GAMSAT 2015

nickynoonoo5

Hey, I'm currently studying to sit the UK GAMSAT in September and the Irish test next March. Just wondering if anyone in Dublin would be up for starting a study group with me? Think itd be really beneficial to us all!

Let me know!

emmad91

Hey! I have decided to bite the bullet and try to do the GAMSAT. Only a recent decision so no idea where to start. Study group would be excellent! I have a BSc so hoping that will help. Any comments/advice welcome

nickynoonoo5

Hey! Yeay that would be great! I'll PM you now

lydiamoe

Hi guys,

I recently sat gamsat uk 2014 and think I may be resitting in Ireland March. Would also be interested in study group?

nickynoonoo5

K quite a few people have emailed about a possible study group on Saturdays in Dublin which is brill! Can you guys suggest where would be good for you to meet? Thanks

loopylulu

I'm interested too

EM1308

I'd be interested too! I've sat the GAMSAT twice now and am living in Dublin.

SwiftEagle

I am also interested and live in Dublin. I sat the GAMSAT last March. I managed a pretty average 56 and I'm going have another crack at it!

Mccloskc

SwiftEagle wrote: »

I am also interested and live in Dublin. I sat the GAMSAT last March. I managed a pretty average 56 and I'm going have another crack at it!

You would have got limerick with 56? Why didn't you go there?

loopylulu

Would have gotten UCC and UL, and RCSI was 56*! Not a bad score

SwiftEagle

To be honest guys, it was purely financial reasons why I didn't start this year. I was offered UCC but due to my absence of a guarantor, I couldn't get a loan. At the moment I'm working 2 jobs to try raise enough money to pay for the first 3 years of GEM. However this I'd only possible if I stay in Dublin. So I'll take another crack at it (it can also do mo harm to get back into the studying routine) and hopefully secure a place in UCD or RCSI.

loopylulu

Oh thats tough! I might end up having to do the same thing and keep saving another year. What bank wanted you to have the guarantor? I'm screwed as I really dont want to ask my parents to do that. I'm planning to have savings to cover the living expenses for the 4 years but won't be able to save enough for fees too.

SwiftEagle

It was AIB. It was a real setback another time as I was 100% sure I'd be starting this year. I'm only relieved I didn't hand in my work notice!! I think with most people (me included) it's GAMSAT first, expenses second. To live in cork fot 4 years I estimate would be around 20k which I have to finance myself, regardless of the fees. So for me dublin seems the only option!

loopylulu

Oh I thought AIB werent giving out loans for GEM anymore. I figured BOI would be the only option as I'll have to stay in Dublin too. I'm looking at 10K per yr living expenses and that is going to be tight

SwiftEagle

Out of interest how do you estimate living expenses at 10k/yr expenses? Do you lI've in Dublin or does that include rent?

loopylulu

Most student budgets estimate 1100-1200 a month for living expenses X 9 months.
My own budget has to include rent and childcare.

Mccloskc

Anyone crapping themselves for these results?

Mccloskc

So results are out guys... I scored 53... So border line now for limerick. More worry to add to the list. Might sit again in March to try bump it up.

Mccloskc

Does anyone know what Limerick was last year?

ayne8zlwmhj314

I would suggest resitting it in march, there's nothing to be lost by it and you'll most likely be more prepared and up your score, even 3-5 points would make all the difference.

EM1308

I scored 58! Happy but still thinking I might re-sit in March to ensure I get my first choice. Are people still thinking of setting up a study group?

Mccloskc

What have last years cut off points for the various universities been?

EM1308

Here they are:

UCD-57
RCSI-56
UCC-55
LMR-53

Mccloskc

EM1308 wrote: »

Here they are:

UCD-57
RCSI-56
UCC-55
LMR-53

I scored 53. I don't know how to feel. I've heard people with 52 get limerick. It's a long nervous wait to august

EM1308

Honestly if I were you I would re-sit! I scored 52 in the UK GAMSAT last year hoping to scrape into Limerick and I didn't. I called Limerick a few weeks after second offers were released and they said that not everyone on 53 even got offers. You could risk it but I think if you're up for it you should repeat.

Mccloskc

EM1308 wrote: »

Honestly if I were you I would re-sit! I scored 52 in the UK GAMSAT last year hoping to scrape into Limerick and I didn't. I called Limerick a few weeks after second offers were released and they said that not everyone on 53 even got offers. You could risk it but I think if you're up for it you should repeat.

Yeah I think I will... Did you resit?

EM1308

yeah and I got 58 this time round! It's worth it!

Mccloskc

EM1308 wrote: »

yeah and I got 58 this time round! It's worth it!

So was this your 3rd sitting? This is my second. Honestly thought I did better in section 3

EM1308

Yeah and I'll be going for a 4th time in March probably! Science is the worst for most people I think, but as long as you get 50 or above and ace the first 2 (easier sections) you'll get a good score. But 53 could well get you into Limerick next year so don't worry!!

Mccloskc

EM1308 wrote: »

Yeah and I'll be going for a 4th time in March probably! Science is the worst for most people I think, but as long as you get 50 or above and ace the first 2 (easier sections) you'll get a good score. But 53 could well get you into Limerick next year so don't worry!!

Thanks... My essays got 76 and 50 in section one. 43 in section 3 has been my stumbling block in the past. Maybe I'll become a journalist instead ha 😆

EM1308

Wow 76 is a great essay score! How did you manage that? Don't lose hope! You'll get there in the points you need in the end.

Mccloskc

EM1308 wrote: »

Wow 76 is a great essay score! How did you manage that? Don't lose hope! You'll get there in the points you need in the end.

Just practiced a lot... Tbh I thought I did worse in the essays than in March. I'm gonna sit again but I hope I get an offer in 2015.

loopylulu

If you can, I would sit it again. as it is, I'm in two minds whether to re-sit in March. I have to stay in Dublin but afraid of the scores going up next year. Is there any point ringing the colleges yet since there are prob not many applicants who have done their cao yet?

Mccloskc

loopylulu wrote: »

If you can, I would sit it again. as it is, I'm in two minds whether to re-sit in March. I have to stay in Dublin but afraid of the scores going up next year. Is there any point ringing the colleges yet since there are prob not many applicants who have done their cao yet?

I'm sure the cutoff points requires the March results too.

Meg_Med_2013

Got a 54 in UK sitting guys...do you think I could scrape UL? Thanks in advance, any thoughts appreciated

GG10

Hi guys im in 4th year Physio and just sat the UK GAMSAT in September got a score of 56, am delighted but was banking on RCSI GEM the cut off was 56 last year going on trends though everywhere seems to have declined in points lately? Thinking i should re-sit in March:(

SwiftEagle

I'm on 56 and I'm definitely resitting. Last year only one chap that was on 56 didn't get RCSI if I'm not mistaken but I'm taking no chances.

EM1308

SwiftEagle wrote: »

I'm on 56 and I'm definitely resitting. Last year only one chap that was on 56 didn't get RCSI if I'm not mistaken but I'm taking no chances.

Do you have any idea how many in UCD who were on 57 didn't get it? I'm on 58 and going to repeat too.

GG10

SwiftEagle wrote: »

I'm on 56 and I'm definitely resitting. Last year only one chap that was on 56 didn't get RCSI if I'm not mistaken but I'm taking no chances.

Yeah it a bit close to call. UCC and UL are options but ideally dublin would be perfect

SwiftEagle

I'm in the position where I can onlying afford dublin I am without a guarantor so that's UCC off the list. Although I wouldn't mind UL, staying at home can afford me to pay for 3 years of college myself rather than 2 in UL with a UB loan to cover the last two.

SwiftEagle

EM1308 wrote: »

Do you have any idea how many in UCD who were on 57 didn't get it? I'm on 58 and going to repeat too.

I think most, if not all got in (the ones who didn't, from what I know took RCSI) anyways since 2012, a 58 would have easily got you into UCD.

danjbrady

Anyone here thinking of taking the prep courses?
Are they necessary?

DonalG45

danjbrady wrote: »

Anyone here thinking of taking the prep courses?
Are they necessary?

I just got a decent result in the uk exam without any prep courses so no, I don't think they're neccessary. Plenty of other people on here have done very well without prep courses also

danjbrady

DonalG45 wrote: »

I just got a decent result in the uk exam without any prep courses so no, I don't think they're neccessary. Plenty of other people on here have done very well without prep courses also

Thanks Donal,

So the best bet is get all the notes and dig in?

nuggy83

Hey. Im a UK resident thinking of applying to Ireland next year in case I dont get into a UK med school. I got 60 in the UK GAMSAT, and although this would have been good for this year, do people know the history of UCDs GAMSAT cutoffs? Are they likely to rise next year? This year saw a slight rise the UK GAMSAT uni cutoffs....

DonalG45

danjbrady wrote: »

Thanks Donal,

So the best bet is get all the notes and dig in?

Yep that would be my advice! It certainly worked for me. I can't guarantee it will work for everyone but a solid grounding in the science basics and plenty of practice with the acer exam papers might be all you need. Don't waste your time rote memorizing heaps of science. Exam technique plays a huge part in the GAMSAT. Get the timing down and get used to the kind of questions they throw at you. Section 1 and 3 aren't called 'Reasoning' for nothing, you'll find that a lot of the time you can find the right answer with little to no previous knowledge by reasoning your way through it, eliminating wrong answers etc.

DonalG45

nuggy83 wrote: »

Hey. Im a UK resident thinking of applying to Ireland next year in case I dont get into a UK med school. I got 60 in the UK GAMSAT, and although this would have been good for this year, do people know the history of UCDs GAMSAT cutoffs? Are they likely to rise next year? This year saw a slight rise the UK GAMSAT uni cutoffs....

Took a bit of searching but I found a link to some previous GAMSAT cut offs and the last time UCD's cut-off was at 60 was in 2010 and even then a 60 would probably have gotten you in. They've been steady at 57/58 over the last 4 years so I'd say you're safe enough. Still, if you're worried and you have the money for it, I'd consider doing the exam again in March to see if you can up your score.

Edit. Here's the scores for anyone interested:

College No Places ‘14 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
---UL

---

149

---

53----53---53----54----56---56
---RCSI

---

30

---

57----57---59----59----62---60
---UCC

---

69

---

55----56---55----56----69---59
---UCD

---

77

---

57----58---57----58----60---60

beardedmaster

Here's the above in graph form. That's what procrastination can do to you! :pac:

nickynoonoo5

Hi guys,

Got a 56 in the UK test in September, anybody have any ideas about what happened with RCSI last year? I know not everyone who had 56 was offered a place so am wondering how they chose those who did get in on that score - is there an interview or anything? Also I will be working towards improving my science as I got 78 in the essays so if anyone else wants to work in a study group Id be glad to get that up and running!

Nicole

Mccloskc

nickynoonoo5 wrote: »

Hi guys,

Got a 56 in the UK test in September, anybody have any ideas about what happened with RCSI last year? I know not everyone who had 56 was offered a place so am wondering how they chose those who did get in on that score - is there an interview or anything? Also I will be working towards improving my science as I got 78 in the essays so if anyone else wants to work in a study group Id be glad to get that up and running!

Nicole

I'm same. Got 53 and 76 in the essays. Looking to bump up my science too. I'm hoping to get limerick but resitting in March anyway. Where u based?

kanurocks

FYI RCSI actually came down to 56 points this year. I had already accepted a place in UCC so I wasn't going to change 2 weeks into term. But, I would expect them to come down again !!

Also, I did the 2012 and 2014 exams. I found the 2014 exam to be twice as hard. No joke. There was a SERIOUS difference, particularly in section III.

Also, selling my GAMSAT stash of 28 books off super-cheap before XMAS http://www.adverts.ie/7064268

Any questions Re: Loans/CAO hit me. I went through it all with BOI this year!