GAMSAT 2018

ilovesmecounty · 05-04-2018 12:26pm

It's very torturous. Especially since you never actually can tell if you've done good or bad. I'm still so disappointed with section 3, after all my prep. But sure, it's done now and all we can do is wait it out.

Rainbowdash1 · 05-04-2018 6:07pm

I'm so bad at waiting.

futuremedic777 · 10-04-2018 7:35pm

I'm going against the grain and i'll just be VERY honest with you all (this is not for clout)
..I really enjoyed Gamsat March 2018, I left the centre at London Liverpool Street with a smile on my face....This was my 3rd time doing it and I didn't revise one bit and i've never bought any prep material.
My previous results were 54 and then 55 respectively (with no revision) which i found hard and stressful, but this time round im optimistic about this exam

futuremedic777 · 10-04-2018 7:43pm

I simply decided to not revise for anything. I'm a biomedical science graduate and I'm confident with AS-level Physics so section 3 has always been fine for me, I knew revising any material would not help the way this exam is formatted.
Revising for Essays was never my thing since I've been in school, i preferred to read books and understand for-against arguments to help in any way, so prepping for Section 2 was not my cup of tea

And section 1 is just not...revisable
I read random fiction & non-fiction books for the past 6 months, that was my support lol

Rainbowdash1 · 10-04-2018 8:28pm

So you found it easier than previous attempts?

futuremedic777 · 10-04-2018 10:51pm

Fortunately I found this one easier, it might've been my lucky paper, I'm a sucker for Bio/chem Graphs and Data.
Last two attempts, I was sweating my knees, I previously achieved
50/59/53 avg 54 in March 2017
57/63/50 avg 55 in September 2017
As you can see the shift of improvement from march to sept, but with 1 point+ on avg. If i smashed my sec3 previously, i might have made it.

Although with my confidence level for March 2018's paper, im hoping to hit that 58-60, as i didn't have to rush and guess any question this time round, i even had 10mins left after sec3, so i really winged it this time.
I simply gave up on revising a test like this, it doesn't work for me and it doesn't work for a lot of people. If i get a good score then ill try and give good tips for a more simple Lucid revision technique without spending £$£ for silly material.
But i guess im the last person to take tips from if ive done it 3x now...although ive met people who;ve done it 4-5x! it's great to see others not giving up.

ilovesmecounty · 11-04-2018 10:20am

Wow lucky you! Glad to hear someone had a good experience. I hear what you're saying about the study. If you're good at complex reasoning, study is less 'necessary.' I just am not. I can retain information and I can make good critical assessments and arguments and I knew the only way I'd do enough in Section 3 was to learn off things that other people find simple like acids/bases, thermodynamics, stereochemistry, that kind of stuff. That's why I was so disappointed that none of those bankers showed up. Maybe I should've done law...! :pac:

Rainbowdash1 · 11-04-2018 4:32pm

It was first attempt here so nothing to compare it to.

futuremedic777 · 11-04-2018 5:55pm

honestly i was expecting the same revisable topics, i felt lucky that the most focused bio/chem subjects were on data alone.
But thanks for the uplift, I hope we all get a desirable goal.

squarecircle1 · 14-04-2018 2:27pm

Good Luck to all you waiting on GAMSAT results. I too thought of sitting it years ago, I'm good at science but S1 and S2 were just not my thing. I bought loads of prep material and started revising anyway. While doing this I applied to Queen's University Belfast to their undergrad course and to my surprise got accepted two weeks before I was due to sit the March GAMSAT. Now I'm over half way to being qualified. I never actually sat the exam in the end as being accepted to Belfast was the better option financially for me.

Yes it's an extra year as it's a 5 year course but I got in first go and didn't have spend an extra year redoing gamsat as a lot of people seem to do. Fees are circa £4200 per year for EU students (ROI students considered EU) (increase by about 100 ish each year). This is obviously subject to change pending Brexit etc. but that's the case for now. Cost of living is way less than Dublin. It's not that far away, can drive to Dublin in 2 hours. Approximately 25-30% of the class each year are graduates. Just thought I would let you all know it's an option if you don't want to pay the crazy GEM fees of Ireland but still end up with the same degree.

ilovesmecounty · 15-04-2018 11:15am

squarecircle1 wrote: »

Good Luck to all you waiting on GAMSAT results. I too thought of sitting it years ago, I'm good at science but S1 and S2 were just not my thing. I bought loads of prep material and started revising anyway. While doing this I applied to Queen's University Belfast to their undergrad course and to my surprise got accepted two weeks before I was due to sit the March GAMSAT. Now I'm over half way to being qualified. I never actually sat the exam in the end as being accepted to Belfast was the better option financially for me.

Yes it's an extra year as it's a 5 year course but I got in first go and didn't have spend an extra year redoing gamsat as a lot of people seem to do. Fees are circa £4200 per year for EU students (ROI students considered EU) (increase by about 100 ish each year). This is obviously subject to change pending Brexit etc. but that's the case for now. Cost of living is way less than Dublin. It's not that far away, can drive to Dublin in 2 hours. Approximately 25-30% of the class each year are graduates. Just thought I would let you all know it's an option if you don't want to pay the crazy GEM fees of Ireland but still end up with the same degree.

Maybe it shows my 'free state' mindset, or maybe I had the 'UK system is always more expensive' mindset but it never actually crossed my mind to apply for Queens. Thanks for giving us your perspective, it really is food for thought.

Limk88 · 20-04-2018 1:40pm

By my calculations we are halfway to results day - hope everyone is keeping well!

Rainbowdash1 · 20-04-2018 5:57pm

What's your estimate so?

Limk88 · 20-04-2018 6:03pm

I'm thinking they will be back on the 18th of May as that is 8 weeks. But that is just my own speculation. Could be later, could be sooner :(

ilovesmecounty · 25-04-2018 11:25am

Did ye hear about the Liverpool fiasco? Apparently they lost the box that had the section 2 papers and people who took the test there were told they'd have a resit, and then apparently, they were found again. I'd imagine that could possibly delay our results?

Limk88 · 25-04-2018 11:30am

Saw that alright - bit of a nightmare for those who sat it in Liverpool! Could delay results too... How are you finding the wait? I have tried to put the GAMSAT out of my head but cannot stop thinking about the results!

ilovesmecounty · 25-04-2018 11:34am

Limk88 wrote: »

Saw that alright - bit of a nightmare for those who sat it in Liverpool! Could delay results too... How are you finding the wait? I have tried to put the GAMSAT out of my head but cannot stop thinking about the results!

I'm very good at blocking out the things I don't want to think about! It pops into my head every once in a while but it pops straight out again when I push it away. That's might change once we hit May though!

Rainbowdash1 · 25-04-2018 4:47pm

Any idea where they were found? Such a bad thing to misplace

futuremedic777 · 26-04-2018 1:12pm

Apparently they've finally found the lost Papers, which means our result day may be stretched further away to compensate for delays.

Limk88 · 26-04-2018 1:28pm

futuremedic777 wrote: »

Apparently they've finally found the lost Papers, which means our result day may be stretched further away to compensate for delays.

Hey futuremedic777, have GAMSAT announced that results will be delayed as a result? I understand that it makes sense logically - but I would hope that GAMSAT would communicate with candidates if results were delayed...

ilovesmecounty · 26-04-2018 4:10pm

Hopefully if it's just one box, it shouldn't delay things. I'd imagine they factor in a timescale for delays? Who knows? It's ACER. All I know is that they tell you nothing. I nearly wish they lost my section 3 paper and I could get another go at it! :P

ChromosomeT · 27-04-2018 12:08pm

In one of the Facebook GAMSAT Group pages, the email the Liverpool students received that let them know about the scripts going missing, also mentioned that the re-sit would not affect the release of the results so I'd imagine it's all just business as usual.

medgirl18 · 02-05-2018 6:23pm

I emailed GAMSAT yesterday to enquire about the results date and the response today was 'mid-May, exact date not released to candidates'... so I imagine that means the whole Liverpool fiasco hasn't delayed anything. Going by other years, my guess would also be around May 18th as someone has said above already!

For future reference, Limerick is a really good spot to take the exam if anyone is curious. It was my first time so I've nothing to compare it to but the hall in UL was great, not too hot or cold and well organised overall. There was only about 90 of us there so it was very quiet and as 'relaxing' as it could have been given the circumstances. Personally I think I would have been more nervous in a massive room surrounded by loads of stressed people so if you'd rather somewhere small then I'd definitely recommend it!

Rainbowdash1 · 02-05-2018 6:33pm

What's the benefit in not releasing the date?

medgirl18 · 02-05-2018 7:06pm

It's annoying for us but I assume it's just to protect themselves if something goes wrong last minute. It avoids loads of angry emails if they have to change the date for whatever reason!

Rainbowdash1 · 02-05-2018 7:11pm

I know but they've a fixed date for the leaving cert and stuff.

dorado99 · 05-05-2018 3:18pm

I'm in first year doing a science degree (physics and chemistry (wouldn't have much knowledge of biology, but that's not what scares me)) and realised that I want to do medicine after I finish my degree. Looked at GAMSAT and was shocked to find that I'll have to write an essay. I don't know where to start studying for this exam, could anyone recommend anything I can do at this stage?

e1994 · 13-05-2018 1:06pm

Is anyone else getting nervous and/or potentially expecting results this week?!

Limk88 · 13-05-2018 1:24pm

e1994 wrote: »

Is anyone else getting nervous and/or potentially expecting results this week?!

Yes - incredibly so! I keep thinking that there is nothing that I can do now but that just doesn't work. I guess the nervousness just proves how much we actually want it which is a good thing :) Best of luck this week, both with the results and dealing with the wait

e1994 · 13-05-2018 1:27pm

Limk88 wrote: »

Yes - incredibly so! I keep thinking that there is nothing that I can do now but that just doesn't work. I guess the nervousness just proves how much we actually want it which is a good thing :) Best of luck this week, both with the results and dealing with the wait

I've been fine all along but I think today it just hit me!! I will have a serious job to try and distract myself all week.. I can see myself randomly waking up during the night and checking my phone which is not good! best of luck with it too though

medgirl18 · 13-05-2018 4:40pm

e1994 wrote: »

Is anyone else getting nervous and/or potentially expecting results this week?!

Yesssss! It has always been the 2nd or 3rd Thursday of May so not long left now ahhhhh! Best of luck everyone!

medgirl18 · 13-05-2018 4:42pm

Also does anyone know what time of the day the results are usually released? It is always at midnight or just random times?

Rainbowdash1 · 13-05-2018 7:28pm

Apparently it was 11 30 in aus last year, so about 2 30 am here.
I hate that the days have varied so much over the last few years. Mostly Thursdays and Fridays with the odd Monday and Tuesday thrown in.

Rainbowdash1 · 13-05-2018 7:30pm

e1994 wrote: »

I've been fine all along but I think today it just hit me!! I will have a serious job to try and distract myself all week.. I can see myself randomly waking up during the night and checking my phone which is not good! best of luck with it too though

Knowing that on this side of the world we'll likely get them during the night is not helping me sleep!
Im so nervous. I hate not knowing when they're out

Rainbowdash1 · 13-05-2018 7:32pm

It was Monday may 11th in 2015.

Rainbowdash1 · 13-05-2018 7:38pm

It was Monday may 11th in 2015

medgirl18 · 13-05-2018 8:40pm

Oh my gosh no way, I had read somewhere that it was always a Thursday but that was obviously wrong. That's crazy that it could be as soon as tomorrow!

santino · 13-05-2018 10:16pm

Best of luck folks, whatever happens.

If the results are out this week they'll come a lot faster than I was expecting but that mighn't be a bad thing...to put us out of our misery

ilovesmecounty · 14-05-2018 10:02am

I'm quite happy to stay in my oblivious, unknowing misery! God that exam was vile wasn't it? I'm still not over it.

Limk88 · 14-05-2018 10:08am

ilovesmecounty wrote: »

I'm quite happy to stay in my oblivious, unknowing misery! God that exam was vile wasn't it? I'm still not over it.

I agree that it was horrible! I am trying to remain optimistic and hoping that we will all be pleasantly surprised!!! Woke up at 4am to check my mails this morning... it's going to be a long week I feel!

e1994 · 14-05-2018 11:49am

Limk88 wrote: »

I agree that it was horrible! I am trying to remain optimistic and hoping that we will all be pleasantly surprised!!! Woke up at 4am to check my mails this morning... it's going to be a long week I feel!

I agree the exam was awful.. I wish I had sat it in September, it seems to have been more in line with what we would have been expecting. I also woke up at five this am.. going to be a very slow week of hoping for a miracle!

Celestial12 · 14-05-2018 4:13pm

The September exam was nothing like the practice papers. The exam is almost entirely reasoning based now. What you need to answer the question is in front of you. Some people may find that easier, but section III in particular was very time consuming. Heard other people describe it the same way.

Best of luck to those waiting on results! It's very difficult to know how you performed, so don't lose hope. Results will be out by Friday anyway.

medgirl18 · 14-05-2018 8:12pm

Also guilty of checking my phone at 4am this morning!

Yep I totally agree that it was horrible and the science section was mainly manipulation of data rather than theory. I feel like the only benefit to having a science degree was that the concepts were familiar to you and didn't seem really foreign and scary, but prior knowledge really didn't help in answering them. I think the pKa question was the only exception.

But I guess we need to remember that our grades are still based on how everyone else did, and the fact that most people found it difficult means that we might all be pleasantly surprised where we land in the curve.

I could only do a week of prep and I was using this as my 'trial run' for September. Now I'm just so glad I didn't properly study because it would have been a total waste of time. It seems like an aptitude test now more than anything! I didn't buy the new practice test but people have said it wasn't realistic at all. I think it's pretty cheeky of Acer to bring out a brand new paper that doesn't at all reflect this new trend!

ilovesmecounty · 15-05-2018 9:59am

medgirl18 wrote: »

Also guilty of checking my phone at 4am this morning!

Yep I totally agree that it was horrible and the science section was mainly manipulation of data rather than theory. I feel like the only benefit to having a science degree was that the concepts were familiar to you and didn't seem really foreign and scary, but prior knowledge really didn't help in answering them. I think the pKa question was the only exception.

But I guess we need to remember that our grades are still based on how everyone else did, and the fact that most people found it difficult means that we might all be pleasantly surprised where we land in the curve.

I could only do a week of prep and I was using this as my 'trial run' for September. Now I'm just so glad I didn't properly study because it would have been a total waste of time. It seems like an aptitude test now more than anything! I didn't buy the new practice test but people have said it wasn't realistic at all. I think it's pretty cheeky of Acer to bring out a brand new paper that doesn't at all reflect this new trend!

It really didn't. However, from what I remember, the September test was certainly more similar to the new pink paper than March was. September included concepts that we were at least familiar with like acids/bases chirality, stuff like that so at the very least, you weren't losing time trying to understand what they were asking you. Anyway, no point crying now. It's done!

GrabTheCREAM · 16-05-2018 10:52am

ilovesmecounty wrote: »

It really didn't. However, from what I remember, the September test was certainly more similar to the new pink paper than March was. September included concepts that we were at least familiar with like acids/bases chirality, stuff like that so at the very least, you weren't losing time trying to understand what they were asking you. Anyway, no point crying now. It's done!

But chances are, since majority of people didn’t do too well on it, it will probably be graded with that in mind so a good score is still possible!

As well as this, the points increase seems less likely too this way

medgirl18 · 16-05-2018 3:48pm

GrabTheCREAM wrote: »

But chances are, since majority of people didn’t do too well on it, it will probably be graded with that in mind so a good score is still possible!

As well as this, the points increase seems less likely too this way

That's what I keep telling myself too! Here's hoping that we'll all be pleasantly surprised! I really hope they are out in the morning.

I was at the RCSI open day last month and the admissions officer was saying that GEM applications all over Ireland are down this year, I can't remember the exact figure but it was something like 8% I think. So gamsat scores might be less competitive due to this too!

GrabTheCREAM · 16-05-2018 5:14pm

medgirl18 wrote: »

That's what I keep telling myself too! Here's hoping that we'll all be pleasantly surprised! I really hope they are out in the morning.

I was at the RCSI open day last month and the admissions officer was saying that GEM applications all over Ireland are down this year, I can't remember the exact figure but it was something like 8% I think. So gamsat scores might be less competitive due to this too!

I already got 59 from the september exam so I'm not too worried but would like to get enough to stay in dublin anyway, thats mad though an almost 10% decrease in applicants..

What did you think of RCSI anyway? I didnt get the chance to go to the open day but have been curious what its like

medgirl18 · 16-05-2018 8:53pm

GrabTheCREAM wrote: »

I already got 59 from the september exam so I'm not too worried but would like to get enough to stay in dublin anyway, thats mad though an almost 10% decrease in applicants..

What did you think of RCSI anyway? I didnt get the chance to go to the open day but have been curious what its like

Oh wow, well done! I'd say there's a good chance you'll get anywhere you want with 59 but I get why you can't be fully confident either. Those borderline scores are the worst when waiting for offers!

The RCSI open day was brilliant and I came out of there buzzing to start medicine! It was so much better than I expected. The simulation rooms are fantastic - we got to deliver a 'baby' and practice intubation. We also visited the anatomy dissection room, which was unexpectedly very moving. We had small group Q&As with loads of the current students and it was just very informal and personal. There was also a mini case where a patient came in and we got to ask him questions. A few people I spoke to on the day had decided to move RCSI to their number 1 choice just from the impression they got on the day.

I'm still trying to decide between UCC and RCSI myself. I'm probably getting a bit ahead of myself without even seeing my gamsat score though! If I've a chance of getting an offer I'm going to visit the UCC campus this month for a look around the medical school.

Is UCD your first choice then?

futuremedic777 · 17-05-2018 2:49pm

The Results came out at 2am on the 18th for me last year (GMT+1)

GrabTheCREAM · 17-05-2018 5:14pm

medgirl18 wrote: »

Oh wow, well done! I'd say there's a good chance you'll get anywhere you want with 59 but I get why you can't be fully confident either. Those borderline scores are the worst when waiting for offers!

The RCSI open day was brilliant and I came out of there buzzing to start medicine! It was so much better than I expected. The simulation rooms are fantastic - we got to deliver a 'baby' and practice intubation. We also visited the anatomy dissection room, which was unexpectedly very moving. We had small group Q&As with loads of the current students and it was just very informal and personal. There was also a mini case where a patient came in and we got to ask him questions. A few people I spoke to on the day had decided to move RCSI to their number 1 choice just from the impression they got on the day.

I'm still trying to decide between UCC and RCSI myself. I'm probably getting a bit ahead of myself without even seeing my gamsat score though! If I've a chance of getting an offer I'm going to visit the UCC campus this month for a look around the medical school.

Is UCD your first choice then?

Thanks! I had missed 60 by so little.. if I had just got 1 more in any of the sections I would’ve been grand hahah oh well

That sounds great Actually I don’t think they did as much as that on the open day for medicine at ucd.. not sure

Yeah UCD would be my first choice, mainly bc I’ve just finished my undergrad here and I live 5 mins away hahah but going out of Dublin wouldn’t be a problem either, I figured as long as I’m doing medicine I’ll be fine tbh

GAMSAT 2018

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