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

Biologic · 06-07-2010 01:51AM

I had way too much time on my hands today so I decided to have a stab at the cut-off prediction. Some of these numbers are taken from forum posts so if I'm off on them, please let me know.

The Numbers
Year- Applicants-Places
2010 746 180 (24.1%)
2009 652 120 (18.4%)
2008 552 120 (21.7%)
2007 306 60 (19.6%)

Previous Cut-offs
2009 Percentile
UCC 59 85
RSCI 61 90 (I said 61 because only one person was offered a place with 60)
UCD's 60* 88
UL 56* 70

2008
UCC 56* 68
RCSI 58 80
UCD 57* 74
UL 55* 63

2007
RCSI 60* 80
UL 59* 77

RCSI offered 30 places in both 2009 and 2008 and required applicants to be in the top 65 and 110 people in those years, respectively. In other words, 1 in 2.18 of the top scoring candidates had RCSI as their first choice for 2009 and 1 in 3.3 for 2008. Thats an average of about 1 in 2.7. If that average holds for this year, candidates will need to be in the top 81 to get a place. This means a GAMSAT score of about 61*. The lowest cut-off will obviously depend on how many people accept places. Looking at the previous years:
2009: 180 qualified in the top 30% for 120 places, meaning 66% of people ultimately accepted.
2008: 204 qualified in the top 37% for 120 places, meaning 58% of people ultimately accepted.
2007: 70 qualified in the top 23% for 60 places, meaning 85% of people ultimately accepted.
Taking the first year (2007) as an outlier, average acceptance is 62%. My best guess on why this is so low is that there's alot more UK applicants attempting it here lately than we think.
If 62% of people accept places this year this will open the offers up to the top 300 people, or a GAMSAT score of 55.
My stab in the dark:
RCSI: 61*
UCD: 59
UCC: 57
UL: 55*

I found this link too. It gives a great breakdown on how people from different degrees/ages etc. perform in GAMSAT. I've got the curves for the 4 years too if anyone wants a gander.

etymon · 06-07-2010 12:39PM

nearly 2/3rds of students 24 or under

gonna feel OLD

hurdygurdy85 · 06-07-2010 01:56PM

etymon wrote: »

nearly 2/3rds of students 24 or under
gonna feel OLD

Think of it this way, we'll all be oul codgers by the time we qualify! :P

figs86 · 12-07-2010 02:08PM

Just thought I'd share this countdown ticker with you all so we can obsess a little more about it!

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DraughtHorse · 20-07-2010 10:19PM

Hi,

Kicking off study for Sept. Does anyone have study material that they no longer need?

I'm looking for some

Des O'Neill notes
examkrackers material
Griffith's GAMSAT review
Organic Chem for Dummies/alternative
Rapid Revision Chem
Rapid Revision Physics

Any help/material appreciated. PM if you can please.
Thanks!

Deans · 26-07-2010 12:41PM

CONDENSED NOTES FOR SECTION III REASONING IN BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES - 100 EURO

PORTFOLIO OF ESSAYS FOR SECTION II WRTITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - 50 EURO

SAMPLE TESTS - 20 EURO/TEST

*SOURCED FROM UK PREP COMPANY*

getleft · 26-07-2010 01:22PM

You can get loads of essay titles and advice free online - search relevant forums etc. I wouldn't bother paying for information thats out there for free. Thats what I did and compiled lots of essay titles/quote stimuli from http://pagingdr.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gamsat etc. I got 78 in section 2 at the first attempt. Also if you dig around in the right places the GAMSAT prep material can be found free online free.

lukejr · 28-07-2010 04:57PM

What date are the cut off points announced?

I just looked at the CAO and it says that all GAMSAT scores must be to them by July 15, so is it within the next few weeks the cut off point is posted?

It doesn't leave a whole lot of time for people to get ready for September, especially considering it's a graduate programme.

hurdygurdy85 · 28-07-2010 05:09PM

lukejr wrote: »

What date are the cut off points announced?

I just looked at the CAO and it says that all GAMSAT scores must be to them by July 15, so is it within the next few weeks the cut off point is posted?

It doesn't leave a whole lot of time for people to get ready for September, especially considering it's a graduate programme.

All scores are submitted by 15 July but CAO will wait until 5th Aug @ 06:00 before they make any offers online. Cut-off scores are released same day I think. You have about 4 weeks from 5th Aug to get sorted depending on the exact start date of the course, some of the colleges differ by a few days.
2nd & 3rd round offers come in even later. I spoke to a guy in the UL course who received a 3rd round offer in late Aug and literally had a week to get his loan/accomodation/resignation organised.
4 weeks is not a whole lot of time, considering those who need to work 4 weeks notice before they leave their jobs... i.e me.......... :eek:

CMD86 · 29-07-2010 02:25PM

Hi everyone. I am hoping to take the GAMSAT in the UK in Sept. My problem is, I don't want to sign up and pay for it if I have no chance of getting the results I need - I'd rather wait and sit it here in March. But it seems impossible to tell what mark you would get just by doing the practice qs/tests. How did you find your results on the practice tests measured up to the actual thing??

Thanks for any help!!

ZombieMed · 30-07-2010 08:12AM

Page 1 of this thread has a comparison of practice vs. actual results that you could check. I found in my own practice it was also helpful to check the overall score received, then check the score if I only took the areas I had prepared for into account.

On whether to take the exam, I'd say go ahead if you have a science background but don't assume you'll fly through it. Start studying now, practicing for section 1 and 2 also as it's too easy to leave them out. Bone up especially on organic chemistry. Review some physics also as they can be quick questions to answer, but watch out for units as sometimes that's the only difference in answers.

I think it's better to try now anyway if you have the science background as you may get the score you want immediately and won't have just one shot at it otherwise. Treat it as an investment in your future and peace of mind. If you don't get your score you can try it again with some experience behind you. Just don't waste the first try, treat it as your only chance and prepare as well as you can for it.

Good luck, hope I've helped:-)

CMD86 · 30-07-2010 01:36PM

Hi ZombieMed. Thanks for the advice. I saw that post on the first page but I was wondering how that compares to other people's experience. That info suggests that percentage mark on the practice tests is a fairly good predictor of actual mark on the test. Is this what other people found as well?

By the way, good luck to all of you waiting for places on August 6th!

vrfcno7 · 30-07-2010 02:25PM

Hi guys. I've been following these forums keenly for the past few months. I did the GAMSAT in March and scored 59. Didn't do much study for it, except peruse over some sample questions the week before. Did relatively well in ss 1 & 2 (64, 70 respectively) however very poorly in section 3 (51).

I am very much wishing and hoping for UCD this September, but will probably be lucky to get in. Expect an offer from somewhere, however.

Basically, what I want to know is: How intensive is the science in first year GEM? Do they account for the fact that there are people from non-science backgrounds, or do they assume a standard of knowledge? I did law in my undergraduate, and haven't done any science since Leaving Cert, where I did Biology and Physics. Wouldn't even be able to tell you the basics of chemistry, and the idea of being chucked into an intensive course, where it is presumed I have an understanding in these subjects in daunting. Should I start learning/studying now, or are there 'beginners' modules I could take in college?

Any advice from others in the same situation, or people going into 2nd/3rd/4th year GEM would be much appreciated :-)

jenga-jen · 30-07-2010 02:53PM

A quick question, in the event that not all applicants on a certain GAMSAT score (eg. 61 in RCSI) are offered a place, how do they decide who is offered?

Is it a lottery or do they revert to the undergraduate results?

For example if there's one place and 2 candidates on 61 but one has a 2.1 and the other a 1.1, does the 1.1 get it or is it a 50:50 chance in a lottery?

Thanks

vrfcno7 · 30-07-2010 02:57PM

jenga-jen wrote: »

A quick question, in the event that not all applicants on a certain GAMSAT score (eg. 61 in RCSI) are offered a place, how do they decide who is offered?

Random Selection: Lottery ;-)

hurdygurdy85 · 30-07-2010 06:02PM

CMD86 wrote: »

Hi everyone. I am hoping to take the GAMSAT in the UK in Sept. My problem is, I don't want to sign up and pay for it if I have no chance of getting the results I need - I'd rather wait and sit it here in March. But it seems impossible to tell what mark you would get just by doing the practice qs/tests. How did you find your results on the practice tests measured up to the actual thing??

Thanks for any help!!

Definately sit the UK exam even if its just to get experience. I sat the UK Sep '09 exam and for back-up sat the Irish Mar '10. I did better in the UK, even tho I thought I did more work for the Irish one. Many other people have found they did better in the UK exam. Im so glad I went to the bother to go over and sit it in the UK. You've nothing to lose and everything to gain by sitting the UK exam before the Irish one and its too dangerous to put all your hopes on one sitting of the exam if you want to get into college for Sep 2011. It could mean the difference between getting a place and possibly not and then having to wait a whole year!

ZombieMed · 30-07-2010 07:29PM

Hey CMD86.. I wasn't clear there.. I thought my results corresponded in section 1 anyway. I hadn't studied all of the areas of section 3 when I was looking at the practice questions and exam but I found my score for section 3 in the official exam to be better than I had received in the practice, probably because I was more focussed on answering questions correctly and not getting through every single question in the exam (though I did choose an answer for every question).

One other thing.. a piece of advice given to me was relax during the exam.. being calm and loose means that you just keep moving along and don't distract yourself.. there's plenty of time for stressing afterwards:)

getout · 31-07-2010 11:27AM

hurdygurdy85 wrote: »

All scores are submitted by 15 July but CAO will wait until 5th Aug @ 06:00 before they make any offers online. Cut-off scores are released same day I think. You have about 4 weeks from 5th Aug to get sorted depending on the exact start date of the course, some of the colleges differ by a few days.
2nd & 3rd round offers come in even later. I spoke to a guy in the UL course who received a 3rd round offer in late Aug and literally had a week to get his loan/accomodation/resignation organised.
4 weeks is not a whole lot of time, considering those who need to work 4 weeks notice before they leave their jobs... i.e me.......... :eek:

Where will I find the official cutoff scores when they are released?

ZombieMed · 31-07-2010 01:57PM

Hi getout, I'll look on the CAO website around here for them: http://www.cao.ie/index.php?page=points&p=2010.

From the main screen, choose Points on the left, then CAO Points requirements 2010 from the list.

hurdygurdy85 · 31-07-2010 11:32PM

I don't think Thursday will ever arrive. Each day seems like a week....

Anyone else completely incapable of thinking about anything other than offers?

jenga-jen · 01-08-2010 02:22PM

hurdygurdy85 wrote: »

I don't think Thursday will ever arrive. Each day seems like a week....
Anyone else completely incapable of thinking about anything other than offers?

Ever so slightly the same

And off on holidays on Tuesday and prolly won't even have internet access in the apartment we're staying in. Poor bf's gonna get woken ridiculously early to go find some!

Then there's the fear with all that effort that you won't get anything. Eeek!

G'luck with your offer though

figs86 · 02-08-2010 12:18AM

hurdygurdy85 wrote: »

I don't think Thursday will ever arrive. Each day seems like a week....
Anyone else completely incapable of thinking about anything other than offers?

No I haven't really been focused on the offers that come out in 3 days, 5 hours and 44 minutes.

You mean the ones that determine where we'll live/study for the next 4 years?
The offers that will have probably the greatest life-changing effect of my life?

Nah....haven't spared them a thought!

cailin_fanach · 02-08-2010 03:39PM

Hey guys, I'm hoping someone can answer my question about the CAO.

OK, so offers are out Aug 5th and you have til the following Tuesday to accept. I rang the CAO wondering when the second round offers were out and was told the 23rd...

But term in UCC starts on the 23rd so how is that possible??
Anyone heard anything different?

The wait is driving me mad!!

ZombieMed · 03-08-2010 03:44AM

Hi, I think I saw something about this last year. A UCD student got a later round offer after term had started. Basically, they started a little later and had fewer electives to choose from as some were full. Awkward starting late in terms of organizing yourself but hey, any place is a place, and if you really want that higher preference place, better you get offered it than not.

IrishO · 03-08-2010 03:57PM

vrfcno7 wrote: »

Hi guys. I've been following these forums keenly for the past few months. I did the GAMSAT in March and scored 59. Didn't do much study for it, except peruse over some sample questions the week before. Did relatively well in ss 1 & 2 (64, 70 respectively) however very poorly in section 3 (51).

I am very much wishing and hoping for UCD this September, but will probably be lucky to get in. Expect an offer from somewhere, however.

Basically, what I want to know is: How intensive is the science in first year GEM? Do they account for the fact that there are people from non-science backgrounds, or do they assume a standard of knowledge? I did law in my undergraduate, and haven't done any science since Leaving Cert, where I did Biology and Physics. Wouldn't even be able to tell you the basics of chemistry, and the idea of being chucked into an intensive course, where it is presumed I have an understanding in these subjects in daunting. Should I start learning/studying now, or are there 'beginners' modules I could take in college?

Any advice from others in the same situation, or people going into 2nd/3rd/4th year GEM would be much appreciated :-)

As part of the UCC GEM program, I can tell you that you won't be alone in having a non science background. Although it is obvious enough that this is a disadvantage, it's just about you putting in a little bit more effort than other people in your class.
The biggest advantage that students who have a medical science background have is that they are used to the type of assessments used in medical school. The introduction of mcqs/emqs/negative marking will probably be a bit of a shock to the system of a law student!
On the bright side though, the fact that you have a non medical related background will probably give you slightly different views/questions and understanding on medical mattersand in most cases they will probably more interesting than the majority of class!
Anyway i wouldnt worry too much at all. It's not like you are 17 heading into the great unknown, you are obviously smart enough. Just dont let the work load creep up on you because although some weeks maybe relatively ok to deal with, they are usually followed by packed ones and all of a sudden you could be playing catch up.... oh and get as much advice off people in years ahead of you in whatever college you end up in. Thats probably the most important thing of all!:cool:

hurdygurdy85 · 04-08-2010 04:02AM

26 hours left + anxiety/terror/excitement = insomnia

demolitionman · 04-08-2010 01:09PM

hurdygurdy85 wrote: »

26 hours left + anxiety/terror/excitement = insomnia

Chill brother, good things come to those who wait...;)

MicraBoy · 04-08-2010 01:19PM

Dum dee dum......

ZombieMed · 04-08-2010 01:22PM

lol, Hurdygurdy85, was having the same problem last night. Also had a horrible thought that I got offered UCC (I want to be in Dublin) because it was my first choice (I have RCSI as first) - thought I made a mistake with the college codes! Maybe won't go to sleep tonight..

demolitionman · 04-08-2010 04:04PM

i must be the only one not nervous/anxious about tomorrow. lol. dunno why to be honest,logic means i should be freaking out/panicing/nervous etc etc, but im really just in a ''whatever'' mode right now. lol. best of luck to everyone, hope santa brings you everything you want tomorrow!!

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

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