[MLH1]

A GAMSAT Score of 54 got you into medicine last year, can it really go any lower!!


Will GEM in Ireland become a joke if in comparison to England, its only a matter of applying and getting a poor result that gets you into the course!

In no way am I bashing any GEM Program I'm sure they are all very intense but a GAMSAT score of 54 does mean someone is an over achiever by any means, until last year GEM was so sought after but if this year follows last year with an increase in places will Ireland GEM become another joke of the country.

In before anyone points it out, yes I know I didn't score too highly with my 55, and I rejected a place on GEM but I just feel this is a topic that needs discussion as it seems to have been skipped over by this forum that GEM took a enormous plunge in entry requirements last year.

[cliona88]

Originally Posted by MLH1

A GAMSAT Score of 54 got you into medicine last year, can it really go any lower!!

Will GEM in Ireland become a joke if in comparison to England, its only a matter of applying and getting a poor result that gets you into the course!

In no way am I bashing any GEM Program I'm sure they are all very intense but a GAMSAT score of 54 does mean someone is an over achiever by any means, until last year GEM was so sought after but if this year follows last year with an increase in places will Ireland GEM become another joke of the country.

In before anyone points it out, yes I know I didn't score too highly with my 55, and I rejected a place on GEM but I just feel this is a topic that needs discussion as it seems to have been skipped over by this forum that GEM took a enormous plunge in entry requirements last year.

I got a score of 53 so I hope it stays this way for another year at least. I was considering rejecting a place if I got one because of my low score. But when I thought of it, spending another year practising for gamsat isn't going to make me any more intelligent. although a higher score after doing a course such as gradmed may make me appear so. Anyways after achieving a 2.1 in my degree, and studying science over the summer as best I can i think I will be able for it!

[cliona88]

Sorry I realise that i didn't really answer your question. I just meant if it stays low then I'd be happy to accept a place. I don't think a low score will have a massive effect on the individuals experience of the course. A 2.1 degree says a lot more about a persons work ethic (which is more important for medicine) than an amazing gamsat score.

[51533823]

Originally Posted by MLH1

A GAMSAT Score of 54 got you into medicine last year, can it really go any lower!!


Will GEM in Ireland become a joke if in comparison to England, its only a matter of applying and getting a poor result that gets you into the course!

In no way am I bashing any GEM Program I'm sure they are all very intense but a GAMSAT score of 54 does mean someone is an over achiever by any means, until last year GEM was so sought after but if this year follows last year with an increase in places will Ireland GEM become another joke of the country.

In before anyone points it out, yes I know I didn't score too highly with my 55, and I rejected a place on GEM but I just feel this is a topic that needs discussion as it seems to have been skipped over by this forum that GEM took a enormous plunge in entry requirements last year.

Yes, I agree to some degree that the points are getting low - to the point where 1 in 2 people who sit the GAMSAT will get in. But as you said, the places are there and they have to fill them. You're aware, I'm sure, that the cut off points simply reflect demand. Remember too that if less people are taking the GAMSAT then not everybody can be in the 80th percentile. If the population of a curved distribution is small then the cut off must be low.

However in saying that, we have some people in our class who got in the mid 60's and are doing fine and some who got 54 and are doing even better. Go figure!

As an aside, why did you reject a place?

[ciara84]

i feel as if this is a troll thread, I got a 72 in GAMSAT, I've a first class degree in commerce and an MBA, I had to study my ass off just to pass, while others with 60s and 2.1s have been flying it.

[spotsanddots]

I have my 2.1 and got a 54 in the UK test in 2011.. fingers and toes are crossed at the moment but I am also prepping for the GAMSAT again this Sept

[jtsuited]

Good idea for a thread. 54 is an absolutely abysmal score by international standards. That is the crux of the matter.
Adding to this is the reality that because of this cutoff, it essentially meant that last year's gamsat was a coinflip exam.

I would not feel great about a doctor treating me who sat the gamsat multiple times and could only score a 54.

[cliona88]

Originally Posted by jtsuited

Good idea for a thread. 54 is an absolutely abysmal score by international standards. That is the crux of the matter.
Adding to this is the reality that because of this cutoff, it essentially meant that last year's gamsat was a coinflip exam.

I would not feel great about a doctor treating me who sat the gamsat multiple times and could only score a 54.

That's ridiculous. Everyone knows that you can do terribly in the gamsat and pay thousands on courses to improve your chances of achieving a high mark. A person who accepts a place on a low score isn't going to be more intelligent after doing better in the exam after multiple attempts!

[spotsanddots]

The GAMSAT doesn't reflect how good a doctor you could become!

[pc11]

Originally Posted by spotsanddots

The GAMSAT doesn't reflect how good a doctor you could become!

I hope it does, otherwise we shouldn't be using it!

[spotsanddots]

Originally Posted by pc11

I hope it does, otherwise we shouldn't be using it!

I think it is used to assess whether or not you are suitable to study graduate entry medicine not on how good/bad a doctor you will become!

[51533823]

Originally Posted by jtsuited

Good idea for a thread. 54 is an absolutely abysmal score by international standards. That is the crux of the matter.
Adding to this is the reality that because of this cutoff, it essentially meant that last year's gamsat was a coinflip exam.

I would not feel great about a doctor treating me who sat the gamsat multiple times and could only score a 54.

I don't think you understand how it is scored. The GAMSAT score vs percentile score on the exam changes with each exam. Its an arbitrary number which rates the candidates of one sitting against each other so "international standards" don't come into it.

[Biologic]

Originally Posted by 51533823

I don't think you understand how it is scored. The GAMSAT score vs percentile score on the exam changes with each exam. Its an arbitrary number which rates the candidates of one sitting against each other so "international standards" don't come into it.

Whatever way you cut it, a 54 is a low score to be accepted on. And the argument that "he only got his score because of a prep course" is also rubbish. If someone gets a top 10% score, they are intellectually capable of getting that score. The prep course didn't sit the exam for them. People go to private schools to sit the LC and score higher points, the same principle applies here.
I think you need a certain level of intelligence for medicine and beyond that it's all about hard work. If a 54 is the maximum someone can achieve, they will struggle badly. If a 54 is their score but not the best they can achieve, the cutoff should be high enough to make them prove their worth before they start. Honestly, I don't think the selection process is effective unless there is enough demand to keep the cutoff about ~57/58.

[51533823]

Originally Posted by Biologic

Whatever way you cut it, a 54 is a low score to be accepted on. And the argument that "he only got his score because of a prep course" is also rubbish. If someone gets a top 10% score, they are intellectually capable of getting that score. The prep course didn't sit the exam for them. People go to private schools to sit the LC and score higher points, the same principle applies here.
I think you need a certain level of intelligence for medicine and beyond that it's all about hard work. If a 54 is the maximum someone can achieve, they will struggle badly. If a 54 is their score but not the best they can achieve, the cutoff should be high enough to make them prove their worth before they start. Honestly, I don't think the selection process is effective unless there is enough demand to keep the cutoff about ~57/58.

What does a score of 57/58 mean to you?

[jtsuited]

Originally Posted by 51533823

I don't think you understand how it is scored. The GAMSAT score vs percentile score on the exam changes with each exam. Its an arbitrary number which rates the candidates of one sitting against each other so "international standards" don't come into it.

while there is a certain amount of weighting, international standards DO come into it.
It's not some arbitrary score they pull out of nowhere. Otherwise they wouldn't allow gamsat scores to a) be valid for 2 years and b) be used in any country.