Is 4 months long enough to prepare?

[ladyV]

So I was wondering...if I start preparing, from scratch, tomorrow, for this exam, is that enough time?!? (By from scratch, I have an AS level in Biology from 6 years ago and no chemistry before now!!)
I got on top of the things like volunteering and finding an A level course a month or so ago, but need a back up to the chem A-level (i.e. if I dont get a place on the ONLY evening course in London!!)...which sadly is the GAMSAT!
How long do most people spend learning?

[maturin]

It really depends on how many hours you can regularly put in from now. I had no A-Levels in sciences and spent a summer holiday (June until exam, which was in mid September) doing it...but I didn't take a job over the summer at all.

Since the science questions are all multiple choice, the paper is more a test of your comprehension / ability to interpret and apply given knowledge; practice questions rather than memorization-by-rote was the key for me.

If you didn't do more than a single science at A-level, my guess is that for the essay section (the only written test) you will be able to push your average up.

I didn't bother with any of the [expensive] classes you can take. I don't know how many people do, or how much they help.

Good luck!

[Nurse_to_doctor]

Hi,

maturin - you studied for 3 months full-time! I'm at full-time work, so, even with holidays I will get nowhere near 3 months revision time. I'm a specialist nurse with a PhD but when I look at the GAMSAT questions, I have found that I don't even understand the questions, let alone the answers...

The more work I do for GAMSAT the greater I feel that it’s a really difficult exam (and I mean the 'really' bit). Still, if I find it hard, then most other people will too. That's how I look at it, anyway

If I'm wrong, then I'll be one of the 80% or so who don't get the required score (60 roughly, I think). That's the top 20% who get an interview - which is why it's so tough. If I don't do well enough, then I'll move into nursing research, with some lecturing. It will be a shame, but if I give it my best and don’t get in then what more can I do? This is why I have told NOONE that I’m applying for medical school

For me, I’m too old to worry about things like GAMSAT (43 years-old). As I’ve stated, I’ll put my all into GAMSAT and if it does not work then okay, it wasn’t meant to be. However, I’m quietly confident that I will do well enough

N2D

[dances_with_lamposts]

i started revising in about february last year, only in my lunch hour at work. then i stopped working full time in the beginning of september and tried to revise at home. i ended up with 56, 64, 55 and 58 overall so i think i did well considering the amount of work i did - it was enough to get me my 2 interviews, which led to my 2 offers! if anyone wants any more details about what things i used to revise then pm me, ive also got a load of stuff that i could email to you if you want.

[ladyV]

Thanks for your replies guys...must admit my fear is rapidly increasing...here I was thinking that I was making this decision in plenty of time in the application cycle but turns out Im really late! Annoyingly I have just been off work ill for six weeks and could have used most of that (except for the week in a hospital bed!) to revise!

Realistically I can do an hour at lunch time and two hours after work each day (making up for evenings where I work late at weekends) So I guess I could achieve 15 hours of study a week over the next 4 months. I have always been a quick learner and found science relatively straight forward so I guess Ill have to just really push hard and see how I get along. My degree was a million and one essays (well, more like 100 over the 3 years) so I will have to hope I can do extra well in that area!

Any suggested materials or notes people have are MUCH appreciated...am happy to provide my email address! I think Ill head over to Amazon to buy some A-level textbooks right away!! At least all of this will help towards the other study plan - completing chemistry A level between Sept and June!!!!!


Thanks again xxx

[Frank E]

I work full time and left my last job to take one up at the University so I could be near the library and use that immediately after work. Idiots put me somewhere else.

I'm going from scratch too with 4 'O' grades, a degree, postgrad and professional exams. I spend my bus journeys (15 min e/w) teabreak (15mins) lunch break (30mins) learning the basics (chemistry, biology, physics, biochem & biophysics).
I spend a couple of hours some evenings, an hour on others and afternoon at least on the weekends learning the more medical stuff(anatomy, histology, physiology, clinical), if my employer had stuck to the contract I wouldnt be losing 3 hours a day and i wouldn't have fell behind.

I haven't even seen the GAMSAT past papers yet, and have no idea what's involved in the exam. Only doing GAMSAT to make other options available but TBH it's not much use for any of the schools I'm interested in.

I did speak with some medical people and life sciences people out and about and they say I should be on track with what I'm doing. I may not even apply but it's interesting learning and it's all good basic background knowledge for work (which has an element of health and safety) and life.

[maturin]

I found A-level books (and below/above) useful, basing what to study upon what I found in the exams I had and the notes I got; on the day, many questions were in a similar format to the ones in the papers I had.

You are right, though...the ultimate effect of the GAMSAT is to cut the numbers down, whatever anyone says about 'honing the skills necessary to work in medicine' [ or whatever the GAMSAT tag-line is].

All anyone can do is give it a go- I've met a few people who through the second time of asking, so there's always hope. Getting through all the crap associated with working, having a life and studying simultaneously is perhaps more of a challenge than the actual exam.

Cheers

[Profanius]

Hi LadyV

Just thought I would let you know, I am in a very similar boat.

I've just started looking into doing the GAMSATs in September, which leaves me just over 5 months to prepare. At present I'm frantically fishing around for GAMSAT material.

I certainly don't work the hours that you do, but I'm studying for a degree with the Open Uiversity and doing volunteer work in my spare time, while trying to hold down a long distance relationship - which doesn't leave much time for GAMSAT preparation. I've also got an OU exam in September too!

My first degree and A-Levels weren't in science subjects - so I have no choice but to do the GAMSATs. But I'm looking at it as a learning experience. If I do well in the GAMSATs then so much the better. But if I fail/do badly, then I can always re-apply for 2011 entry, by which time I would have graduated from the OU with atleast a 2:1 and therefore won't need the GAMSAT score.

Obviously everyone's story is different, but the important thing is to look at the positive. All that studying you do for the GAMSAT will not be wasted - the science revision will stand you in good stead once you start your medicine degree. It will also get your mind back into the habit of studying and taking in information. Exam practice will pay dividends once your are at Uni and taking exams on a regular basis. Imagine sitting your first year med exams and realising you haven't taken an exam for 5 years!!!

I get the feeling you're pretty clever . Give it a couple of months of studying and a few practice exams and you'll be brimming with confidence. Remember that starting anything from scratch can be very daunting, as the gap between what you don't yet know and what you do seems very wide. But that gap will close surprisingly quickly once you get going.

Also, the more work you do now, the more it reflects your committment to studying medicine, which is what interviewers are really interested in, and the more it will give you to talk about in interview.

Good luck!

[maturin]

In case I have, let me say I didn't mean to cause panic by stating the length of time I studied for the GAMSAT. In the end, I probably overdid the work hours; but I've always been a fan of the 5 P principle. It is more than possible to pass it in less time, juggling work and life...and as they say: if you want something doing, give it to someone who is busy.

Anyway, I've rambled enough.

Cheers

[ladyV]

[QUOTE=Profanius;671104]Hi LadyV



I've just started looking into doing the GAMSATs in September, which leaves me just over 5 months to prepare. At present I'm frantically fishing around for GAMSAT material.


QUOTE]

Hi

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts on this topic! Profanius...what sort of materials are you thinking of using? So far Ive got myself a couple of A level Chem text books (OCR syllabus because thats what I will study in September if I manage to get onto an evening A level course!) and am reading through the forums and getting a bit confused by the dizzying array of books and notes that appear to be recommended. I was just umming and ahhing over investing in a specific course (eg Des O Neill) or not.... A couple of very kind people have PMed me some useful bits as well...(thanks again very kind people!)

I have always been a bit lucky when it comes to exams because I have one of those memories where things just stick (albeit if I dont practice the remembering they vanish again eventually!) and Im quite disciplined, so Im thinking I just need to get my head down...but yes now Im wondering what to get it down in

If anyone is studying now and fancies forming a bit of a study "group" to swap ideas/materials/moral support, Id be very up for that!

Right, back to my forum reading

V x