GAMSAT
S1: 72 ✅
Hello everybody, I am an ESL Section 1 Tutor starting MD1 this year!
The position, “I am not naturally good at the humanities section, I am a science student”, is one that many GAMSAT test-takers can relate to. Having taken the GAMSAT four times, this was certainly the case for me. Only through learning and applying strategies in the process was I able to obtain a score of 72 in section 1.
As a second-language English speaker, I can relate to the difficulties that international GAMSAT test takers face!
📖 My philosophy to GAMSAT section 1 is:
Above All, Answers Must be Justified 🧠
- In the GAMSAT information booklet, ACER claims that a "close reading of words and phrases" is important for questions that test understanding. At the beginning of my GAMSAT journey, I always answered questions based on "vibe" rather than properly justifying my answers. In the context of a long and stressful GAMSAT test day, it is unrealistic to expect that you can consistently sustain the level of attention required for "close reading of words and phrases". Realising how to do this effectively is what I believe contributed most to my S1 success hence we will spend time covering this extensively.
Being Able to Avoid "Trap" Answers 🕸️
- I always found myself with two answer options that I could not choose from...and when I did choose between them, I would somehow always pick the wrong one. This is because ACER makes very good incorrect answer options. For this I have found a few common "traps" that ACER employs to tempt students to pick the wrong answer, which may help with eliminating answer options.
Vocabulary is Essential 📝
- As much as we hate to admit it, a limited vocabulary will make it very challenging to succeed in S1, especially when words you are unaware of are in the question or answer options! To tackle this, many recommend reading to expand one's vocabulary. However, I have found that there are particular words that are commonly used in S1 and in my lessons we will go through this. There may still be times where you encounter words that you do not understand--in these cases I will offer some other ways of making an educated guess as to what those words mean.
Time Management ⏱️
- While many students focus on time management in S3, I also think that time management is very important for S1. In my very first GAMSAT sitting, I had 20 minutes left after completing all the S1 questions...this was because rather than looking for specific evidence in the passages, I was answering off of the "vibe". It was once I actually began closely reading passages that I felt the true burden of the limited time that GAMSAT test-takers are offered. Therefore, in order to complete all the questions, it is important that we do not employ techniques that take a lot of time such as taking detailed notes of the passages.
Practice! 🏋
- As with anything, learning about how to do something without actually doing it, is ineffective. The issue is that most GAMSAT practice questions do not offer any explanations for the correct answers. Therefore, it is important to ask someone who is good at S1 (not necessarily a tutor) to understand the reasoning behind correct answers.
👨🏫 What We Will Be Doing In Our Lessons
In our lessons we will be primarily covering the core skills outlines above that helped me improve from 61 ➡️ 72. Rather than completing large volumes of practice questions together, my priority is to equip students with transferable strategies. That said, practice is still very important, and I am happy to work through any questions students struggle with upon request.
🌱 Foundation Lessons
Lesson 1: Introductions, Eliminating Answer Options, Comprehension
Lesson 2: General Strategies #1
Lesson 3: Approaching Difficult Vocabulary, General Strategies #2
Lesson 4: Bring it all together
➕ Passage Specific Lessons
Approaching Poetry Lesson
Approaching Cartoons Lesson
Approaching Fiction Lesson
I am happy to do discounts for referrals and groups 🔖
Please DM me if you are interested or have any questions
Psychology Assignment
I still remember the devastation I felt getting my results back for my first psychology assignment and just missing out on H1. Ever since then, I have achieved high 80s to low 90s in psychology lab reports and I would be love to help you achieve the same!
PSYCH10003 (Mind, Brain & Behaviour 1) = 89
PSYCH20006 (Biological Psychology) = 90
PSYCH20008 (Developmental Psychology) = 87
PSYCH20009 (Personality and Social Psychology) = 89
I offer:
- Detailed feedback and proof reading of assignments from 1st year and 2nd year psychology assignments 📝
- Guaranteed feedback within 48 hours ⏱️
The assignments are a great place to score lots of marks to get a WAM competitive for psychology honours.
I look forward to your message!
