GAMSAT 2010...for discussion of all things related to this exam.

tallaght01

imported_guy wrote: »

is there such thing as graduate dentistry?

any one got trends/graphs etc, people sitting gamsat vs places available etc? and maybe even their background degrees vs score?

There was a paper out looking at 2007/2008 apps (i think it was those years). roughly 400 applicants, but only 300 sat it. 85ish offered places. Average score was about 55 or 56. So you needed one or 2 points above average to get a place.

Most were from biology backgrounds, and the ones who did the best were from earth science backgrounds. People from science background did better in the science bit. People from humanities backgrounds did better in the humanities bit.

People with PhDs did very very well. There was nothing really surprising about any of it.

Red Alert

Does anyone know how many applicants to medicine (i.e. sat the GAMSAT) vs how many actually got in? Would the 'success' rate be 25%,50%,75% etc.?

MicraBoy

Red Alert wrote: »

Does anyone know how many applicants to medicine (i.e. sat the GAMSAT) vs how many actually got in? Would the 'success' rate be 25%,50%,75% etc.?

For 2009 entry there are ~120 places for EU applicants in the various GradMed programs. There are probably double that number of places if you include non-EU. AFAIK more than 600 sat the GAMSAT. Thing you have to remember is that not everyone applys to CAO in a given year and a whole other bunch don't get the 2.1 required later in the year.

tallaght01 posted in another thread that approx 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 gets a place so that sounds about right.

imported_guy

tallaght01 wrote: »

There was a paper out looking at 2007/2008 apps (i think it was those years). roughly 400 applicants, but only 300 sat it. 85ish offered places. Average score was about 55 or 56. So you needed one or 2 points above average to get a place.

Most were from biology backgrounds, and the ones who did the best were from earth science backgrounds. People from science background did better in the science bit. People from humanities backgrounds did better in the humanities bit.

People with PhDs did very very well. There was nothing really surprising about any of it.

thanks, i thought like 60+ was like 90+ percentile? how does that work if like 55-56 is the average? shouldnt 55-56 be atleast 80+ percentile?

tallaght01 posted in another thread that approx 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 gets a place so that sounds about right.

1 in 3 is not bad at all, seems pretty easy considering you can repeat twice a year if your detrmined to get in

sufjan

Hey, just wondering if the dublin study group is going strong and willing to take on a newbie? ive got strong bio n chem to bring to the table having finished my degree with 1sts but am desperate at physics and the humanities/essay stuff

slowlygoincrazy

Hi - I was just wondering the same thing myself if the Dublin group is going & open to newcomers?

gem2010

slowlygoincrazy wrote: »

Hi - I was just wondering the same thing myself if the Dublin group is going & open to newcomers?

I was wondering the same... maybe if no one replies we could start another one? I'm in Dublin also.

eagle_&_bear

hey folks,

there was plans to start a dublin study group but I know for me, work got in the way. Tho' I've got myself back on track so, if people were up for it, maybe we could kick start the group etc

I've gone down the Des O'Neill programme route and should have my material in the next day or so (initially I was going to do the Gradmed course but after the RCSI open day, and after what a few people said about it, I've moved camps).

so if people want to kick start this... when would people want to meet up?

gem2010

I'm in final year chemistry so I have exams coming up in the next couple of weeks, but am available most of january, and weekends after that! I only have the acer notes so far,, why do all the notes have to be so expensive!!>? Let's defo get this group started

ashyboots

Hey all, yeah work got in the way for me too but am definitely keen to meet up with y'all even to have a chat about where people are coming from and what they plan to study - start from there. When would suit Dublin folks to meet up? Mondays are the only bad day for me. Some evening perhaps? Ash

beckajane

hey everyone, have just gotten my act together for the march exam. i've been out of the country avoiding the recession and 'finding myself' in asia for the past few months and i've decided that i want to give the gamsat a serious go. my background in college was business, but that never fit right since i did mostly science in LC, so im heading back to my roots. i've been reading all the posts and am super grateful for all the research. makes me feel a bit better when i read other people's experiences of the actual exam.

im keen to get involved with a study group, read a few posts about one, did it ever happen? i'm dublin based myself and would be free most evenings (shutting down the social life for this) so let me know.

also if people want to sell any previous notes im interested, is there a specific forum for that?

eagle_&_bear

hey everyone,

well then shall we pick a day next week to meet up and go from there. Who ever is able to make it makes it and we work from there.

I have the Griffith Gamsat Review and the Des O'Neill notes so they can be a starting block.

I'll type up the recommended list of topics for revision and see how people feel with it

I'm based in the city centre (four courts) so any location is convenient for me.

Let me know (drop a pm and we can swop email/mobiles and work from there)

eagle_&_bear

hi guys,

the impromptu gamsat group are going to try meeting up on Tuesday the 8th December 2009 in city centre.

So far, 'beccajane' and myself are going. anyone else want to join in?
I'd imagine there wont be a whole lot going on but its a start to see what material is out there and where people are

pharmstar

hi guys!
just going to register now--> i was wondering- would i be likely to get my preferred location at this stage; im working the week the exam is on and have managed to get the day off for it and so travelling further away would be difficult- any idea anyone?

thanks

p.s. i havent started studying yet but am aiming to start next week- is there enough time do you reckon?

eagle_&_bear

hey there,
welcome to the boards!!

you definately have enough time but, you would want to crack into it fairly soon and decide how and what you are going to prepare for etc.

best of luck

aoife-m

3rd time lucky,
The first time i sat the gamsat was right in the middle of doing my finals (biochemistry) and got an overal score of 50, which i was disappointed by at the time but realised i hadn't actually done any work.

Did it the second time in london in sept just gone, Improved my overall score but went down in section 1 (didn't know how that was posible). (55)

In the English gamsat section one is alot tougher than the Irish (my friends thought so too) and section 3 is meant to be alot harder in the Irish gamsat


Also for many of the English colleges the pass rate is over 55 in each of the sections. and failure to do so you will not be offered a place. dont think that applies in Ireland though

For time 3sitting the exam, I'm fully concentrating on the english and essay sections, as with both sittings i didn't focus on them really at all!

NFH

Is there somewhere I could get my hands on GAMSAT sample exams papers. Cheers

eagle_&_bear

NFH wrote: »

Is there somewhere I could get my hands on GAMSAT sample exams papers. Cheers

hi there,
the only place you can get the papers is from ACER themselves.

http://www.gamsat-ie.org/

including the exchange rate, it works out around 78euro. For that you get 3 booklets, 1 is for sample questions, 1 is sample exercises and 1 is a full test which you should run in the time periods allowed.

you might also want to consider one of the preparatory courses either. Or, depending on your background, there are some key text books you might want to work out of.

best of luck with the exam. See you in March

damal

I have started studing for the GAMSAT exams. I purchased the MedPrep course, they come wil 3 full length exams. I was wondering if anyone would exchange a copy of these for a copy of Des O Neills, I live in Cork but I am in Limerick at least once a week, email dmal66@yahoo.ie if anyone is intrested

pinkielady

Hi Guys,

I'm another lost Psychology soul thinking of throwing my hand at the GAM SATs for a new career direction!!

Sadly this is a last minute decision so I need to do a bit of cramming, if that will even help in an exam like this! So I've been looking at the Med Prep home study course, which I hear is decent and also the Guru method which certainly sells their product very well on the site....
But I'm not convinced; has anyone used these Guru booklets or know if they are any good!?

I'm aware that I have left it very late but a trial run can't do any harm and there's always next year....!!

Oh if anyone is involved in a study group and open to another blow in I'd love to join??? I'm Dublin based.

Cheers!!


MOD EDIT please do not advocate photocopying of copyrighted material

kev1

Hi,

I am considering doing medicine. I am currently in final year civil engineering and should get the reqd 2.1. Together with GEM, I have also applied through UCAS for entry into medicine in queens and have an interview for same at the start of march. As a result of this and also due to workload in final year, I have been putting off studying for the GAMSAT.

So my question is, is it way too late to think about starting studying for the gamsat now?

p.s. i have to sit the biology exam in the leaving cert this summer, as i didnt take it first time around. I have that course covered now, so would that reduce the workload for studying for the gamsat?

Thanks (sorry for long post btw!)

vinnylombardi99

MicraBoy wrote: »

For 2009 entry there are ~120 places for EU applicants in the various GradMed programs. There are probably double that number of places if you include non-EU. AFAIK more than 600 sat the GAMSAT. Thing you have to remember is that not everyone applys to CAO in a given year and a whole other bunch don't get the 2.1 required later in the year.

tallaght01 posted in another thread that approx 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 gets a place so that sounds about right.

If approx 600 sit the exam and the top 120 people get places, its a place rate of 20%. probably a little higher than that though.
the number of people chosing to apply a year later is most likely cancelled out by people applying with last years gamsat (if you get me?!)...
if you take out the number of candidates that dont get the 2.1, the placeing average climbs but i wonder how significant that number is because there is a good percentage of candidates that already have degrees, were working, doing phds etc.

possibly, the number gets to 25% get placed, but 33%? i can't see that being the case honestly. pity.

http://drcoxmedschool.blogspot.com/

vinnylombardi99

kev1 wrote: »

Hi,

I am considering doing medicine. I am currently in final year civil engineering and should get the reqd 2.1. Together with GEM, I have also applied through UCAS for entry into medicine in queens and have an interview for same at the start of march. As a result of this and also due to workload in final year, I have been putting off studying for the GAMSAT.

So my question is, is it way too late to think about starting studying for the gamsat now?

p.s. i have to sit the biology exam in the leaving cert this summer, as i didnt take it first time around. I have that course covered now, so would that reduce the workload for studying for the gamsat?

Thanks (sorry for long post btw!)

mate, as i have detailed in my blog, you can do the gamsat with very little prep. people might say that that's bull, but it is true. i did no prep, just went and sat the bloody thing and did good enough to get into any course last time round.

BUT registration is over tomorrow!!! (although there does seem to be a late registration date (12th feb)).:eek:

http://drcoxmedschool.blogspot.com/

jpt77

Hi All
This will probably only be helpful for people sitting GAMSAT in UK in Sept or in Ireland next March but here is a list of books- including papers that a friend used for GAMSAT and is willing to sell for a very good price.

Books
AS and A2 ( A Level books) - Physics, Chemistry and Biology
AS and A2 in a week- Physics, Chemistry and Biology
Organic Chemistry for Dummies
Introduction to Organic Chemistry- Brown including answer book
Real World Physics and workbook- Leaving cert
Chemistry Now- Leaving Cert




Papers-

Ozimed Papers- 1-10- from 2007
Acer Papers
Gradmed Intensive revision course
Gradmed Sample Papers

Postage would be huge on this lot so they are only available for collection (or delivery- at a reasonable distance around South Dublin)
Thanks
John

Malbec

Got my GAMSAT ticket.

I got RCSI as my location, what about everyone else? I wonder if they've scrapped UCD's Blackrock campus as a location!

gem2010

Malbec wrote: »

Got my GAMSAT ticket.

I got RCSI as my location, what about everyone else? I wonder if they've scrapped UCD's Blackrock campus as a location!

I got RCSI too ! I did the HPAT on saturday in Trinity and it was such a joke, one toilet for the whole exam hall and one clock at the front up high on the wall that nobody could see it was such a joke.

Anyone know what RCSI is like? Wish the exams were in UCD or RDS... why would they cancel blackrock is it really bad? Have only ever had one exam there and it was only a midterm back in first year so I can't remember !

Malbec

The HPAT was on in RCSI on Saturday too and I think they had decent enough toilet facilities. Been out in UCD Blackrock and didn't really like it, especially the female toilets.

The city centre location will be handy for lunch etc. I'm curious now to see how many the hall in RCSI can hold and if it's the only location.

MicraBoy

RCSI too. Much handier then RDS or Blackrock for me.

Malbec

Two weeks guys!:eek:

Finnbob

jpt77 wrote: »

Hi All
This will probably only be helpful for people sitting GAMSAT in UK in Sept or in Ireland next March but here is a list of books- including papers that a friend used for GAMSAT and is willing to sell for a very good price.

Books
AS and A2 ( A Level books) - Physics, Chemistry and Biology
AS and A2 in a week- Physics, Chemistry and Biology
Organic Chemistry for Dummies
Introduction to Organic Chemistry- Brown including answer book
Real World Physics and workbook- Leaving cert
Chemistry Now- Leaving Cert




Papers-

Ozimed Papers- 1-10- from 2007
Acer Papers
Gradmed Intensive revision course
Gradmed Sample Papers

Postage would be huge on this lot so they are only available for collection (or delivery- at a reasonable distance around South Dublin)
Thanks
John

I'd be more than happy to take the GRADMED sample papers and stuff off your hands if you still have it.

Thanks