles on the issue or topic and taken a clear stance in relation to it. This can be achieved through analysing the task and brainstorming carefully.

In GAMSAT Section 2 essays, you should aim for quality over quantity. For example, it’s better to write about a few concepts that you understand, and communicate these in a logical and coherent way, than to present too many ideas in an unstructured manner. Also, some students can focus too heavily on individual quotes and end up missing the overall theme, or fixate too much on the theme and neglect the variety of opinions on a topic. A good essay requires a careful balance between the two.

Free example task for GAMSAT Section 2

Task a example essay question.

Consider the following comments and develop a piece of writing in response to one or more of them.

Your writing will be judged on the quality of your response to the theme, how well you organise and present your point of view, and how effectively you express yourself.

Comment 1 The internet is an elite organisation. Most of the population of the world has never even made a phone call. Noam Chomsky

Comment 2 The internet is forever demanding that the real world be redefined to suit its whims. Terry Pratchett

Comment 3 The Web is a tremendous grassroots revolution. Tim Berners-Lee

Comment 4 The internet’s primary function is to allow people to hear what they want to hear.

Task A example essay guidance

Here’s a step-by-step process of how to approach this task:

Step 1: Assess the task (2 minutes)

1. First, assess the task by reading through all the comments and identifying the overarching theme. In this initial stage, your focus should be on determining which comments you can thoughtfully explore in relation to the theme. This will guide the subsequent decisions you make when planning and writing your essay. As we know that Task A will generally be on a socio-cultural theme, this can help with the first step of identifying the theme in the task. 

Step 2: Brainstorm your response (4 minutes)

2. After identifying the core theme and comments you wish to use, you should think about some pros and cons, as well as your own opinion. In this brainstorming phase, you should reflect on both sides of the topic and note down a few succinct examples for each side. Try to pursue ideas that you find interesting or exciting, as this sense of authenticity can develop your ideas and improve your writing. 

You can use any method to capture your thoughts in response to the task, such as a spider diagram or a table with arguments ‘for’ and ‘against’ the statement. By the end of this step, you should have comprehensive notes on many relevant ideas and examples, ready for organising.

Step 3: Outline your essay (4 minutes)

3. Now it’s time to decide how you would like to present all of this thinking to the reader. You should carefully select ideas that will strengthen your essay, and disregard anything that doesn’t contribute to the overall argument. Make sure you decide on your conclusion before organising your chosen ideas into a logical and coherent structure as follows:

• Introduction: Identify the theme and define the key concepts (use relevant brainstorming notes).
• Two body paragraphs: Explore one side of the issue in the first paragraph and explore the other side of the issue in the second paragraph. Provide examples in both paragraphs and arrange all your notes on comments, pros and cons, and examples.
• Conclusion: This is where you should state your own opinion. A strong conclusion accounts for everything that has gone before it (both pros and cons), and makes a logical deduction from that.

‍ Step 4: Write your essay (17–18 minutes) ‍

4. After assessing and planning your essay, it’s time to start writing! 

• Introduction: The purpose of the introductory paragraph is to provide a clear indication of what’s to come. Identify the core theme, briefly define any key concepts within this theme, and then finish by indicating the other side of the theme.
• First body paragraph: Present the first side of the argument as clearly and convincingly as you can, and include one or two points with supporting examples which connect to one of the comments.
• Second body paragraph: Present the other side of the argument as clearly and convincingly as you can, and include one or two points with supporting examples which connect to one of the comments. The key difference between this and the first body paragraph is that you’ll need to show an awareness of the previous paragraph, such as through terminology like ‘however’. 
• Conclusion: In the final paragraph, you should assert your own opinion – this means you need to pick a side. You could start by directly stating your opinion, and then give reasons as to why you come down on that side. Alternatively, you could briefly summarise both sides, then move swiftly to your opinion. It’s a good idea to end on a strong note to show that you’re in control of the logic presented in the essay, whatever approach you decide to take.

Feel free to easily adapt this structure to write an essay with a different number of paragraphs. For example, if you want to write one paragraph for all three comments in a task, you would simply plan for three body paragraphs instead of two.

Step 5: Review your essay (2–3 minutes)

5. If you’ve successfully carried out the first four steps, then this step shouldn’t take too long. You can use this time to proofread your essay, which includes checking the grammar, spelling and punctuation. If you have time, you could even add a sentence or two throughout to strengthen the essay if needed. However, by this point, your essay should be close to perfect. This time would be best spent reviewing your work rather than making any major changes.

Succeed in the GAMSAT with Medify

Applying to graduate entry medicine or dentistry can be challenging. Throughout your admissions journey, you’ll need to show dental or medical schools why you deserve your spot. At Medify, we’re committed to making this journey a little easier.

If you’re looking for preparation material to boost your GAMSAT score, our GAMSAT Online Course can help. It provides:

• A robust Question Bank with 4,000+ original GAMSAT-style practice questions
• 7 realistic and unique GAMSAT mock exams designed to simulate the real test
• 50+ in-depth tutorials with guidance from GAMSAT experts
• Medify’s science syllabus with key topics for biology, chemistry, and physics

Don’t forget to check out our ultimate guide to GAMSAT Section 1 and GAMSAT Section 3 if you haven’t already!

What should I do one month before my UCAT?

Keep practising! A month sounds like a long time, but time will quickly vanish. Set SMART  (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) goals such as reaching a certain score by a certain date or time. 

Niche down even further on your weaknesses – by this stage you should just be focusing on what you find hardest. Make sure you factor in breaks and days off into your schedule, as well as any important events which you need to attend.

Read the ' Good medical practice ' by the Medical Board of Australia if you haven’t already. It will inform you about the different duties of healthcare professionals and how they should respond to different scenarios, which is essential for the Situational Judgement Test section of the UCAT.

Try Medify's Skills Trainers , such as inference scanning for Verbal Reasoning, to maximise your score (these are included in our UCAT ANZ Online Course ). Make sure you've also completed plenty of UCAT practice tests .

The UCAT exam is two hours with no breaks in between, so practise at least two hours each time to build your mental stamina. You should also simulate the exam environment as closely as possible – this means treating every mock test as if it were a real one. 

For instance, you should sit mock exams at the same time of the day as your actual UCAT exam and ensure there are no distractions. By mirroring the test conditions, not only will it prepare you for what to expect on test day, it should also help to decrease any anxiety leading up to the exam. Otherwise, your brain has to process the ‘new’ way of completing the test.

What should I do one week before my UCAT?

At this point, you'll know the format of the exam inside out and will have practised the questions enough times to get used to UCAT timings . Don’t give up – keep preparing in an environment where you cannot be interrupted.

Remember, a lot of your preparation will have been done in the weeks and months before this final week, so be careful not to overdo it and become too fatigued. Your motivation may drop or you might ‘peak’ before the test. Your body needs rest too. 

Now is a great time to introduce or increase self-care in your regime. Whether it’s watching Netflix, gaming, or just running a bath, it’s important to detach yourself from UCAT revision from time to time to avoid the risk of burnout.

In this week you should also prioritise your nutrition and sleep. Eat well, do not miss meals and keep hydrated. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep in the days before the test by avoiding late night cramming or staying awake into the early hours.

If it puts your mind at rest, you can check last year’s UCAT scores , but remember that this is all about your personal journey and performance, so don't get hung up on that information!

What should I do one day before my UCAT?

We do not advise doing a mock this close to the exam. Revision won't help you much at this stage and can actually leave you worse off. Instead, use this time to wind down and get yourself into a relaxed state. This will enable you to perform at your best on test day.

Try to get to bed early and avoid things that can affect sleep, such as looking at your phone before bed. If you think that you will struggle to sleep on time, you could try doing some exercise during the day to tire yourself out. 

Exercise can boost your brainpower by oxygenating your brain, helping you learn and aid sleep. Plus, activity makes your body release endorphins, which can reduce anxiety and stress levels.

Make sure you double check your UCAT test centre information, the travel route to the test centre, the time of your UCAT exam, and so on, so you’re well prepared for test day. If someone else is giving you a ride to the test centre, it’s worth reminding them.

What should I do on the day of my UCAT?

You should start the day off with a nutritious breakfast and give yourself enough time to arrive early to the test centre to avoid feeling flustered, rushed or stressed.

Remember that buses and trains can be late and that traffic may be heavier than you had hoped, so allow extra time whichever way you are travelling. Find out how to choose a UCAT test centre .

Make sure you know how to get to the test centre – for instance you could consider taking a map with you. If you’re using your phone for directions, make sure it’s sufficiently charged and that you have spare data (otherwise you can download the map ahead of time to use offline).

On test day you will be expected to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled test time to complete the check-in process.

You need to bring:

• Your test confirmation email
• Photographic ID from the approved list

When you arrive at the test centre, it’s likely that you’ll be experiencing a heightened sense of adrenaline. his is completely normal, but it could be helpful to learn some strategies for adopting a winning mindset on test day to reduce your stress levels, and enable you to perform at your best. For instance, you could focus on your breathing to help you relax.

Don’t forget, during your test there are one minute introductions between each subtest. You can skip these, but we recommend using the time to mentally refresh yourself.

If you’ve stuck to your revision plan, and followed our advice above, the best thing you can do on test day is to try and keep as calm as possible. Take solace in the fact that you have prepared for weeks/months to get to this point, and channel any nervous energy into doing the best you can during your UCAT test. 

What should I eat and drink leading up to the UCAT?

You should think about your diet well ahead of UCAT test day. Focus on foods that release energy slowly (that is, which have a low glycaemic index, or GI) which will stop you from feeling hungry. These are ideal for UCAT preparation, as well as on test day itself.

Try eating protein and low-GI carbohydrates, such as meat or baked beans, brown (whole grain) rice or pasta, or wholegrain breakfast cereals or muesli. However, do not stray far from your usual diet on the day of the test in case you feel sick. You may want to try these foods out at the same time of day a few weeks in advance.

Be wary of energy drinks and coffee. If you’re not used to them then don’t drink them, especially in large quantities. Caffeine can acutely increase anxiety, and the sugar rush of an energy drink is soon followed by insulin slamming on the brakes, leaving you feeling worse than before. These products are no substitute for a good night’s sleep, eating properly and exercising.

No food or drink is allowed in the test room so eat a healthy meal before your UCAT test and ensure you’re hydrated. While you should make sure you’re drinking enough water, do not overdo it, otherwise you might need the toilet while the timer is ticking.

Please note, access arrangements are available if you have a disability, learning difficulty or long-term medical condition. You may be entitled to extra time and/or rest breaks, and allowed certain items, such as water, at your test centre workstation. 

What happens at the UCAT test centre?

• At the registration desk, you will be asked to show a valid photographic ID and a printed/electronic copy of your confirmation email from Pearson VUE. 
• You will be asked to sign a signature pad and take a photograph.
• You will be given a laminated notebook and a black marker pen. You may also request earplugs.
• Do not take anything other than your ID into the examination room. A locker or a coat hanger will be available.
• Go to the bathroom if you need to.
• Once the staff have prepared your exam, you may enter the exam room. You may be asked to undergo a body check (e.g. turning up your pockets and rolling your sleeves).
• The staff will guide you to the seat, or you may be able to choose your desk. Take some time to prepare yourself and relax. Your two hours have not yet started.

What is the UCAT test environment like?

This image shows a typical UCAT test environment:

There is no audio element to the test, but you can request earplugs to block out any noise that might disrupt your concentration. 

You will have access to a basic onscreen calculator which may be useful for the Quantitative Reasoning and Decision Making sections.

You will be given a laminated notebook and marker pen. Consider using these for:

• Quantitative Reasoning : Noting down numbers during multi-step workings
• Abstract Reasoning : Writing down mnemonics for pattern recognition
• Decision Making : Noting calculations and drawing diagrams

If you require an additional notebook and pen, you can raise your hand and ask the invigilator. Although the invigilator will check that your pen is working before the test, we advise double-checking this to avoid seeking assistance during the test.

What happens during my UCAT test?

• Once you are ready, follow the on-screen instructions.
• Your exam will be in the following order:
• Verbal Reasoning
• Decision Making
• Quantitative Reasoning
• Abstract Reasoning
• Situational Judgement
• You will have one minute before each section to read the instructions. You can skip it, but this will not give you an extra minute to answer the questions. Use this time to give your mind a quick break.
• If you have any issues, such as requiring a toilet break, you can quietly raise your hand. However, your time will continue running.
• After your exam, there may be an opportunity to answer a short optional survey on UCAT ANZ preparation and the quality of the venue.
• Raise your hand when you've finished and the examiner will guide you out of the exam room. You need to return your laminated board and marker pen.
• Collect your belongings and leave the test centre.
• Your UCAT ANZ results will be available in your Pearson VUE account within 24 hours. You will receive an email with instructions to access your score report through your account. All results will be delivered to UCAT ANZ Consortium universities automatically.
• If you’ve achieved the scores that you desire, well done.
• Even if you haven’t achieved the scores you wanted, congratulate yourself for getting through a really tough process. You've done exceptionally well just to get to this point. Plus, you can always take the UCAT again next year or consider graduate entry to medicine – do not give up on your dream!

Do you need help preparing for the UCAT ANZ? Head over to our UCAT ANZ Online Course and we’ll get you signed up to guide you through the whole process.

We provide a huge bank of 20,000+ questions, 24 unique full mock exams, 40+ mini-mock exams, 50+ hours of video tutorials, and performance feedback. We've also upgraded our UCAT mock exams 13-24 and revised our practice question bank to enrich your preparation journey.

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GAMSAT Section 1 Practice Questions

This will be updated throughout the year! 🙂

Please click ‘Submit’ to see your scores and a detailed analysis of why your answer might be incorrect or correct. Leave me a comment or email me at [email protected] if you still do not understand or find an inaccuracy with an answer!

Questions 1-3 are based on the poem ‘Harlem’ the following poem by Langston Hughes.

What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore – And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over – Like syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags Like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Questions 1-5 are based on ‘Ozymandias’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley.

I met a traveller from an antique land, Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand, Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed; And on the pedestal, these words appear: My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings; Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair! Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

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Gold Standard GAMSAT Practice Question of the Day

GAMSAT Question of the Day will focus on one practice question taken from a specific GAMSAT subject each day. If there is a diagram in the explanation which does not show in your browser, just click on the part that you can see, and it will become visible. Alternatively, you can refresh the page and wait for the image to load properly. Note: the real GAMSAT only has 4 options per question.

These GAMSAT practice questions are meant to build basic skills (verbal and geometric reasoning, graph/table interpretation, essay writing, dimensional analysis, etc.) that you are expected to have for the real exam. Keep in mind that most real GAMSAT questions are preceded by stimulus material (i.e. a passage; to sample our practice questions based on passages, click here: Free GAMSAT Practice Test ). If you have not reviewed your sciences yet, consider watching one of our 300 + science review videos (there is a sample one at the bottom of this page) before trying to answer our science practice questions.

If you want to discuss today’s sample question or any GAMSAT-related topic, please post below. To attend our next free problem-based webinar, kindly check the details in our news blog . Our current edition GAMSAT textbooks have been completely revised - covering all 3 GAMSAT sections thoroughly - and are now available through our Gold Standard GAMSAT website or through your local uni bookshop . We hope that you will continue to find our content helpful. Good luck with your studies!

Our GAMSAT Question of the Day programme is currently on pause while we are working on some awesome free GAMSAT preparation content. Please check this page again in a few weeks. In the meantime, you can register for a free account at GAMSAT-prep.com to access 53 GAMSAT questions with worked solutions and scaled scores (Section 1 and Section 3) plus two Section 2 writing tasks with 5 quotations each: Free GAMSAT Practice Test.

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Consider watching an introduction to GAMSAT stoichiometry below. Over the last few months, Gold Standard GAMSAT has added hours of new teaching videos - from very basic to advanced science topics - to our already extensive collection at www.gamsat-prep.com (currently we have an unrivalled 70 + hours of videos with helpful teaching). Many of our new videos also include GAMSAT sample questions. You can open a free GAMSAT practice test account to watch another hour of the videos of your choice, or join one of our GAMSAT courses to have unlimited access to our video library during your subscription period. Come learn from our experience.

GAMSAT Example Questions

Free GAMSAT Practice Questions & Written Answers

Looking for some GAMSAT example questions to gauge their difficulty, or maybe even just a bit of practice?

Before we get started, it’s important to recognize that the GAMSAT is designed to assess your ability to understand and analyze written and visual information. We recommend that you allocate some time to either learn or revise scientific theory during your exam preparation, as the GAMSAT covers chemistry, biology, and physics in addition to concepts in the humanities. You can find the free GAMSAT  questions below.

You can even download the whole questions and answers in PDF to take it as a mini mock exam. 

GAMSAT Section 1 Practice Questions: Reasoning In Humanities

Questions 1 - 4 are based on excerpts from the novel Hard Times by Charles Dickens.

In the hardest working part of Coketown; in the innermost fortifications of that ugly citadel, where Nature was as strongly bricked out as killing airs and gases were bricked in; at the heart of the labyrinth of narrow courts upon courts, and close streets upon streets, which had come into existence piecemeal, every piece in a violent hurry for some one man’s purpose, and the whole and unnatural family, shouldering, and trampling, and pressing one another to death; in 5 the last close nook of this great exhausted receiver, where the chimneys, for want of air to make a draught, were built in an immense variety of stunted and crooked shapes, as though every house put out a sign of the kind of people who might be expected to be born in it; among the multitude of Coketown, generically called ‘the Hands,’ — a race who would have found mere favour with some people, if Providence had seen fit to make them only hands, or, like the lower 10 creatures of the seashore, only hands, and stomachs.

• The imagery Dickens paints of Coketown can best be described as:

A.    unnatural and flavourless

B.   cold and dreary

C.   oblique and aggressive

D.   mechanical and uninhabitable

• In line 10, “the Hands” refers to which part of society, and in what manner?

A.    working-class, bluntly

B.   middle class, deprecatingly

C.   proletariat, disparagingly

D.   lower class, denigrating

• The grammatical structure of this excerpt was used by Dickens’

A.    to cause the reader to finish the passage quickly

B.   to indicate that all the points made are closely related

C.   to elicit a hurried speech rhythm that mirrors the industrial atmosphere

D.   to create rhythm in the passage that helps it read with easy flow

Question 4 is based on the following quote from the opening passage of Hard Times. It is delivered by a local businessman in Coketown to a class of young students.

“Now, what I want is Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else and root out everything else. You can only form the mind of reasoning animals upon Facts: nothing else will ever be of any service to them.”

• The final two sentences are an example of which literary device, employed in what way?

A.    analogy, bitterly

B.   metaphor, ironically

C.   metaphor, sarcastically

D.   analogy, ironically

Questions 5 - 9 are based on comments made by Americans who were interviewed by TIME magazine in a segment on gun control.

“I was nervous everywhere I went. I felt like something could happen at any time… I’m paralyzed on fearsome nights. I’m crying. I’m thinking, what can I do to in this situation to protect my family? It felt like breakdown after breakdown… [So] I changed my mindset and became a gun owner. Because I felt helpless and because I felt weak and because I felt like I was not protecting my children, I decided to become a gun owner. It kind of helped me feel as though I would be able to protect myself and my children if need be.”

Mrs. ST, a mother of 4 who attended the 2016 Black Lives Matter protest, was struck by a bullet while shielding her children from the sniper. 

• Before buying a gun, Mrs. ST was feeling overwhelmed with…?

A.    Distrust that others uphold the law

B.   A phobia that her children are unsafe

C.   Paranoia about another shooting

D    All of the above

“My youngest brother, John, was murdered on Aug. 14, 2013. I flew home the next morning. I remember being upstairs in my mother’s bedroom, and I went downstairs and I got one of her really good knives. And I was looking for a place to cut myself. I’ve never been a person who self-mutilates at all. I put the knife down, and I went downstairs and told my mum… I was like ‘Can I call some of my friends who were…professional to give people [like us] help?’”

Ms. CG, whose brother was shot and killed by an assailant during a domestic violence incident.

• From this passage, we can infer that Ms. CG friends are professionals in the field of?

A.    Domestic violence

B.   Mental health

C.   Self-harm

D.   Public Health

COMMENT III

“A strong Second Amendment is critical to keeping our communities safe. I experienced first- hand just how important it is that there are people with guns that can counter bad people that are out there. Right after the shooting, there were people that just expected that somehow my views on guns would change. It’s easy for people to get reactionary.”

Mr. SS, a Republican who was critically injured after being shot in the hip at a bipartisan charity baseball game.

• The people who thought that Mr SS’s views on gun control would change would now

consider him to be

A    Stubborn

B    Tenacious

D    Optimistic

“I’m probably the controversy in many ways. I take care of people with gunshot wounds. I’ve also been a lifetime shooter… I love guns, and I hate gunshot wounds… My biggest concern is that we’re focusing on the wrong thing. What we need to be focusing on is getting rid of violence. I can tell you as a trauma surgeon, I have seen people killed with a variety of objects… I will tell you brick or a bat or a fist or a knife makes you just as dead as a bullet does. Everyone talks about common-sense gun control. I’m all in favor of that. I just don’t have any idea what it is.”

Dr MF, a Trauma surgeon in Dallas who treated the victims of the 2016 Dallas Black Lives Matter shooting

•   Dr MF’s position as a trauma surgeon, and a lifetime shooter, makes his opinion…?

A    Controversial

B    Balanced

C    Divided

D    More significant 

• All the comments show that on the topic of Gun control in America, the population is…?

A    Hindered from making progress because of the second amendment

B    Divided on the issue

C    Stuck and not progressing

D    B and C only

Jump to answers

Answers For the GAMSAT Section 1 Practice Questions

Questions 1 – 4 “hard times”.

Watch a solution video presented by S1 & S2 tutors Andy

Whilst all the options have appeal, it is only D that has both options aptly describing the atmosphere and landscape that Dickens paints. Mechanical is a word exemplified by Dickens’ life in the Industrial era but also in the way he describes the town as a fortification, and its people as “lower creatures” “trampling and pressing one another to death”. The description of the labyrinthine city with “nature strongly bricked out and killing airs and gases bricked in” and where even chimneys struggle to get air is a commentary on how uninhabitable Coketown is, irrespective of the poor souls living in it. Not A It is described as unnatural however not flavourless, eliminating A. Not B It most definitely is a dreary place, however, the climate is not mentioned. Not C Although the word “violent” is used, it is not described as an aggressive place, nor is oblique an appropriate word as it refers to something not being expressed in a direct way, where Dickens is very overt in his description of Coketown.

The trick to this question is two-fold. To be able to distinguish between “working class”, “lower class”, and “proletariat”, and to understand the subtle differences between the adjectives applied. 1) Proletariat is defined as the working class, but not necessarily being poor. 2) Deprecating is to disapprove of something. Denigrating to speak ill of, or belittle. Disparaging is to regard or represent something as being of little worth. By referring to the people as “the Hands”, they are reduced to a single, non-thinking, non-emotional body-part, useful for the work they provide, yet almost non-human and disposable.

Not A the dehumanizing title is derivative of their being perceived as little worth and not being blunt. This is an example of an emotional trap, as you may feel the description is blunt, but it isn’t described in the passage. Not B as they are not the middle class Not D while they are very likely poor, being compared to a hand is a metaphor for their working nature and not their wealth

The liberal use of commas and semicolons allows a rhythm that reads in a rushed way. This hasty flow is indicative of the bleak town as it causes each negative point to effectively roll and tumble into one another, intensifying point after point. Not A the flow derived from the punctuation does make the rhythm faster and leads to finishing the passage quicker, however it is not its primary purpose. Not B many of the points made about Coketown are indeed related to one another, but not all of them, as well this can be done with different punctuation too. Not D the lack of full stops actually makes it harder to read as there are no evident pauses.

An analogy is a comparison between one thing and another, whereas a metaphor is using something as a representative, or symbolic of something else. What might trip you up, is that a metaphor can be used as an analogy, but it is not always the case, nor is an analogy only a metaphor. The phrase is an example of a metaphor as it uses the notion of planting to describe a child’s mind as soil and information/facts as the seed. The irony is a situation/meaning/outcome that has the opposite result to that which was expressed/intended. This quote is ironic because when giving this strict instruction of fact and its utility, the businessman can’t help but use a metaphor to best illustrate his point. Even funnier, is that it is a metaphor of nature, exactly the thing that this educational system is trying to go around, and that which this glum town its quashing. Not A This is not an analogy. Additionally, the tone is not clearly bitter. Not C Sarcasm employs irony (in its use of opposite words to the implied meaning) for the purpose of mocking, and often with a bitter tone. Dickens is not being sarcastic, nor is there any evidence of a sarcastic tone. Not D While it correctly identifies the irony in the statement, this is not an analogy.

How Hard Is The GAMSAT?

GAMSAT Questions 5 – 9 “Gun Violence”

Watch a solution video presented by S1 & 2 tutors Andy

It is important to recognize here that Mrs. ST has a constant fear of shooting, and that it is a rational fear given that she has previously been involved in a shooting. However, it is also an excessive response to the incident. It is not mere distrust, she has extreme trepidation that this could occur at any time. Not A While she does not trust others, her anxiety stems from a fear that “something could happen at any time”. The possibility of another shooting occurring at any time is the reason why she has become paralyzed. Not B A phobia is an irrational, paralyzing fear of something happening. However given Mrs. ST’s previous experience, her fear is not irrational, and therefore cannot be the answer. Not D Since it cannot be A and B, it cannot be D.

The comment is looking at the psychology of family members who have lost someone to gun violence. This can be a physical issue like self-harm or a psychological one like depression and suicidal ideation, which the physical issues likely stem from. CG wants to call people to help herself, as well as her mother with all of the issues that this trauma has caused. Not A The domestic violence incident was what lead to her brother John's murder. This was not what she was referring to when she wanted to call people for help. It was to help her and her mother, not others suffering from the same problems her brother was. Not C While this is the specific problem that Mrs. CG was suffering, this is too narrow a view to taking on the meaning in the passage. The idea that it was to help people “[like us]” tells you that it is not JUST her issues that she is looking for help on, but her mother’s too! Since her son had just been murdered, we can infer that she will need help with her mental health too. Not D This answer suggests a much broader scope than is mentioned in the comment. It could be considered a next logical step where you look at how broader social determinants like incarceration, poverty, and unemployment impact mental health.

The people who would be believing he would change his views on the matter are likely those opposed to guns. Thus, they would look negatively on the fact that after experiencing first- hand the devastating effect of guns that he has remained steadfast on his ideals about guns and the second amendment. In this way, staying fixed on his ideals despite what had happened, would be seen as obstinate. Not B The word tenacious has positive connotations, that even against adversity he continues to fight for what he believes is right. This would be what an NRA member would think of Mr. SS’s story, however, this would not be the person who thinks his views on guns would change. Thus, this would not be the view of someone who thinks his views would change. Not C Being stoic suggests that a person endures pain and hardship without showing their feelings or complaining. This is someone who ignores the issues and carries on. However, given Mr. SS is addressing the problem and using it as a platform to discuss his views on guns, it is not the most correct answer. Not D This is not the most correct answer, although maybe true. People may consider him being optimistic in saying that if the right people are armed then people will be safe! However, those against guns (the people believing his views would change) would say that this is a misguided view.

It has not made it easier, he describes the fact that it has made the issue more complex and he feels that he does not have an answer to the issue of gun control. He sees both sides but finds that this has made it harder for him and divided his view on the fun of shooting from the damage of getting shot. Not A From the comment we cannot say that his view is controversial. It may not be the classical view of someone who is a trauma surgeon and has to clean up people who have been shot, but the idea that his view is belligerent is incorrect. Not B While he is able to see both sides of the coin, the comment does not suggest that this has given him a good middle ground, with a balanced opinion on what he thinks should be done. Rather, it has complicated the issue further. Not D The idea that one person’s opinion is more important or valid than another’s is not suggested in the comment.

Each of these comments has different views on Gun controls. Everyone has their own thoughts and opinions on guns, the utility of them and how they should be regulated. None of them are “wrong”, they all just have divisive opinions on the issue. Not A While this may be the view by the anti-gun population, this would not be the opinion of the other half of the people in these comments, who believe that the second amendment is protecting their right to arm themselves. Not C This is a dynamic issue, with people’s opinions constantly changing. There are continual new developments, with new arguments and propositions, even though the laws are still archaic. So it cannot be considered stuck. Not D Given that C is incorrect, D cannot be correct.

GAMSAT Questions Section 2: Written Communication

Consider the following comments and develop a piece of writing in response to one or more of them.

Your writing will be judged on the quality of your response to the theme, how well you organize and present your point of view, and how effectively you express yourself.

• Sometimes by losing the battle you find a new way to win the war.'
• Success consists of going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.
• But a man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.
• When you have expectations, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.
• Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.
• When a man’s stomach is full, it makes no difference whether he is rich or poor.
• The greatness of a man is not how much wealth he acquires but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
• He that waits upon fortune is never sure of dinner.

Solutions For The GAMSAT Section 2 Questions

Watch the solution video presented by S1 & 2 tutors Andy

GAMSAT Questions Section 3: Reasoning In Biological And Physical Sciences 

 gamsat chemistry questions .

 Questions 1 – 5

Within the contents of the human stomach is the strong acid, hydrochloric acid. The body’s acid–base balance is normally tightly regulated through a complex interaction of buffering agents, the respiratory system, and the renal system, keeping the arterial blood pH between 7.38 and 7.42. Several buffering agents exist that reversibly bind hydrogen ions and impede any change in pH. Extracellular buffers include bicarbonate and ammonia, whereas proteins and phosphate act as intracellular buffers. The relationship between multiple buffers in the same solution is described by the isohydric principle. The bicarbonate buffering system is especially key to this, as carbon dioxide (CO2) can be shifted through carbonic acid (H2CO3) to hydrogen ions and bicarbonate (HCO3−) in the following equation:

H2O + CO2 ⇋ H2CO3 ⇋ H+ + HCO3-

If the buffering system malfunctions, the pH level would go beyond the acceptable range. Figure 1 is an acid-base nomogram for human blood serum.

In addition to the carbonate buffering system, blood also contains the phosphate buffering system as per the equation below:

H2PO4– ⇋ HPO42- + H+

The pH of a buffer solution can be calculated using the Henderson-Hasselbach equation:

 pH = pKa + log10([A-]/[HA])

Where Ka is the acidity constant of the weak acid, [HA] is the equilibrium concentration of the weak acid; and [A-] is the equilibrium concentration of the conjugate base of the weak acid.

At 25 °C, the pKa value of HCl, H2CO3, and H2PO4- are -7, 6.37, and 7.21 respectively.

Note: log10 2 = 0.30 

• A patient with a pCO2 level of 20 mmHg, arterial blood [H+] of 45 nmol/L, arterial plasma [HCO3-] of 10 mmol/L would be diagnosed as

A.    Normal

B.    Acute respiratory alkalosis

C.    Chronic respiratory acidosis

D.    Metabolic acidosis 

• The minimum number of test/s (measuring the concentration of one molecule ie: H+) required to determine whether a patient’s blood is classified as being in acidosis, normal or alkalosis is
• Which of the following statements is most likely to be true?

A.    A patient with a pCO2 level of 40 mmHg cannot be diagnosed with respiratory acidosis or respiratory alkalosis

B.    Chronic respiratory alkalosis has a higher pH level cut off than acute respiratory Alkalosis

C.    A patient reading could have an arterial plasma [HCO3-] of 40 M, pCO2 level of 90mmHg and an arterial pH of 7.25 at the same time

D.    A patient who has developed acute respiratory acidosis will overtime transit into chronic respiratory alkalosis

• If the pH of HCl of concentration 1×10-1 mol L-1 is 1.00, the pH of 1×10-1 mol L-1 of H2CO3 at 25 °C is approximately

D.    9.42 

       5. In which of the following arrangements is the order of acids correctly predicted according to increasing acidic strength?

A.    HPO42- < H2PO4- < H2CO3 < HCl

B.    H2PO4- < HPO42- < H2CO3 < HCl

C.    H2CO3 < H2PO4- < HPO42- < HCl

D.    HPO42- < H2CO3 < H2PO4- < HCl 

  GAMSAT Physics Questions

   questions 6 – 10.

Biomechanics is the study of the human body in terms of forces, levers, and friction, using principles of physics to analyze human motion. Mechanical advantage is a term used in biomechanics to describe force amplification. The mechanical advantage (of an exerted force) is calculated by dividing the force that the exerted force is trying to overcome, by the exerted force itself; or dividing the effort arm (i.e. distance between the exerted force and the pivot point) by the resistance arm (i.e. the distance between the force that the exerted force is trying to overcome and the pivot point). Torque (T) is also an important concept in biomechanics, and it can be calculated as:

Where F is the force that causes rotation of a lever, and d is the distance between the pivot point and the point where the force is applied. An object is said to be in rotational equilibrium if the net torque of an object is zero, and so all of the torques causing the lever to turn in one direction must equal all of the torques causing the lever to turn in the opposite direction. The principles behind torque can be applied to a bicep curl. A schematic of a bicep curl is shown in Figure 1.

The arrow represents the force vector of flexor muscles in the arm, and the angle represents the angle between the force vector and the horizontal. The vertical black line represents the arm, whilst the horizontal black line represents the forearm. The flexor muscles of the arm enter the forearm via a tendon 5 cm away from the elbow. The forearm pictured is 50 cm long and weighs 1.5kg. it can be assumed that its mass is uniformly distributed.

•   Given that the load of the apparatus in Figure 1 is the weight of the forearm itself, the

the mechanical advantage of the force exerted by the flexor muscles in the arm is

• What force is required by the flexor muscles in the arm to hold the forearm in a

perpendicular position with respect to the arm as shown in Figure 1? Note: sin60°=0.87,

sin120°=0.87; sin30°= 0.5; cos30°=0.87; cos60°=0.5)

• What vertical force (if any) must be exerted directly on the elbow joint for the forearm to

remain in this position?

B.    60N downwards

C.    60N upwards

D.    Not enough information to tell

• If a 10kg weight was planted on the free end of the forearm, what would be the closest force

required by the flexor muscles in the arm to hold the forearm stable in the position described

in Figure 1[h]?

A.    1000N

B.    2000N

C.    3000N

D.    4000N

• If the angle pictured in Figure 1 was increased,

A.    The force exerted by the flexor muscles of the arm would have to decrease to lift a certain weight, and the mechanical advantage would remain unchanged.

B.    The force exerted by the flexor muscles of the arm would have to increase to lift a certain weight, and the mechanical advantage would remain unchanged.

C.    The force exerted by the flexor muscles of the arm would have to decrease to lift a certain weight, and the mechanical advantage would increase.

D.    The force exerted by the flexor muscles of the arm would have to increase to lift a certain weight, and the mechanical advantage would decrease. 

 GAMSAT Biology Questions

 Questions 11 – 15

Drugs are used to alter some aspect of human physiology. Multiple drugs taken simultaneously can cause interactions due to interference with absorption or elimination of the individual drugs, or due to conflicting effects on a shared pathway. Synergism is when there is an increase in the expected effects when drugs are taken in combination and antagonistic effects occur when mixtures result in reduced effects.

Drugs A, B and C have all been developed to treat hypertensive patients (high blood pressure).

The drugs were given singularly and as combinations at different times to a group of 500 patients over the course of 10 hours. The following table shows the dosages of each drug given and the average blood pressure of all patients

* Drug concentrations in mg/litre

* BP in mmHg as systolic/diastolic

* Time in hours 

• Which of the following is least true?

A.    Synergy between drug A and C is better than between drug A and B

B.    Drugs B and C are antagonistic

C.    There is synergy when the drugs are given as a triple combination

D.    Drugs A and B used in combination have a positive effect on blood pressure in most patients

• Which ratio of drugs would have the best effect on blood pressure?

A.    1/1/1 of A/B/C

B.    3/2/0 of A/B/C

C.    0/1/0 of A/B/C

D.    3/0/0 of A/B/C

• Which of the following is true about the interaction of drugs B and C?

A.    Drugs B and C antagonize each other, thus creating the increase in BP shown in hours 5-8

B.    The effect of using drugs B and C is equally as detrimental as using drugs A, B, and C together

C.    Drug C is the best out of the three

D.    Drug C appears to have a greater synergistic effect with A than B does.

• Which of the following is least true about the variability of blood pressures?

A.    There is the most variability when there is drug B in the system of the patients than any other drug

B.    There is similar variability when there are either drugs A or C but without drug B

C.    Drug A has the least effect on variability out of the three

D.    The average variation in blood pressure of the general population is +/- 20/10 mmHg

• Which of the following is the most likely pathway for drugs A, B, and C?

A.    Drugs A, B, and C all have a positive effect on blood pressure. Drug A acts directly on blood vessels, drug B acts on platelets and drug C acts to reduce fluid volume. All three together cause kidney failure Drugs A and C have a positive effect on blood pressure, drug B doesn’t.

B.    Drug A antagonizes drug C but is synergistic with drug B. Drug C acts on the same pathway as drug B

C.    Drugs A, B, and C all have a positive effect on blood pressure. Drug B antagonizes both drug A and C while A acts on the same pathway as C.

D.    Drugs A and B reduce BP, while drug C has no effect. Drug C causes kidney failure when given above 3 mg/L. Drug A is synergistic with drug B. Drug A and C act on the same pathway

Answers For the GAMSAT Section 3 Practice Questions

Chemistry buffering systems: questions 1 – 5.

Watch a solution video presented by Section 3 tutor Kristian

Draw the line according to the data, you get metabolic acidosis

By knowing the pH and pCO2, as long as it is less than 7.35 it is acidosis, normal is between 7.35 to 7.42. Above that it is alkalosis. Using the graph there is overlap at given pH’s with a given assignment of blood acidity hence pCO2 is also required.

A is true because of the figure below. B is not true, chronic respiratory alkalosis has a lower pH cut-off. C cannot be true when you read off the graph. No information is given for D, it changes from acidosis to alkalosis.

HCl is a strong acid, and pH of 1×10-1 of HCl gives -log (1×10-1)=1.00. H2CO3 is a weak acid, so the pH should be higher than that. But it cannot be higher than 7 as it is not a base. So C is the answer. You can alternatively do the calculation, but it is slower.

HPO42- is the conjugate base of H2PO4-, so we can expect it has a lower strength than H2PO4. Ka tells you the extent to which the acid dissociates, in other words, how strong the reaction is or how much product is produced. Strong acid means High Ka means low pKa. Therefore HCl is the strongest, then H2CO3 then H2PO4–.

Back to the GAMSAT questions chemistry

Physics Biomechanics: GAMSAT Questions 6 – 10

In the stem, it says the mechanical advantage is equal to the effort arm/resistance arm. The effort arm is 5cm long (since it is 5cm from the fulcrum or pivot point) and the resistance arm is 25cm long (since the centre of mass is present at half the length of the object – uniformly distributed). Therefore, the mechanical advantage is 5/25=1/5=0.2

By equating torques (force × distance), the answer can be achieved. Anti-clockwise direction = 5× (vertical force of arm muscles). Clockwise= 25× (1.5×10). by equating both torques in the opposite directions: vertical force of arm muscles = 5(15)= 75N. 75/total arm force = sin60. Therefore, total arm force= 75/cos30 = 75/0.87 = 86N.

The forearm in the diagram is in rotational and translational equilibrium. Therefore, all vertical and horizontal forces must equate to each other. Since the vertical force provided by the arm muscles is 75N upwards and the vertical force provided by the weight of the forearm is 15N downwards, there must be 65 N downwards (75-15) to maintain vertical translational equilibrium. The force at the elbow joint does not contribute to clockwise or anticlockwise rotation because it acts at the pivot point.

By equating the clockwise and anticlockwise torques: 5(vertical force exerted by arm) = 25(15) + 50(100); vertical force = 25(3)+10(100) = 75+1000 = 1075. Total force exerted by arm = 1075/sin60 = 1250N. Closest to this answer is option A.

The angle has no effect on the mechanical advantage, as the parameter is only concerned about the distance between the force exerted and the fulcrum. By increasing the angle, the muscles must work harder to maintain the forearm in a perpendicular position to the arm. This can be seen mathematically: the total force of muscle=vertical force/sinθ. Increasing the angle means increasing the total force.

Best Approach To Study GAMSAT Physics

Biology Pharmacology: GAMSAT Question 11 – 15

Option A says A and C tend to reduce blood pressure better when together in comparison to A and B, which is supported by the table, meaning this is true. Drugs B and C are antagonistic because C is shown to reduce blood pressure and B is expected to reduce it (which it seems like it does do when combined with A) but when they work together there is an increase. Drug A and B working together seem to reduce the blood pressure compared to baseline making option D true. C is the least true because the combination seems to raise Blood pressure.

Option B has a good effect on BP; it drops from 150/100 (when not on any drugs) to 130/90 when on this combination. Options C and D are unknown,. When the drugs are given in a 1:1:1 ratio, the blood pressure goes up from 150/100 to 120/80 making A the correct answer

Option A is not a result of antagonism which might not be something everyone is aware of, however, it can also be noted that specific information about hours 5-8 are not given. Option B is difficult to determine with only one measure of B and C together. It should be noted that when considering the differences in the concentration used for the B+C and A+B+C, the small difference in B.P. could be negligible. These two facts make this option possible but it is a grey area. Option C is too broad a statement and we only have one data point; based on that single data point, it does lead to a greater drop in blood pressure than drug A, but it can’t be compared to the effects of Drug B, the effect of which has not been tested independently. Option D on the other hand (in comparison to B) is clear-cut true because A and C together produce a much lower B.P. even at lower concentrations.

This is only for the patients who are all hypertensive. option A is true as all the variability is when B is in the system. Option B is true because of the same reason. C is true as it doesn’t affect the 40/20 and that can be accounted for by the inclusion of B and C.

This is based on the triple whammy of ACEI, NSAID, and diuretic. The combo causes renal failure which results in greatly reduced GFR (usually this occurs over a period of months). Option B is wrong as A doesn’t antagonize C as they are the best combination for reducing blood pressure. Option C is wrong as B has a positive effect with A. Option D is wrong as the best result is with C above 3 mg/L.

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Resources For Gamsat Section 2

Resources for GAMSAT section 2

When I was studying for Gamsat I spent hours looking for resources for section 2. If you're looking for your own resources for Gamsat section 2 I've written this short article to help you out so you can save yourself from spending hours like I did.

So a good strategy for section 2 is to get a good overview of current ideas and theories in a range of broad topics.

This way you'll be able to work them into your arguments in your essays and appear well informed and able to relate your arguments to the real world.

So if you can have a reasonably good idea of the most important historical ideas, plus the latest developments in a range of commonly discussed disciplines such as philosophy, politics, economics, art etc. that is a good strategy to adopt for section two.

Here's three useful resources which will help you achieve just that.

The first resource on our list is a website which has literally thousands of videos covering many topics.

This is TED which is a non profit organization which is devoted to spreading ideas in the form of short talks presented by experts in their fields from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world.

The average length of these videos is about 20 minutes so you can watch them in easily digestible little chunks.

The Meaning of Things

This resource is a book written by well known British philosopher A.C. Grayling.

It consists of a series of brief articles which aim to help the reader think about life, common human dilemmas and universal difficulties. Encouraging introspection into life and experience to help us achieve a life worth living.

Some of the topics covered include include courage, love, betrayal, ambition, cruelty, wisdom, passion, beauty and death.

This book will help you generate concepts to support your arguments in your Gamsat section two essays.

50 Big Ideas

Another great book - 50 Big Ideas You Really Need to Know by Ben Dupré is a concise, accessible and popular guide to the central tenets of Western thought. Every important principle of philosophy, religion, politics, economics, the arts and the sciences is profiled in a series of short illustrated essays, complemented by an informative array of timelines and box features. Platonism, The Soul, Communism, Aristotelianism, Faith, Fascism, The Golden rule, Atheism, Racism, Altruism, Secularism, Feminism, Pluralism, Fundamentalism, Islamism, Liberty, Creationism, Capitalism, Toleration, War, Globalization, Scepticism, Duty, Classicism, Reason, Utopia, Romanticism, Punishment, Liberalism, Modernism, Materialism, Democracy, Surrealism, Relativism, Conservatism, Censorship, Utilitarianism, Imperialism, Big Bang, Existentialism, Nationalism, Chaos, Evil, Social contract, Evolution, Fate, Republicanism, Relativity, Quantum mechanics, Gaia.

These three resources are great way to get going with your Gamsat section 2 practice.

Quote Generator

The final resource on my list is a quote generator which will help you to generate an unlimited number of quotes on hundreds of topics in a format virtually identical to the real test.

When doing your practice essays I always recommend typing them under timed conditions as in the real thing so you can practice your timing skills and also improve your typing speed and accuracy.

The second thing I recommend is to always write two in a row one directly after the other to replicate test conditions so you can develop the mental agility to quickly switch from one topic to another.

Further Resources

For more detailed help with your GAMSAT essay writing please refer to Griffiths GAMSAT Review which contains an essay writing model which practically allows you to have your essays pre-written before you even walk into the test.

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GAMSAT Practice Questions

Gamsat practice questions answered.

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Want to know more about GAMSAT practice questions ? When it comes to preparing for the GAMSAT, there is a lot to take in just to be able to pass for entry into University to study medical and the right GAMASAT materials can make all the difference with GAMSAT practice questions, samples, PDF’S free downloads and more.

Below are commonly asked questions on what most students ask when it come to the the GAMSAT entry exam. Please have a read and take in what is available. If you have anymore questions, please contact us

Who Can Sit The GAMSAT ?

Looking for GAMSAT practice questions to help prepare for the GAMSAT ? Any person can sit the GAMSAT who has completed a Bachelor or an undergraduate honours degree, or who will be in the second-last or final year of study at the time of sitting the test. If it will be more than two full academic years from the time you have completed your level 3 (A level or equivalent) studies, you are also eligible to sit the exam. There is no limit to the amount of times a person can sit the GAMSAT! You can prepare adequately when you try the right GAMSAT preparation materials on the web from Ace Gamsat

When Does GAMSAT Start ?

The GAMSAT is offered twice a year in March and September. The next exam is 11 September 2019 with a fee of $505. Registration for the March 2020 exam will open November 2019.The only way to register for GAMSAT is online through gamsat.acer.org

What Do I Bring To The GAMSAT ?

Basically, the only items permitted into the GAMSAT exam are:

• Printed GAMSAT admission ticket
• Acceptable current and photo-bearing identification document
• Pencils (medium soft No.2 or HV recommended)
• Pencil sharpener
• Pens (blue or black ink)
• A clear bottle of drinking water (no labels attached)

Those who are sitting the exam may also wear an analogue wristwatch but may not use any alarm or stopwatch feature as these must be switched off. Digital watches and smart watches or phones are prohibited. There will be clocks provided in the test room.

All other items are prohibited and will be considered an act of misconduct. These include: 

• Calculators
• Stopwatches
• Audio or recording devices of any kind
• Digital watches
• Smart watches
• Pencil cases
• Coloured pens/pencils
• Highlighters

Personal items such as mobile phone, snacks etc will only be allowed during your lunch break. GAMSAT applicants are encouraged to wear warm or appropriate clothing during the exam. If you have a disability or a medical condition that might limit your ability to sit the test, you will need to apply for an Adjustment through your online account.  Check out the ACER website for guidelines if you need to bring a bilingual dictionary.

How Difficult Is GAMSAT ?

Those who have sat the exam previously would agree that yes, the exam can be quite difficult, however, there isn’t really an answer to the question as it will range from person to person! It will depend on your strengths and weaknesses and above all, how much you have prepared for the exam. For those whose strong points are not in writing, structuring an essay may be the most difficult and acquiring enough scientific knowledge for Section I might be more challenging for those who do not have a background in science.

The GAMSAT can be hard for others to stay awake for the 5 and half hour test. This is spread out over the whole day so it generally can take up to 9 hours all up. If you’ve never sat such a long test, this part may seem difficult to you. For most, the actual STUDYING component for the GAMSAT is the most difficult part about getting into medical school and not the actual exam itself! If you would like an idea of how difficult the exam is, doing GAMSAT practice papers can give you a general idea.

Why Is The GAMSAT So Hard ?

There is no correct answer to this question. Different people will find aspects of the GAMSAT more difficult than others and some may find the whole experience more challenging.  For example, in GAMSAT Section I , there is a lot of reading, which may be the most stressful for those who are slow readers. Candidates are required to write two essays within an hour, which can seem somewhat difficult for those whose writing is not their strong points! Graphs, diagrams, tables, text passages and a variety of other information is in Section III .

Another way that the GAMSAT could be considered hard is that fact that the test is 5 and half hours. The GAMSAT can be hard for others to stay awake for the 5 and half hour test. This is spread out over the whole day so it generally can take up to 9 hours all up. If you’ve never sat such a long test, this part may seem difficult to you.

Please note: all emotions, fear, doubt excitement, anxiety, determination are normal. To overcome these obstacles, there is really one thing that will help the most: practice!

How Does GAMSAT Work ?

The Graduate Medical School Admissions Test or the GAMSAT is prerequisite test run by ACER for the admission into dental and medical schools. It is designed to evaluate students abilities and skills through the use of concepts in basic science and general skills in problem solving, critical thinking and writing. The test is offered twice a year in March and September in Australia, UK, Ireland and selected international locations. Those sitting the GAMSAT are encouraged to begin studying a few months prior to the exam and to practice as many tests as possible!

What Are GAMSAT Questions Like ?

The gamsat exam is broken up into three sections..

Section 1: This section of the exam is called the Reasoning in Humanities section and is basically testing your comprehension and critical thinking skills. (i.e. your ability to interpret written information, critically analyse this information and then use this information to answer questions). There are 75 multiple choice questions to be completed in 100 minutes, with 10 minutes additional reading time.

Section 2: This section of the exam is called the Written Communication section and students are being accessed on their ability to formulate an argument and compose an extended piece of writing. You are required to write two essays in 60 minutes, with 5 minutes additional reading time.

Section 3: This section of the exam is called the Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences section and the question cover physics, biology and chemistry. There are 110 multiple choice questions to be completed in 170 minutes, with 10 minutes additional reading time.

How Long Is The GAMSAT ?

The day of the GAMSAT exam consists of 5.5 hours testing time, 25 minutes reading time, and a 1 hour break before section 3.

Section 1: This section of the exam is called the Reasoning in Humanities section. There are 75 multiple choice questions to be completed in 100 minutes, with 10 minutes additional reading time. Students therefore have 1.3333 minutes to complete each question in section 1.

Section 2: This section of the exam is called the Written Communication section. Students are required to write two essays in 60 minutes, with 5 minutes additional reading time. It is common sense that students should spend 30 minutes on each essay in this section.

Section 3: This section of the exam is called the Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences section. There are 110 multiple choice questions to be completed in 170 minutes, with 10 minutes additional reading time. Students therefore have 1.545 minutes to complete each question in section 3.

The only break in the GAMSAT is between section 2 and 3. This break is for one hour. Those sitting the exam may use the bathroom during testing time however, not during reading time or in the final 10 minutes of each section. There is no additional time granted for using the bathroom.

Ensure you arrive to the exam early. If you are late, you will not be allowed in!

What does the gamsat consist of .

One of the most commonly asked question about GAMSAT practice questions is, what does the GAMSAT consist of ? The overall Gamsat exam structure consists of three sections (sections I, II and III), which each aim at testing different skills. In Section I you are basically testing your comprehension and critical thinking skills. (i.e. your ability to interpret written information, critically analyse this information and then use this information to answer questions).

You are given 10 minutes reading time and provided with a variety of stimulus types (ranging from newspaper articles and short story excerpts, to comics and diagrams) and asked to answer 75 multiple choice questions within 100 minutes.

The 75 multiple choice questions assess reasoning in the humanities and social sciences.

In Section II of the GAMSAT, you are given 5 minutes reading time and 60 minutes to answer two extended response-style questions. You are provided with two sets of 5 quotes and asked to write an extended piece of writing in response to each set of quotes. Most people will write an argumentative essay and/or a reflective essay for this section. In Section II you are basically being asessed on your ability to formulate an argument and compose an extended piece of writing, so theoretically, you could write anything! (i.e a short story, journal article etc).

In Section III (the final section of the Gamsat exam structure) you are given 10 minutes reading time and 170 minutes to answer 110 multiple choice questions. The question cover physics, biology and chemistry.

How Much Time Do I Need To Prepare For The GAMSAT ?

Most people usually allow themselves at least 3 months to prepare, but if you are able to focus all of your attention on the exam, you could probably feel quite adequately prepared in only two months. That being said, if you are a person that would like to revise extensively for section III (which can be very time-consuming as it covers so much information), you might want to consider more time to cover everything. Either way, the sooner you register and commit to sitting the exam, the sooner you can start preparing!

How Can I Best Prepare For The GAMSAT ?

Preparing for the GAMSAT is best to break it down into the three sections.

For this section students should be familiar with the following types of texts as these are likely to come up in the exam – essays, poems, cartoons, dramas, editorials, graphs, figures, short stories, essays, letters, journals, and biographies. All of these types of stimulus material can be categorised into the following 4 categories:

• Prose (in all diverse types)
• Poetry (including Drama)
• Social and/or Behavioural Sciences
• Editorial Cartoon and/or Graphic Representations

Regular reading and practice are the most effective ways to prepare 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. This is a great way to improve your vocabulary through reading.

Suggested Readings

Some great readings that will help prepare you for the type of texts you will receive in Section I include:

• The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Defying Hitler – Sebastian Haffner
• English Passengers – Matthew Kneale
• Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens
• The Penguin Book of Twentieth Century Essays – Ian Hamilton
• A Short History of Nearly Everything – Bill Bryson
• The Story of My Life – Helen Keller

Students should aim to improve their by utilising the tools on www.vocabulary.com . Students should practice questions from the MCAT word list.

Section-I-like questions can also be found on readtheory.org .

Our team has released a Full Length GAMSAT Practice Test , which is identical to the actual GAMSAT exam. Students should complete all of the Section I practice questions in this test. Students should then check all answers and go back and see where they went wrong. This is the most effective and fastest way to improve your score in Section I.

The 4 ACER booklets are also a must-have resource to practise your Section I comprehension skills.

• In the exam, students are to complete two essays – both Task A and Task B.
• Essays should be at least 350 – 400 words.
• Five quotes are provided for each essay task and all of the quotes surround 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.When planning your essay, read the series of 5 quotes carefully and determine the overall theme. The theme is quite obvious. Some examples of themes include: freedom, crime, poverty, wealth, punishment, science, technology, love, friendship, humour, suffering, youth, beauty, ageing, conformity, originality.

S2 – Task A

Task A is an argumentative essay. Each paragraph should be planned out.

Paragraph 1: Introduction – explanation and interpretation of a chosen quote or standpoint you have concerning the overall theme.Students should aim for three body paragraphs. They should be Thesis, Antithesis (or Thesis, Antithesis ). A concluding paragraph should then sum up and reconcile between the Thesis’ and Antithesis. Common themes that students could expect in the GAMSAT Task A include:

S2 – Task B

Task B is a personal essay. It should be written with feeling. Students need to be able to explain and visualise how other people may be feeling in different life situations.The quotes that students receive have a personal theme, which allows students to relate the themes to their own experiences in life.

Paragraph 1: Acquaint the reader with the topic/theme and state your specific point of view.

There should be 3 body paragraphs. Each paragraph should focus on a different idea that supports your specific point of view. A concluding paragraph should summarise the main points, then support the main view and end with a great impact on the reader.

Common topics that students can expect in the GAMSAT Task B:

• Originality

Section 3 This section of the GAMSAT includes physics at year 12 level and biology, general chemistry , and organic chemistry all at university level. The exam consists of 20% organic chemistry, 20% physics, 20% general chemistry, and 40% biology. Candidates are required to use their knowledge and the understanding of concepts in order to answer questions. This section involves the analysis of tables, charts, scientific information, and graphs.

It is important that students practise questions under timed conditions. The ACER booklets are a great start for practice questions. The AceGAMSAT team have released a ‘Full-Length GAMSAT Practice Test’ which contains 110 questions that are just like the real exam, so this is definitely a valuable resource.

If you want to know how to study for GAMSAT, then the following Section 3 topic list below is extremely valuable. These refined topic points are covered in great detail in the respective AceGAMSAT study guides.

• The Biology Bible
• The Organic Chemistry Bible
• The General Chemistry Bible
• The Physics Bible

Above all, the best way to prepare for the GAMSAT is pretty simple actually: practice, practice, practice!

How Is The GAMSAT Scored ?

Firstly, it is important to know that GAMSAT scores are mapped onto a scale from 0-100 (with a higher number indicating a higher GAMSAT score). According to the statistics, over 95% of students receive a scaled GAMSAT score from 40-80.

The GAMSAT scores are based on a statistical adjustment which is called the Item Response Theory (IRT). This ensures that GAMSAT scores are comparable from year to year. The score you receive in the GAMSAT is your scaled score. So, it is not your actual percentage performance in the exam / raw score.

Your overall GAMSAT score is calculated by using the following formula:

Note: The science section (section III) has twice as much weighting than each of the other sections. This means that Section III is responsible for 50% of your overall mark. However, some universities treat section III with the same weighting as each of the other two sections (I and II). These universities are the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne.

Section One:  75 Questions in 100 minutes, 25% of your mark

Section Two:  Two essays in one hour, 25% of your mark

Section Three:  110 questions in 170 minutes, 50% of your mark

An offer is based on what percentile your mark falls in Score above a 65 overall.

Even though it is hard to estimate what would place you in the higher percentiles, and hence achieve an interview offer, it is important to remember that scoring a 65 or below is very unlikely to get you an interview for medicine.  Where once a 60 would have been sufficient at 65 should be your absolute minimum overall score. Note that scores are slightly lower for entry into medicine. A solid section two score is in the 70s.Do not score below a 60 for section one.mScore above a 65 for section three.

What Is A Good GAMSAT Score ?

A good GAMSAT score can be relative depending on the cohort, perspective, and on the medical / dental school you are applying for. The following are some guides to use when deciding ‘what is a good gamsat score?’. We will split the scores into three different categories – average, good, and very high.

• An average GAMSAT score ranges from a score of 56-58. This places a student in approximately the 50th percentile, which means that 50% of students scored below this score in the exam.
• A good GAMSAT score usually ranges from a 61-64. This places a student in approximately the 75th percentile, which means that 75% of students scored below this score in the exam.
• A very high GAMSAT score ranges from a score of 72 or higher. This places a student in approximately the 98th percentile, which means that 98% of students scored below this score in the exam.

Note: A ‘good’ gamsat score may be enough for entry into one university, but below the cutoff for another. It is important to also keep in mind that most of the Universities take into consideration your GPA, when deciding to offer you a place for a medical interview.

When Are GAMSAT Results Out ? The GAMSAT results are released within 2 months of sitting the exam.

Students are emailed login information to access their results. The next GAMSAT exam date will be September 2019 and the results will be released mid November 2019. If you have any other questions about GAMSAT practice questions, please contact us.

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How to master section ii of the gamsat.