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Studying for GAMSAT 2010

  • 03-09-2009 1:39am
    #1
    moncai
    Closed Accounts Posts: 67 ✭✭


    Dear readers,

    Just wanted to see if i could create a space for those studying fro gamsat in 2010 to share ideas etc. Right now i'm in Queenstown, New Zealand having a fantastic time of it, but i'm hoping to get together a few decent science text books to help me prep for the gamsat.

    I sat it last march and got 60+ in S1 and S2 but a dismal 44 in S3, so i need to improve it as much as i can over the next 6 months.

    I haven't studied science since leaving cert 03 and i was hoping someone could suggest a good chemistry text to cover my ass for Org. Chem and the 'other bits' i need to familiarize myself with.
    I'm aware of the lauded usefulness of Org. Chemistry for dummies,
    but since i have a bit of time to prepare this time round i thought i'd get into something a bit more comprehensive.

    The same goes for biology, i'm looking for a decent 1st year science text book to tackle, hopefully one with lots of diagrams :)

    Anyone who sat it last year have any good recommendations?
    Thank you for your time if you reply, hopefully you may have created a doctor who someday saves someone's life.

    P.S. if anyone else preparing for gamsat wants to share notes or materials online over the next few months just shout, i'll be back in Ireland in Jan/Feb i think...


Comments

  • #2
    xyz1234
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1 ✭xyz1234


    Hi,

    I can't recommend a biology book but I found Chemistry: An Introduction to Organic, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry by Housecroft & Constable perfect for the Gamsat- in fact the only criticism I have of it is that it gets a bit too detailed in some topics which you only need to have a more superficial understanding of!

    Good luck with Gamsat 2010!


  • #3
    allsaintssue
    Closed Accounts Posts: 119 ✭✭allsaintssue


    Hi Moncai:)
    I'm hoping to do the GAMSAT next year aswell.
    I'm buying some prep material and the books I'm using are mostly as follows:
    Leaving cert Physics book
    Leaving Cert Chemistry book
    Organic chemistry for dummies
    physics for dummies
    I can't remember the name sof either of my leaving cert books off hand but I can give you the details if you're interested.
    If you're interested in PMing me we can exchange notes/ideas or anything that might generally help:)
    Happy Studying!!
    Suze.


  • #4
    etymon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 467 ✭✭etymon


    Hiya,
    re-sitting in March too. Got a 57 last time round, need to brush up on my science with a woeful 42 :( however I had 7 weeks beforehand to study and now I have 7 months!
    Starting on the Org Chem Dummies Workbook to get working through the basic problems then starting on McMurry's text. Leaving SI and II study til closer to March as did fine on those although will have to whiz through the verbal reasoning a but more.
    Going to stick to basic Leaving Cert Bio and Physics revision books to be honest. Physics is a huge struggle so thankfully it's not a huge part of the exam though I had to skip it altogether last March. It's the chemistry I haven't a notion about.


  • #5
    suspectpackage
    Closed Accounts Posts: 173 ✭✭suspectpackage


    etymon and moncai, could you pls post some tips on the verbal reasoning and essay section?! Stuff like how to prepare for verbal reasoning, and how you structure your essays would be great to hear! Also, how many essays did you guys write in preparation for gamsat? Thanks!!


  • #6
    imported_guy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,141 ✭✭✭imported_guy


    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055415394&highlight=GAMSAT heres a very good thread on GAMSAT, theres a few others, and i have few other websites as well, http://pagingdr.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gamsat this one is probably the most detailed :), i'll be studying for GAMSAT next summer and hope to sit it in london next september or the march after that here :) good luck


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  • #7
    etymon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 467 ✭✭etymon


    suspect, I don't have any tips for essay section as such. Structure was as recommended on other sites - argumentative, present two possible views and explore each with a few points, end with maybe a personal view but on a subjective note. My verbal reasoning score wasn't great (63) despite thinking I aced it so have no advice on that only do some practice! I have the MCAT Verbal Reasoning passages book and just going to try and work through those. If I can pick that and SIII up fingers crossed... an awful pain having to do this again isn't it :(

    ps - didn't write any essays in advance but I do a bit of creative writing as a hobby so I guess that was my practice


  • #8
    DrIndy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,461 ✭✭✭DrIndy


    create all the space you want folks!

    myself and other mods are all qualified and we never entered via Gamsat, so we generally keep out of these threads and let you guys crack on amongst yourselves.

    We hope to have a subforum soon where you guys can chill out together and the threads don't dissapear off the front page too rapidly.


  • #9
    moncai
    Closed Accounts Posts: 67 ✭✭moncai


    Ah thanks for the links and book recomendations, they happen to have that chemistry book here in New Zealand so i'm gonna pick up a copy and give it a go...

    As regards giving out advice on the essay and verbal reasoning, unfortunately i can't really explain what i did, i didn't write any essay's in preparation... i read a decent chunk of books, and i just wrote what i was thinking in my head, straight onto the paper, not much in the form of structure, although i do recall making an argument against the title I was writing on and then countering possible defences i'd imagine someone coming up with if i was arguing face to face with them....

    I've never really had much trouble with english, i just relied on that for the reasoning and essay section...

    I imagine that any kind of leaving cert english paper essay guide would do the trick for the gamsat paper...

    I do remember i only wrote 2/3 pages per essay, so i guess quantity isn't an issue, so dont rush to write down things for the sake of having them there...


    I'll be off studying for a few weeks, but when i get some notes together i dont mind sharing them with whoever wants them :p

    Thanks again and goood luck with the prep!


  • #10
    tallaght01
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,778 ✭✭✭tallaght01


    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055681118


  • #11
    liberal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 291 ✭✭liberal


    allsaintssue wrote: »
    Hi Moncai:)
    I'm hoping to do the GAMSAT next year aswell.
    I'm buying some prep material and the books I'm using are mostly as follows:
    Leaving cert Physics book
    Leaving Cert Chemistry book
    Organic chemistry for dummies
    physics for dummies
    I can't remember the name sof either of my leaving cert books off hand but I can give you the details if you're interested.
    If you're interested in PMing me we can exchange notes/ideas or anything that might generally help:)
    Happy Studying!!
    Suze.

    My advice would be to stay away from "Oragnic Chemistry for Dummies" or any of thos type of rapid revsion books, they are not suited for the GAMSAT

    Alot of people say you need a limited knowledge for the GAMSAT, In my opinion one needs a very good (in some cases an exceptional good knowledge) of a limited number of areas

    My point is bigger books are better than smaller ones


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