GAMSAT 2023 / 2024 entry discussions megathread

Thank you, yes I work full time also but dropped hours for the next two months personally I don't think I will be able to manage it so it is impressive that you did it!

Any top resources that you would recommend for section 3 or would you recommend the spam questions and learn around them approach? I am doing okay at S1 and S2 in my mocks but I really can't get my head around S3 even with a biomed background.

I understand wanting to cut down. It definitely wasn't fun juggling everything!

for S3, have you seen the youtube videos by Gold Standard going through the answers of the official papers? I found those extremely useful for understanding how to approach the questions. I watched every single video, even for questions I got right, just to see if there was a better approach, and ended up getting 80 in that section. it's not an exam that tests knowledge so there is not much point going through basics. Other than the videos, try to do as many practise questions you can from a range of sources. Try to understand why you're getting questions wrong - that's the key to improving.

Thank you so much I will make sure to go through those tonight at work! 80 is a crazy score you aced it!!!

Hi team,

I'm in a bit of a tricky situation and I'm not sure where else to take my particular question. I wondered if any of you folks have some advice about what I should do!

I have ABBB at A level (inc. chemistry and maths). I understand these grades are fine for GEM (as I have two degrees as well and good GAMSAT scores). I am tutoring my nephew in his A levels. He has been super nervous about his exams and I said I'd take one of the papers with him. I was curious to see what the papers would be like and he seemed reassured that we'd be having a go at it together. I also thought that, as a tutor, it would be good for me to get a bit of recent experience. But I don't plan on doing very well in the exam; I haven't revised. I've taken one of the papers for the Biology A level, but now I'm thinking I won't sit the others and will withdraw from the exams. I think if I completed the A level, I wouldn't get much higher than a C or D.

Do I have to declare this A level in my GEM application? If I withdraw and I 'fail' the A level, will that be held against me for my medicine application? Could I get away with just not mentioning it? I feel a bit annoyed with myself for not thinking this through. Anyway, I would appreciate any advice you have on this matter!

Thanks

From my understanding, if you sit the whole qualification, you would definitely need to declare it on UCAS.

I don’t know how universities will view it if you already have the required A levels. I don’t imagine they would disregard your other A levels, but that’s just speculation. I don’t think some unis look at A levels for grads anyway?

In term of withdrawing now, it might be worth ringing UCAS to ask if you would need to put that down as a fail on your application.

Hi!
I've got des oneill section three pdf but I'd like a textbook for the chemistry and physics part of the section (i think I'm good with biology). I've seen a lot of contrasting opinions. At the minute I'm planning on getting the dummies book for chem and physics- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chemistry-D...c=1&th=1&psc=1. Will these books cover the content?
Thanks!

Hi, I have missed the deadlines to register for the September 2022 GAMSAT. I am looking to apply for the September 2023 entry for Graduate Entry Medicine so could I do the March 2023 GAMSAT? Or would that exam date only be valid for 2024 entry?

Thanks

So decided on the deadline to sit the GAMSAT, but have been doing ucat prep for a month before hand. Does it make sense to still sit my ucat at the planned date and prep for the GAMSAT at the same time or just fully focus on GAMSAT and sit ucat later in the cycle, somewhat deeming my previous prep useless?

Yes I’m aware that it’s not the optimal amount of time to prep for the GAMSAT.

When is your UCAT booked for? Last test date is 29 September, so you could move it to later if there is space at a test centre near you. I prepped for both at the same time (also started GAMSAT prep late, not ideal, but doable). I concentrated mostly on GAMSAT, but say you’ve done 2hrs prep on GAMSAT, it’s easy to take a break and do 30 mins to an hour on UCAT. UCAT is so much about practice, rather than learning, so little and often is good. As they’re different, it helps break up the GAMSAT study. Also, it will keep you ticking over in UCAT practice and what you’ve done so far is not a waste (again, it’s all about the practice). There is also a bit of crossover of skills, between those required for VR in UCAT and those required for section 1 GAMSAT (not completely, obviously, but there is a crossover). After GAMSAT full on focus on UCAT. Good luck!

Thanks! Out of interest what did you do/ use for your GAMSAT prep?

I used a range, but I admit I panicked and paid for GradReady. They have free resources, but I mainly wanted to use the question banks, as you can do loads of practice and monitor your progress. They also have study materials.

I also used the free materials available from the Acer GAMSAT site.

I have a pretty good science grounding, but used free materials on https://www.masterorganicchemistry.com to boost my chemistry.

For section 2, I read a lot of Ted talks, as these are short, cover a lot of topics that are likely to come up and give you examples you can use. I prefer reading to watching videos, so I just read the transcripts, as it's quicker and more to my liking. I also went through all the past papers I could find and made a list of topics that came up and, as far as possible, noted some possible examples I could use for an argumentative essay (from literature I've already read, from broadsheet news sites etc. To be honest, anything can be an example, you just want a good bank of them to use). I then did some practice typing essays in half an hour. What helped me most here, was realising that your essay is unlikely to be good, i.e. to a standard you would usually be happy with, it just needs to be good enough. Therefore, structure and examples to support your arguments are important. Of course, you might not want to do an argumentative essay, you might want to do something more creative, but I know I could not think about that in the time given (I know my limits!).

I would look through this thread, as other people will have made recommendations too.

Further, I found one of the hardest parts was being able to eat sufficiently and have enough access to water during the whole exam process. I planned my food, took lots with me to eat before and in the break, but due to delays and stress, I was already shaking with low blood sugar by the time it started (though exam details said 2pm start, they only started checking people in then - my exam finished at 8:40pm). Make sure you take plenty of water with you in case there is nowhere to fill up your bottle/purchase more (if it's in a hotel, ask at the bar to refill your bottle - may seem obvious, but this kind of thing was not signposted in any way where I did my exam and I only realised in the break). I believe the break has been increased from 30 mins to 1 hr, though.

Hope that helps. Good luck with it.

Hey, thanks for your advice on the section 2 part of the exam. Is it possible if I could see some essays you did just to see how you went about structuring and writing the argumentative essays, as I am looking to write in the same type of way. Would really appreciate it