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Free GAMSAT ® practice questions are one of the highest-leverage parts of exam preparation. Working GAMSAT ®-style sample questions builds the reasoning habits the exam rewards and shows you exactly how Section 1, Section 2, and Section 3 items are framed — before you invest in a full-length practice test.
Below you’ll find free GAMSAT ® sample questions for every section: a Section 1 poetry comprehension MCQ, a Section 2 essay prompt set, and Section 3 biology, chemistry, and physics MCQs with fully worked solutions. Our tutor walkthrough video goes through each practice question step by step.
After these free practice questions, unlock 40 more MCQs from our Intelligent MCQ Bank via the GAMSAT ® Free Trial, or sit a full free GAMSAT ® practice test on an ACER-like online platform.
New to the exam? Pair these free practice questions with how to prepare for the GAMSAT ® and the section guides linked below. For the broader free resource library, see Free GAMSAT ® Preparation Materials.
Looking for free GAMSAT ® practice questions? Work through the GAMSAT ® sample questions below — one for Section 1, one Section 2 prompt set, and biology, chemistry, and physics items for Section 3. Answers and worked solutions follow later on this page.
The following is a poem titled A Bird Came Down The Walk by Emily Dickinson.
A bird came down the walk:
He did not know I saw;
He bit an angle-worm in halves
And ate the fellow, raw.
And then he drank a dew
From a convenient grass,
And then hopped sidewise to the wall
To let a beetle pass.
He glanced with rapid eyes
That hurried all abroad,
They looked like frightened beads, I thought;
He stirred his velvet head
Like one in danger; cautious,
I offered him a crumb,
And he unrolled his feathers
And rowed him softer home
Than oars divide the ocean,
Too silver for a seam,
Or butterflies, off banks of noon,
Leap, splashless, as they swim.
1. What theme is most evident in A Bird Came Down The Walk?
2. In the final two stanzas, the bird is described as flying away. The depiction that the bird's flight "rowed him softer..." than oars dividing the ocean implies:
You can find more free GAMSAT ® Essay Topics and a Free GAMSAT ® Essay Quote Generator at our guide here: GAMSAT ® Section 2 Essays: How to Prepare
You can find some free example essays here: Free GAMSAT ® Example Essay
The diagram above shows the absorbance of NAD+ and NADH at various wavelengths of light. As NAD+ is a dinucleotide it absorbs, like all nucleotides, strongly in the 260-280 nm range. It can also be seen that the protonated form exhibits a modified absorbance spectra.
An important biochemical measure of the health of a cell is known as the redox state and is the ratio of NAD+ to NADH. A healthy cell has a redox state of around 700. This high ratio makes oxidative reactions favourable and thus enables oxidative phosphorylation, or the aerobic formation of ATP.
To do this, reference samples of known concentrations of NAD+ and NADH are made up and measured in a spectrophotometer. The unknown samples are then measured and compared to the reference samples to determine the quantity of NAD+ or NADH in the sample.
A molecular biologist has a number of samples that they wish to test the redox state of. For each question select the correct answer using the knowledge provided in this section
1. What wavelength would be most appropriate for determining the concentration of NAD + ?
2. What wavelength would be most appropriate for determining the concentration of NADH when discriminating against NAD + concentration?
3. What redox state would most likely be found in a cell that was overwhelmed with the work of metabolizing alcohol?
The increased emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere leads to a decrease in the pH of ocean water due to a chemical equilibrium between carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and carbonic acid (H 2 CO 3 ) which can then contribute protons into the ocean:
CO 2 + H 2 O ↔ H 2 CO 3
H 2 CO 3 ↔ H + + HCO 3 -
HCO 3 - ↔ H + + CO 3 2-
The relative abundance of the above species at a given pH is represented on a Bjerrum Plot.
1. In 1751 the ocean pH was 8.25, but it is expected by 2100 that [H+] in the ocean will increase by 2.5 fold. Which of the following indicates the expected ocean pH in 2100?
2. The initial [H + ] in 1751 was 5.62 * 10 -9 M, and Ca(OH) 2 is a strong base that is expected to dissociate completely. How much Ca(OH) 2 (1.0 M) would be required to return a 4 L water sample from the year 2100 back to the acidities of year 1751?
3. Oceanic species such as corals and plankton have calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) skeletal structures that require the levels of CO 3 2- to be saturated in ocean waters. What effect would an increase in CO 2 emissions have on these species?
Hydraulic force multiplication is one of the mechanisms that allow the force applied to a car’s brake pedal by a person's foot to be multiplied to a level that can stop a car quickly. A very simplified diagram is provided below.
Piston A and B are both cylindrical and are at the same height. The fluid used, in blue, is water. The diameter of Piston A is 10 cm.
1. How much pressure would the person be applying to the water if they push down on the brake pedal with 200 N of force?
2. It is known that a fluid’s density increases as temperature increases and decreases as the temperature decreases. If the efficiency of the hydraulic braking system is defined as how effectively the forces are multiplied, what happens to the braking system efficiency on a hot day?
If you find the practice MCQs above useful, make sure you sign up for our GAMSAT ® Free Trial which includes 40 free MCQs from our Intelligent MCQ Bank. You will also get access to a GAMSAT ® practice test which mimics the official ACER GAMSAT ® exam in detail, allowing you to familiarise yourself with the online delivery of the exam before test date.
1. C is correct.
Dickinson repeatedly compares and contrasts the cruelty/fear ("...bit an angle-worm in halves" depicting the predator-prey relationship between bird and worm) and beauty ("...he unrolled his feathers, And rowed him softer home") of nature. Students may interpret the poem to represent the other themes, however these are either not suggested (Answers 1 and 2) or a minor theme (Answer 4).
2. A is correct.
As the comparative 'softer' is used, it suggests that the natural sight of a bird flying is more beautiful than boat oars that create gentle ripples in the water. This implies natural beauty surpasses man-made beauty, as oars and boats are man-made. Use of enjambment (the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza) creates a relaxed tone.
1. B is correct.
260nm is the answer as this is in the range light is most strongly absorbed by NAD + , which assists its measurement by a spectrophotometer
2. C is correct.
At 340nm, there is the greatest amount of difference between the standard molar absorbance of NAD + and NADH, and this would be the most appropriate point to measure the two comparatively.
3. B is correct.
In the stem, it is indicated that ' a healthy cell has a redox state of around 700. This high ratio makes oxidative reactions favourable and thus enables oxidative phosphorylation, or the aerobic formation of ATP '.
We can infer that a cell overwhelmed with the work of metabolizing alcohol is less healthy, and therefore the ratio would be less than 700.
The enzymes used to metabolise ethanol (ADH and ALDH2) reduce NAD + to NADH, and therefore the cellular NAD + / NADH redox ratio is lowered as a consequence of ethanol metabolism.
1. B is correct.
Students should be familiar with pH being a logarithmic scale with a change in 1 pH unit corresponding to a [H+] change of a factor of 10. Therefore, for an acidification with a [H+] factor change of 2.5 the pH is expected to decrease, but by less than 1 pH unit. The only answer that fulfills this criteria is B.
2. B is correct.
Calculate difference in proton concentration by determining concentration in 2100 and taking away initial concentration.
In 1751: [H + ] = 5.62 * 10 -9 M (mol L -1 )
Multiply by 2.5 to get 2100 levels: [H + ] = 14.1 * 10 -9 mol L -1
Difference in [H + ] (2100 levels - 1751 levels) = 8.48 * 10 -9 mol L -1
Determine amount of H + to be neutralised in a 4 L sample (multiply difference by 4 L):
4 L sample = 33.9 * 10 -9 mol to be neutralised
Each Ca(OH) 2 provides two hydroxides, therefore we require half this amount of Ca(OH) 2 :
n(Ca(OH) 2 ) = 17.0 * 10 -9 mol
Concentration is 1.0 M (mol L -1 ), therefore answer is 17.0 nanolitres (17.0 * 10 -9 L).
3. A is correct.
Of the extra carbon dioxide added into the oceans, some remains as dissolved carbon dioxide, while the rest contributes towards making additional carbonic acid and additional bicarbonate as in the equilibria. This also increases the concentration of hydrogen ions, and the percentage increase in hydrogen is larger than the percentage increase in bicarbonate, creating an imbalance in the reaction HCO 3 − ↔ CO 3 2− + H + . To maintain chemical equilibrium, some of the carbonate ions already in the ocean combine with some of the hydrogen ions to make further bicarbonate. Thus the ocean's concentration of carbonate ions is reduced, creating an imbalance in the reaction Ca 2+ + CO 3 2- ↔ CaCO 3 , and making the dissolution of formed CaCO 3 structures more likely. In other words, the CO32- concentration drops, so that the ocean is no longer saturated and CO 3 2- dissolves from the coral. This can be seen on the Bjerrum plot - as pH drops, the concentration of CO 3 2- drops too.
1. D is correct.
Using the formula P=F/A and keeping in mind that the radius of Piston A is 5 cm ,
p = 200 / (π x 5^2) N/cm^2
= 200 / (π x 25) N/cm^2
= 8 / π N/cm^2
= 8 / π N/(1/100m)^2
= 8 / π x 100^2 N/m^2
= 8 / π x 10^4 Pa
= 80 / π kPa
Remember that Pa (pascals) is the equivalent of N/m 2
2. D is correct.
On a hot day, the density of the water increases. Using the formula P = ρ X g X h it is clear that if the density (ρ) increases, then the pressure will increase.
However, this pressure increase is applied to both pistons. While this might increase the force applied to the water in Piston A, it increases the force applied to Piston B by the same proportion. In other words, the ratio of forces between the pistons remains the same, so the brake efficiency remains the same.
Once you’ve worked these free GAMSAT ® sample questions, sign up for the GAMSAT ® Free Trial for 40 more free MCQs from our Intelligent MCQ Bank — a larger free practice question set with worked solutions, difficulty filters, and performance tracking across 43 subtopics.
The full Intelligent MCQ Bank contains 7000+ GAMSAT ®-style practice questions. Build custom sets by subtopic and difficulty so you can focus practice questions on weak areas instead of revisiting topics you already handle well.
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Section 1: GAMSAT ® Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences is comprised of solely multiple-choice questions, and focuses mostly on the candidate’s ability to interpret and understand various ideas which may arise from different social and cultural contexts. There will be a number of modalities presented here ranging from argumentative writings and academic essays, to poems and fictional stories. Visual stimuli will also be included, such as satirical newspaper cartoons. Emphasised through these stems will be the need for candidates to understand both explicit and implicit nuances, employ rationalisation to come to various conclusions, and make discriminations and judgements.
Section 2: GAMSAT ® Written Communication will assess the candidate’s ability to take a number of thematic statements offered as prompts, and create 2 essays based off these aforementioned prompts. Of particular importance here is the candidate’s ability to clearly articulate their thoughts, whilst offering up a thought-provoking response to the prompts, which often relate to socio-cultural or personal issues.
Section 3: GAMSAT ® Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences will include questions which cover a range of disciplines within science; namely, Chemistry, Biology and Physics. Chemistry will comprise 40% of the total Section III paper; Biology 40%, and Physics 20%. The expected standard of both Biology and Chemistry is to a first-year university level, whereas the expected standard for Physics is Year 12. This section focuses heavily on problem solving and will present graphs, tables and diagrams to the candidate for interpretation.
Section 2: Written Communication is on a different day than the other two sections of the GAMSAT ® and will offer the candidate a number of essay prompts for a total of 2 questions corresponding to 2 essays, both of which must be completed within 65 minutes. GAMSAT ® Section 1 and 3 will occur around 3 weeks after the Written Communication section. There will be 62 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in total for Section 1: Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences, which are to be completed within 100 minutes of test time. Lastly, Section 3: Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences will consist of 75 MCQs with a time limit of 150 for all questions. All MCQs in both Sections I and II will have 4 options to choose from.
There is no magic number of free GAMSAT ® practice questions that guarantees a competitive score — strengths, starting level, and how carefully you review each attempt matter more than raw volume.
As a practical benchmark: review every set of practice questions thoroughly (why the right option is right and why the others fail), aim for about one full GAMSAT ® practice test per week once you’re past the introductory sample stage, and write at least two full essays per week. That mix improves exam results more reliably than long untimed sessions without review.
Closer to test day, shift from untimed practice questions to timed sets and full practice tests so pacing matches ACER conditions.
Free GAMSAT ® practice questions teach question style and reasoning in small sets. When you’re ready to test stamina and timing, move to a full free GAMSAT ® practice test — 62 Section 1 and 75 Section 3 MCQs on an ACER-like online platform, with Mock Exam or Custom timer modes.
A practice test helps in three ways that short sample questions cannot fully cover: finishing sections under time pressure, learning your best stem-vs-question reading order, and seeing which science topics still need study. Full details, platform screenshots, and tips live on our GAMSAT ® practice test page. Non-science candidates may also find our GAMSAT ® non-science background guide useful before sitting a timed paper.
Use these guides alongside free practice questions — they explain how each section is assessed so your MCQ and essay practice stays purposeful.
The GAMSAT ® rewards reasoning and problem-solving more than content recall. After building foundations, prioritise applying knowledge through practice questions rather than re-reading notes alone.
Sit a full free online GAMSAT ® practice test with an ACER-like interface, timing modes, and worked solutions.
The most comprehensive library of free GAMSAT Preparation materials available.
Covers everything you need to know about your GAMSAT ® Results - How the scoring works, result release dates and even GAMSAT ® score cutoffs.
A breakdown of how to approach study effectively and how to set up a GAMSAT ® study schedule
An overview of what to expect in Section 1 of the GAMSAT ® Exam and how to prepare.
An overview of what to expect in Section 2 of the GAMSAT ® Exam, how to prepare and how to perfect your essay technique.
An overview of what to expect in Section 3 of the GAMSAT ® Exam and how to prepare for each of the topics - Biology, Chemistry, & Physics.
Get even further details and specific tips for the Biology component of Section 3 of the GAMSAT ® Exam
Further advice and information specific to GAMSAT ® Section 3 Chemistry - Get a detailed breakdown of various topics.
Not sure about the value of preparing for GAMSAT ® Physics? Think again - The Physics component of Section 3 can be a key separator of student performance, get further details on how to prepare.
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