damsel in distress

gamsatstudent · Rookie Joined: 16 Aug 2009 Posts: 1 Location: UK

Hi all,

I am really interested in doing the medprep online course. My only reason for wanting to do this course is the price. How have those of you who have done this found it? Its cheaper than other courses out there, but does that also mean the quality of what I can expect to get will reflect the price?

Can someone please help me with this. Also if you know of a more economical way to revise please let me know. I am a science student and my main concerns are sections 1 and 2. I just have no idea where to start revising or what to do. Most materials and courses out there, I would love to do them but they cost a fortune.

Somebody please heelppp!! Razz

ps: I apologise if this has been discussed before, I tried having a look around but couldnt find anything.

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

prepgenie · Grizzled Joined: 08 Dec 2008 Posts: 113

heavenlyjohnson · Regular Joined: 21 Sep 2009 Posts: 14

Hi gamsatstudent

Part 1 is there to test your literacy and ability to understand a text, not just at a surface level but between the lines, something you'll need to able to do later. I think older people tend to be better at this but it's a skill that can definitely be learned.

Reading is the key, quality journals, Nature, New Scientist, classic literature, Skeptic magazine, anything with ambiguity, where there's not necessarily a clear cut answer, which recognises the ambiguity and tries to clarify it.

I assume you have the acer practice questions. There's always one correct answer and when you really understand why it's correct it becomes obvious. These are a really good place to start. Assume you can answer them and really think each one through. Treat it as an interesting puzzle and the correct answer will pop out!

Part 2 tests your ability to form a clear and lucid argument. TED is a great place to go for material here, in fact large parts of my Gamsat essays were based on themes from TED talks.

These are short essays so they generally follow a pretty simple structure, to take an example from the 2009 UK exam the structure might be something like:

1. First point of view with supporting evidence, eg. The quality of the media is low because of increased competition for marketing budgets.

2. Second point of view and why the first point of view misses the point, eg. In spite of this, new media allows everyone to produce their own content and although most of this content is low quality since everyone is now also a critic the good content will rise to the top of the pile.

3. Synthesis. The first point of view is right but this is not important in light of the second point of view.

You'll generally always have a 1,2 and 3. 1 & 2 may appear to contradict but really support each other, may appear to support but really contradict each other or may contradict each other but do so in interesting ways.

Good luck with it Smile

Lovebite · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:05 pm Post subject:

Hi.

Firstly, be very careful about resting on the fact that you're a "science" student. SO MANY people fall down by thinking that their science is covered by their bachelor's degree.

This is even more important when you consider that Part III has double weighting, so if you fall down here, you're in a lot of trouble.

As for part 1 and 2, there has been some good advice already given above. Just remember that they are looking for two VERY DIFFERENT styles of essay. Have a poke around and you'll find buckets of information on this.

The previous poster gives some good general advice about writing essays, but doesn't mention that you need to approach the two gamsat essays from different directions, and that the ACER markers are looking for very different things from each.

I did Medprep back in 2008, and I thought it was good, especially given my non science background. The help for section II was very good, in that they gave you a couple of marked essays, with some advice for improvement.... which helps to either tighten your style, or reassure you that you're on the right path.

The section I assistance was a bit hokey IMO. its all online, and you can't print it out. I'm the kind of guy who likes to highlight key words etc, and I couldn't do that. It was also very difficult to navigate this section.

PM me if you want and ask specific questions.

Good luck! Smile

prepgenie · Grizzled Joined: 08 Dec 2008 Posts: 113

That is great advice Lovebite. A science student really needs to make sure he/she knows the basic. There has been instances where science students have not done well and the non-science students have done better because of their grasp in the basics of science.

Roxy · Rookie Joined: 30 Sep 2009 Posts: 9 Location: Melbourne

Hi Everyone,

This is Roxanne. I live in Melbourne and am planning to take the GAMSAT 2010.

I had Science as my major during High School. But then I changed my career (attempted the Medical Entrance Exam (not in Australia) but was unsuccessful Sad

) and did Bachelors of IT

I am working full-time and interested to know more about you all. Have you cleared the GAMSAT or are you all (prepgenie, gamsatstudent, Lovebite) studying in a group? If you don't mind can I request to let me join your group please.

Thanks,
Regards
Roxanne

Lovebite · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:10 am Post subject:

My GAMSAT days are behind me now Smile

If you're looking for a study group, I'd try paging Dr (google it).

I'm also happy to try and answer any questions here. (not that I'm an expert)

Roxy · Rookie Joined: 30 Sep 2009 Posts: 9 Location: Melbourne