A medical student’s guide to writing in the GAMSAT

The GAMSAT^® exam is arguably one of the most arduous tests of mental capacity that prospective students face. Measuring not only your writing, but also your empathy, mental capacity and critical thinking, the GAMSAT exam can inspire fear in even the most well-read individuals. Here we will guide you and talk more about GAMSAT^® writing tips.

However, there is no reason to fear section II of the Humanities segment; nor the practice in the lead up to it. As a GradReady tutor, specialised in GAMSAT Section 2 (writing in the humanities), I would like to share some advice on preparing for Section 2 Essay which will help you ace this section. So let’s break it down: 

 

GAMSAT writing tips #1: PLAN

What does it actually mean to plan for the GAMSAT^® written exam? And how does one approach it? 

First and foremost, derive an understanding of the theme. For many students, they might tackle this by reading the provided quotes, determining the theme and then arguing for or against one of them. Although this is a common approach, it doesn’t always create the greatest impact. The GAMSAT exam preparation involves dissecting out the main theme of the quotes, as well as related ideas. There is rarely simply one theme in the quotes provided, so it’s a good idea to look beyond the obvious while brainstorming. 

How you approach brainstorming may be unique and determined by your learning style. Mind maps, dot pointed lists, or drawings are all acceptable options. These methods will help you to examine each theme to find the sub-themes and more abstract ideas. This process can be quite time consuming, however, on the actual examination day you will need to work fast. Work out which groups of ideas can be linked together most easily by a recurring argument, or can be substantiated the best, and use these for your writing.

Next, you will create a thesis statement; this should be maintained or proved in your writing. This is essential to all forms of writing, regardless of the format; essays, creative pieces, diary entries, letter-to-the-editor, or others. The thesis is the main message of your writing, and it must be communicated regularly, explicitly and implicitly throughout your submission. The most effective thesis will address the theme, be creative (perhaps witty), and often make meaningful social commentary on relevant issues. 

When choosing a structure for your work, ensure that you are selecting a medium that is appropriate for the theme of the quotes. Learn more about the themes on our Free GAMSAT Example Essays page. By far the most common form to write in for the GAMSAT^® exam is the essay. However, many different formats can be utilised for the exam; your task is to determine which is most appropriate for effectively communicating your thesis. For example, if the theme of the quotes refers to ‘political governance’ in general, an argumentative essay is likely to be an effective and natural format for this topic. However, if the theme focuses on relationships, some students may wish to demonstrate the values or importance of relationships through a more reflective, personal or emotional format. For instance, through a creative story, reflection or diary. These creative forms of writing are often less familiar to students, but can often be the more powerful submissions. Playing with different writing styles and formats is a task that should most certainly be undertaken during your exam preparation. 

Now that you’ve chosen a theme and how you will present your ideas, it’s time to plan a number of topic sentences that form the main idea for each paragraph. Each paragraph should address one idea and should be directly related to the thesis. Each idea should continue to build and extend the thesis, convincing and compelling the reader of your overall opinion on the issue.

Planning is the most essential part of writing successfully in the GAMSAT^® exam. Practice makes perfect, and most importantly, faster. For more tips, check out our article Breaking Down GAMSAT Essay Questions.

  

GAMSAT writing tips #2: WRITE

 
Now that it is time to put pen to paper, there are a few things to remember. Firstly, be clear and concise; keep it simple. Write within your own capacity and limits. Write in logical and well-phrased sentences that can be easily understood by a marker who will be reading your essay at a fast pace; because that’s the reality of it. Support what you write with some form of evidence or reasoning to convince the reader or your point. Circle back to the thesis often; if in doubt, word your paragraph in such a way that the ‘supporting evidence’ demonstrates the topic sentence and the thesis. Your aim is to persuade the reader of your argument.

 

GAMSAT writing tips #3: REVIEW

 
Proofread and review what you have written carefully; ensure it makes sense and, better yet, is enjoyable to read. There won’t be much time remaining to do this during the examination, so focus on ensuring your writing is logical and communicating your main argument clearly. 

And that’s more or less it. Now that you’ve completed one of the writing tasks, it’s time to rinse and repeat for the second task. 

 
So, in summary, a medical student’s guide to writing in the GAMSAT includes:

•  Write in an appropriate format, and one that you are comfortable with.

• Be creative. Don’t let the ‘rules of writing’ get in your way. You are permitted to discuss ideas that are outside-the-square.

• Write about them, particularly during your GAMSAT Exam preparation practice, in a tempered and judicious manner.

• Practice. Practice. Practice. 

 

I hope that this blog post has given you an idea of what to expect and how to prepare for the GAMSAT ® Section 2 exam. Further information about preparing for GAMSAT Section 2 is available on the GradReady website, and make sure to check out our other GAMSAT preparation materials.