Nobody ever said earning a university degree is easy or fun. Sure, you can have a good time meeting new people and gaining life experience. But working on your undergraduate degree is serious business. And then, if you opt for a stint in graduate school... Your brain has to work harder but, in some ways, graduate-level studies are easier than Bachelor learning.
Unless you want to study medicine. To gain access to medical school, you have to sit and pass the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT). No worries, though, you're in good company. Every year, thousands of program hopefuls across Australia take this exam.
Do they have any tricks up their sleeves? Are they whizzes at chemistry, biology and physics? Are they just excellent test takers? The last two questions are irrelevant; the GAMSAT is not your standard academic exam. The first question is the right one to ask. Indeed, many GAMSAT candidates have a trick to get them closer to a good score on their exams. Keep reading, you're about to find out what it is.
GAMSAT Tutoring Sydney
To be sure, you don't have to have a tutor for GAMSAT preparation. But anyone who's sat this exam will wonder at your folly. That's because even though you've sat exams your entire academic career, this one will confound you.
You'll still have to answer questions; some of them will be multiple-choice. In this article's introduction, we mentioned science subjects - biology, chemistry and physics. You have to know them but you won't be asked to regurgitate facts as you did during high school. Also, you'll find your maths skills come in handy when answering GAMSAT questions.
So far, that sounds pretty standard. But the GAMSAT isn't about what you know; its' about how you use your knowledge. So, when you're addressing your exam's Section III, the science section, you'll find the questions are not exactly about science subjects. These questions are more about how you reason within a chemistry or biology framework.
That's the GAMSAT distinction. It doesn't test you on what you know as much as how you think about and use what you know. It tests your problem-solving and reasoning skills rather than your factual memory.
You'll see further proof of this as you prepare for Section II of the exam. Until now, even your university courses likely challenged you to express your ideas with an essay prompt. The GAMSAT's writing portion won't outline a scenario and ask for your thoughts on it. Instead, you'll confront duelling topics - law and justice, for instance, which you will have to expound on at length.
This portion of the exam means to test your English knowledge as well as your critical thinking and analysis skills. Of course, you'll have to know something about the topic to write about it with authority. That's why the Australian Council for Educational Research (Acer), the exam administrators, recommend that candidates do a lot of reading.
Once GAMSAT candidates look over what preparations for this ordeal entail, they realise revising with a tutor is the only sensible option. Thus, from Perth to Sydney, students search for GAMSAT coaching - in person, online and through organised courses. Are you ready to begin your search?
First, you need to know which tutors to look for. Any prospective tutor needs to have sat the GAMSAT and scored well on it. After all, if they have never faced the ordeal, how can they guide you through it? And then, they need to have experience teaching GAMSAT components. That's because the GAMSAT is not a standard academic test. Thus, the standard teaching techniques may not apply.
When you comb through tutoring adverts, you'll find many tutors who seem to fit the bill. Beware that, although they're listed on such websites' GAMSAT Tutor Sydney page, they may actually be a chemistry professor or an English major with no personal GAMSAT experience. Such a tutor might do if you need extra help just in those areas. But your surer bet is to hold out for a GAMSAT tutor who can guide your whole journey, not just through one section.
Revise With a Superprof GAMSAT Tutor Sydney
As we mentioned earlier, thousands of students sit the GAMSAT every year. Logically, we can infer that many such candidates seek tutorials. You might get advice from your university teachers and/or student counsellor on how to quickly find such a master. We would suggest Superprof. But not (just) for the reasons you might think.
We have compared GAMSAT tutoring websites from Adelaide to Melbourne. So, we can say with some authority that the Superprof site is the quickest and easiest to navigate. You only need to specify you want a GAMSAT tutor Sydney. You'll then see all of the GAMSAT tutors available in your city. But that's not all.
You also see how much they charge per hour of instruction, an overview of their qualifications and whether they have experience teaching GAMSAT. You may click on any profile picture to read individual tutors' profiles and find out if they give lessons online or in person. You may also learn if they give discounts for bundled lessons and read any past student testimonials.
If you're interested in online lessons, don't limit yourself to Sydney-area Superprof tutors. We have 25 GAMSAT tutors scattered across Australia. The average per-hour cost for tutoring is $64 and most offer their first lesson for free. You'll get exactly the help you need at an affordable price. What a deal!
Independent GAMSAT Tutor Sydney
If, for whatever reason, you don't find your ideal tutor on the Superprof platform, you might try University Tutors. Again, you only need to filter your search by subject and location. And then, the site will return a blend of commercial and independent tutors, in no particular order.
Such disarray might make your search more challenging. You'll find GradReady adverts mixed in with private tutors' pages. That can be a bit time-consuming to comb through them all to find what you want. Luckily, it's easy to tell commercial and private ventures apart. GradReady uses its logo as an avatar; private tutors generally post a photo.
As with Superprof, so with this site. You'll read an abbreviated biography and have the option of learning more about each tutor when you click on 'view this tutor'. On their profile page, you can learn about their studies and see if they have any teaching experience.
Unfortunately, you won't know how much each tutor charges until you contact them. Also, it's not clear whether they deliver lessons by video conference or in person. And in most cases, you won't have any past student testimonials to read. Also, watch out for GAMSAT tutors in Melbourne. There are a few sprinkled among the Sydney tutors.
GAMSAT Tutoring Sydney: Commercial Courses
If you have a fair chunk of cash laying around and don't mind GAMSAT preparation with up to 20 other candidates, GradReady might be a valid choice. Their site is full of helpful information, including a blog page that tells you all about select GAMSAT aspects. Their pricing schedule is very detailed, it tells you exactly what you'll get for your preparation dollars.
After reading through the Acer website and what GradReady has to say about GAMSAT preparation, you might conclude you only need a little coaching. In that case, either of GradReady's lower-priced courses will suit you. On the other hand, should you feel like you need maximum support, take a look at what the three priciest bands offer.
For those price tiers, this Melbourne-based company blends online learning with in-person lessons. A qualified GAMSAT veteran with teaching experience leads each class; groups are limited to 21 students. They cover all the GAMSAT concepts from English writing to science. Depending on the course you select, you'll also practice your interview skills and sit mock exams. With feedback on your exam results, of course.
Only their most expensive option affords you a private tutor included in the package price. It totals $2148, including Goods and Services Tax (GST). Admittedly, you get quite a bit for your money. But what if you don't need all that these courses offer?
How would you know, though? That's not a slam on your intellect, of course. As illustrated in this article's introduction, this exam's intent is enough to send GAMSAT students scurrying for all the help they can get. Remember that the GAMSAT is designed to gauge your reasoning and analytical skills, as well as your command of English. Thus, how to think like a GAMSAT candidate is the teaching you need.
A few hours with a private tutor specialising in GAMSAT preparation should be enough to help you decide whether you need more (costly) tuition. And you don't have to limit your tutor search to the Sydney area. You might search for GAMSAT tutors in Brisbane or Melbourne if you don't mind doing revision sessions online. At the very least, they could point you to more GAMSAT revision materials.
Summarise with AI:
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
