Is physics really that necessary???

magic · Rookie Joined: 01 Jun 2009 Posts: 1

Hi - I am thinking about applying for gamsat but I've heard a lot of different things about it. All the prep courses include everything under the sun but I've heard that actually section 3 consists mostly of organic chemistry and biology. Is this true? Could I get a reasonable score if I was just to hone in on my biology and organic chemistry?? Do I absolutely have to do physics? What about mathematics?? I know some mathematics covers typical physics concepts as well (like vectors, trigonometry, used in some physics etc). I'd be eternaly grateful if someone could point in the right direction. I don't have all the time in the world and I'm not so young so I need to do what will give me the greatest yield. Cheers.

Mokusatsu · Veteran Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 43 Location: Perth

The physics and maths isn't overly difficult stuff. You won't need to solve any differential equations or anything like that which would require university level math.

raganesova · Rookie Joined: 31 May 2009 Posts: 2

Hi there, Physics is about 20% of section 3 i think. you could prob get a good mark without those questions provided you ace biol & chem. No maths questions.

hajar · Rookie Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 6

hey guys when u say biology u mean human bio?

Mokusatsu · Veteran Joined: 16 May 2009 Posts: 43 Location: Perth

henryryry · Regular Joined: 22 Mar 2009 Posts: 20

I agree... physics is only 20% and thus I would focus more on biology (first year uni), inorganic and organic chemistry (particularly organic)

prepgenie · Grizzled Joined: 08 Dec 2008 Posts: 113

Hi Magic ... and all Smile

Do you really think you can leave out something in an exam which determines your life and career?

Agreed, physics and math comprise of only mere 20% ... but can you at all leave them?

With GAMSAT having such a tricky marking system with questions least answered getting more weightage can you at all afford to leave anything out????

Think again guys!!!!

Lovebite · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:08 am Post subject:

The physics you learn for GAMSAT will place you in good stead for first year. There have been HEAPS of times where I have used the practical physics to understand different workings of the body.

You'll also find that GAMSAT will work physics into questions about Human Biology. They may be asking about partial pressures, or about blood flow through arteries for example, but the underlying concepts are based in physics.

I promise you, that the stuff that GAMSAT tests, is ALL useful for medicine. You'll be surprised just how much of it will come in handy from day one, and the better you understand it, the quicker you'll grasp the harder medical concepts, and understand the mechanisms behind your hypotheses....

prepgenie · Grizzled Joined: 08 Dec 2008 Posts: 113

henryryry · Regular Joined: 22 Mar 2009 Posts: 20

medwannabe · Regular Joined: 11 Nov 2009 Posts: 17

I hate (and I mean seriously hate) physics with a passion, and only did first year uni level, which I nearly failed. I have a very strong biology background and am ok at chem, and (despite my best intentions) didn't do any study for GAMSAT except for looking through the sample questions booklet.

I got a 74 for the science section (III). My trick was to go through it and each time you hit a question that you grimace at, turn the page. You are much better off getting to the end of the test answering everything you can than wasting time on something too hard. Then if you still have more time and are happy with the questions you have answered, go back and attempt the nasty ones.

I gave a genuine shot at maybe 80% of section 3, and it paid off.

Two things to note if you try this:
1) if you skip a page, make sure you fill in the correct answer slot on the answer sheet or you'll poop yourself when you realise!
2) if you don't finish and have blanks, in the last 5 minutes fill them all in with the same letter. For an A-D option this means that statistically, you should get 25% of the remaining questions correct.

medwannabe · Regular Joined: 11 Nov 2009 Posts: 17

I hate (and I mean seriously hate) physics with a passion, and only did first year uni level, which I nearly failed. I have a very strong biology background and am ok at chem, and (despite my best intentions) didn't do any study for GAMSAT except for looking through the sample questions booklet.

I got a 74 for the science section (III). My trick was to go through it and each time you hit a question that you grimace at, turn the page. You are much better off getting to the end of the test answering everything you can than wasting time on something too hard. Then if you still have more time and are happy with the questions you have answered, go back and attempt the nasty ones.

I gave a genuine shot at maybe 80% of section 3, and it paid off.

Two things to note if you try this:
1) if you skip a page, make sure you fill in the correct answer slot on the answer sheet or you'll poop yourself when you realise!
2) if you don't finish and have blanks, in the last 5 minutes fill them all in with the same letter. For an A-D option this means that statistically, you should get 25% of the remaining questions correct.

heavenlyjohnson · Regular Joined: 21 Sep 2009 Posts: 14

Hi magic

The physics is not too hard and you can learn it if you know what to tackle. There's some optics which his often just shadows reflections. You can answer most of these questions with a basic understanding of how light moves in straight lines and pick up valuable marks.

There's also some basic electronics, circuits in parallel and serial. You can revise this stuff in half a day, its not hard.

You should learn the inverse square law, it comes up all over and is really simple, again you can learn it in half a day.

There's also occasionally some kinematics. These might be a bit harder if your maths is weak, though worth going into and actually quite fun.

Learn all these and you'll pick up a lot of marks. That 20% can make the difference between a 50 and a 70 in section 3. There's a lot of stuff about it on my blog at revisegamsat. It's all free Smile

Good luck!

prepgenie · Grizzled Joined: 08 Dec 2008 Posts: 113

Lovebite · Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 7:39 pm Post subject:

I totally agree with Prepgenie.

It all depends on how you look at things.....

are you studying to pass an exam, or ultimately to be a successful Doctor?

I think its incredibly common in GAMSAT (and indeed in Med school) for students to study just to get a result rather than understanding WHY they are learning, or where it fits into their long term plans.

Do the work.... understand the material.

GAMSAT is NOT A GAME.... its just one of the ways that universities can make sure that their students have SOME science study under their belt, and I guarantee you, 100% that most of what you will learn is used in first year medicine.....