A career in medicine is one of the noblest yet difficult to pursue. Not just because the profession itself is stressful, though - long hours, patient demands and a duty of care. Simply qualifying to study medicine is an ordeal in itself. One that thousands around the world willingly sign up for.
Have you signed up to sit the Graduate Medical School Assessment Test - the GAMSAT? Maybe you're not that close to your Bachelor degree yet. Do you still have a couple of years till you can register? Or are you thinking about studying medicine in graduate school but you're not yet sure that's the path for you? In any case, you need to know what this exam is about. And you need to find a qualified mentor to see you through it.
GAMSAT Overview
You've sat exams your entire academic career. Some, like the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), are more consequential than others. However, every exam you've sat till now has been fundamentally the same. They all tested you on how well you retained information and how well you can apply it.
The GAMSAT takes a different tack. It doesn't test you on how much you know, it probes you to discover how you think about what you know. Despite there being some academic questions - namely in maths, chemistry, biology and physics, the exam is not academic in nature. Though you'll have two writing assignments like your previous exams' essay questions, you'll not write from a prompt.
If you know anything about the GAMSAT, you likely know that Section III is science. Chemistry questions make up roughly 40% of the questions. Biology takes up another 40% and physics makes up the last 30%. Maths isn't specifically laid out. Instead, maths challenges are woven throughout the science questions.
According to Dr David, a top Adelaide-area GAMSAT tutor who gives Brisbane-area students lessons online, you'll need to be up on your university-level chemistry and biology studies. For physics, high-school level should suffice. For maths, you'll only need to know basic calculations, estimations and rounding, unit conversion and some trigonometry.
Most GAMSAT candidates aver that the biology questions are the trickiest. Among others, they involve graph interpretation and data analysis. So, not only do you have to have those skills but you have to be able to use them in a biology context. If you thought you'd have to memorise human anatomy and cell structures... Well, you have to know that, too. But you won't simply regurgitate those facts.
Now, about Section II. This is the writing portion of your exam. If you've investigated the GAMSAT to any degree, you know that you have to read a lot. The Australian Council for Educational Research (Acer) recommends reading extensively from a variety of genres, from literary classics to periodicals and current events.
As mentioned above, you won't get an essay prompt. Instead, you'll write about a given theme. Those range from Law & Justice to Arts & Pop Culture. To score well in this section, you must have wide-ranging ideas on the theme in question - and you don't get to choose your theme. But that's not all. You also have to present your ideas well. That means developing your ideas and then, writing concisely and correctly, using top-notch English.
Once fully in the know about what this exam entails, GAMSAT candidates from Perth to Brisbane scramble for the best teaching they can find. Luckily, sources teaching GAMSAT preparation courses are many. Unfortunately, that implies having to sort through all of them to find the best for your situation. So let's look at some tutorials to find the best course for your needs.
GAMSAT Tutoring Brisbane
No matter where you live in Australia, you have access to commercial GAMSAT prep courses. You only need an internet connection to find them. Companies like GradReady, the Institute of Medical Education (IME) and Gold Standard GAMSAT all have extensively-developed revision programs. You can choose the degree of help based on their syllabus or by price.
GradReady has the most detailed course package. You can view their offerings side by side to see what you get for your money. The three costliest options blend in-person and online lessons. The two least expensive ones only hold lessons online. And only the most expensive selection makes private tutoring available.
Price concerns aside, GAMSAT candidates across Australia rely on one Melbourne-based GradReady study package or another to get a general idea of what to expect on test day. The site includes a blog and links to revision resources. IME isn't quite that generous. Their site takes a minimalist approach, letting you know upfront how their courses are planned and priced. You'll find steeper fees and fewer course selections.
Gold Standard GAMSAT has a wildly busy page. They offer many promotions, discounts and workshops, often at a lower rate than either GradReady or IME. Unfortunately, you have to sift through all of the information, crowded together, to find the best deals.
Do you have time to search? Do you have the bank to pay thousands of dollars for a GAMSAT preparation course? What if you only need some of a syllabus' components; are you still willing to pay for them all? And can you be sure you'll get the guidance you need if you're one of 20 students in a class? For these reasons and more, many GAMSAT candidates prefer revising with private tutors.
Finding a GAMSAT Tutor Brisbane
If you're a typical student, you probably have neither money nor time to indulge in a search for the perfect GAMSAT preparation partner. Furthermore, your learning style might not adapt well to group lessons of such an intensive, specified nature. And you may well excel in mathematics and science but your English isn't all it should be.
With a private tutor, you can focus on just the GAMSAT components and skills you need to develop. You don't have to wait around for the rest of the study group to catch up - or, conversely, race to keep up with the class. You might arrange to meet your tutor online or have them come to yours. There's just one thing to watch out for: make sure they're qualified.
As mentioned previously, the GAMSAT isn't a purely academic exam. So tuition shouldn't be about going over school subjects until you have a firm grasp on them. Thus, a standard tutor will not serve your purposes.
Your GAMSAT tutor should have sat the exam and earned passing scores. They need this experience so they can help you develop study and test-taking strategies. Also, they must have some teaching experience. Knowing how to teach GAMSAT concepts is just as vital as knowing the concepts themselves.
From Brisbane to Melbourne and all across Australia, to find such a tutor, you can start your search online. University Tutors website is generally helpful but you may find it lacking when you search for GAMSAT tuition. That page lists a blend of private and commercial tutors, GradReady among them.
The independent tutors listed specialise in specific GAMSAT concepts or sections. For instance, one tutor advertises her English writing skills (for Section II practice) while another touts his background in chemistry. In most cases, you must contact the tutor to find out how much they charge per hour of instruction. And whether they deliver lessons online or in person.
Find a GAMSAT Tutor Brisbane on Superprof
A Superprof GAMSAT tutor Brisbane can save you both time and money. The latter because you only pay to study the concepts you're iffy about. The former... Well, let's explore that premise in depth.
As soon as you load the Superprof GAMSAT Tutor Brisbane page, you'll see whether these tutors deliver lessons online, in person or both. You'll know how much they charge per hour of instruction and whether they offer their first hour of lessons for free (spoiler: they do). And you'll get a snapshot of their qualifications. When you click on any tutor's picture, you gain access to their profile page.
At a glance, you'll see how many students they've taught and how those students rated their tutor. You may even read previous students' testimonials. If all that looks and sounds good, read through their profile. That's where you'll learn about their study and teaching experiences. And then, if you've a mind to, scroll down to the bottom of the page to find out if they offer any discounts, say, for bundled lessons or for online learning.
Superprof GAMSAT practice sessions tend to be student-centred. Superprofs will ask what you need to work on and support you as you do. They will make recommendations about what to read and point to you towards study resources so you can practice your science and mathematics knowledge. And they will coach your writing practice, too. Remember, that's a big component of your exam.
If you're happy taking lessons online, you don't have to limit yourself to tutors in Brisbane. You might check out Superprof GAMSAT tutors in Sydney or anywhere else in Australia, too. You can count on Superprof to deliver top tutorials.
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