Becoming a health practitioner is never easy, it takes years to learn the profession. Entering graduate medical school is another obstacle in the timeline for aspiring physicians. Preparing for all possibilities is the best course of action when taking an important exam like GAMSAT.
The Graduate Medical School Admissions Test, or GAMSAT, is a challenging exam assessing your medical school aptitude. In this article, you will explore some effective ways that could help with your entrance exam and further build a solid foundation for your medical career.
Table of Contents
1. Study Schedule
GAMSAT preparation starts with the planning of your study schedule. When creating a study program, ensure what weeks or months you can dedicate. Changing plans if necessary to minimize distractions and disruptions during your preparation period. A schedule will help pave the way for any more preparation for the exams, making it one of the more crucial parts.
2. Familiarization
Familiarizing the subjects and different exam parts will help you understand the test. By checking the parts, the takers will know what may come from the paper. It will mentally prepare the students for the build-up to the test and the exam itself.
Understanding the subjects for the exam is the first step before studying; it will give time to know what should be prioritized.
3. Weaknesses
Evaluate yourself and learn which subjects you may have a harder time with than other topics. This way, you can form which parts should be focused on to alleviate problems when taking the test. Identifying your weaknesses may take time, but it is an important skill to further your medical career. Fixing your weaknesses will overall help your performance.
4. Reaching Out
If studying a specific topic gives you trouble, reaching out to people with more knowledge is the best course of action. Getting help through online lectures or teachers would boost your chances of mastering subjects.
Studying in groups has its perks: it lets multiple people add their expertise or knowledge. If you prefer to study alone, you may do so. But studying with people has advantages.
Looking for supplementary notes or reviewers online would be a good alternative if all other options did not work out. Any extra help would still go a long way, even in the form of more reading materials.
5. Test Yourself
Using mock exams or answering questions based on your learning would help you further prepare for the test. It will give you the simulation of taking the test and an idea of how the exam may occur. Practice all exam parts, including essay writing; examinees should learn to write straightforward, informative, and long essays. Preparing for all possibilities is better than preparing for a few.
Another strategy would be asking others to give you an oral test. It will lessen the chance of easier questions being asked. When you ask questions, there will be a bias or an advantage. Look for a colleague to help you.
This strategy would help your memory of what you have learned, ensuring you won’t forget during the exam. Always experiment and find out which approach fits you.
6. Your Own Pace
One of the most important tips is to take care of yourself when studying for the GAMSAT. Take your time when studying, and always take breaks when feeling fatigued. A tired mind and body would lead to poor memory retention, wasting the student’s time studying. Unhealthy practices could lead to more dangerous situations than failing the entrance exam.
Final Thought
After all the studying and preparing, answer all the questions promptly. Skipping a few questions is not a problem if you take a long; return to the questions when you have answered the rest. Going to parts you are confident in is another strategy to give you time to focus on harder sections. Time management is important during GAMSAT; being precise and quick will give you an advantage.
The life of a physician will always be a difficult and stressful one. GAMSAT is a perfect example of medical practitioners being ready for all situations. It trains the professionals that handling another person’s life should be taken seriously. It will take a lot of personal sacrifices to start saving lives in their countries.