Gamsat 2012

Poppo4 · 08-03-2012 12:28pm

Exam ticket arrived this morning, unfortunately it has my DOB on it incorrect. I've contacted ACER and hopefully it will be sorted out. Anyone else have a similar problem?

Viral Vector · 08-03-2012 2:28pm

Anyone doing the GAMSAT in Limerick?

Do you know where Room EG010 in the Main University Building is?

eimear25 · 08-03-2012 11:37pm

hey everyone. i just attempted two practice exams. i found i scored very low on the science section. i found it hard to figure out the questions with such limited time. just wondering is anyone trying out practice exams? and are they indicative of the actual exam?

Flange/Flanders · 09-03-2012 6:11pm

hi eimear. Well i suppose it depends on what tests you're practising with. The official tests would be fairly similar, but I'm practising with ozimeds at the moment and i don't know how representative they are to be honest. Section 1 there i got 80% in which i know is not reflective of where i am at the moment.

How's everyone else fairing at the moment? 2 long weeks ahead of us!

cliona88 · 09-03-2012 6:44pm

I did the official practice test the other day. I got fifty in science and 65 in verbal reasoning. It's kinda disheartening after five months study to still be pretty crap at science. I did a few practice tests in September before the london exam and i was failing miserably at science but then i got a score of 44 in section three for the exam. My other sections brought me up a good bit but not enough. So i did better in the exam then i had been doing in the practice tests!

eimear25 · 09-03-2012 7:12pm

thanks guys. yup it will be two very long weeks. lots of practice is all that can be done. good to know that you can come up in the actual thing though. good luck everyone:)

SmileyRK · 12-03-2012 11:08am

Viral Vector wrote: »

Anyone doing the GAMSAT in Limerick?

Do you know where Room EG010 in the Main University Building is?

If you've been on campus before it's really easy to find. If you go into the main building through the "ski slopes" just turn left and pass under the stairs. It's right in front of you.

declanmoffit · 14-03-2012 7:17pm

can not wait to have this over with-section 3 is seriously tiring my brain..........

I see the ACER guidelines say that the exam "tests knowledge gained over a long period of time" and there's "little value to last minute cramming" (paraphrasing) - ehmmmmm I certainly hope not! Hopefully less calculations on the day and more graphs/distillation of information.

imagine 10 days and it will all be over with!

best of luck everyone!

Flange/Flanders · 14-03-2012 8:17pm

you said it, i thought I'd have an awful lot more science know at this time! There'll be serious pints had Saturday week!

reasoning · 14-03-2012 11:19pm

does anybody know if there is any soultion answers/ rational booklet for the purple acer booklet?

Viral Vector · 14-03-2012 11:53pm

SmileyRK wrote: »

If you've been on campus before it's really easy to find. If you go into the main building through the "ski slopes" just turn left and pass under the stairs. It's right in front of you.

Thanks buddy, i've never been in UL before!

Do you have to be in the exam centre on the allotted time on your admission ticket? 8:15am is very early when you could be doing some last minute revision!

Poppo4 · 14-03-2012 11:56pm

Do you have to be in the exam centre on the allotted time on your admission ticket? 8:15am is very early when you could be doing some last minute revision![/QUOTE]

Nope, that's just what time they start registration and begin to allow people into the exam room. You have to be seated by like 9:15am I think.

Jammyc · 15-03-2012 12:01am

Did the first practice test today under (somewhat) timed conditions (Fire alarm just had to go off). My god that is a tiring experience. 66% in S1 and 59% in S3. Not brilliant but its a start I guess!

cliona88 · 15-03-2012 6:13pm

Hey guys, I did gamsat in London in September. I know one of the essays I wrote was about space exploration but can anyone remember the other. I think I remember it being about laughter but i think i could be wrong. Can anyone remember?

Wings2010 · 16-03-2012 11:27pm

cliona88 wrote: »

Hey guys, I did gamsat in London in September. I know one of the essays I wrote was about space exploration but can anyone remember the other. I think I remember it being about laughter but i think i could be wrong. Can anyone remember?

I went to Bristol for the September GAMSAT...the first essay was on space exploration and you're right, the second was on humour.

Sarah1379 · 18-03-2012 6:46pm

Hope that reluctantly opting out of the Paddy’s day festivities this weekend serves me in the end … Once we hit tomorrow it’s officially GAMSAT WEEK. Dun dun dunnnn!!! :eek: Getting very close now…

Nope, that's just what time they start registration and begin to allow people into the exam room. You have to be seated by like 9:15am I think.

this is extremely helpful. Was not looking forward to rising so early. THanks Poppo4!

boynesider · 19-03-2012 9:57pm

On the admission ticket does anyone know what the document number you need to fill in is? Is it just your passport or driver's licence number?

Getting very nervous and brain isn't functioning correctly

strangeweather · 19-03-2012 10:25pm

boynesider wrote: »

On the admission ticket does anyone know what the document number you need to fill in is? Is it just your passport or driver's licence number?

Getting very nervous and brain isn't functioning correctly

Ya I guess it's the number of whatever document you're using as ID

I am super nervous too, this has crept up way too fast!!

Flange/Flanders · 20-03-2012 4:02pm

not a good week for the brain to stop working.

whatsthecraic · 20-03-2012 4:37pm

What do people reckon, will the fact that we're not allowed calculators make much of a difference?

ciara84 · 20-03-2012 9:56pm

whatsthecraic wrote: »

What do people reckon, will the fact that we're not allowed calculators make much of a difference?

back in the day when I did it, I remember relying on it heavily for stuff like F=mv^2/R (circular motion, think there was a question about birds and how they go around in circles etc), and stuff like pythagoras, sine/cosine/tan (people standing in front of mirrors, being vain and that sort of craic), I'd have to imagine they took all that out and dumbed it down because even though I did HL math in LC I cant to trigonometry in my head, there were also questions on logs and natural logs, exponentials etc if I remember correctly, glad i've all that behind me though

Biologic · 21-03-2012 12:12am

I didn't use my calculator once and got a 66 in S3. The answer choices are normally very different from each other. You won't need calculator accuracy to discern the right one.

Sarah1379 · 22-03-2012 9:18am

Hey all, I know the marking scheme is all a big mystery. Is there anyone here who's taken the gamsat and knows how the sections are weighted? I read that they average the marks for all sections but count section three twice, is that true? Say someone were to get a 70 in section one, a 60 in section two, and a 50 in section 3, do they just do a normal average or do they go (70+60+50+50)/4? That's what I read, so just wondering if anyone who's done it knows for sure? Thanks

Flange/Flanders · 22-03-2012 12:55pm

Yeah the average of the 4 is your overall result, thats (Section 1 + Section 2 + 2 x Section 3) / 4.

2 days to go, roll on 5 o clock on saturday!!

Sarah1379 · 22-03-2012 1:26pm

Boo! Ah I'd been working on that assumption but just thought for a minute that it would be great if I was wrong. Ah well. Must try super hard not to be an idiot on section three so. Thanks for the info. Yup this time 48hrs from now we'll all be sweating it out!! Pressure. Is. On. Best of luck to all! :cool:

strangeweather · 22-03-2012 5:47pm

Best of luck everyone!

jtsuited · 22-03-2012 10:38pm

best of luck to everyone on saturday. thankfully i only ever had to take that exam once. i don't envy you guys. get some good sleep, and remember to keep your brain somewhat functioning during section 3.

Last year I literally did not turn on my calculator. And I'm no rainman when it comes to numbers.

Sarah1379 · 23-03-2012 10:05am

Hey quick question about the document number on the ticket. Is that the stock number on a drivers license or the drivers number? Cheers

Flange/Flanders · 23-03-2012 11:18am

hi Sarah, its the 9 digit black number on the licence. Just saw the email saying we can't bring in ear plugs, such Crap!

Roger_that · 23-03-2012 12:08pm

Best of luck to you all!!

For what it's worth... Some things that worked for me:

Ear plugs (if they take them off you, so be it)
Lucozade sport
Caffeine pills
Do all the easy questions first... Leave hardest till very end. Bird in the bag...
Relax... You'll do better than you think.
Sleep well tonight
Eat a good breakfast

Best of luck again

Sarah1379 · 23-03-2012 4:32pm

Cheers Flanders

yeah they're weirdly strict. Anyone else Feeling an odd sense of calm at this stage? Reckon all that can be done is pretty much done now. I hope.

DeadEight · 23-03-2012 4:33pm

Sarah1379 wrote: »

Hey quick question about the document number on the ticket. Is that the stock number on a drivers license or the drivers number? Cheers

It's the number marked "5. uimhir/number" on my 10 year old Irish drivers license. It is printed in the same style as the personal information, and in black ink. There is another number printed on the document in red ink, just beneath the license number. This is the stock number and not what is required.

Most European countries use common field numbers on drivers licenses. Field 5 is the license number.

declanmoffit · 23-03-2012 5:55pm

The calm before the storm...........

boynesider · 23-03-2012 6:57pm

This is going to be fun.

TBH I'm probably doing it more for experimental purposes to see how I get on because I'm in the final year of my degree and I don't want to jeopardise it by studying too much for the GAMSAT. I can always study for it properly and do it next year if I have to, so I feel as though the pressure is off somewhat.

Anyone else in the same boat, or is this make or break for you?

Flange/Flanders · 23-03-2012 7:21pm

Best of luck everyone!

EugeneOnegin · 23-03-2012 11:58pm

Best of luck tomorrow folks! Keep the head down and remain calm- all your hard work should hopefully pay off

declanmoffit · 24-03-2012 7:02pm

glad that's over! S3 was a bit of a mind melter tbh-was to be expected but v hard to gauge how ya did all the same. S1 and S2 were grand from my end - thought the essays were fairly approachable: Love and the Nanny State eh!

Roll on the results (first beers tho!)

Anyone know how long they usually take?

The weightings killing me :P

Jammyc · 24-03-2012 8:02pm

If Im honest I thought section 3 was a fair bit harder than it was in the practice tests. Wasn't a huge fan of the test overall. Not very hopeful, but sure we'll see! How did everyone else find it?

Sarah1379 · 24-03-2012 8:27pm

Jammyc wrote: »

If Im honest I thought section 3 was a fair bit harder than it was in the practice tests. Wasn't a huge fan of the test overall. Not very hopeful, but sure we'll see! How did everyone else find it?

A fair bit is right. Nice to know I wasn't the only one not enjoying that. Sections one and two fine though.

tiredcity · 24-03-2012 9:20pm

Sorry to hear it was a bit rough but if S1 and 2 were manageable, that can do wonders! Well done to all of you for sitting it anyway, that's definitely an accomplishment in itself so congrats

Enjoy a well-deserved reward pint and try put it out of your mind for the next month or two.

jtsuited · 24-03-2012 11:14pm

well done to everyone for actually completing the test. now comes the waiting.

Nosilla · 24-03-2012 11:22pm

I felt Sections I and II were fine but Section III was a lot harder than usual! None of the predictable questions came up and there was very little organic chemistry!

jtsuited · 25-03-2012 12:05am

if it's any consolation, last year's section 3 was horrific, with the end result being a massive drop in the scores needed for each course.

Bella84 · 25-03-2012 12:49am

Horrific is the word I'd use for today's Section 3 as well. Horrific x 100 in fact. Not a hint of nomenclature or stereochem, loadsa stuff on sound frequency (wha?????)and the biology graphs were a nightmare. I lost count of the number of questions I had to guess. What an experience, its literally traumatic!

Heart set on UL so just hoping to scrape in to be honest.

Good luck to all, it's a bitch of an exam.

Biologic · 25-03-2012 2:31am

jtsuited wrote: »

if it's any consolation, last year's section 3 was horrific, with the end result being a massive drop in the scores needed for each course.

This isn't the way it works jt. The bell curves are nearly the same every year. Regardless of the difficulty of the exam, the same distribution of scores tends to get given out. That's what makes the scores comparable year on year. The drop last year was due to decreased interest and increased places I'd imagine. The good news is that if everyone this year found S3 difficult, then everyone's in the same boat and the relative scores won't be affected.
Congrats all. It's a disgusting exam but ye finished it.

Adeline07 · 25-03-2012 3:41am

sam34 wrote: »

folks, just a reminder- there's a sticky on this forum for Gamsat notes for sale/wanted.

please keep all requests/offers to that thread only, to prevent cluttering up other threads.

thanks.

How do I locate the sticky for Gamsat notes for sale/wanted?

Roger_that · 25-03-2012 10:25am

Well done to all who sat the exam yesterday!

I'm curious though, were there many people sitting it? It has been said that interest is down on other years but the proof would be in lots of empty seats.

ericm84 · 25-03-2012 10:37am

Glad others felt section 3 was tough. I thought it was horrible, found myself wondering why I'd bothered studying at all as I had to randomly guess so many questions!! Felt that the split was less 40/40/20 and more like 60/30/10 in favour of bio/physiology type questions......or was that just me?

Very little O chem (which was what I spent most of mystudy time on so that was a waste!). The other chem q were a nightmare and like nothing i'd seen before, no acid/base, electro chem or nice rates of reactions questions at all!!

Thought the physics questions were extremely tough too and even normally relatively easy topics/questions had a nasty twist to them (like that lens question....way harder than anything on the prep material).

Seems like I'm the only one who thought S1 was pretty tough though

......most of the passages were way longer than I was expecting and for most questions I found myself having to choose randomly between two (what I felt were) equally plausible answers. This was usually my strongest section so was quite disappointed how it went.

Agreed S2 essays were fine but I managed to mess both of them up under the pressure:mad:.

Overall pretty deflated. Ah well, there's always September!!

ericm84 · 25-03-2012 10:40am

Roger_that wrote: »

Well done to all who sat the exam yesterday!

I'm curious though, were there many people sitting it? It has been said that interest is down on other years but the proof would be in lots of empty seats.

Sat it in RCSI and there was 280 desk in the main exam hall (where I was), couple of empty seats.....not more than 20 or so tought. Then there were some other smaller rooms used too, would guess prob about 300 ish in Dublin????

Jammyc · 25-03-2012 11:26am

ericm84 wrote: »

Glad others felt section 3 was tough. I thought it was horrible, found myself wondering why I'd bothered studying at all as I had to randomly guess so many questions!! Felt that the split was less 40/40/20 and more like 60/30/10 in favour of bio/physiology type questions......or was that just me?

Very little O chem (which was what I spent most of mystudy time on so that was a waste!). The other chem q were a nightmare and like nothing i'd seen before, no acid/base, electro chem or nice rates of reactions questions at all!!

Thought the physics questions were extremely tough too and even normally relatively easy topics/questions had a nasty twist to them (like that lens question....way harder than anything on the prep material).

Seems like I'm the only one who thought S1 was pretty tough though ......most of the passages were way longer than I was expecting and for most questions I found myself having to choose randomly between two (what I felt were) equally plausible answers. This was usually my strongest section so was quite disappointed how it went.

Agreed S2 essays were fine but I managed to mess both of them up under the pressure:mad:.

Overall pretty deflated. Ah well, there's always September!!

I thought S1 was a little tougher than practice tests too. Like you said, more long passages. Though, I suppose it could have been much worse!

Gamsat 2012

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