gamsat essay questions

Free GAMSAT Questions | GAMSAT Practice Tests 2023

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GAMSAT Section I | GAMSAT Section 1 Questions

50 | GAMSAT Section 1 Questions: Non-Fiction

36 | GAMSAT Section 1 Questions: Fiction

29 | GAMSAT Section 1 Questions: Diagrams

GAMSAT Section III | GAMSAT Section 3 Biology Questions

32 | GAMSAT Section 3 Questions: Biology Part 1

32 | GAMSAT Section 3 Questions: Biology Part 2

GAMSAT Section III | GAMSAT Section 3 Chemistry Questions

73 | GAMSAT Section 3 Questions: Chemistry Part 1

73 | GAMSAT Section 3 Questions: Chemistry Part 2

GAMSAT Section III | GAMSAT Section 3 Physics Questions

13 | GAMSAT Section 3 Questions: Physics Part 1

13 | GAMSAT Section 3 Questions: Physics Part 2

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Book your medic mind consultation, start your medic mind journey, still got questions don’t worry, we’ve got you covered., →what types of questions are in the gamsat.

GAMSAT is comprised of three unique sections and lasts 4.45 hours with a 30-minute recess between sections II and III.

Section I: Reasoning in humanities. Candidates will be presented with material to analyse such as cartoons, data and excerpts of plays, scientific articles and essays.

Section II: Written communication. Candidates are presented with 5 quotes on a particular topic for essay A and 5 for essay B. Essay A tends to be socio-cultural and B more personal in nature.

Section III: Reasoning in biological and physical sciences. Candidates answer scientific questions using prior knowledge and logical reasoning. 40% of questions are biology, 40% are chemistry and 20% are physics.

→Is GAMSAT a difficult exam?

GAMSAT is a challenging exam and your success in it depends upon the efficacy of your preparation. GAMSAT tests your ability to understand interpret and analyse different texts, express your ideas in the form of two different styled essays and your ability to reason through and solve scientific problems. GAMSAT is a skills-based exam, the more you practice and improve your skills the better you will perform. Being a top student does not guarantee a high score, GAMSAT practice is the determinant of success.

→Is it hard to get above 50 in GAMSAT?

If you work smart and prepare well for GAMSAT you can achieve over 50. Candidates who fail to prepare adequately are unlikely to score above 50. GAMSAT tests your skills to reason, interpret and extract information therefore candidates should work hard to gain proficiency at doing this as opposed to relying on prior knowledge in order to succeed in the exam.

There is a clear difference in marks for candidates who take the time to develop the skills to succeed in the exam, do GAMSAT questions and GAMSAT practice tests. Obtaining help, support, feedback and guidance as well as being taught the knowledge needed for each section by those who have sat the exam before through services such as medic mind can significantly boost a student’s GAMSAT score.

→What is a good GAMSAT score?

Markers use the following equation to calculate a candidates GAMSAT score:

(1 x section I score + 1 x section II score + 2 x section III score)/4

GAMSAT is scored between 0 and 100. An average score, one that places a candidate in the top 50% of the cohort, typically ranges between 56 and 58. A good score, that which places candidates in the top 25% of the cohort ranges between 61 and 64. An exceptional score, that which would place the candidate in at least the top 5% of the cohort, would be 72 or above.

However, it is important to know that a score which may be enough to meet the cut off for one university may not be enough for another.

→How do you do well in the GAMSAT?

Section I requires candidates to be proficient at analysing, interpreting and extracting key details from texts. Developing these skills requires taking the time to do GAMSAT questions and GAMSAT practice tests until an understanding of how to approach the different question styles is obtained. Gaining guidance for this section can improve practice and performance in GAMSAT.

Section II is an often-forgotten area when candidates are preparing for GAMSAT. Scoring highly in this section can significantly benefit your score. Writing and obtaining feedback on GAMSAT practice essays is crucial.

Section III accounts for 50% of your overall score therefore ensuring you have strong skills and decent scientific understanding in this section is very important. Playing to your strengths in this section is a beneficial, and perhaps counterintuitive, strategy to use during exam preparation. Devoting a greater portion of time to enhancing areas you’re already strong at, as opposed to investing significant time in getting a passable understanding of those you struggle with, can be highly beneficial. No area should be neglected in your preparation, but it would not be unwise to move on from an area you struggle with and spend more time revising and completing GAMSAT questions on your stronger areas.

→How much should I study for GAMSAT?

To prepare appropriately for GAMSAT will require a couple of hours per day for 6 months, or more if starting closer to the exam date. Candidates would be wise to determine where their strengths and weaknesses lie and how much time must be dedicated to each section during their GAMSAT practice. Utilising a GAMSAT tutor can be very beneficial in doing this. In addition to completing GAMSAT practice candidates need to read the news and relevant books and articles.

→Can you study for GAMSAT in 2 months?

Yes, you can study for GAMSAT in two months. However, the amount of time you spend studying a day could be draining and you may not be sufficiently prepared for the exam.

Though everyone studies differently utilising an approach of studying for a couple of hours a day over a longer period of time, perhaps 6 months, will be highly effective. Candidates will have the time to recognise and address areas of weakness, develop the skills needed to successfully tackle exam questions and achieve strong time management skills, allowing a good score to be achieved. Additionally, by starting preparation 6 months before the exam candidates are less likely to fee stressed and experience preparation burnout.

→How many GAMSAT questions should I do to get a good score?

GAMSAT practice must be appropriately tailored to you, everyone is different.

GAMSAT practice tests are key in preparation. Candidates should aim to sit multiple complete practice papers before their exam. Starting revision 6 months before the exam date will allow sufficient time to complete numerous GAMSAT questions and GAMSAT practice tests which will enable shortcomings in knowledge and skills to be recognised and comprehensively addressed prior to sitting GAMSAT. Completing all GAMSAT questions available to you from resources you utilse is an appropriate ambition to have in GAMSAT preparation.

→Where can I find GAMSAT Questions?

GAMSAT questions can be found on the following sites: Medic Mind ACER GAMSAT Ace GAMSAT Grad Ready Gradmed Fraser’s GAMSAT

→How many questions are in the GAMSAT?

Section I contains 47 questions and lasts 70 minutes. Candidates are given 6 minutes to read the questions and then 64 minutes to answer them.

Section II lasts 65 minutes. Candidates are given 5 minutes of reading time and then 60 minutes in which to write the two essays.

Section III lasts 150 minutes. Candidates are provided with 8 minutes of reading time and then 142 minutes to answer 75 questions.

→What is the GAMSAT Exam?

The Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) is a standardized test that assesses the readiness of students to pursue a graduate-level medical degree. It is used by medical schools in Australia, the UK, and Ireland as part of their admissions process.

→What subjects are tested on the GAMSAT exam?

The GAMSAT exam tests three main areas: scientific knowledge, critical reasoning, and written communication skills. The scientific knowledge section covers biology, chemistry, and physics, while the critical reasoning section tests your ability to analyze and evaluate arguments. The written communication skills section assesses your ability to construct well-written responses to given prompts.

→How is the GAMSAT exam structured?

The GAMSAT exam consists of three sections: Section 1: Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences; Section 2: Written Communication; and Section 3: Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences. Each section is timed, with a total testing time of around 5 hours and 15 minutes.

→What is the hardest section of GAMSAT?

The GAMSAT is designed to test a wide range of skills and knowledge, and each section of the test presents its own unique challenges. That being said, many candidates find Section 3 to be the most difficult section of the GAMSAT. This section is focused on scientific reasoning and is designed to test candidates' ability to analyze and interpret complex scientific information. Section 3 requires a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as critical thinking and problem-solving skills. However, it's important to note that the difficulty of each section may vary depending on the individual candidate's strengths and weaknesses.

→How do I register for the GAMSAT exam?

To register for the GAMSAT exam, you will need to visit the official GAMSAT website and create an account. From there, you can select your preferred testing location and date, and pay the registration fee.

→What is a good score on the GAMSAT exam?

A good score on the GAMSAT exam will vary depending on the medical school you are applying to and the competition for spots. Generally, a score of 50 or above is considered competitive for most medical schools.

→Can I take the GAMSAT exam more than once?

Yes, you can take the GAMSAT exam multiple times. However, you should keep in mind that each time you take the exam, you will need to pay the registration fee again.

→How can I prepare for the GAMSAT exam?

There are several ways you can prepare for the GAMSAT exam:

Review relevant scientific concepts: Make sure you have a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, and physics. Practice critical reasoning: Work on your ability to analyze and evaluate arguments by reading and analyzing a wide range of material. Improve your writing skills: Practice writing essays and other types of written communication to improve your skills in this area. Use study guides and practice exams: There are many resources available, including study guides and practice exams, that can help you prepare for the GAMSAT exam.

→Are GAMSAT practice questions and tests the same as the current year's test?

While GAMSAT practice questions and tests may be similar in format and content to the current year's test, they are not identical. The GAMSAT is designed to test a wide range of skills and knowledge, and the specific questions and topics covered on the test may vary from year to year. However, practicing with past papers and questions can help you develop the skills and strategies necessary to succeed on the test.

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15 GAMSAT Practice Tests: Papers for Exam Success

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15 GAMSAT Full-length Practice Tests Exam Book

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2023-2024 Edition GAMSAT Practice Tests (Sample Questions) Click here to look inside the book

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"Practice isn't the thing you do once you're good. It's the thing you do that makes you good" Gladwell

Unprecedented: 15 full-length GAMSAT practice tests, fully updated for 2023-2024 consistent with the current digital GAMSAT timing, structure, and level of difficulty.

Heaps of GAMSAT sample questions: Over 2000 MCQs covering all 3 sections, from poetry to philosophy, from science-based graph analysis to dimensional analysis, from organic chemistry nomenclature to classical geometric reasoning, and the full range that one would expect from a real exam experience. Questions are followed by answers with helpful step-by-step worked solutions online, as well as free forum threads to discuss your questions with the authors.

This paperback book is designed for GAMSAT-level practice; if you are looking for books to learn content before sitting GAMSAT practice tests, consider the 2023-2024 Masters Series available as paperback books or eBooks: GAMSAT textbooks .

• All 3 GAMSAT sections are covered in one product with the creative skills of a company with more than 12 years providing GAMSAT mock exams on campuses in Australia, the UK and Ireland: Gold Standard GAMSAT. Five GAMSAT practice tests are in the book, and 10 different practice tests are online (accessed with a PIN included in each book)
• Online access also includes answers and worked solutions for all 15 exams and is continuous for 1 year.
• Extensions are available. Note that online mock exams HEAPS-11 to HEAPS-15 originate from the best GAMSAT-level practice questions from the Masters Series books by Gold Standard.

How to achieve the GAMSAT score you are aiming for?

Practice, practice, practice! Now you have access to heaps of updated GAMSAT sample questions followed by helpful worked solutions online.

In fact, often the Section 3 practice questions that you will have access to include worked solutions with free online videos for additional background information.

All exam sections have a free forum so that you can clarify any concerns with the authors. Often it is said that: "Practice makes perfect"! From the back cover: "...perfection may not be attainable, but let's chase it and achieve excellence"!

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GAMSAT Practice Tests Online

We have 5 full-length online GAMSAT practice tests and we have an Essay Correction Service.*

Practice tests can be purchased as a group or separately. You can repeat any exam section as often as you want during your access period. You can also cross-out or highlight on your computer screen. All exam attempts are saved with full explanations for multiple choice questions to help your review. Essays are only corrected for Essay Correction Service students as described below. The free GS Sample GAMSAT will be automatically added to your account.

• Individual Online Exam(s) Purchase: 44% OFF! Each exam has sold for $70 since 2010; however, in conjunction with the 2018 publication of our new Heaps textbook of exams, for students who do not want the book and would rather purchase just one or more of our online GAMSAT practice tests, the new price is $39/each; 6 months' access (also new: 1 free renewal). Alternate access periods and pause/restart are not permitted. You will receive access to your exam(s) instantly after payment.
• Package of all 5 online exams: 40% OFF! The Gold Standard 5 online GAMSAT practice exams have sold for $249 since 2010; however, in conjunction with the 2018 publication of our new Heaps textbook of exams, for students who do not want the book and would rather just purchase our 5 online GAMSAT practice tests, the new price is $149; 6 months' access (also new: 1 free renewal). Alternate access periods and pause/restart are not permitted. You will receive access to your exams instantly after payment. Package owners will get access to digital practice exams with the new ACER computer-based formatting and timing.
• Section II Review: Essay Correction Service with tips, personal advice and guidance. Once you purchase access, we will provide you with a schedule so that your essays are submitted and corrected based on a structured regime. Our aim is to get your essay writing skills ready for the upcoming GAMSAT.

*The Gold Standard (GS) Free GAMSAT Sample Questions Test (GS-Free) - a full-length GAMSAT practice test with the new ACER digital format – is included in the GS Exams and Essay Correction Service packages as a free bonus.

GAMSAT practice papers are now part of your online experience. Now you can get instant access to GAMSAT practice tests with worked solutions. Our 5 Gold Standard (GS) full-length exams available online are numbered from GS-1 to GS-5. These exams can be purchased separately or part of a package.

The new GS Free GAMSAT Sample Test is an abbreviated GAMSAT practice test which is automatically added to ANY gamsat-prep.com account. If you want access to the free mock exam without any of the practice exams below, click here: Free GAMSAT practice test .

All the GS GAMSAT papers are timed and have interactive tools to help you prepare to sit your real exam: You can repeat any exam section as often as you want during your access period. All exam attempts are saved in your personal History section with full explanations to help your review. All worked solutions include a link to a forum thread for each individual question to encourage further discussion or to obtain responses to any concerns about your exam experience.

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GAMSAT Practice Tests : Frequently Asked Questions

When using the GAMSAT practice tests in this book and online (and ACER’s eBooks), try your best to follow the actual exam day schedule. This helps to train your body and mind for this rigorous experience. Try to wake up at a similar time that you might expect, given the likely time for transportation, and try to eat similar foods that you may have for breakfast and lunch.

Try to spend the next 1-2 days carefully assessing the worked solutions of all questions where you made errors, as well as questions where you may have had some doubts. Take very brief notes and study from those notes frequently. As previously mentioned, you can consult the free Gold Standard GAMSAT Study Schedule online for more details.

Be very careful about assuming that you needed specific or obscure knowledge to answer a GAMSAT question. Rarely yes, but more likely the information was given in the passage or question stem and then was missed or misinterpreted. Many students assume the worse regarding most questions, thinking “if only I studied more content, I’d get it right” rather than the true theme of the GAMSAT: “if only I worked more on my reasoning skills, ...”. You will improve your reasoning skills when you take the time to study the worked solutions, take brief notes on the lines of reasoning, and revise those notes often.

Yes, practice exams are very important for your GAMSAT preparation!

— ACER’s description of the 2023 GAMSAT, ‘GAMSAT Structure and Content’ webpage

The solution to improve one’s GAMSAT score is problem-based learning. Although this may be uncomfortable at first, much research has shown why it is most effective and, understandably, it has long been championed by ACER, as well as Gold Standard GAMSAT (all of our materials and PBL GAMSAT Courses; note that Gold Standard is not affiliated with ACER in any way).

Uplift your weaknesses and consolidate your strengths!

What are your main weaknesses? Poetry? Philosophy-based passages? Graph analysis? Equation manipulation with or without dimensional analysis? Scan through the pages of this book, and the online practice tests, to identify the units that you wish to attack in order to improve. In other words, you modify full-length mock exams to become your buffet of practice questions!

Similarly, identify your strengths and scan for units for which you have a high degree of confidence. Attack those questions to ensure that there are no GAMSAT-style traps or ‘distractors’ that could have doomed your real exam experience. At a minimum, experience multiple mock exams online to increase your familiarity with simulations of the real-exam, digital interface.

Note that online full-length exams HEAPS-11 to 15 are heavily based on our most recent publication of the GAMSAT Masters Series. If you have already studied from the Masters Series then these exams can be used as revision or, if there is a lack of time, used at a minimum in lieu of the first 10 HEAPS exams. If you have not studied from the Masters Series, and time is limited, focus your efforts between exams in this book and those from HEAPS-11 TO 15.

Yes! You are permitted scratch paper for the real exam so you should get accustomed to its use during your practice runs. As of the time of printing, students have the option to use two A4 sheets of scratch paper for Section 1 and 2 combined, and two new sheets of A4 scratch paper for Section 3, or, students may use an erasable whiteboard with a marker. The whiteboard must be no bigger than 30 cm x 25 cm in size. Of course, please consult ACER’s GAMSAT Guide for the latest information regarding scratch paper.

Digital watches, alarms and active mobile phones are forbidden for the real exam but you can keep time by bringing an analogue watch. Some test centres have a big projector screen at the front with the time on it with how much time is left. Some test invigilators will write timestamps on an easily visible whiteboard and subsequently cross them out. Some test centres will announce when 30 minutes would be remaining. Caution: You are personally responsible for keeping track of the correct timing during each section of the exam.

It’s complicated. The simple answer is that sitting practice exams followed by careful post-exam study can hone your GAMSAT skills and understanding over time. The only score that counts is your actual, GAMSAT score from ACER.

Now the complex answer: As previously mentioned, your real GAMSAT score is generated with the assistance of Item Response Theory. ACER has produced GAMSAT practice materials for over 20 years and, as of the date of this book’s publication, has never provided a scale to convert raw scores for the multiple-choice sections into scaled scores. The likelihood is that their statisticians believe that it would not be reliable enough.

Some students want to compare percentages or raw scores or estimated scaled scores from one practice test to another: It’s a natural desire but mathematically dubious.

The scale for the Gold Standard GAMSAT tests are based on a cohort of hundreds of students, but this is far smaller than the more than 10 000 students who sit the GAMSAT every year and thus the GS tests have statistical sampling errors.

Again, the real purpose of practice is not to overly fixate on practice test scores, or comparisons between different examiners, but rather to follow your progress with reasoning and application through timed, full-length testing.

You can only compare a Gold Standard exam with a Gold Standard exam, an ACER practice test with an ACER practice test, a real GAMSAT exam with a real GAMSAT exam. Everything aside from the real exam has been created to optimize your real exam score but nothing is a perfect imitation of the scale used for a real exam.

Naturally, the list of forbidden items is longer than what is listed above. Access to food (including lollies/sweets and nuts), medication or other medical equipment (e.g. support cushion) during the test will only be permitted due to a medical condition and can only be allowed if you have been granted special testing accommodations.

ESL students may bring a printed bilingual dictionary into the test for use in Section 1 and Section 2 only. Consult ACER’s website for details (gamsat.acer.org).

Beginning in 2022, for the first time ever, ACER began permitting students to bring a small, erasable whiteboard and marker to the test centre. The intention is to provide an option to replace the A4 sheets of paper which the test centre routinely provides to students. Should you use a whiteboard, then after Section 2 and after Section 3, respectively, you will be instructed to wipe the whiteboard clean. You must also permit inspection of the whiteboard by the supervisor before leaving the test room.

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Gamsat section 2: written communication, discover our gamsat preparation courses today, hesitant about gamsat.

Section 2 of the GAMSAT is one-of-a-kind and stands in stark contrast to its counterparts!

Unlike GAMSAT Section 1 and Section 3 , the written communication section requires you to create a response to a quote set rather than answer specific questions. In the previous article in this series, we discussed the nature and purpose of Section 1 , stating that in order to achieve a high score in Section 1 of the GAMSAT, it is important to understand its purpose.

Specifically, the article mentioned that Section 1 tests a candidate’s ability to listen and comprehend a patient’s perspective. In this article about Section 2 preparation , we will continue to develop this analogy, commenting on the purpose of Section 2, and what this means for GAMSAT Section 2 essay preparation. 

What is GAMSAT Section 2?

The Written Communication segment assesses an individual's capacity to create and elaborate on ideas through writing. This segment comprises two 30-minute writing assignments. Each task presents four statements centered around a shared topic.

How is section 2 essay marked?

ACER in its booklets says that the Section 2 essays will be evaluated on the basis of:

•   Thought and Content (the quality of what is said) 
•  What is made of and developed from the task 
• The kinds of thoughts offered in response to the task 
• Organisation and Expression (the quality of the structure developed and language used) 
• The shape and form of the piece 
• The effectiveness and fluency of the language

What To Expect From GAMSAT Section 2?

As of the 2023 GAMSAT, Section 2 comprises two distinct writing tasks: Task A and Task B. Each of these tasks presents you with a set of four short quotes that revolve around a shared theme. Interestingly, the authors of these quotes are not disclosed, leaving you to grapple with the essence of the quotes without the influence of the author's reputation or background.

When considering how to distribute your time effectively, a frequently offered suggestion is as follows:

• Allocate 5 minutes for planning
• Dedicate 25 minutes for writing
• Reserve 5 minutes for reviewing

This time allocation is designed to align with the 65-minute total duration for Section 2. The remaining 5 minutes serve as a buffer, giving you some wiggle room should any of these tasks take longer than expected.

Planning is a critical element for achieving a high score, and while we generally recommend dedicating 5 minutes to it, this isn't a one-size-fits-all rule. If you find Task A more challenging than Task B, or vice versa, you might consider using some of your buffer time to extend your planning or writing phase for that particular task.

However, be cautious; time in this section is highly limited. Writing an essay in approximately 25 minutes is a significant challenge for most GAMSAT candidates and requires a focused, efficient approach.

What Is The Purpose Of GAMSAT Section 2?

In the previous article in this series, we mentioned that the medical journey begins at the patient’s bedside, where you listen to the story of their lifestyle and disease to draw critical diagnostic conclusions about their circumstances. We further mentioned that this is the skillset emulated, and tested by Section 1 of the GAMSAT exam .

Communication in Medical Practice:

Moving on to Section 2 - once you have listened to the patient’s concerns, the next step is communication. In the medical field, communication is everything! 

Often the situation that the patients find themselves in is complex and multifactorial - it is the medical staff’s job to empathise, and explain the technicalities of the illness, as well as the treatment, to the patient. This is a difficult task as doctors often have to reach a precarious compromise between the interests of various specialists, as well as respecting the patient’s lifestyle priorities.

GAMSAT Section 2 Essay Perspective:

This is exactly what Section 2 Task A and Task B are attempting to re-create. GAMSAT essays for Section 2 are written in response to Section 2 quote sets . These quotes represent various perspectives on a given theme. This will be the case in your future medical practice, where you must aim to consider all the opinions presented by the quote set, and reconcile them within the time limit, with as much clarity as possible. And this will be the case in your future medical practice, the choice of style and formatting, is left largely up to you. Having said this, however, here is a brief guide to Section 2 preparation .

How to Prepare for GAMSAT Section 2

Establishing a strong foundation.

Begin your GAMSAT Section 2 preparation by diving headfirst into essay practice. The sooner you start, the more strategic advantage you'll gain. 

Instead of sticking to what you already know, broaden your intellectual horizons by exploring a diverse range of subjects. This will not only enrich your perspective but also ignite a creative spark that will prove invaluable for generating unique and compelling essay ideas.

Enhancing the Writing Process and Feedback Loop

Once you've laid a strong foundation, the next step is to optimize your writing process. Create a systematic approach that ensures each essay is well-structured and coherently developed. 

But don't stop there—actively seek out feedback from those around you, be it peers, family, or even professionals in the field. Take constructive criticism to heart; it's an invaluable tool for refining your skills and producing essays that not only meet but exceed the GAMSAT Section 2 requirements.

To give you a practical sense of what high-scoring essays look like, we've gathered a collection of sample essays with scores ranging from 50 to 80+ .

Practical Simulation for Exam Success

As the exam date approaches, practice under timed conditions to replicate real testing scenarios. This is a pivotal element for achieving success and should not be overlooked.

For those looking for a more structured approach to preparing for Section 2, including tips on theme identification, research, and writing style, check out our comprehensive resource: GAMSAT Section 2 Study | Where & How to Begin .

What Are The Common GAMSAT Section 2 Themes?

ACER has explicitly stated that both Task A and Task B in GAMSAT Section 2 revolve around overarching themes. According to Fraser’s GAMSAT analysis, Task A mainly zeroes in on socio-cultural issues, often navigating the 'inter-personal' realm—this includes laws, religions, economics, and social narratives. Conversely, Task B skews more towards the 'intra-personal,' emphasizing individual aspects like emotions, cognitive states, and the lived experience.

Balancing Quotes and Themes

Many GAMSAT candidates tunnel-vision on the individual quotes, neglecting the overarching theme, or vice versa. Striking a balance between these two aspects is crucial, as GAMSAT Section 2 marking rewards essays that describe the complexity expressed by the individual quotes, within the context of the overall theme.

Recommended Steps for Preparation

A good first step in your Section 2 preparation is to have a look at Fraser’s GAMSAT Section 2: Frequently Asked Questions . This article focuses on clearing the air of confusion for a lot of students who are sitting the GAMSAT and additionally, comprises a range of useful tips to approach the GAMSAT Section 2 Essay. We also strongly recommend you to take a look at our Section 2 quote generator as a resource for GAMSAT Section 2 practice questions - that is, attempt to interpret the quote sets prior to clicking to reveal the theme.

Following your interpretation, set the timer and write a GAMSAT essay style guide for GAMSAT Section 2 . Make sure to review your work with your fellow exam candidates after you have completed the piece - the review process is the most important step in improving your essay!

Choosing the Right Writing Style for GAMSAT Section 2

Ultimately, it is up to the candidate as to how to format their GAMSAT Section 2 essay . It is important to bear in mind that the marking criteria and purpose of a GAMSAT Section 2 essay remain consistent regardless of the style of writing a candidate chooses to pursue. Returning once more to our medical analogue - as a medical student, you would not try to communicate with a patient through the medium of a poem, or a creative story.

This is why we advocate for an argumentative/analytical/expository style of writing, which is the safest and most reliable method of Section 2 communication. 

An argumentative essay consists of contention, two to three body paragraphs (each with individual arguments) and a conclusion that directs the reader to the ultimate implication of your written work. This isn’t to say that writing an argumentative-style essay is gospel and thus gives you a high GAMSAT score . Instead, this format is for everyone to have experience writing. Ultimately, it is important to explore and write about ideas that you understand, in a communication style with which you have confidence.

The Dangers of Misaligned Style and Content

It is very obvious to a GAMSAT essay marker when a student attempts to discuss a theme they do not fully comprehend or replicate a prescribed style they have not mastered. This category of GAMSAT students is heavily penalised. 

Nevertheless, it is not impossible to achieve top marks with written pieces exploring unorthodox formats. If you have extensive experience in the creative writing field, try experimenting with monologues, narratives or even poetry (ensuring that you complement it with a thorough discussion of your point or argument – not to be confused with an analysis of the poem you wrote ) .

If any of these styles permit a clear, and sophisticated discussion of themes and perspectives, then Section 2 essay marking will reward you with a high GAMSAT score . 

Importance of Projecting Positive Values in your Essay

Regardless of which writing style you employ, you should endeavour to explore positive values (such as fairness, equality or hopefulness) of the future, especially if you’re discussing the bleaker aspects of humanity. Essentially, having polarity within your argument conveys a worldly perspective and in some ways adds depth and character to your essay.

To this end, Matt Keyter, a lead GAMSAT humanities tutor at Fraser’s advises that “Being bleak about the human species and misanthropic about the future doesn’t bode well in any essay rhetoric.” After all, the GAMSAT essay markers are selecting the next generation of doctors, so consider which values you wish to convey to your audience!

In order for candidates to get a better understanding of the style, and substance of GAMSAT Section 2, Fraser’s GAMSAT has put together a set of GAMSAT Section 2 example essays , demonstrating the standard of writing to achieve a range of Section 2 scores. 

Where To From Here? 

If you are interested in further improving section 2, check out these free resources, how to structure a section 2 essay.

Perfecting a Section 2 Essay Introduction

Section 2 Essay - Style Guide

Section 2 FAQ

Check out the next articles in this series!

GAMSAT Section 1 Vocabulary Tool

GAMSAT Section 3 Question Log

For general GAMSAT news and updates, check out the articles below!

What is the GAMSAT?

How Hard is the GAMSAT?

See a Future In Medicine?

Start preparing for the journey today, related resources.

Ready To Prep? Get In Touch

Guides & Info

The Ultimate Guide to GAMSAT Section 2

Please note that GAMSAT ‘Section II: Written Communication’ has been renamed to ‘Written Communication Section’. To ensure this article is easy to follow, we’ll refer to this section as ‘Section 2’ throughout. Read about the latest changes to the GAMSAT .

In our GAMSAT Section 2 guide, we’ll walk you through what to expect in Section 2 and how best to prepare for it. We’ll also go through a free example Section 2 task with expert guidance on how to structure this essay.

Just starting GAMSAT revision? We recommend building your GAMSAT knowledge by going through GAMSAT preparation material, such as:

• GAMSAT FAQ – view 30+ GAMSAT questions, including which dental/medical schools require the GAMSAT
• GAMSAT preparation tips – find out how to get the most from your revision
• GAMSAT preparation mistakes – explore common pitfalls to avoid while preparing
• GAMSAT timing – learn how to overcome GAMSAT time pressure

Once you’ve finished going through this article, we recommend reading the ultimate guide to GAMSAT Section 3 , to give you a comprehensive overview of the entire GAMSAT exam. If you missed the first article in this series, make sure you check out our ultimate guide to GAMSAT Section 1 too.

Table of contents

GAMSAT Section 2 structure What does GAMSAT Section 2 test? How should I approach preparation for GAMSAT Section 2? Free example task for GAMSAT Section 2

GAMSAT Section 2 structure

GAMSAT section

Number of GAMSAT questions

Section time

Time per question

Written Communication

Approximately 30 minutes

For GAMSAT 2024 testing, Section 2 will now be delivered via remote proctoring and will take place approximately two weeks before Section 1 and 3 (these sections will take place at a test centre as normal). Remote proctoring is a form of online remote test delivery which includes being supervised by a remote proctor via screen sharing and webcam monitoring. Learn more about how remote proctoring will work including top tips for ensuring it goes smoothly.

What does GAMSAT Section 2 test?

The purpose of GAMSAT Section 2 is to test your ability to effectively and logically express your thoughts. Essays marked will be judged on quality of thinking and how well you articulate this thinking through written language. In order to do this, you must identify the common theme running through the presented comments, and plan and structure your essay before you begin writing.

This section is split into two writing tasks: Task A and Task B. In each GAMSAT Section 2 task, you will read four or five comments on a common theme and must write an essay that responds to one or more of them.

• Task A tends to focus on socio-cultural issues, such as law, religion and economic narratives. It’s best suited to an argumentative essay style. 
• Task B tends to focus more on personal and social issues, such as emotions, feelings and the lived experience. Therefore, a creative or reflective essay could be the best option if you feel comfortable writing in this style.

For those with a pure science background, Section 2 can be the most daunting part of the GAMSAT exam. Not only this, the digital exam format means you’ll need to type out your responses (with no automatic spelling and grammar checks). If this is something you struggle with, we advise improving your typing speed and accuracy before sitting the GAMSAT.

How should I approach preparation for GAMSAT Section 2?

For GAMSAT Section 2 preparation, we recommend that you break down the steps and timing for each task as follows:

• Assess the task (2 minutes)
• Brainstorm your response (4 minutes)
• Outline your essay (4 minutes)
• Write your essay (17–18 minutes)
• Review your essay (2–3 minutes)

As you can see, you should spend just over a third of the time limit planning and reviewing your essay, and allocate the rest to writing time. 

According to the ACER GAMSAT Information Booklet , you’ll be assessed on ‘the quality of the thinking about a topic’ and ‘the way in which ideas are integrated into a thoughtful response to the task’. This means you should concentrate more on the depth and organisation of ideas, rather than breadth, to improve your essay writing. A sensible guideline to follow for a non-creative essay is an introduction, a few body paragraphs, and a conclusion. 

High scoring essays demonstrate an understanding of the theme, and show that you’ve thought through different angles on the issue or topic and taken a clear stance in relation to it. This can be achieved through analysing the task and brainstorming carefully.

In GAMSAT Section 2 essays, you should aim for quality over quantity. For example, it’s better to write about a few concepts that you understand, and communicate these in a logical and coherent way, than to present too many ideas in an unstructured manner. Also, some students can focus too heavily on individual quotes and end up missing the overall theme, or fixate too much on the theme and neglect the variety of opinions on a topic. A good essay requires a careful balance between the two.

Free example task for GAMSAT Section 2

Task a example essay question.

Consider the following comments and develop a piece of writing in response to one or more of them.

Your writing will be judged on the quality of your response to the theme, how well you organise and present your point of view, and how effectively you express yourself.

Comment 1 The internet is an elite organisation. Most of the population of the world has never even made a phone call. Noam Chomsky

Comment 2 The internet is forever demanding that the real world be redefined to suit its whims. Terry Pratchett

Comment 3 The Web is a tremendous grassroots revolution. Tim Berners-Lee

Comment 4 The internet’s primary function is to allow people to hear what they want to hear.

Task A example essay guidance

Here’s a step-by-step process of how to approach this task:

Step 1: Assess the task (2 minutes)

1. First, assess the task by reading through all the comments and identifying the overarching theme. In this initial stage, your focus should be on determining which comments you can thoughtfully explore in relation to the theme. This will guide the subsequent decisions you make when planning and writing your essay. As we know that Task A will generally be on a socio-cultural theme, this can help with the first step of identifying the theme in the task. 

Step 2: Brainstorm your response (4 minutes)

2. After identifying the core theme and comments you wish to use, you should think about some pros and cons, as well as your own opinion. In this brainstorming phase, you should reflect on both sides of the topic and note down a few succinct examples for each side. Try to pursue ideas that you find interesting or exciting, as this sense of authenticity can develop your ideas and improve your writing. 

You can use any method to capture your thoughts in response to the task, such as a spider diagram or a table with arguments ‘for’ and ‘against’ the statement. By the end of this step, you should have comprehensive notes on many relevant ideas and examples, ready for organising.

Step 3: Outline your essay (4 minutes)

3. Now it’s time to decide how you would like to present all of this thinking to the reader. You should carefully select ideas that will strengthen your essay, and disregard anything that doesn’t contribute to the overall argument. Make sure you decide on your conclusion before organising your chosen ideas into a logical and coherent structure as follows:

• Introduction: Identify the theme and define the key concepts (use relevant brainstorming notes).
• Two body paragraphs: Explore one side of the issue in the first paragraph and explore the other side of the issue in the second paragraph. Provide examples in both paragraphs and arrange all your notes on comments, pros and cons, and examples.
• Conclusion: This is where you should state your own opinion. A strong conclusion accounts for everything that has gone before it (both pros and cons), and makes a logical deduction from that.

‍ Step 4: Write your essay (17–18 minutes) ‍

4. After assessing and planning your essay, it’s time to start writing! 

• Introduction: The purpose of the introductory paragraph is to provide a clear indication of what’s to come. Identify the core theme, briefly define any key concepts within this theme, and then finish by indicating the other side of the theme.
• First body paragraph: Present the first side of the argument as clearly and convincingly as you can, and include one or two points with supporting examples which connect to one of the comments.
• Second body paragraph: Present the other side of the argument as clearly and convincingly as you can, and include one or two points with supporting examples which connect to one of the comments. The key difference between this and the first body paragraph is that you’ll need to show an awareness of the previous paragraph, such as through terminology like ‘however’. 
• Conclusion: In the final paragraph, you should assert your own opinion – this means you need to pick a side. You could start by directly stating your opinion, and then give reasons as to why you come down on that side. Alternatively, you could briefly summarise both sides, then move swiftly to your opinion. It’s a good idea to end on a strong note to show that you’re in control of the logic presented in the essay, whatever approach you decide to take.

Feel free to easily adapt this structure to write an essay with a different number of paragraphs. For example, if you want to write one paragraph for all three comments in a task, you would simply plan for three body paragraphs instead of two.

Step 5: Review your essay (2–3 minutes)

5. If you’ve successfully carried out the first four steps, then this step shouldn’t take too long. You can use this time to proofread your essay, which includes checking the grammar, spelling and punctuation. If you have time, you could even add a sentence or two throughout to strengthen the essay if needed. However, by this point, your essay should be close to perfect. This time would be best spent reviewing your work rather than making any major changes.

Succeed in the GAMSAT with Medify

Applying to graduate entry medicine or dentistry can be challenging. Throughout your admissions journey, you’ll need to show dental or medical schools why you deserve your spot. At Medify, we’re committed to making this journey a little easier.

If you’re looking for preparation material to boost your GAMSAT score, our GAMSAT Online Course can help. It provides:

• A robust Question Bank with 2,800 original GAMSAT-style practice questions
• 7 realistic and unique GAMSAT mock exams designed to simulate the real test
• 50+ in-depth tutorials with guidance from GAMSAT experts
• Medify’s science syllabus with key topics for biology, chemistry, and physics

Don’t forget to check out our ultimate guide to GAMSAT Section 1 and GAMSAT Section 3 if you haven’t already!

What should I do one month before my UCAT?

Keep practising! A month sounds like a long time, but time will quickly vanish. Set SMART  (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely) goals such as reaching a certain score by a certain date or time. 

Niche down even further on your weaknesses – by this stage you should just be focusing on what you find hardest. Make sure you factor in breaks and days off into your schedule, as well as any important events which you need to attend.

Read the ' Good medical practice ' by the Medical Board of Australia if you haven’t already. It will inform you about the different duties of healthcare professionals and how they should respond to different scenarios, which is essential for the Situational Judgement Test section of the UCAT.

Try Medify's Skills Trainers , such as inference scanning for Verbal Reasoning, to maximise your score (these are included in our UCAT ANZ Online Course ). Make sure you've also completed plenty of UCAT practice tests .

The UCAT exam is two hours with no breaks in between, so practise at least two hours each time to build your mental stamina. You should also simulate the exam environment as closely as possible – this means treating every mock test as if it were a real one. 

For instance, you should sit mock exams at the same time of the day as your actual UCAT exam and ensure there are no distractions. By mirroring the test conditions, not only will it prepare you for what to expect on test day, it should also help to decrease any anxiety leading up to the exam. Otherwise, your brain has to process the ‘new’ way of completing the test.

What should I do one week before my UCAT?

At this point, you'll know the format of the exam inside out and will have practised the questions enough times to get used to UCAT timings . Don’t give up – keep preparing in an environment where you cannot be interrupted.

Remember, a lot of your preparation will have been done in the weeks and months before this final week, so be careful not to overdo it and become too fatigued. Your motivation may drop or you might ‘peak’ before the test. Your body needs rest too. 

Now is a great time to introduce or increase self-care in your regime. Whether it’s watching Netflix, gaming, or just running a bath, it’s important to detach yourself from UCAT revision from time to time to avoid the risk of burnout.

In this week you should also prioritise your nutrition and sleep. Eat well, do not miss meals and keep hydrated. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep in the days before the test by avoiding late night cramming or staying awake into the early hours.

If it puts your mind at rest, you can check last year’s UCAT scores , but remember that this is all about your personal journey and performance, so don't get hung up on that information!

What should I do one day before my UCAT?

We do not advise doing a mock this close to the exam. Revision won't help you much at this stage and can actually leave you worse off. Instead, use this time to wind down and get yourself into a relaxed state. This will enable you to perform at your best on test day.

Try to get to bed early and avoid things that can affect sleep, such as looking at your phone before bed. If you think that you will struggle to sleep on time, you could try doing some exercise during the day to tire yourself out. 

Exercise can boost your brainpower by oxygenating your brain, helping you learn and aid sleep. Plus, activity makes your body release endorphins, which can reduce anxiety and stress levels.

Make sure you double check your UCAT test centre information, the travel route to the test centre, the time of your UCAT exam, and so on, so you’re well prepared for test day. If someone else is giving you a ride to the test centre, it’s worth reminding them.

What should I do on the day of my UCAT?

You should start the day off with a nutritious breakfast and give yourself enough time to arrive early to the test centre to avoid feeling flustered, rushed or stressed.

Remember that buses and trains can be late and that traffic may be heavier than you had hoped, so allow extra time whichever way you are travelling. Find out how to choose a UCAT test centre .

Make sure you know how to get to the test centre – for instance you could consider taking a map with you. If you’re using your phone for directions, make sure it’s sufficiently charged and that you have spare data (otherwise you can download the map ahead of time to use offline).

On test day you will be expected to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled test time to complete the check-in process.

You need to bring:

• Your test confirmation email
• Photographic ID from the approved list

When you arrive at the test centre, it’s likely that you’ll be experiencing a heightened sense of adrenaline. This is completely normal, but it could be helpful to learn some mindfulness tricks to reduce your stress levels . For instance, you could focus on your breathing to help you relax.

Don’t forget, during your test there are one minute introductions between each subtest. You can skip these, but we recommend using the time to mentally refresh yourself.

If you’ve stuck to your revision plan, and followed our advice above, the best thing you can do on test day is to try and keep as calm as possible. Take solace in the fact that you have prepared for weeks/months to get to this point, and channel any nervous energy into doing the best you can during your UCAT test. 

What should I eat and drink leading up to the UCAT?

You should think about your diet well ahead of UCAT test day. Focus on foods that release energy slowly (that is, which have a low glycaemic index, or GI) which will stop you from feeling hungry. These are ideal for UCAT preparation, as well as on test day itself.

Try eating protein and low-GI carbohydrates, such as meat or baked beans, brown (whole grain) rice or pasta, or wholegrain breakfast cereals or muesli. However, do not stray far from your usual diet on the day of the test in case you feel sick. You may want to try these foods out at the same time of day a few weeks in advance.

Be wary of energy drinks and coffee. If you’re not used to them then don’t drink them, especially in large quantities. Caffeine can acutely increase anxiety, and the sugar rush of an energy drink is soon followed by insulin slamming on the brakes, leaving you feeling worse than before. These products are no substitute for a good night’s sleep, eating properly and exercising.

No food or drink is allowed in the test room so eat a healthy meal before your UCAT test and ensure you’re hydrated. While you should make sure you’re drinking enough water, do not overdo it, otherwise you might need the toilet while the timer is ticking.

Please note, access arrangements are available if you have a disability, learning difficulty or long-term medical condition. You may be entitled to extra time and/or rest breaks, and allowed certain items, such as water, at your test centre workstation. 

What happens at the UCAT test centre?

• At the registration desk, you will be asked to show a valid photographic ID and a printed/electronic copy of your confirmation email from Pearson VUE. 
• You will be asked to sign a signature pad and take a photograph.
• You will be given spiral bound laminated sheets and a black marker pen. You may also request earplugs.
• Do not take anything other than your ID into the examination room. A locker or a coat hanger will be available.
• Go to the bathroom if you need to.
• Once the staff have prepared your exam, you may enter the exam room. You may be asked to undergo a body check (e.g. turning up your pockets and rolling your sleeves).
• The staff will guide you to the seat, or you may be able to choose your desk. Take some time to prepare yourself and relax. Your two hours have not yet started.

What is the UCAT test environment like?

This image shows a typical UCAT test environment:

There is no audio element to the test, but you can request earplugs to block out any noise that might disrupt your concentration. 

You will have access to a basic onscreen calculator which may be useful for the Quantitative Reasoning and Decision Making sections.

You will be given a laminated notebook and marker pen. Consider using these for:

• Quantitative Reasoning : Noting down numbers during multi-step workings
• Abstract Reasoning : Writing down mnemonics for pattern recognition
• Decision Making : Noting calculations and drawing diagrams

If you require an additional notebook and pen, you can raise your hand and ask the invigilator. Although the invigilator will check that your pen is working before the test, we advise double-checking this to avoid seeking assistance during the test.

What happens during my UCAT test?

• Once you are ready, follow the on-screen instructions.
• Your exam will be in the following order:
• Verbal Reasoning
• Decision Making
• Quantitative Reasoning
• Abstract Reasoning
• Situational Judgement
• You will have one minute before each section to read the instructions. You can skip it, but this will not give you an extra minute to answer the questions. Use this time to give your mind a quick break.
• If you have any issues, such as requiring a toilet break, you can quietly raise your hand. However, your time will continue running.
• After your exam, there may be an opportunity to answer a short optional survey on UCAT ANZ preparation and the quality of the venue.
• Raise your hand when you've finished and the examiner will guide you out of the exam room. You need to return your laminated board and marker pen.
• Collect your belongings and leave the test centre.
• Your UCAT ANZ results will be emailed to you shortly (usually between 30 minutes and one hour). All results will be delivered to UCAT ANZ Consortium universities automatically.
• If you’ve achieved the scores that you desire, well done.
• Even if you haven’t achieved the scores you wanted, congratulate yourself for getting through a really tough process. You've done exceptionally well just to get to this point. Plus, you can always take the UCAT again next year or consider graduate entry to medicine – do not give up on your dream!

Do you need help preparing for the UCAT ANZ? Head over to our UCAT ANZ Online Course and we’ll get you signed up to guide you through the whole process.

We provide a huge bank of 20,000+ questions, 24 unique full mock exams, 40+ mini-mock exams, 50+ hours of video tutorials, and performance feedback. We've also upgraded our UCAT mock exams 13-24 and revised our practice question bank to enrich your preparation journey.

1 in 2 students prepare for UCAT with Medify. Try Medify Now

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Related Articles

Gamsat requirements for medicine, dentistry & other healthcare courses, gamsat 2024 frequently asked questions, gamsat remote proctored testing: what you need to know.

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Free GAMSAT Sample Question: Gold Standard’s GAMSAT Question of the Day

• GAMSAT Question of the Day

GAMSAT Question of the Day provides you with free GAMSAT practice questions daily. Join our next FREE 1-hour GAMSAT problem-based learning online tutorial to prepare for the March or September 2024 GAMSAT. The next tutorial is on June 23, 2024. Check our monthly schedule, topics and downloadable practice questions: GAMSAT Free Webinars

To access over 3500 GAMSAT practice questions, consider the new Masters Series by Gold Standard with advanced learning features in both paperback and eBook format: GAMSAT books ( also available in bookshops and participating libraries ).

Get Exam-ready with Gold Standard’s GAMSAT Practice Question of the Day

Our Brand New March 2018 GAMSAT Crash Course: March 17, 18

Learn problem solving and strategies with gamsat-level training: 9 am - 5 pm, 2 days.

Day 1 am: Science students sit Section 1 and 2 practice (1 essay corrected with helpful advice, worked solutions for Section 1); non-science students: dimensional analysis, basic graph analysis, functional groups and nomenclature; pm: everyone together engage in GAMSAT-level problem-based learning in the Physical Sciences (Physics and General Chemistry which represent 40% of Section 3) followed by strategies and worked solutions.

Day 2 all day: GAMSAT-level problem-based learning in the Biological Sciences (Biology and Organic Chemistry which represent 60% of Section 3).

Location: Chislehurst Room, Women's College, the University of Queensland (UQ).

GAMSAT Question of the Day will focus on one practice question taken from a specific GAMSAT subject each day. If there is a diagram in the explanation which does not show in your browser, just click on the part that you can see, and it will become visible. Alternatively, you can refresh the page and wait for the image to load properly. Note: the real exam only has 4 options per question.

These GAMSAT practice questions are meant to build basic skills (verbal and geometric reasoning, graph/table interpretation, essay writing, dimensional analysis, etc.) that you are expected to have for the real exam. Keep in mind that most real GAMSAT questions are preceded by stimulus material (i.e. a passage; to sample our practice questions based on passages, click here: Free GAMSAT Practice Test ). If you have not studied your sciences yet, consider watching one of our 300 + science teaching videos (there is a sample one at the bottom of this page) before trying to answer our science practice questions.

If you want to discuss today's sample question or any GAMSAT-related topic, please post below. To attend our next free problem-based webinar, click here: Free GAMSAT Webinar . Our current edition GAMSAT books have been completely revised - covering all 3 test sections thoroughly - and are now available through our Gold Standard GAMSAT website, Amazon, Booktopia and many other online booksellers -->. Gold Standard is the first company to have published 15 full-length GAMSAT Practice Tests . We hope that you will continue to find our content helpful. Good luck with your studies!

Practice makes perfect: 10 GAMSAT mock exams!

Congratulations on your purchase, online access tools (detailed worked solutions, background videos, etc.) are accessible by book owners using the online access code which comes with your book, affixed to the inside back cover. first, register for a free account, then login and click on the red button 'gold standard textbook owners' in the right column and follow directions so that you can use your online access code to begin using your online resources., good luck with your studies.

Don’t waste money on ‘GAMSAT books’ with photocopied slides and Wikipedia articles.

Get specific gamsat preparation by gold standard: the only prep you need tm ..

Gold Standard 2023-2024 Edition: Clear Teaching with 3500 + GAMSAT Practice Questions

Get excited about learning again., have you forgotten your basic chemistry.

Or, ready to learn GAMSAT Chemistry for the first time?

Consider watching an introduction to stoichiometry below. Over the last few months, Gold Standard has added hours of new teaching videos - from very basic to advanced science topics - to our already extensive collection at www. GAMSAT -prep.com (currently we have an unrivalled 70 + hours of videos with helpful teaching). Many of our new videos also include GAMSAT practice questions. You can open a free GAMSAT practice test account to watch another hour of the videos of your choice, or join one of our GAMSAT courses to have unlimited access to our video library during your subscription period. Come learn from our experience.

Bonus GAMSAT Practice Question!

Most Section 3 GAMSAT questions on the real exam are based on graphs, tables and diagrams. This is why we always encourage students attending our courses to begin their Section 3 studies with Maths before attempting any of the other sciences. The Maths section in our new Gold Standard Masters Series book has expanded chapters teaching dimensional analysis (used to solve questions in all sciences) and GAMSAT graph analysis (including the GAMSAT-favorite ‘triangle’ or ternary graph).

Here is a typical graph analysis practice question we distributed to some ‘premed’ groups. Please try to answer before looking at the worked solution.

Rockets and satellites are used to measure multiple parameters in the Earth’s upper atmosphere (100 to 800 km above the surface of the Earth). Such parameters include fluctuations in temperature as well as total neutral density (i.e. uncharged species) and electron density. These 3 parameters fluctuate during the sun’s 11-year activity cycle which is illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1 can be used to determine the Fluctuation Factor (FF), as defined as the factor by which the lowest value of a parameter can be multiplied to get its highest value at a specific height. For example, if at a given height, the lowest value of a parameter is x and its highest value is 5x, then its FF is 5. According to Figure 1, which of the following parameters displays the greatest FF at any height in the upper atmosphere?

• A Total neutral density
• B Electron density
• C Temperature
• D Both B and C are approximately the highest

After you have considered your answer, proceed with the worked solution. It should be noted, however, if you have not reviewed logarithms and logarithmic scales (section/chapter GM 3.7, 3.8 in GS Book 2), then the worked solution may be challenging.

The difference in the temperature is easy because, along the bottom x-axis, we can see that it is a linear scale and the widest difference, at any given height goes from approx. just over 700 to just over 1400 for a FF of 2 (as defined in the preamble). If the purpose of the question is now more clear to you, you can go back and attempt the solution.

Now we can examine ‘Electron density’ being careful to compare the greatest width of Electron density with the x-axis which refers to it most closely: log Electron Number Density. Now we can see that the greatest width of that region of the graph is 1 unit but since the log of 10 is 1 then in terms of the actual values, the FF for Electron density is approximately 10.

And then finally, comparing the widest portion of Total neutral density at any given height, being approximately 2 units of a logarithmic value, where log 100 or log 10 to the power of 2 is the number 2, thus the FF must be 100 which declares that ‘A’ is the correct response as it has the greatest FF (note: just comparing the widths visually gives the wrong impression as to the actual changes in values from highest to lowest because of the use of log scales).

Understanding how to properly interpret graphs, tables and diagrams will benefit you greatly for GAMSAT success and one day, it will benefit your patients as you practice evidenced-based medicine and avoid being influenced by marketing reps for treatments that do not improve outcomes. Win-win!

ACER’s GAMSAT Sample Questions: Worked Solutions

GAMSAT PRACTICE QUESTIONS

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GAMSAT Practice Questions- Section II

Written communication.

You have 5 minutes perusal and 60 minutes to write two essays: one Task A and Task B

Consider the following comments and develop a piece of writing in response to one or more of them. Your writing will be judged on the quality of what you have to say in response to the theme, how well you organize and present your point of view, and how effectively you express yourself. You will not be judged on the views or attitude you express.

********** Poverty is the failure of equity and charity. ***** The world's poorest nations are those that have been torn apart by conflict. ***** No one asks to be born into poverty but they can ask to be removed from it through hard work and dedication. ***** Poverty can never be eradicated whilst humans have free will. ***** Poverty is the mother of crime and the daughter of upheaval.

********** Home is more than a place of bricks and mortar. It is solace, security, love. ***** Home is the place that, when you have to go there, they have to let you in. ***** Home is where the heart is. ***** Home is a word that belongs only to the loved. ***** Home is for the idle, the ill and the unimaginative.

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Guides & Info

The Ultimate Guide to GAMSAT Section 2

Please note that GAMSAT ‘Section II: Written Communication’ has been renamed to ‘Written Communication Section’. To ensure this article is easy to follow, we’ll refer to this section as ‘Section 2’ throughout. Read about the latest changes to the GAMSAT .

In our GAMSAT Section 2 guide, we’ll walk you through what to expect in Section 2 and how best to prepare for it. We’ll also go through a free example Section 2 task with expert guidance on how to structure this essay.

Just starting GAMSAT revision? We recommend building your GAMSAT knowledge by going through GAMSAT preparation material, such as:

• GAMSAT FAQ – view 30+ GAMSAT questions, including which dental/medical schools require the GAMSAT
• GAMSAT preparation tips – find out how to get the most from your revision
• GAMSAT preparation mistakes – explore common pitfalls to avoid while preparing
• GAMSAT timing – learn how to overcome GAMSAT time pressure

Once you’ve finished going through this article, we recommend reading the ultimate guide to GAMSAT Section 3 , to give you a comprehensive overview of the entire GAMSAT exam. If you missed the first article in this series, make sure you check out our ultimate guide to GAMSAT Section 1 too.

Table of contents

Gamsat section 2 structure, what does gamsat section 2 test, how should i approach preparation for gamsat section 2, free example task for gamsat section 2.

GAMSAT section

Number of GAMSAT questions

Section time

Time per question

Written Communication

Approximately 30 minutes

For GAMSAT 2024 testing, Section 2 will now be delivered via remote proctoring and will take place approximately two weeks before Section 1 and 3 (these sections will take place at a test centre as normal). Remote proctoring is a form of online remote test delivery which includes being supervised by a remote proctor via screen sharing and webcam monitoring. Learn more about how remote proctoring will work including top tips for ensuring it goes smoothly.

The purpose of GAMSAT Section 2 is to test your ability to effectively and logically express your thoughts. Essays marked will be judged on quality of thinking and how well you articulate this thinking through written language. In order to do this, you must identify the common theme running through the presented comments, and plan and structure your essay before you begin writing.

This section is split into two writing tasks: Task A and Task B. In each GAMSAT Section 2 task, you will read four or five comments on a common theme and must write an essay that responds to one or more of them.

• Task A tends to focus on socio-cultural issues, such as law, religion and economic narratives. It’s best suited to an argumentative essay style. 
• Task B tends to focus more on personal and social issues, such as emotions, feelings and the lived experience. Therefore, a creative or reflective essay could be the best option if you feel comfortable writing in this style.

For those with a pure science background, Section 2 can be the most daunting part of the GAMSAT exam. Not only this, the digital exam format means you’ll need to type out your responses (with no automatic spelling and grammar checks). If this is something you struggle with, we advise improving your typing speed and accuracy before sitting the GAMSAT.

For GAMSAT Section 2 preparation, we recommend that you break down the steps and timing for each task as follows:

• Assess the task (2 minutes)
• Brainstorm your response (4 minutes)
• Outline your essay (4 minutes)
• Write your essay (17–18 minutes)
• Review your essay (2–3 minutes)

As you can see, you should spend just over a third of the time limit planning and reviewing your essay, and allocate the rest to writing time.

According to the ACER GAMSAT Information Booklet , you’ll be assessed on ‘the quality of the thinking about a topic’ and ‘the way in which ideas are integrated into a thoughtful response to the task’. This means you should concentrate more on the depth and organisation of ideas, rather than breadth. A sensible guideline to follow for a non-creative essay is an introduction, a few body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

To perform well in this section, it’s critical that you demonstrate that you have correctly understood the theme, thought through different angles on the issue or topic, and taken a clear stance in relation to it. This can be achieved through analysing the task and brainstorming carefully.

In GAMSAT Section 2 essays, it’s a good idea to write about a few concepts that you understand, and communicate these in a logical and coherent way, rather than to present too many ideas in an unstructured manner. Also, some students can focus too heavily on individual quotes and end up missing the overall theme, or fixate too much on the theme and neglect the variety of opinions on a topic. Success in GAMSAT Section 2 requires a careful balance between the two.

Task A example essay question

Consider the following comments and develop a piece of writing in response to one or more of them.

Your writing will be judged on the quality of your response to the theme, how well you organise and present your point of view, and how effectively you express yourself.

Comment 1 The internet is an elite organisation. Most of the population of the world has never even made a phone call. Noam Chomsky

Comment 2 The internet is forever demanding that the real world be redefined to suit its whims. Terry Pratchett

Comment 3 The Web is a tremendous grassroots revolution. Tim Berners-Lee

Comment 4 The internet’s primary function is to allow people to hear what they want to hear.

Task A example essay guidance

Here’s a step-by-step process of how to approach this task:

Step 1: Assess the task (2 minutes)

1. First, assess the task by reading through all the comments and identifying the overarching theme. In this initial stage, your focus should be on determining which comments you can thoughtfully explore in relation to the theme. This will guide the subsequent decisions you make when planning and writing your essay. As we know that Task A will generally be on a socio-cultural theme, this can help with the first step of identifying the theme in the task. 

Step 2: Brainstorm your response (4 minutes)

2. After identifying the core theme and comments you wish to use, you should think about some pros and cons, as well as your own opinion. In this brainstorming phase, you should reflect on both sides of the topic and note down a few succinct examples for each side. Try to pursue ideas that you find interesting or exciting, as this sense of authenticity can develop your ideas and improve your writing. 

You can use any method to capture your thoughts in response to the task, such as a spider diagram or a table with arguments ‘for’ and ‘against’ the statement. By the end of this step, you should have comprehensive notes on many relevant ideas and examples, ready for organising.

Step 3: Outline your essay (4 minutes)

3. Now it’s time to decide how you would like to present all of this thinking to the reader. You should carefully select ideas that will strengthen your essay, and disregard anything that doesn’t contribute to the overall argument. Make sure you decide on your conclusion before organising your chosen ideas into a logical and coherent structure as follows:

• Introduction: Identify the theme and define the key concepts (use relevant brainstorming notes).
• Two body paragraphs: Explore one side of the issue in the first paragraph and explore the other side of the issue in the second paragraph. Provide examples in both paragraphs and arrange all your notes on comments, pros and cons, and examples.
• Conclusion: This is where you should state your own opinion. A strong conclusion accounts for everything that has gone before it (both pros and cons), and makes a logical deduction from that.

Step 4: Write your essay (17–18 minutes)

4. After assessing and planning your essay, it’s time to start writing! 

• Introduction: The purpose of the introductory paragraph is to provide a clear indication of what’s to come. Identify the core theme, briefly define any key concepts within this theme, and then finish by indicating the other side of the theme.
• First body paragraph: Present the first side of the argument as clearly and convincingly as you can, and include one or two points with supporting examples which connect to one of the comments.
• Second body paragraph: Present the other side of the argument as clearly and convincingly as you can, and include one or two points with supporting examples which connect to one of the comments. The key difference between this and the first body paragraph is that you’ll need to show an awareness of the previous paragraph, such as through terminology like ‘however’. 
• Conclusion: In the final paragraph, you should assert your own opinion – this means you need to pick a side. You could start by directly stating your opinion, and then give reasons as to why you come down on that side. Alternatively, you could briefly summarise both sides, then move swiftly to your opinion. Whatever approach you take, try to end on a strong note to show that you’re in control of the logic presented in the essay.

Note that you can easily adapt this structure to write an essay with a different number of paragraphs. For example, if you want to write one paragraph for all three comments in a task, you would simply plan for three body paragraphs instead of two.

Step 5: Review your essay (2–3 minutes)

5. If you’ve successfully carried out the first four steps, then this step shouldn’t take too long. You can use this time to proofread your essay, which includes checking the grammar, spelling and punctuation. If you have time, you could even add a sentence or two throughout to strengthen the essay if needed. However, by this point, your essay should be close to perfect. This time would be best spent reviewing your work rather than making any major changes.

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Don’t forget to check out our ultimate guide to GAMSAT Section 1 and GAMSAT Section 3 if you haven’t already!

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Resources For Gamsat Section 2

Resources for GAMSAT section 2

When I was studying for Gamsat I spent hours looking for resources for section 2. If you're looking for your own resources for Gamsat section 2 I've written this short article to help you out so you can save yourself from spending hours like I did.

So a good strategy for section 2 is to get a good overview of current ideas and theories in a range of broad topics.

This way you'll be able to work them into your arguments in your essays and appear well informed and able to relate your arguments to the real world.

So if you can have a reasonably good idea of the most important historical ideas, plus the latest developments in a range of commonly discussed disciplines such as philosophy, politics, economics, art etc. that is a good strategy to adopt for section two.

Here's three useful resources which will help you achieve just that.

The first resource on our list is a website which has literally thousands of videos covering many topics.

This is TED which is a non profit organization which is devoted to spreading ideas in the form of short talks presented by experts in their fields from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world.

The average length of these videos is about 20 minutes so you can watch them in easily digestible little chunks.

The Meaning of Things

This resource is a book written by well known British philosopher A.C. Grayling.

It consists of a series of brief articles which aim to help the reader think about life, common human dilemmas and universal difficulties. Encouraging introspection into life and experience to help us achieve a life worth living.

Some of the topics covered include include courage, love, betrayal, ambition, cruelty, wisdom, passion, beauty and death.

This book will help you generate concepts to support your arguments in your Gamsat section two essays.

50 Big Ideas

Another great book - 50 Big Ideas You Really Need to Know by Ben Dupré is a concise, accessible and popular guide to the central tenets of Western thought. Every important principle of philosophy, religion, politics, economics, the arts and the sciences is profiled in a series of short illustrated essays, complemented by an informative array of timelines and box features. Platonism, The Soul, Communism, Aristotelianism, Faith, Fascism, The Golden rule, Atheism, Racism, Altruism, Secularism, Feminism, Pluralism, Fundamentalism, Islamism, Liberty, Creationism, Capitalism, Toleration, War, Globalization, Scepticism, Duty, Classicism, Reason, Utopia, Romanticism, Punishment, Liberalism, Modernism, Materialism, Democracy, Surrealism, Relativism, Conservatism, Censorship, Utilitarianism, Imperialism, Big Bang, Existentialism, Nationalism, Chaos, Evil, Social contract, Evolution, Fate, Republicanism, Relativity, Quantum mechanics, Gaia.

These three resources are great way to get going with your Gamsat section 2 practice.

Quote Generator

The final resource on my list is a quote generator which will help you to generate an unlimited number of quotes on hundreds of topics in a format virtually identical to the real test.

When doing your practice essays I always recommend typing them under timed conditions as in the real thing so you can practice your timing skills and also improve your typing speed and accuracy.

The second thing I recommend is to always write two in a row one directly after the other to replicate test conditions so you can develop the mental agility to quickly switch from one topic to another.

Further Resources

For more detailed help with your GAMSAT essay writing please refer to Griffiths GAMSAT Review which contains an essay writing model which practically allows you to have your essays pre-written before you even walk into the test.

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GAMSAT Resources

These resources have been created by @Jesse Osbourne . If you'd like to say thanks, subscribe to my YouTube Channel and say hi! 👋

I'll keep updating this page with new content as I build it out so keep a check on it!

Copyright Notice: All of these resources are subject to copyright law and must not be reproduced without permission from the author.

DISCLAIMER: These resources are not official materials and are not endorsed or affiliated with ACER. You should always take unofficial material with a degree of caution and while I aim to create relevant resources, the best resource will always be the official ACER Practice Materials. The materials available here do not contain official test questions and may not represent actual test questions.

Section 2 - Written Communication

Section 3 - reasoning in the physical & biological sciences.

General Resources

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I’ve very frustratedly watched the GAMSAT preparation space get plagued by greedy, exploitative, and predatory prep companies looking to take financial gain from the desperation of applicants to Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM). Overpriced ‘prep courses’ have become the norm despite the fact that there are no guarantees that anything like this will actually work.

Putting aside some of the tactics used by these organisations to lure students into spending excessive amounts of money, the embedding of these groups in the GAMSAT prep space has meant that access to GEM has slowly been divided and risks tipping towards a ‘pay to play’ environment in a field that already faces heavy underrepresentation of those from low SES backgrounds and other minority groups.

My goal with the YouTube Channel and this page is to bring a real challenge to these companies and the commercialisation of GEM and GAMSAT prep that has evolved. The only appeal that paid courses have to potential customers is the offer of additional questions and guidance beyond what is already available from official ACER materials and this unfortunately seems to be priced at a premium that could never be justified.

HOWEVER! Free, high quality (hopefully) materials, notes, guidance, questions, and explanations available here can help erode any value proposition that these prep companies attempt to offer. I would hope to see preparation for GAMSAT permanently democratised and equally accessible to all candidates regardless of how much money you’ve got in your bank account, who your parents are, or any other element entirely arbitrary to your ability to be successful in your pursuit and your fitness for healthcare.

The reality is that many GAMSAT candidates study independently, spending only on their GAMSAT ticket and the official materials, and score far better than they might have expected. Spending money on resources does not correlate with higher scores so don’t buy in (if you’ll pardon the pun) to the narrative that you need to undertake a paid course.

While I might have started this initiative to put an end to greedy profiteering from prep courses, it’s you that will finish it. When you study for free, with my resources or something else, you are signalling to the prep companies that the tide has changed. We can see through the tactics and the more people continue on this path, the closer we come to the day that prep companies are no longer in business.

Happy studying!

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GAMSAT Sections: A Breakdown

by Kayley Crebbin , 29 November, 2022 Read 4584 times

GAMSAT is one of the major hurdles for students aspiring for a place in a postgraduate medical school . If this is you, you’re probably wondering about the different GAMSAT sections and what exactly this exam entails, and why so many people dread it. I, too, was intimidated by this exam, until I bit the bullet, paid my registration fee, and didn’t look back!

GAMSAT is a marathon of an exam: three sections, totalling 5 hours and 15 minutes of examination time, all on the same day. During this time, you’ll have to answer 137 multiple-choice questions, and write two essays. The questions are unlike anything you will have encountered in your undergraduate study: they are less reliant on knowledge, and more reliant on your ability to reason through problems. So, what are these sections, and how to prepare for GAMSAT exam ?

GAMSAT Section 1: Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences

Total time: 8 min reading time / 92 min writing time

Time per question: ≈ 1 min 30 sec

Section 1 is very much like a reading comprehension type test, though the questions aren’t straight comprehension. Often, you’ll be asked more abstract questions, such as about the tone of the piece. Be prepared to come up against uncommon words. A good vocabulary will help you here! Never fear, non-native speakers: you will be allowed to bring a bilingual dictionary with definitions of English words in your native tongue (but you are not allowed to bring a dictionary with definitions of English words in English).

Many candidates find themselves spooked at the range of text types in GAMSAT Section 1. Not only will you come up against prose, but you will also come up against poetry, plays, and even diagrams and flowcharts. Familiarising yourself with as many text types as possible will help you to be more comfortable on the day. Be sure to arm yourself with strategies that are broadly applicable to a range of text types so that you won’t be blindsided!

How to prepare for GAMSAT Section 1 ?

Brush up on your vocabulary

Familiarise yourself with a range of text types

Practice questions

GAMSAT Section 2: Written Communication

Number of questions: 2

Total time: 5 min reading time / 60 min writing time

Time per question: 30 min

Section 2 is the essay writing section, though as I’ll explain, you don’t have to write essays. For each question, or “task,” you will be given four statements or quotes that are based around a common theme. Task A is usually related to socio-cultural issues, such as democracy or globalism, and Task B is usually related to more personal and social issues, such as friendship or childhood. The tasks are usually quite broad so that virtually everyone should have something that they are able to say about them.

The instructions for GAMSAT Section 2 are quite broad, requesting that you simply write a response to the given quotes. A “response” can be anything: it can be a traditional essay, or you could write a story, poem, dialogue, etc. Typically, people tend to save their more creative responses for Task B, as the Task B topics tend to lend themselves better to a creative response, but there is nothing stopping you from writing a poem for Task A, for example. Alternatively, if you prefer essays, you could write an essay for both Task A and Task B. If you’re not sure what constitutes a good essay, make sure to check out our GAMSAT Example Essays . 

Another important point is that you’re not required to include any of the quotes; they are there to stimulate your thinking. Many people do include quotes, and that’s totally fine too, as long as the inclusion of the quote doesn’t interrupt the flow of what you’re writing, and as long as the quote isn’t “shoehorned” in.

As per the 2023 GAMSAT Info Booklet , Section 2 is marked based on thought and content (the quality of what is said), and organisation and expression (the quality of the structure developed and language used). Candidates are not assessed on the attitudes that they display, so feel free to be controversial, as long as you write about it well. Each piece of writing is assessed by three independent raters to reduce risk of bias.

How to prepare for GAMSAT Section 2 ?

Engage with topical issues (news sources)

Practice writing essays

Practice writing other types of texts (prose, poetry, etc.)

GAMSAT Section 3: Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences

Number of questions: 75

Total time: 8 min reading time / 142 min writing time

Time per question: ≈ 1 min 53 sec

Section 3 is arguably the “meatiest” section of the GAMSAT, and the section that many candidates dread. It consists of 75 questions, with roughly 40% (30 questions) being chemistry-related, roughly 40% (30) being biology-related, and roughly 20% (15 questions) being physics-related. In reality, some questions will contain a mixture of concepts from different disciplines. It’s also important to have a solid foundation in GAMSAT maths as many questions will require you to manipulate and rearrange equations.

Many candidates, particularly those tackling GAMSAT preparation from non-science backgrounds , are intimidated by what seems to be a large amount of content to be learned. The official 2023 GAMSAT info booklet says that candidates should aim for first-year undergraduate level biology and chemistry, and year 12 level physics. While this seems like a lot, rest assured that not all of that needs to be memorised. Learning the concepts well is usually sufficient, as GAMSAT Section 3 questions contain a lot of information in the stem. In fact, Section 3 questions have less of an emphasis on memorisation, and more of an emphasis on how you can take the new information that they have given you and apply it to novel situations.

Students with a science background shouldn’t become complacent either, as Section 3 questions are likely to be very different to questions that they have encountered in undergraduate science coursework. In recent years, ACER has deliberately chosen esoteric topics that undergraduate students are unlikely to have encountered, so that candidates are forced to use their problem solving and reasoning skills (along with their knowledge of foundational science concepts) to answer the questions. As such, it is important to do lots of practice questions for Section 3 to familiarise yourself with the question style, especially since many universities still weigh Section 3 more heavily in calculation of the overall GAMSAT score .

How to prepare for GAMSAT Section 3 ?

Learn the foundational concepts in GAMSAT chemistry , GAMSAT physics , and GAMSAT biology

Practice reading unusual graphs and diagraphs

Practice questions, practice questions, and more practice questions!

I hope that this blog post has given you an idea of what to expect and how to prepare for all three sections of GAMSAT. GAMSAT is a marathon of an exam, but it’s definitely not insurmountable. So many of us have been there and conquered it! 

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Common GAMSAT Essay Topics – Read Now!

Re: gamsat essay topics.

GAMSAT essay topics are usually abstractions taking the form of a famous quote, controversial statement or witty idea. As you most likely know:

Task A of the GAMSAT essay topics is most likely contentious, argumentative and critical which asks you to write for or against the proposition.

Task B of the GAMSAT essay topics is most likely more abstract, reflective, expressive, even poetic in its proposed contemplation and response. Since Task A is most likely political, it is best to be well-read in current global events. Since Task B is most likely reflective it is best to be well-read in aesthetics and literature.

Since you are given a number of quotations for either task, one can respond either directly to one quote, to the general implied idea behind the quotes, or use the quote as a theme to respond to. In a Task A marking, the highest standards are most likely evidence and support to back up claims made in the essay. In Task B markings, the highest standards usually revolve around an experiential evaluation based in style. This dichotomy is somewhat arbitrary when both standards work in conjunction for both essays.

Before we cover common examples of GAMSAT essay topics you can  click the yellow button below to download your Free GAMSAT Essay Questions for Section 2.

Free GAMSAT Essay Questions

We have also released a free GAMSAT essay writing book . Click below to download your digital version now for free – this will teach you everything you need to know for Section 2 of the exam!

Free GAMSAT Essay Book

Examples of GAMSAT essay topics could be almost anything; so a wonderful source for practice and study is a book of quotations or a list of quotes found online. In addition, higher-grade periodicals, such as The New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, Rolling Stone, et. al. can help immensely! These periodicals cover current events well, have a strong op-ed section, as well as showcase artistic pursuits.

Of course, the best practice in preparing for the GAMSAT essay topics is to actually write. Choose some common universal themes (Friendship, Love, Suffering, etc.) in a book of quotations and respond in writing. Read up on current controversial topics (politics, social injustices, etc.) and formulate a response. Share these with friends for feedback or post on your favourite online forums to generate responses.

You can also submit your essay to our Essay Marking Service to receive a sample grade and detailed feedback from our essay marking specialists!

Click the ‘Essay Marking Service’ link below to submit your essay for marking. Essay Marking Service

We will now quickly overview a range of common GAMSAT essay topics.

Common Topics GAMSAT Task A

Task B of the GAMSAT is targeted to be the reflective essay. The quotes that students receive usually have a personal theme to allow students to relate the themes with their own experiences in life.

Common Topics GAMSAT Task B

• Originality

Quick Tips For Writing Your GAMSAT Essay

1. It is highly recommended that students write about these GAMSAT Essay Topics. Students should find quotes that relate to these themes and write as many essays as possible. When students are in the actual exam they will already have so many examples in mind for each theme to back up their essays – This will greatly improve their timing in the essay!

2. Students should write practice essays for each of these themes and have them looked at by a professional or a friend who has gone exceptionally well in the GAMSAT

3. When practicing essay writing students should work under timed conditions and try to simulate the actual exam environment as much as possible. Find a quiet place and sit down at a desk. Students need to actually write the essays out on lined paper – just like they will need to do in the actual GAMSAT exam. This is also beneficial as it will train the writing muscles to cope with 1 hour of continuous writing in section 2.

Also, a great book that covers many GAMSAT essay topics is called ‘The Meaning Of Things’ by AC Grayling.

Finally, a word of advice, think of your writings not as practice, but as rehearsal. By rehearsing each day, you will develop the optimism in your responses to Ace the GAMSAT!

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