So, you want to be a Medical student. If your dream is to become a doctor in Australia or the UK, then you probably already know that you will need to sit the GAMSAT exam. The GAMSAT is a major hurdle for students who want to advance into medicine. It is an exam that tests your reasoning skills in humanities, biology, chemistry, and physics. Students usually need three to six months to prepare for the GAMSAT. If you’re not sure where to start with your GAMSAT preparation, then make sure to look into some highly-rated GAMSAT books.
Well-written GAMSAT books will give you a good idea of what the GAMSAT is all about, the prerequisite knowledge in order to be able to tackle the questions effectively, and what type of questions to expect from the GAMSAT.
The GAMSAT aims to test your reasoning skills – not your ability to memorise things or your science knowledge – so even if you don’t have a solid background in science, you’ve still got a chance as long as you are willing to work hard. With the help of a good GAMSAT book, you will be able to catch up to your peers in no time.
So, what makes a good GAMSAT book? It depends on which GAMSAT section you are currently focusing your preparation on. If you’re working on your humanities and essay writing skills, then you should try to consume as many reading materials as possible. Reading widely will allow you to broaden your horizons and improve your essay writing skills, as well as your ability to comprehend and answer social science questions. You should try to peruse a wide array of media – from fiction, non-fiction books, blog articles, to the newspaper.
On the other hand, if you’re focusing your preparation on the science side of the GAMSAT, it can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t have a strong science background. There are so many science concepts out there. Where do you even start?
As mentioned previously, you don’t necessarily need to memorise science concepts for the GAMSAT, because it aims to test your reasoning skills. More often than not, the required background information will be provided in the question stem. However, it still helps if you are familiar with certain science concepts. For example, for Biology, it helps to be familiar with the respiratory system, the renal system, the immune system, and the reproductive system.
For Chemistry, the topics frequently covered in the GAMSAT include the atoms, gases, acid and bases, and biochemistry. For Physics, make sure you are familiar with motion, Newton’s laws, electric circuits, and optics. Note that the list above is not exhaustive. For a more comprehensive list of the topics you should understand in order to perform well in the GAMSAT, be sure to check out GradReady’s GAMSAT Study Syllabus.
In conclusion, a good GAMSAT textbook will cover all of the above and more. By more, we are referring to the fact that it should have sections dedicated to helping you improve your reasoning skills as well. Now that you have a good idea of what makes a good GAMSAT book, make sure to pick the right one for your needs and start your preparation off on the right foot. All the best with your GAMSAT exam preparation!
