GAMSAT Section 2
GAMSAT was developed to filter down the number of medical school applications. The process doesn’t discriminate and is a useful tool for medical schools (for the sake of determining who will gain entry into their institutions each year).
The test contains an essay writing section that many people believe is the most challenging aspect of this process. Here are some of the reasons why:
1. Most graduates lack experience writing an essay – especially those with a background in science.
2. Most graduates lack the confidence to write about certain issues they aren’t well-informed about.
3. For graduates who are less educated than others, reading up on a number of subjects warrants time they don’t have, especially as there is limited time available to prepare for the test in any case.
Main Takeaways - An Approach to Writing a GAMSAT Essay
1.Write the essay from an argumentative point of view. This comes as second-nature for those who write essays regularly, but is an aspect that less-seasoned writers need to be told about.
All essays must have a certain perspective that the author conveys to the reader. Whatever points are made will back up varied arguments.
When you are writing an essay, don’t forget to address arguments from the opposing perspective. Articulate why you believe their case doesn’t hold up or why their argument against your point can’t be refuted.
Conclude your essay by bringing the argument full-circle – leave the reader with one last point about your opinion.
2. Come across as an expert.
Address your points clearly and with confidence so you come across as knowledgeable.
Make sure the proper formatting, spelling, and grammar are used.
Use technical terminology where necessary.
Support your case with quotes and statistics, where applicable. Note –things won’t bode well for you if you’re caught using false sources. Always make sure the references you use are legitimate, especially for GAMSAT.
Show your passion for the subject. In doing so, your argument will have credibility.
Make sure the examples you use are as recent as possible.
These are tactics used by many writers, most of which are not an expert in any particular field. The way these writers handle an argument, though, would make you believe otherwise.
3. Don’t focus on time. Craft all the essays you can to prepare for GAMSAT. Consider using a quote generator to help you get ready. Make time to write a couple of essays regularly. The more you write, the quicker you’ll get – to the point where you can finish writing an essay in 30 minutes or less without feeling time pressured.
A couple of the better quote generators we've found are -
https://miniwebtool.com/random-quote-generator/
https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/random-quotes
4. Perfect your grammar and make sure your tone is consistent. Put some time into perfecting your grammar, and ensure that your writing style’s perspective is consistent. You are encouraged to read what you write out loud. Isolate areas where the grammar sounds off. If you go back and forth between present and past tense (or between third and first-person), be mindful of that. Get someone else to review your writing, if you can. Take steps to figure out your flaws. Basic errors - like confusing “there” with “their”; or “your” with “you’re,” speak volumes about your writing skills and your knowledge of the English language. Wording differences are fairly easy to memorize and understand. Make sure your spelling mistakes are minimal, as well.
5. Become familiar with other styles of writing.Read as frequently as possible. Whether it’s an editorial from a magazine, a blog, or a best-selling book, keep consuming content. Editorials, in particular, allow you to become familiar with the type of writing style necessary for your essay. Books will expose you to different concepts, words, and other approaches of thought. It’s worthwhile to mention a certain author if they have said something relevant to your argument. Factor in content about current affairs and political theories, too. One of the subjects of your essay is almost a certainty to be topical.
6. Master the art of essay structuring and planning. Concentrate on portions of the essay that are heavily scored. You should know how to properly structure an essay. Find out how a thesis is formed and find up to four points that can be made to support the concept of your essay. One helpful suggestion you can use is to feature a counterpoint against your central argument. That point can be refuted from there.
7. Perform a dry run of the test by manually writing an essay. Every essay you write should be done manually. This sounds like an obvious suggestion, but it’s not easy to write a thousand words within 60 minutes. You might develop a hand cramp or write illegible content. It is vital to have an easy-to-read essay. Write quickly and ensure whatever you put down is neat. The sole way to achieve this is to keep writing essays by hand.
8. Become familiar with other styles of writing.Read as frequently as possible. Whether it’s an editorial from a magazine, a blog, or a best-selling book, keep consuming content. Editorials, in particular, allow you to become familiar with the type of writing style necessary for your essay. Books will expose you to different concepts, words, and other approaches of thought. It’s worthwhile to mention a certain author if they have said something relevant to your argument. Factor in content about current affairs and political theories, too. One of the subjects of your essay is almost a certainty to be topical.
9. Learn about current social theories and ideas. Some students mistakenly believe that tests for “Section 2” gauge your knowledge of current events. What you’ll really be tested on is how you discuss, evaluate, and articulate those topics. A good place to start is to fuel your knowledge about popular – and perhaps controversial – psychological, philosophical, and social theories.
A lot of practice is highly recommended. Focus on how your essay is structured, read often, and perfect your grammar.
Further Resources
For more detailed help with your GAMSAT essay writing please refer to Griffiths GAMSAT Review which contains an essay writing model which practically allows you to have your essays pre-written before you even walk into the test.
