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The Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) assesses your ability to understand and analyse information, think critically, and solve problems by applying knowledge in new contexts.

While there's no official syllabus, this comprehensive guide breaks down each section with specific topics, skills, and preparation strategies based on extensive analysis of past exams and official papers.

Table of Contents:

GAMSAT Section 1 Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences

Core Subject Areas

Literature

  • Poetry (rhythm, meter, literary devices)
  • Fiction (dialogue, character analysis, irony)
  • Drama and plays

Psychology

  • Human behavior analysis
  • Emotional state interpretation
  • Motivational assessment

Sociology

  • Social institutions and systems analysis
  • Group dynamics and collective behavior
  • Contemporary social issues and trends

Anthropology

  • Cultural analysis
  • Social structures
  • Human society studies

Non-Fiction

  • Academic articles and essays
  • Biography and autobiography
  • Philosophy and social theory
  • Technical and scientific writing
  • Reports and critiques

Visual Media

  • Graphic comics and narratives
  • Political cartoons and satirical illustrations
  • Photography and photojournalism
  • Charts, diagrams, and graphs
  • Visual-textual integration
Text Types You'll Encounter

Prose Texts

  • Technical texts
  • Literary prose
  • Proverbs and short commentary

Creative Texts

  • Poetry collections
  • Plays and dialogues
  • Short fiction and narratives

Visual Elements

  • Diagrams and charts
  • Cartoons and illustrations
  • Graphic media

Specialised Content

  • Philosophical quotes and aphorisms
  • Australian content (emphasized by ACER)
  • Contemporary and classical works
  • Note: No specific prior knowledge required - all necessary information provided in exam passages
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GAMSAT Section 2 Written Communication

Core Themes & Subject Areas

Task A: Socio-Cultural Issues

Argumentative essay style

  • Freedom
  • War and Conflict
  • Crime and Law
  • Punishment and Justice
  • Science and Ethics
  • Technology and Society
  • Poverty and Inequality
  • Wealth and Power
  • Environment and Sustainability

Task B: Personal & Social Issues

Creative or reflective essay style

  • Friendship and Relationships
  • Love and Romance
  • Beauty and Aesthetics
  • Youth and Growing Up
  • Ageing and Mortality
  • Suffering and Resilience
  • Originality and Creativity
  • Conformity and Individuality
  • Humour and Joy
Subject Areas for Context & Ideas

History

  • Human historical development
  • Evolution of societies and civilisations
  • Major historical movements and revolutions

Psychology

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Neuropsychology and human behavior
  • Mental health and wellbeing

Philosophy

  • Types of love and relationships
  • Key thinkers (Aristotle, Descartes)
  • Modern philosophy and epistemology
  • Mind-body problems and reality

Anthropology

  • Different ways of living (hunter-gatherer, agrarian, industrial)
  • Political development and governance forms
  • Cultural evolution and organization
  • Ritual and belief systems

Economics

  • Economic principles and orthodoxy
  • Capitalism and its societal effects
  • Taxation and wealth distribution
  • Banking systems and nature of money

Social Issues

  • Racism: Colonialism, structural violence, cultural appropriation
  • Politics: Socialism vs conservatism, nationalism vs patriotism, liberalism
  • Gender and Equality: Feminism, gender roles workplace discrimination
  • Education and Social Mobility: Class barriers, educational inequality, meritocracy vs privilege
  • Note: Focus on depth over breadth - analyse themes deeply rather than broadly
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GAMSAT Section 3 Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences

Core Subject Areas

Subject Distribution
  • Biology: 40% (First-year university level)
  • Chemistry: 40% (First-year university level)
  • Physics: 20% (Year 12 level)
Biology Topics

Cellular Biology

  • Cell structure and function
  • Cell membrane transport
  • Cellular metabolism and respiration
  • Cell signaling and communication
  • Cellular organisation and ccompartmentalisation

Molecular Biology

  • Macromolecules (carbs, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids)
  • Enzymes and catalysis
  • Cell division (mitosis and meiosis)
  • Genetics and inheritance
  • DNA, RNA, and central dogma

Systems Biology

  • Nervous system
  • Cardiovascular system
  • Respiratory system
  • Digestive and excretory systems
  • Endocrine system
  • Immune system
  • Musculoskeletal system
  • Reproductive system

Population Health

  • Medical epidemiology
  • Experimental design and data analysis
  • Motivational assessment
  • Disease transmission and outbreak investigation
  • Biostatistics and data interpretation
  • Public health prevention strategies
  • Health determinants and risk factors
  • Health surveillance and monitoring systems
Chemistry Topics

Fundamental Chemistry

  • Atomic structure and periodic table
  • Chemical bonding and molecular structure
  • Stoichiometry and chemical equations
  • States of matter and intermolecular forces

Organic Chemistry

  • Functional groups and nomenclature
  • Stereochemistry and isomerism
  • Organic reactions and mechanisms
  • Spectroscopy (IR, NMR, MS)

Physical Chemistry

  • Thermodynamics (enthalpy, entropy, Gibbs free energy)
  • Chemical kinetics and reaction rates
  • Chemical equilibrium
  • Gases and solutions

Specialized Areas

  • Acids and bases
  • Electrochemistry and redox reactions
  • Biochemistry basics
  • Nuclear chemistry
Physics Topics

Mechanics

  • Motion (1D and 2D), acceleration, and graphs
  • Newton's laws and equilibrium
  • Energy, work, and conservation
  • Momentum and collisions

Waves and Optics

  • Wave characteristics and periodic motion
  • Sound properties and Doppler effect
  • Light, reflection, refraction, and lenses
  • Wave interference and diffraction

Electricity and Magnetism

  • Electric charge, fields, and circuits
  • Current, voltage, resistance (Ohm's law)
  • Magnetic forces and electromagnetic induction

Thermodynamics

  • Heat transfer and thermal properties
  • Temperature scales and thermal expansion
  • Laws of thermodynamics and heat engines

Fluid Physics

  • Pressure, buoyancy, and Archimedes' principle
  • Fluid motion and properties

Modern Physics

  • Atomic and nuclear structure
  • Radioactive decay and half-life
Mathematics Foundation

Essential Skills

  • Algebra, ratios, and basic operations
  • Powers, roots, logarithms, and exponentials
  • Scientific notation and trigonometry
  • Probability and statistics

Data Analysis and Interpretation

  • Graph reading and trend analysis
  • Experimental data interpretation and error analysis
  • Mathematical modeling from word problems
  • Unit conversions and dimensional analysis
  • Focus: Understanding principles and problem-solving over memorisation
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Every expert in anything was once a beginner who refused to give up.

Your GAMSAT journey may feel challenging, but remember that every successful doctor once sat where you're sitting, preparing for the same exam with the same dreams.

GAMSAT FAQs

Success in the GAMSAT requires a strategic, well-structured approach that goes beyond random studying.

The key is organising your preparation around a comprehensive syllabus that covers all three sections systematically. This means balancing your time between developing critical thinking skills for Section 1, improving your essay writing abilities for Section 2, and mastering scientific reasoning for Section 3.

Focus on understanding concepts rather than memorising facts, and practice regularly with timed conditions. A structured study plan helps you identify weak areas early and allocate time effectively across all sections.

The GAMSAT requires different levels of scientific knowledge across subjects.

For Physics, Year 12 academic level knowledge is sufficient, covering mechanics, waves, electricity, and basic thermodynamics. For Chemistry and Biology, you'll need first-year university level understanding, which includes advanced topics like organic chemistry mechanisms, cellular biology, and biochemistry.

However, remember that GAMSAT tests your ability to apply these concepts in novel situations rather than simply recalling memorised facts. The emphasis is on scientific reasoning and problem-solving skills.

Absolutely! Many successful GAMSAT candidates come from non-science backgrounds, and your humanities experience actually provides significant advantages in Sections 1 and 2. Your critical thinking and essay writing skills give you a head start in these sections. For Section 3, while you'll need to learn scientific concepts, your analytical thinking skills will help you master the reasoning-based approach that GAMSAT favors.

The key is developing a structured study plan that systematically covers biology, chemistry, and physics fundamentals while practicing application-based questions. Many non-science students find that their fresh perspective on scientific problems actually becomes an asset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chemistry is essential for GAMSAT success, comprising approximately 40% of Section 3 questions.

However, GAMSAT chemistry differs significantly from traditional chemistry exams. Rather than testing rote memorisation of chemical facts, GAMSAT evaluates your ability to apply chemical principles in complex problem-solving scenarios.

For instance, instead of asking you to recite electron configurations, you might be presented with unfamiliar data or graphs and asked to determine electron configurations through logical reasoning. This approach requires both foundational chemistry knowledge and strong analytical thinking skills.

Focus on understanding concepts like bonding, thermodynamics, organic reactions, and kinetics, then practice applying them in novel contexts.

While GAMSAT contains no explicit mathematics questions, mathematical literacy is absolutely essential for Section 3 excellence.

Mathematics serves as the fundamental language of scientific analysis and reasoning. Without strong math skills, you'll struggle to interpret data, solve physics problems, perform chemical calculations, and analyse biological statistics.

Key mathematical areas include algebra, logarithms, scientific notation, trigonometry, and statistical reasoning.

Since calculators are prohibited, you must be comfortable with mental mathematics and estimation techniques. Many students underestimate this requirement and suffer in Section 3 as a result. Developing solid mathematical foundations early in your preparation is important for achieving a competitive Section 3 score.

Now that you understand the comprehensive content requirements for each GAMSAT section, it's time to develop your strategic preparation approach.

Begin by taking an official ACER practice test within your first week to identify your strengths and weaknesses across all sections.

Then create a detailed study schedule that allocates appropriate time to each subject area based on your background and target score.

Consider exploring specialised GAMSAT preparation strategies and resources that align with your learning style. Our iGAMSAT course provides structured guidance to help you implement these strategies effectively.

Remember, successful GAMSAT preparation is a marathon, not a sprint – consistency and strategic planning are your keys to success.