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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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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 4,000+ 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. his is completely normal, but it could be helpful to learn some strategies for adopting a winning mindset on test day to reduce your stress levels, and enable you to perform at your best. 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 a laminated notebook 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 available in your Pearson VUE account within 24 hours. You will receive an email with instructions to access your score report through your account. 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.

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GAMSAT Section 2 Topics – Task A and Task B

GAMSAT Section 2 Topics

From: Matthew Re: GAMSAT Section 2 Topics

Many students email our team and ask ‘what are the common GAMSAT section 2 topics?’. So I am going to outline this in this post as there may be many more students with the same question.

Firstly, ACER does not provide a syllabus with the most common GAMSAT section 2 topics, so we can only guess/assume based on past years and intelligent research.

After some research our team has put together common GAMSAT section 2 topics that are likely to arise in task A and task B of the GAMSAT.

TASK A – GAMSAT Section 2 Topics

Task A is an argumentative essay and deals with sociocultural issues. Common GAMSAT section 2 topics for Task A include war, freedom, crime, science, technology, poverty, wealth, and punishment.

TASK B – GAMSAT Section 2 Topics

Task B is a personal essay and it should be written with feeling. The theme deals with social and personal issues. Common GAMSAT section 2 topics for Task B include love, friendship, originality, ageing, suffering, beauty, conformity, youth, humour.

Students can get a free series of quotes that relate to some of these common GAMSAT section 2 topics. Click below to download now.

FREE GAMSAT ESSAY QUESTIONS

We have also released a 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

So, just a reminder that students are given 60 minutes to complete two essays, so it is important to keep track of time and not spend too much time on one essay. Students are given 5 quotes that surround a common theme and they are required to respond to the overall theme that these quotes represent.

Students should aim to write an essay that is between 350-400 words in length. It is also important to include a title in your essay – try to be creative and make it stand out from the hundreds of other essays that the marker is going to read. If you are struggling to think of a title, a simple rhetorical question will do as a title. Try to focus on generating great ideas and planning out each essay before you actually begin writing. Ideas are more important than grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

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ACER's GAMSAT Booklets in PDFs

Official Online PDFs vs. Booklets

All ACER's GAMSAT practice materials are in PDF format (eBooks watermarked with your identifying information), which first became available in November 2011. Hard copies, aka tangible booklets, are no longer sold by ACER. Occasionally, the original booklets become available in online second-hand markets like Gumtree or eBay.

To purchase the downloadable PDF files directly from ACER, you must first open an account here: ACER GAMSAT Practice Tests . If you happen to have access to other past editions of these practice exams then you should know that though the cover has changed over the years, the content has not. However, for the sake of improving the value of your experience with past GAMSAT practice materials, only use older editions if they are unmarked. ACER's Practice Test 3 is their most recent publication and was made available for the very first time in late 2017.

What is the cost of ACER's GAMSAT Practice Materials?

GAMSAT Practice Test 1, 2 and 3 eBooks (PDFs) cost the same amount: AUD$45, £28, €32. GAMSAT Sample Questions, a shorter eBook, is AUD$27, £17, €19. GAMSAT Practice Questions, first published in the 1990s, is free upon registration for the real exam. It should be noted that ACER has a relatively new product, introduced in its current form in 2022, aimed at Section 2 preparation: Online Test Generator. It is an automated essay correction service which costs AUD$20, £11, €13. It can predict GAMSAT Section 2 scores (Written Communication) relatively well for most, not all, candidates. Obviously, prices that are quoted are subject to change..

Why ACER's Practice Booklets?

The official source of the GAMSAT is ACER. Their sample questions and practice tests best simulates the difficulty and timing of the real exam. Some students complain that ACER's practice booklets did not replicate their particular real exam experience, but that would be an unrealistic standard. After all, GAMSAT is not a knowledge-based exam. The purpose of practice tests is to give you an idea as to what to expect, to point out strengths and weaknesses, to practice under time constraints and to monitor improvements over time.

Gold Standard GAMSAT Practice Tests

We have created thousands of GAMSAT practice questions with worked solutions and instant online access based on our analysis of ACER's published materials and testing patterns. Every question has a separate forum thread to encourage further discussion. To learn about our 10 GAMSAT practice tests, click here: GAMSAT practice tests

If you wish to sit one of our full-length sample exams with analysis and detailed worked solutions, click here: Free GAMSAT Practice Test

The Gold Standard also offers free GAMSAT practice questions, which features an abbreviated GAMSAT practice test with clear explanations, videos, instant practice exam results and more. If you already have an account on our website then you will find your free practice test, after you login, by clicking Tests in the top Menu and then scrolling down. If not, you can access the Gold Standard (GS) Free GAMSAT Sample Test by clicking here: Free GAMSAT practice test .

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Gamsat Review Blog

Everything you need to know about GAMSAT by Dr Peter Griffiths

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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by Michael Sunderland  

Clear and EFFECTIVE Section II writing (the five C’s)

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June 29, 2021 in  GAMSAT Section 2

The Five C’s

Clear and effective GAMSAT Section II writing

by Michael John Sunderland, 90plusgamsat | 29.06.21

Gosh, it’s been a minute.

I’ve focussed the bulk of my attention on extraordinary Section II writing for around 18 months now, and as a result of my tutoring and marking essays in the 90+ Facebook group, I’ve had the benefit of not only learning what scores well for myself, but how most students’ essays depart from what I learned about how to score highly in Section II.

This knowledge is going to help you fix half of all errors I see in GAMSAT writing, and let your ideas shine through.

It is an essential component to scoring highly in the GAMSAT (and communicating effectively in the written mode in general).

So let’s get to it!

The Five C’s

Comprehension, coherence/cohesion.

In the context of the GAMSAT comprehension of the material provided to you (the prompts) is crucial. You can otherwise think of it as relevance .

“Pre-prepared responses and responses that do not relate to the topic will receive a low score” – ACER information booklet

Your response must be dynamically relevant to what is being said. As a function of this, it is essential that you have comprehended the prompts – which is to say, you have considered that they are individually, and as a set, an invitation to discuss something about the internal or external world around you .

Note: I say around you because this is what you can authoritatively talk about, versus “capitalism through history” for instance – which you can only have limited knowledge about due to the breadth of the topic and the fact that you can only see it from one vantage point. Capitalism on your street as a child, however, you could talk about. Perhaps little Jimmy used to charge the rest of you an entry fee before playing his new Xbox. This would be a perfectly acceptable lens to discuss capitalism through, and one that would have far less potential pitfalls. But I digress.

The key word here is invitation.

I will paraphrase from the content at this link to distinguish how you might approach distinguishing what is being invited by the prompts.

What is being said is but one subjective “take” on the subject matter. Therefore, not just what is being said but how the author/speaker portrays that subject matter (for example with tone, bias, or persuasive elements) contributes to it being a unique perspective. Not just what is says, but what it does by making that remark and lastly what that might mean about the person or worldview, are crucial considerations.

In combination, there are five “takes” (prompts) on a situation provided by ACER; each trying to “do” something, and in the attempt at doing, meaning something about the author, or perhaps the topic. If you consider the five prompts like a discussion between expert academics, you might see that the moment provided by the inclusion of these five perspectives invites you to have whatever opinion you might have in the domain provided by these other five perspectives. It is critical that your opinion, however, is in the domain of the five other opinions. By in the domain, I mean relevant to what they are saying. If you just came into the middle of a conversation where five people were talking deeply and passionately about communism in China, and then you start talking about capitalism in America, they may go with you, but it would be a little dissonant and weird.

So, you must understand the domain of what is being discussed so you can respond harmoniously to it. Before speaking, comprehend what is already being spoken about, and then feel free to have whatever opinion you like about it, so long as you can intelligently back it up with cogent, coherently, and with clarity .

A simple way to ensure you prevent some of the most common errors here is to imagine you are in a social setting with academic experts standing around in a circle and each of these experts says one of the quotes. Thinking of them as experts will force you to show some academic respect for what is said by the others, even if you disagree with it; it will force you to consider that each view arises out of a comprehensive set of experiences; it will ensure you don’t reduce what is being said by all five people to one word (a common GAMSAT error); and finally it will ensure that what you are replying to the circle is relevant.. otherwise, it would be weird if what you said didn’t flow from what they said.

If you would like to read more about quote interpretation in the GAMSAT I wrote a blog on it, here: How to ACE GAMSAT Section II Quote Interpretation: Task A

“The quality of being clear, logical, and convincing; lucidity.”

To be cogent is to be strong, eloquent, and effective . There are three precursors to cogent writing (according to Kavane and Cavender, 1998):

• All its premises are true.
• It considers all relevant information (it doesn’t present only the part of the case that suits).
• It is logically valid (the conclusions are plausible based on the premises).

To write cogently necessitates a certain rigorousness with the truth. You don’t argue just what is convenient, but you are instead genuinely involved in a process of exploring the truth and the limits to it, including of your own perspective.

Many people tend to imitate the way I close my essays (which, while I don’t mind at all – I just want you to score well – I would recommend you at a minimum word it your own way as ACER have updated their information book to indicate that responses are now compared against past responses) but it oftentimes comes across as conceited as they use the words but the spirit of it is absent from their writing. I tend to finish by touching on the extent to which my view may or may not be valid, and considering others’ views. I do not casually consider the objections, nor commit the “strawman fallacy” wherein I fail to address the most significant objections, or inaccurately portray them. I don’t feel personally obliged in a thirty minute essay to have to have a 100% researched and considered argument, nor to know all of the objections, nor to necessarily be accurate in conveying all of them and rebuffing them. Who knows, maybe even though I have made a logically valid argument, there may be things I innocently did not consider or understand due to ignorance, lack of experience, or just a biased perspective. I do genuinely try my best to understand and consider other views, though. It’s not an argument, or a debating championship. I can simply consider it without needing to go into all the reasons why it’s wrong. In fact, to talk in such objective terms under time pressure is to not acknowledge the very real limitations we are under when writing GAMSAT essays. Even if we weren’t in our early 20’s, and we were experts in the field that we were talking about, we are still under time, and psychological, pressure writing on an unprompted topic, with no faculties of outside research. This is bound to introduce errors into our arguments, so we really have no place saying that someone else’s perspective is wrong in objective terms.

You must write in a way that is careful. As if it were a discussion with an expert in the field. Instead of imagining yourself standing facing the opposing view, both pushing your ideas on each other, position yourself instead to the side. View both views objectively weighing up the validity of both as write from this perspective. This doesn’t mean you have to write a paragraph dealing with the ‘counter-argument.’ I find this approach devolves into a suite of psychometric errors (e.g lacking fallibilism, which the idea that ‘I think I’m right, but I could be wrong; and I think you’re wrong but you could be right’; or appreciation of situadedness, which is an appreciation of how your personal bias and experiences colour your view of things in such a way that you cannot ever see a situation perfectly, limiting the extend to which you can claim what you say is objectively true). It simply means you write from altitude.

Some of the best GAMSAT essays, or at least Task B essays, don’t arrive at a position that is labelled as the truth, or correct. But simply explore the issue, arriving at a conclusion that is logically valid, and perhaps even strong, but never stating that it is the final word, and attempting throughout to ask questions that indicate not someone who is forcing an idea down your throat, but someone who is trying to work things out for themselves. You don’t need to be a know-it-all, but you should be objective and logical.

For more on how to structure your GAMSAT arguments logically, see my blog The Ontology of Task A Structure – Logic .

• The quality of being logical and consistent.
• The quality of forming a united whole (also: cohesive)

We have addressed logic above in cogency, so the emphasis here is on consistency, and how the ideas not only linearly progress in a way that is valid, but that the various elements of essay cohere together on a macroscopic (intro, body paragraphs, conclusion) and microscopic (intra-paragraph) level.

On a macroscopic level, each paragraph or unit should be designed to forward a central idea or argument and should be ordered around achieving that end. What that doesn’t necessarily mean is having a pre-conceived structure that you write because you think that’s just how it should be done. If you write a narrative at the start of your Task B’s because I do it, but you don’t understand why I did it, it can’t be effective. What it does mean is coming up with your own approach of how to write effectively, considering mine if you wish, and if you use mine exactly as I did, knowing why I did it, or at least how it helps you achieve your goal. There are no points for doing things the way I designed them, but there are for what my design helped me achieve (which, in essence, was having a strong idea, displaying the psychometric features I often talk about, and respecting the five C’s so that that idea could be effectively and clearly communicated).

I think of my essays like a skeleton. Imagine one in the anatomy department. The central idea and premises that support it form the backbone. Each premise (topic sentence) linearly supports the frame of the argument – like vertebrae stacked on top of each other. They aren’t ‘kind of in the same domain’ as the contention, which I often see and which leads to an almost impressionistic approach to addressing the topic, with broad brush strokes each covering an idea but not relating to each other linearly and directly. They are purposefully conceived to illustrate the plausibility of a single strong opinion (contention/thesis, or key insight) that you have about a dimension of the broader theme. When you know what you want to say, and why you believe what you want to say, the structure simply facilitates you conveying it effectively and in a way that can be received by the marker.

Let me give you an example, as I often talk about balancing abstract ideas with concrete examples to facilitate clarity (coming next). Imagine your mum/dad/someone you care about and know well asked you ‘what do you think is the best form of transport’ at the dinner table (random chat but, hey, who knows). Here is what many students would reply in a GAMSAT essay:

‘Trams can be good because they are economical, people have often used cars and they are quite popular despite being terrible for the environment, bikes are best because they have no carbon footprint aside from their production. Some people would say cars are the best because they are the most popular, but this fails to acknowledge the destruction to the environment.’

It is five or so ideas loosely related thematically, but no linear development of the ideas, or conclusion that forms naturally from viable premises. I might say

‘Best is a subjective judgement, based on one’s personal beliefs and prior experiences. In order to address the topic there must be criterion for what is designated ‘good’ and ‘bad’ (which are still opinion-based judgements on inherently neutral factors) which can loosely be achieved by which, at their extreme, would benefit humanity and objectives that ‘most’ human’s desire. While this is a ‘positive’ utilitarian approach and not necessarily correct in objective terms, for the purposes of framing a considered response it is the approach that will be used. Transport is, in many respects, the vehicle for the economy, which directly affects the lives of most people;  however longer-term environmental considerations are also an essential consideration as there is a ceiling value of economic output in order that that output remain sustainable for future humans. Therefore, there is a case for saying that the best form of transport is that which greatest facilitates the economic (or personal) objectives of humanity. It seems reasonable to conclude that each person’s use of transport allows them to fulfil their economic personal objectives, and there is no reason, in most cases, that people would utilise transport if not for the fulfilment of their personal or economic objectives. As this is different for each person, the mode of transport that fulfils that person’s economic and personal objectives is, initially, the best. Loosely, we can take whichever is the most popular. Of course, not all people are environmentally conscious, so the most popular forms must be indexed against the environmental impact of the use of that mode of transport. I imagine, then, that the answer would be walking, followed by cycling, public transport, bikes, cars, and finally planes.’

There is something distinct from this response compared to the rest. In this response, each idea follows on from the rest in a linear, daisy-chain-like fashion. No point can stand without the existence of the others. There are also many points where there is reference to an earlier idea. It’s like there’s glues, or stiches pulling together the many elements of the paragraph into a unified whole. Note also that there isn’t an idea at the outside that is forwarded directly. I don’t need to know it all. I show how I arrived at my thinking, and am questioning myself as I write. There is an introspective and reflective element to thinking about the prompts where you ask yourself what you believe, and then prod why you believe that. What basis do you have for that belief, and who would agree or disagree with you. Sorting through the prompts mentally and imagining how each argument would go, which you have the best supports for, which are the least contentious, which you have good examples or evidence for, and which you are passionate about, and then choosing one, is a skill in and of itself. There’s a certain judicious pragmatism that goes into selecting which path to go down, before you even begin.

When you have a framework for what you want to argue, or a skeleton, the rest becomes just laying flesh on top. But you must have a skeleton that can stand and that is logically valid and consistent, before doing that, lest you just write aimlessly. Furthermore, when your writing is ordered around a central idea, and the decisions that are made of what to write and how to write are made to facilitate that idea, your writing is naturally more coherent and cohesive.

On a microscopic level, it is also advisable to foreshadow in the introduction some of what is going to be said, and have a clear single strong contention/thesis that will be developed or explained in the essay at the end of the introduction. It is necessary that the topic sentences make the thesis and conclusion plausible. And advisable at the end of each paragraph to use a link . The link, at a minimum, must summarise what the reader was supposed to take away from the paragraph and make it explicit how that ties into the conclusion. If you can manage it, linking backward to the contention, as well as forward, via a segue, to the next paragraph is ideal. This can be achieved by using some of the words of the following topic sentence. This is like running a stich back to the intro to stich the intro and end of paragraph one together, and then another stitch tying paragraph one and two together.

Here’s an example of an essay of mine where I do just this. The prompts were about Globalisation and social responsibility.

This was my thesis (I have put in brackets what I referred to in place of the word ‘this’. As it stands beow it would be too long as a contention):

“…(the influence of Silicon Valley giants such as Facebook’s ability to monitor and influence human behaviour on a meta level) implies an urgent need for the reconsideration of the structural checks which were once imposed only on governments, to be laterally applied to these companies in order to ensure they are regulated to operate in socially responsible ways.”

And this is the end of body paragraph one, and the topic sentence of body paragraph two. I have boldened the cohesive elements.

“…The danger to democracy, civil, and social life clearly necessitates novel and comprehensive regulation in order to meet these challenges, if the poltico-economic ideals which are the foundations for contemporary Western societies are to be upheld.   The dangerousness implied in power necessitates regulation in order to champion socially responsible behaviour and ensure the delivery and preponderance of liberal and democratic political ideals, which characterise the politico-ontological frameworks of today’s Western societies …”

Note that there are terms linking the paragraph’s content explicitly to the contention, and terms foreshadowing the content of the next paragraph.

“The quality of being coherent and intelligible; clear”

Imagine you wrote the best ever GAMSAT essay possible. Imagine I was there in your seat acting through you, and not only that I was on fire that day. And then imagine when you finish the essay you put it in a glass box to hand to the marker to read. But the box was muddy and cloudy and the marker couldn’t make out a lot of what you and I had come up with together. Now inside the box is a 90+ essay. Maybe even a 95. We killed it! But the marker can’t quite access our ideas, or what we said. So in the end we fell short of what we could have.

I see this in SO many essays. So often there are good ideas, or in a tutorial I’ll ask what the student meant to say and they can tell me but what they tell me isn’t evident from the essay, and of course the marker doesn’t have the benefit of having you there to clarify. Essentially what is being marked is the ‘quality of thoughts and ideas’ and ‘how they are integrated into a meaningful response’ (that’s from the ACER info book). But the quality of your thoughts and ideas is delivered via the five C’s. The five C’s polish that glass box so it’s like it isn’t even there. Any impediment to the marker knowing what you mean is removed. They can see what you were thinking in a way that is crystal clear. But if you lack the five C’s, that box is all cloudy, the thoughts and ideas, no matter how good they are, can’t be seen and you will struggle to score well.

So, how can you make your writing more clear?

Firstly , through being clear on what you want to say, and planning effectively such that your ideas (skeleton) is logical and ordered. When you are clear internally, what you say will come out more clearly.

Secondly , when you are clear on what you want to say, be cautious about your word selection and the degree to which it enables you to be effective in your communication.  Oftentimes students use big words to sound academic and fancy. The issue is, more often than not, what they are saying is simple and not academically rigorous (due to time pressure), so it looks like a pig in lipstick. Pigs are actually cute, I don’t know why that’s the example that came to mind, but it’ll stay with you now 😉

In short, many people are exploring simple thoughts and ideas in complex terms , and what you want to be doing is exploring complex thoughts and ideas in simple terms.

A good rule of thumb I came up with is to ask ‘is there a simpler term that could communicate this?’ and if so I selected the simpler term. I would also ask myself, ‘does the inclusion of this more complex word enhance or diminish the effectiveness and clarity?’ Sometimes there’s no other word that will do as nicely as the one you use.. for example ‘precipitously’ .. sometimes there’s just a time for saying ‘a precipitous increase.’ In this case you could say ‘a large increase’ but it doesn’t have quite the same impact or meaning. They’re not quite the same. So I would go for ‘precipitous’ (assuming I hadn’t already used many complex words previously in that paragraph. If the average 13-14 year old can’t easily understand what you are saying, it’s not written simply enough. Remember, ACER say in the info book that ‘language and structure is only marked insofar as it contributes to the thoughts and ideas, not in isolation’. (I added the underline FYI).

Annd, finally..

‘Briefness, or brevity; to be concise’

Concision is using the fewest words possible to communicate an idea effectively. Anything more is too-much and will detract momentum and pace from the development of your writing. You want to write generously to the marker and in such a way that they can move through what you say easily and enjoyably. If they enjoy your writing, they will like you, and if they like you, you will incur their positive bias, which, if it doesn’t help, can’t hurt; and avoid their negative bias, which if it doesn’t hurt you, might have.

Writing that is not concise can feel overwhelming, confusing, or boring. When you are not generous to the marker in the way that you write, they feel that marking your essay is work. GAMSAT markers might have ten minutes at best per essay, and they are reading essay after essay of drivel. You want to be the shining light that stands out, and simplifies their night. The essay that makes it feel for a moment like it isn’t work to mark. The essay that gives them relief of the burden of trying to figure out what people mean. Trust me, I’ve marked enough essays, it’s not the easiest or most fun work. But when you get one that flows it’s like “AHA! YES! Thank you!!” And that feeling of elation is a very good lens through which a marker might assess your ability to be a doctor.

Anything less that concise creates work, and this incurs grumpiness. You don’t want a grumpy marker deciding your Section II score, do you?

How to be concise?

• Reduce unnecessary words, phrases, or sentences that do not directly forward your central argument. I have, at the last minute, cut out whole sentences (multiple of them) ruthlessly. I hack like a madman at the end of my essays. Anything that is not utterly necessary can go.
• Eliminate filler phrases such as ‘needless to say.’
• Write in the active (versus passive) voice. In the active voice the subject does the verb. In the passive voice the subject is done by the verb. Basically, active is punchy, passive is long winded and takes more words and ruins momentum.

Example (passive): “Lesser men were slayed by the dragon queen” (Borrrrinnnnng.) Example (active): “The dragon queen slayed lesser men.” (Yas queen. Slay gurl.)

If you would like some help learning where you are lacking concision or clarity I recommend copy-pasting your writing into the Hemingway App online. It will break down for you where you are using the passive voice, where you are using too many complex words, and which sentences are hard to read.

Wow, nearly 4k words. I hope you find this useful, it took me all morning. If so feel free to pop your email in below to receive hard-hitting 90+ advice and tips, blog updates, and special offers and I’ll hit you up with the goods as they come.

Feel also free to join the 90+ community on Facebook where we can help you practice and apply what you read here to track yourself towards a killer Section II.

Sorry it’s been so long since my last blog, I missed writing for you all <3

About the author 

Michael Sunderland

My name's Michael, I achieved 91 in Section II, and 82 overall, in the September '20 sitting. I'm here to show you how I did it. Let's get to work :)

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GAMSAT Free Resources Master List

During my GAMSAT prep I came across many free resources by word of mouth, forums and Googling. But it took MONTHS for me to build up a bank of freebies.

To save you the trouble of trawling forums and Google I’ve put a tonne of them on this page. Enjoy!

I personally did not use all of these resources because some didn’t exist when I took the GAMSAT (2015 & 2016). So, I CAN’T say these are the best resources out there. They are simply the FREE ones . I have listed them so you know what freebies are out there.

Suggest additions to this list by emailing me . Is there a resource you can’t see that you’d like me to make? Again, send me an email and I’ll see what I can do.

• Build your vocabulary by downloading a free dictionary app with the option to save words. Save words you come across in your GAMSAT prep and review them regularly. This will help you in section 1.
• Alternatively, use vocabulary.com
• The New Yorker’s Cartoons at Random (ideally discuss with GAMSAT study buddies else analyse these on your own)
• How to analyse poetry on Owlcation.com
• Schmoop Study Guides (check out the analysis sections for poems, literary texts etc.)
• ReadTheory.org
• Write for Medicine’s S1 Cheat Sheet
• Khan Academy SAT Reading & Writing video tutorials
• Free practice questions by the author of Griffiths’ GAMSAT Review

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• Frasers GAMSAT (NO need to enter your email)
• AceGAMSAT (entering your email is required)
• Get ideas for S2 essays from: TED Talks , Big Think , The Guardian: Opinion ,  School of Life YouTube channel and The Conversation
• You could also follow CNN, BBC, and similar news outlets on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
• PagingDr essay examples (registration for forum required)
• PagingDr essay feedback thread (registration for forum required)
• Essay themes notes by GAMSATEssayTutor.com
• Unofficial essay marking guide by TheMedicBlog
• Practice essays on GAMSATEdge.com (NB only 4 comments/quotes are now provided in GAMSAT, in the past 5 were provided hence 5 are used by them)
• Write for Medicine’s S2 essay bank . Bank opened to all July 2021. These are practice essays grouped by the score the score achieved in the actual test. Requires sign up.

I’ve also created some practice essay questions & a marking sheet you can use with your study buddies or by yourself.

Practice Questions & Marking Sheet

• Section 2 Essays Marking / Scoring Sheet (.DOC)
• Section 2 Essays Marking / Scoring Sheet (.PDF)
• Section 2 Essays Practice 1
• Section 2 Essays Practice 2
• Section 2 Essays Practice 3
• Section 2 Essays Practice 4
• Section 2 Essays Practice 5
• Section 2 Essays Practice 6
• Section 2 Essays Practice 7
• Gold Standard’s video explanations of the ACER papers
• AceGAMSAT’s video explanations of the ACER papers
• Non-science grads may benefit from BBC Bitesize ‘s GCSE level Physics, Chemistry and Biology pages
• Free science textbooks: Chemistry , Biology , Physics
• Barry’s Tutoring GAMSAT advice videos
• Khan Academy video science tutorials
• Khan Academy Organic Chemistry video tutorials
• Master Organic Chemistry website
• Practice interpreting graphs (ideally with study buddies or a tutor) by looking at open journals such as BMJ Open
• Professor Dave Explains video science tutorials
• Leah4Sci MCAT video science tutorials
• Leah4Sci maths without a calculator tutorials
• Mental Math Cards Challenge app
• Crash Course video science tutorials
• Organic Chemistry Tutor video tutorials
• Tyler DeWitt video chemistry tutorials
• Bozeman Science video science tutorials
• Physics Classroom
• HyperPhysics
• Notes for section 3 at GAMSATNotes.com
• GradMedTips GAMSAT tips: Facebook  and Instagram (very new – building up content)
• Ivan Krauchnaka YouTube GAMSAT-specific video tutorials (very new – building up content)
• Maths without a calculator help
• Free practice test from Gold Standard GAMSAT
• Free practice questions by the author of Griffiths’ GAMSAT Review  (no email sign up required)
• Full length section 3 practice test by author of Griffiths’ GAMSAT Review (email sign up required)

Unofficial syllabuses

I’ve also created some worksheets you may find helpful.

• GAMSAT Maths: Logs and Antilogs Practice 1
• GAMSAT Chemistry: Blood Buffer System Revision with GAMSAT-style Questions
• GAMSAT Physics:  Physics Equations

Score predictor

Score predictor by fearthecow.net . The maker of this calculator admits its limitations. It can’t predict your mark with certainty by any means. In order to use it, you’ll need to have completed ACER’s Practice Test 1 (green) and Practice Test 2 (purple). It was created before Practice Test 3 (pink) came out, so it won’t take that one into account.

Free strategy tips in your email inbox

TheMedicBlog’s 30 day GAMSAT challenge

Providers of free webinars / tutorials

• Halad to Health occasionally do free webinars
• Gold Standard GAMSAT also sometimes do free webinars
• Barry’s Tutoring also

Study Planners / Timetables

Free study planners to download either as Microsoft Word files (.DOC) or PDFs.

• One-Week Study Timetable (.DOC)
• One-Week Study Timetable (.PDF)
• One-Month Study Timetable (.DOC)
• One-Month Study Timetable (.PDF)

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• Australian Medical Schools Overview
• Medical School Entry Requirements
• Pathways to Medicine
• Guide to Medicine Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs)

GAMSAT ® Tips

• How to study for the GAMSAT ®
• GAMSAT ® Section 1 Prep
• GAMSAT ® Section 2 Prep
• GAMSAT ® Section 3 Prep
• GAMSAT ® Biology
• GAMSAT ® Chemistry
• GAMSAT ® Physics
• GAMSAT ® Preparation for a Non-Science Background

GAMSAT ® Resources

• Free GAMSAT ® Resources

GAMSAT ® Free Trial

• Free GAMSAT ® Practice Test
• GAMSAT ® Quote Generator
• GAMSAT ® Practice Questions
• GAMSAT ® Example Essays
• GAMSAT ® Study Syllabus
• GAMSAT ® Physics Formula Sheet
• GradReady GAMSAT ® Podcast

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Google Rich Snippet Description: Learn more about GAMSAT Quote Generator. The best way to use the GAMSAT Random Quote Generator is to emulate the real exam as best you can.

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Free GAMSAT Quote Generator - Section 2 Essays

One of the key steps in preparing for Section 2 of the GAMSAT ® exam is getting into the habit of writing GAMSAT ® essays regularly - The earlier, the better. To help you do this, we’ve put together a free and comprehensive GAMSAT ® Quote Generator with over 90 Section 2 Essay Prompts, covering 40+ themes to help you generate Quotes for GAMSAT Section 2 Essays.

Take advantage of our GAMSAT ® Quote Generator to get you started on your GAMSAT Essay Writing Preparation - Click the generate button to display a new random essay prompt!

Theme: Progress

• I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way. Carl Sandburg
• Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. Frank Zappa
• Never confuse movement with action. Ernest Hemingway
• Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced. Barry Gehm

How to make best use of GAMSAT Quote Generator

The best way to use the GAMSAT ® Random Quote Generator is to emulate the real exam as best you can. This means limiting the materials you have available to you, putting on a timer and trying your best to treat the essay like the real thing. This will help you build up important examination skills, whilst also improving the writing itself.

You don’t have to do this from the start - but rather build up to this kind of situation gradually. This will allow you to focus on getting the quality of writing first, and then achieving this same quality under pressure.

The other essential ingredient in practicing for this section of the GAMSAT ® exam is to have your essays read and critiqued by people other than yourself. Although sometimes daunting, getting feedback on your writing is one of the most effective ways to improve. The more people you share your work with, the more likely you are to receive valuable and memorable feedback for developing your ideas and limiting your mistakes. It is worth consulting the GradReady GAMSAT ® essay marking service, where you can get 10 essays marked by our expert tutors with personal feedback within 72 hours.

How do GAMSAT Essay Quotes work?

In each of the two tasks in GAMSAT ® Section 2, you will be presented with five quotes that relate to one or more themes. Your task is to identify one of these themes and write a piece in response. Thus, it is important to remember that the quotes are there as a prompt or a guide, rather than a traditional essay question. It is not necessary to respond directly to any or all of the quotes, but rather to respond to the themes and ideas contained in the quotes.

Understanding the Theme

• Read the first two quotes
• Compare both quotes - Are there any related words or ideas?
• Note down any common words/themes
• Read the third quote - Are there any common ideas you can add to your list?
• Repeat with the rest of the quotes

After this process you should have a “word cloud” that points to the key overarching theme - However, it’s important to note that the stimuli are often designed such that there are a number of sub-themes that may be relevant. The point here is not to limit the scope of your writing but to expand it and bring in other relevant ideas - In fact it’s fine to draw on either the overarching theme or a sub-theme, so long as you demonstrate that you have actively engaged with the stimuli.

Let’s look at a worked example below:

• I don’t know half of you half as well as I shouldn’t like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. (J.R.R. Tolkien)
• After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations. (Oscar Wilde)
• Water cannot be cut and blood is thicker than water. (Malaysian Proverb)
• It is an absolute human certainty that no one can know his own beauty or perceive a sense of his own worth until it has been reflected back to him in the mirror of another loving, caring human being. (John Joseph Powell)
• Isn’t everyone a part of everyone else? (Budd Schulberg)

What are some themes you can identify? Let’s break it down quote by quote:

Quote	Themes
	Relationship & Friendships Community & Social Norms Commentary on modern relationships
	Family Forgiveness & Reconciliation Conflict
	Family Loyalty
	Relationships Self-worth Commentary of social interaction
	Community & Society Individualism vs Collectivism

As you can see there are multiple themes that you could draw from the above stimuli - It’s important to note that you don’t need to write about a theme that is presented in all of the quotes provided, you can choose a theme that may only appear once or twice in the stimuli.

Now it’s time to implement all the above steps in practice! We’ve prepared a GAMSAT ® essay writing PDF checklist you can download below. It contains a step-by-step checklist to help you identify the themes and write a high-scoring GAMSAT ® essay.

401 downloads

GAMSAT Essay Writing Tips

You need to get feedback on your essays. It is vital that you get your friends, family, tutors and anyone else to read these essays, and be modest and inviting of critique. It is of utmost importance to be criticised and then learn from your mistakes. GradReady has a GAMSAT ® essay marking service, where you can get 10 essays marked by our expert tutors with personal feedback within 72 hours.

You need to possess a great deal of self-critique. After every essay you write, you must read it out loud to yourself, and listen if it makes sense. You can find some free example Marked GAMSAT ® Essays here.

Don’t feel the need to write under time pressure from the word go. It’s more important that you develop and improve your essay writing skills before gradually applying realistic time pressure.

You need to vary the type of essays that you write! You should make sure you try argumentative, personal reflective essays, fictional creative essays, poetry, and any other medium that can work in the GAMSAT ® exam. Even though it’s recommended you write an argumentative essay, you are able to write in almost any style in the ‘reflective’ essay segment – this is meant to be a creative endeavour and demonstrate that you can identify, and express emotions of the characters involved.

Make sure to also sign up to our GAMSAT ® Free Trial to watch a recording of our GAMSAT ® Essay Writing Workshop! Check out the 10 minute excerpt below:

Start Your GAMSAT ® Preparation Today!

Get a study buddy, upcoming events.

For more free advice and materials make sure to check out the list below:

How to study for the GAMSAT ® Exam

A breakdown of how to approach study effectively and how to set up a GAMSAT® study schedule.

How to prepare for GAMSAT ® Section 2

An overview of what to expect in Section 2 of the GAMSAT® Exam, how to prepare and how to perfect your essay technique.

Free GAMSAT ® Example Essays

Download our Essay Writing Guide and read through our free Example Essays featuring low, medium and high quality responses with feedback from tutors.

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ACER Magic Marking Essay Program; Accuracy?

I was wondering if people would be willing to share what they scored in the ACER essay marking program that they offer for $20 and also what they ended up actually scoring in S2.

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GAMSAT Section 2: Written Communication

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.

Section 2: Written Communication	Assesses your overall understanding and capacity to utilize existing knowledge while under pressure, in order to formulate a coherent argument or reflection.	Reading time: 5 Minutes
		Writing time: 60 Minutes

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.

GAMSAT Section 2 Task	Focus	Themes Included	Realm	Example Themes
Task A	Socio-cultural	Laws, Religions, Economics, Social Narratives	Inter-personal	Freedom, War, Punishment, Science, Technology, Crime
Task B	Individual	Emotions, Cognitive States, Lived Experience	Intra-personal	Poverty, Wealth, Friendship, Love, Beauty, Youth, Ageing, Suffering, Originality, Conformity, Humour

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?

Related posts

Read more articles from our team

What will the September 2024 GAMSAT Look Like?

GAMSAT Biology for Section 3

GAMSAT 2022 March: What Did it Look Like?

GAMSAT & GPA Average Score Cutoffs