GAMSAT 2009

jen_23

Hi All,

I'm planning to sit the GAMSATs in March next year.
Does anyone have some advice on which prep material would be most useful.
On the website there is a few but there hardly all neccessary are they?

Has anyone here sat them before and if how did ye find them?

Any tips and advice are greatly appreciated

Thanks!!

Echani

The exam is fairly brutal, waiting for your results is worse, and then waiting for the CAO offers is worse again. It's a good character building exercise.

For physics you'll need an A-level (preferably) or LC level text; I used the Barrons Review Series Physics, which covered pretty much everything nicely. I also picked up the Chemistry text in the same series; it was handy since I hadn't touched chem since my junior cert, but if you've got a bit more experienced I'd jump straight to an undergrad text.

I used Chemistry: the Central Science for the physical chem sections; it's a pretty hefty book, but it covers everything pretty comprehensively. You've got plenty of time before the exam if you're sitting it in March, so I'd definitely take a look at that one. You'll also need an organic chem book, and the GAMSAT orgo bible is definitely Organic Chemistry for Dummies. Don't let the name put you off, it's a fantastic book that explains a fairly dull (for some) subject in normal language at exactly the level you need for the exam.

For biology, I used Human Biology by Daniel D. Chiras. I'm not sure it was the best choice, as I also went to the GRADMED revision course and found the stuff they tended to ask in the exam wasn't all covered in that book, so you might want something a bit more hefty.

I can't really recommend anything for Section I and II other than practice writing structured essays in 30 mins, especially coming up to the exam. And you should probably pick up the practice papers from ACER to get the hang of the timing, which is by far the worst thing in the exam.

jen_23

Thanks Echani,

Where did you sit the GAMSAT?
And also where did you do the gradmed prep course? Did you find it worthwhile?

How did you get on by the way?

Cheers!

Jen

Echani

I sat it in Dublin in March 2007, got 69 and I'm now in the RCSI GEP, so it was a comfortable enough result - still worried myself sick for the few months waiting though.

The Gradmed course was pretty helpful, particularly the biology and physical chemistry parts; but it's fairly expensive. It probably added a few points to the result, but if you've prepared well it's probably not necessary. Having said that, every bit of preparation helps if it means you only have to sit the exam once.

jen_23

Wow! 69 is a great score. Was your primary degree something in Science?
Do you have the link for the grad med course echani?
So no regrets then
How are you finding the course so far? is it everything you expected?
I'm hoping fingers crossed and all to apply to ucc to do it starting next year..

The way i see it is i'm going to sit the gamsats once. If i get in i get in if I don't, for me it's not meant to be. So i'm planning on putting every effort I can into it in March.

Thanks again Echani

ImDave

I'm planning on sitting the GAMSAT's in March. I am only in my 3rd year of my undergraduate degree, so I am doing them this time just to see what kind of level they are really at, and gauge the amount of work I will need to put in. If by some divine act I achieved a good score the first time, could I use those results for entry into a GEP in 2010 when I am finished my degree?

Also, just wondering is anyone here in the UL GEP at the moment? I'd love to hear from someone on the course as that is where I am doing my undergrad at the moment.

Echani

No, my primary degree was in philosophy, pretty much all my section III study was self directed. Here's the link for Gradmed - http://www.gamsat.co.uk/. The course is really intense, but given that you're doing 5 years in 4, you can guess that it's not going to be easy. There's a huge amount of clinical exposure in RCSI early on, which gives you something a bit more tangible to know what you're working towards. I really enjoy my course - I definitely wasn't suited to Arts, and I'm much happier with what I'm doing now.

EI-DAV wrote: »

If by some divine act I achieved a good score the first time, could I use those results for entry into a GEP in 2010 when I am finished my degree?

Yep, your results are valid for 2 years.

Also, just wondering is anyone here in the UL GEP at the moment?

I don't know if there's anyone on this board, but check out New Media Medicine; it seems to be where a lot of people end up looking for info about the GEP courses.

aninut

Hi, can anyone tell me if it is worth getting the ozimed practice papers?
Are they based on the australian GAMSAT? or is there any difference in the Australian, UK and Irish GAMSAT exams?

Thanks

Faith

I'm planning on sitting the GAMSAT in London in 2 weeks (I'm too impatient to wait until March) and I spent a few weeks studying for it. However, I got a bunch of sample papers and I actually don't see any point in studying. All the information you need for a question is given to you in the question, then it's just about being logical and reasonable. I'm going through a few papers now and haven't once referred to a book, or found anywhere I'd need to refer to a book. Did anyone else find this?

AlanSparrowhawk

You just must be a genius. Practice and familiarity will make you quicker at finding the answer. Are you doing the questions for time? I found I needed to look up a book for the chemistry questions mostly.

charlieroot

Faith wrote: »

I'm planning on sitting the GAMSAT in London in 2 weeks (I'm too impatient to wait until March) and I spent a few weeks studying for it. However, I got a bunch of sample papers and I actually don't see any point in studying. All the information you need for a question is given to you in the question, then it's just about being logical and reasonable. I'm going through a few papers now and haven't once referred to a book, or found anywhere I'd need to refer to a book. Did anyone else find this?

Be very careful. The biggest challenge in doing the gamsat is not answering the questions. Its answering the questions in the time given. You *DO NOT* have enough time in the exam to read all the text.

Faith

AlanSparrowhawk wrote: »

You just must be a genius. Practice and familiarity will make you quicker at finding the answer. Are you doing the questions for time? I found I needed to look up a book for the chemistry questions mostly.

No, I'm not doing them for time yet, I was just going through them to see the type of question. I've got 4 sample papers or something, I'm hoping that practicing them repeatedly will help me find answers quicker in the exam itself. Maybe it was just the paper I've gone through so far that I didn't see a use for a book.

charlieroot wrote: »

Be very careful. The biggest challenge in doing the gamsat is not answering the questions. Its answering the questions in the time given. You *DO NOT* have enough time in the exam to read all the text.

That's true, I'm going to spend next week practicing them under a time limit. I've heard most people don't even manage to get through more than about 70% of the paper?

Docnic

Hi there
Im also doing the GAMSAT exam in March & I'm trawling thru the web trying to get info. I have gotten a list of materials to study and I'm determined to get a good score 2 (hopefully) get into Grad Med in RCSI. Can anyone recommend a good revision/prep course 4 the GAMSAT? I came across a company called MedPrep who state that they get 70% of attendees into the 65 threshold? How realistic is this?
Also wondering whether ppl wud be interested in forming a study group in Dublin this year??

Echani

charlieroot wrote: »

Be very careful. The biggest challenge in doing the gamsat is not answering the questions. Its answering the questions in the time given. You *DO NOT* have enough time in the exam to read all the text.

Quoted for emphasis, though answering the questions properly does help And this applies for the section III as well as section I questions - at least by knowing your science inside out you can avoid having to read the questions again and again; I don't think anyone actually finished section I in my exam, because reading the questions in that section is unavoidable.

aninut wrote: »

Hi, can anyone tell me if it is worth getting the ozimed practice papers?
Are they based on the australian GAMSAT? or is there any difference in the Australian, UK and Irish GAMSAT exams?

Thanks

The Ozimed papers are handy to get the hang of the exam format, and to practice your timing, which is the most important skill to get your head around for the exam. You could probably extract the answer for most of the Section I and half the Section III questions if you had all day to do the exam. Knowing and understanding the material means you don't have to waste your precious time reading page-long blocks of text to extract 2 MCQ answers. And believe me, that's what they throw at you. Other than that, the Ozimed papers are a bit too easy, but they're better than nothing.

Faith wrote: »

I'm planning on sitting the GAMSAT in London in 2 weeks (I'm too impatient to wait until March) and I spent a few weeks studying for it. However, I got a bunch of sample papers and I actually don't see any point in studying. All the information you need for a question is given to you in the question, then it's just about being logical and reasonable. I'm going through a few papers now and haven't once referred to a book, or found anywhere I'd need to refer to a book. Did anyone else find this?

Don't be fooled by the difficulty of the ACER or Ozimed sample papers, the real thing is much more difficult. And I wouldn't agree that there's no point in studying. Recent science grads can get away with doing only a couple of weeks revision before the exam, although they often fall on the essays if they haven't prepared for that section. People who haven't covered chem/bio/physics recently or at all do need to put the work in, or the only way they'll get through is by sheer luck, which doesn't inspire confidence in future patients. Not only to increase your chances of getting through the exam, but because you actually need them fairly fresh in your mind in 1st year med school, and because you'll be studying fairly constantly if you do actually get into the course, so you might as well get back into the habit.

katieg28

I just did the exam in London on Friday and will be repeating it in march. To be honest I had always intended to repeat it in march, as I've been working constantly and haven't had too much time to study. But just a note to all of you out there that haven't done it... it is tough and challenging, BUT, it's not that bad! The atmosphere in the exam hall itself is pretty relaxed. Timing is vital but I didn't find my time management that difficult. Now I'm not saying I've done well enough to get it.. but I think the key to it is knowing as much as you can.. having the information at the forefront of your brain so you don't have to spend ages trying to remember stuff...

Practice Practice Practice.... thats the best and most important thing you can do....

400Yummy

Docnic wrote: »

Hi there
Im also doing the GAMSAT exam in March & I'm trawling thru the web trying to get info. I have gotten a list of materials to study and I'm determined to get a good score 2 (hopefully) get into Grad Med in RCSI. Can anyone recommend a good revision/prep course 4 the GAMSAT? I came across a company called MedPrep who state that they get 70% of attendees into the 65 threshold? How realistic is this?
Also wondering whether ppl wud be interested in forming a study group in Dublin this year??

Hello docnic

I did medprep home study in 2008. Very comprehensive for all sections of gamsat and also mark your section 2 essays (unlike other courses like gamsat guru and medred, etc). They also have online and classroom courses but are located in australia. I did the medprep course over 3 months. I ended up with 71 but had to defer application for family reasons.

Let me know if you have any questions on how to prep for gamsat. I will be happy to assist.

Edible

just had a look at sample questions on gamsat.co.uk
How is there a whole question on sigmatropic arrangement? didn't cover that til 3rd yr of my chem degree!!!!

ImDave

What kind of stage are people at doing the exams in March? I'd love to hear what kind of timescale everyones working to.

toots_old

Anybody making any predictions on the GAMSAT scores required for 2009 entry? I only got 61, I'm scared they'll jump.

Yillan

I'm considering sitting the GAMSAT in September in London. Got my 2:1, so I'm just looking into this now. How many months would I need preparation? I have applied to do Biomed in DIT in September, but I would prefer Medicine. I'd have to pay €6000 for one year of the Biomed course which may end up being just a preparation for the GAMSAT. I'm sure a prep course is less expensive. I may even look into doing a prep course in the UK. Anyone done a prep course and how was it?

Any advice would be great

MRon8

Hi All,

I am a 22 year old Commerce Graduate, who is just about to complete a Masters in Business Studies, but alas I cannot get a job! I am seriously thinking about sitting next years GAMSATS in Dublin, but I am unclear about a number of things and would like some advice if anyone is willing to help.

First of all, I am wondering if I would be out of my depth in studying for the GAMSATs. I am a disciplined, dedicated studier and I would allocate 5 or 6 intense months of study to the exam but the problem is I have not studied Biology or Chemistry since my Junior Cert. I completed my LC in 2005 and I got 560 points, and an A2 in Physics so I would not be too worried about the Physics aspect of things. But would it be possible to bring my Chem & Bio up to an adequate level without a background in either? And if I was to attempt to tackle each of these subject areas, what would be the best way to start? Meticulous study of the recommended text books with one eye on exam papers or what?

Also, I am fearful that if college fees are re-introduced would that spell an end to the days of the Government subsidising half the GEM fees? How are people who have taken out huge student debts to complete the course faring financially? Is the huge financial burden worthwhile?

Thanks for Reading!
M