Cramming GAMSAT Preparation Guide

Lets say you've put yourself into a position where you only have two weeks to study for the GAMSAT, everyone is telling you that there is no point, you're not going to improve in 14 days and you may as well not study. From a master procrastinator, let me tell you that it is possible to improve in 14 days. I've used this format for many different exams and I can guarantee it will help you in the GAMSAT. Will you get the best score? obviously not but it will definitely give you a chance. Thank fully, the GAMSAT is a reasoning based exam so we will focus on that and passively work on theory. You will need to put your entire focus on the exam every day of the 14 days leading into it. Depending on your background there are two versions of this program. 

You don't have to follow this perfectly make sure you change it to fit your needs. You will notice, the focus is on your strengths while developing the foundations of your weakness. During the exams you will rely on your strengths to carry you through and hopefully your weaknesses won't drag you down. It will lay the foundations of a miracle, fluke, exam to occur.

Here's what you need (don't need the exact stuff that I recommend as long as they're similar):

• The ACER practice exams
• Lots of GAMSAT style questions
• Doesn't matter where you get them from here are my recommendations
• Des O'Neill
• Gold Standard mock exams
• Griffiths GAMSAT practice questions
• If you want to save some money you can use our question bank
• If you're a non-science background you'll need some textbooks
• Kaplan MCAT books are great or any year 12 physics, chemistry, biology textbooks
• If you want to use somsething more GAMSAT related, you can try the Gold Standard books on each of the science 
• If you're a non humanities background
• Kaplan MCAT CARS textbook
• If you want to use something more GAMSAT related, you can try the Griffiths S1 Blueprints

Day 1-3: 

Science Background (non-humanities):

Go through the KAPLAN CARS books (I'm giving you three days to go through them all), then do as many S3 questions as you can. Mark as you go and right down the reasoning behind the right answer, this may be tedious but it will help you. 

Non-science background (humanities):

Go through the Kaplan science books (I'm giving you six days to go through them all), then do as many S1 questions as you can. Mark as you go and right down the reasoning behind the right answer, this may be tedious but it will help you. 

Day 4:

Science Background (non-humanities):

Using S2 questions off the question bank write two essays, give yourself 5 minutes to plan and 60 minutes to write both. Then do as many S1 & 3 questions as you can

Non-science background (humanities):

Go through the Kaplan science books. Using S2 questions off the question bank write one, give yourself 2.5 minutes to plan and 30 minutes to write. Using the rest of your day to go through as many S1 questions, mark as you go and right down the reasoning behind the right answer.

Day 5:

Both:

Mark your essays, if you can get someone else to mark them even better. Focus on structure and theme, does your essay have a clear argument? do you go off argument? is your structure logical and consistent.

Science Background (non-humanities):

Write another essay focusing on the criticisms of your last essay, give yourself 2.5 minutes to plan and 30 minutes to write. Spend the rest of your day going through as many S1 and S3 questions as you can.

Non-science background (humanities):

Go through the Kaplan science books, using the rest of your day to go through as many S1 

Day 6:

Science Background (non-humanities):

Mark your essay, if you can get someone else to mark them even better. Spend the rest of your day going through as many S1 and S3 questions as you can.

Non-science background (humanities):

Finish the Kaplan science books, using the rest of your day to go through as many S3 questions as possible. Mark as you go and right down the reasoning behind the right answer, this may be tedious but it will help you. 

Day 7:

Both:

Complete the first ACER practice test, full exam simulation. Once you're done mark all the wrong answers and sit the test again, only doing the wrong answers. Write down the type of questions or area of science you are getting most wrong. You should have a better chance, since you have three choices to choose from. See week 2 of our starter guide to find out more about this technique.

Day 8:

Both:

Mark your essays, and write two more in 65 minutes. Then do as many section 1 and 3 questions as you can, focus on the area that you are weakest (as determined form the exam yesterday). Use the internet to help you with concepts, I recommend Khan Academy.

Day 9:

Mark your essays, this time focus on language. Where can you improve your language? what words could you have used to get your meaning across better? etc. The for the rest of the day do as many S1 & 3 questions as you can, mark as you go.

Day 10:

Same as day 7 but with ACER's second practice test.

Day 11:

Same as day 8 for the last exam you did

Day 12:

Same as day 7 but with ACER's third practice test.

Day 13:

Same as day 8 for the last exam you did

Day 14:

Write up as many essays and do as many S1 & 3 questions as you can, mark as you go even with the essays. A good way to set it up: spend 35 on an essay then mark it, spend 30 on S1 then mark it, spend 45 on S3 then mark it. The repeat the circuit till you get tired.

GAMSAT Day:

Nail it!

Now, I have to say, this won't replace a proper 3 months of prep and is heavily volume based. There are far better ways to prepare but this is to give you hope and motivation, even if you haven't given yourself enough time it is still possible to do OK.