How to start study for S3?
Why should you listen to me?
Hi, I’m Dips. In 2023, I improved from 60 → 80 on the GAMSAT. I’ve helped so many students score 75+ and secure CSP medicine/dentistry spots in every cycle since. This is a blog I wish I had when I was first preparing.
How to Study for GAMSAT Section 3: A Comprehensive Guide
Achieving excellence in Section 3 of the GAMSAT is all about preparation but not all preparation is created equal. This guide will outline the study plan, resources, and mindset that helped me achieve an 80+ score (99th percentile).
The Approach
Treat section 3 as a game made up of specific skills you need to master. While having a foundation of background knowledge is helpful, it’s nowhere near as extensive as many people think.
Focus on developing the skills to analyse, reason, and solve problems efficiently. Content is secondary, it’s the application that matters.
Building an Effective Study Plan
Everyone’s study plan will differ based on their background, strengths, and preferences. Instead of prescribing a one-size-fits-all schedule, here are key principles to help you design a plan that works for you:
Learn the Exam Format
This can’t be overstated: use Acer papers as your guide. Understand the structure, question types, and time constraints thoroughly.
Prioritise Accuracy Over Speed (at First)
Early in your preparation, strive for 100% accuracy, even if it takes you over 10 minutes to solve a single question. This is the time to focus on learning and refining your problem-solving process.
Tips for Developing Accuracy:
Annotate each question stem. Summarise paragraphs into concise dot points.
Translate information into other formats (e.g., flowcharts, diagrams, or pathways).
Write out your reasoning for every answer choice: why you selected or rejected it.
This method is time-consuming but invaluable for identifying gaps in knowledge or reasoning.
Create a Mistake Log
After answering a question, thoroughly analyse all options—even the incorrect ones. Try to find alternative methods for solving the question. Study groups can be especially helpful at this stage.
Maintain a “mistake log” to track the questions you get wrong and, more importantly, why you got them wrong. This log can include:
• The type of mistake (e.g., misinterpretation, content gap, time pressure).
• A reflection on how to approach similar questions differently. Even if you answered correctly.
• Summarise concepts or rules that need review
Build Speed Closer to Exam Day
About one month before the exam, start timing yourself. By this point, you should have near-perfect accuracy in untimed conditions. Now it’s time to practice answering faster, simulating real exam conditions.
How Long Should You Study?
A focused two-month preparation period of consistently studying 1h+ a day (3-4h on weekends) is what is realistically takes to achieve an 75+ score.
Month 1: Focus on accuracy and mastering fundamentals.
Month 2: Develop speed and refine your technique under timed conditions.
Conclusion
The GAMSAT is challenging but not complicated. Stick to the fundamentals:
Focus on exam technique over excessive content learning.
Use Acer papers as your guiding resource.
simplify your strategy and avoid the temptation to overcomplicate things with too many resources.
With a structured approach and consistent effort, good scores in Section 3 is well within reach.