So March 24th I took the GAMSAT and got stomped on. That's the short version.
Long version: The test came in three parts with breaks in between, all up it took 8 hours to do and by the end is quite exhausting. I learned how valuable the 10 minutes reading time is before test day. I did some practice tests with exam conditions and realised that it was a huge test and time was VERY MUCH the biggest constraint. Of course there are some questions that I can't answer with a non-science background and only introduction level study (such as chemistry diagrams without keys).
Anyway, for Section I we had many passages to read each having 4-6 questions related to it. I was happy to see a PERT diagram on page 1 since that required 0 thinking for me to answer correctly. In the 10 minutes though I did have a read of the first 2-3 passages with the aim of answering the questions without re-reading too much. This boosted me through the first 15-20 questions giving me enough time to finish the section and go to the toilet so I didn't use precious Section II time. I'm part of a forum for med-school hopefuls (the japanese word '希望者' is ringing in my head so I translated that instead of trying to remember the english word LOL). Overall I think the questions were quite fair, I always struggle with poetic language but it didn't seem too abstract and so I had one constant pace throughout the section.
Section II was where I start to weaken, essays have always been a weak area. Nevertheless the list of topics was engaging so I managed about 2.5 pages for both essays in one hour. My first topic was along the lines of a government that is responsible for all decisions for the good of the individual becomes more tyrannical than one that does for it's own benefit. I agreed with this statement and my argument was largely based on the conscience of the tyrants. About 22 minutes in the moderator made an announcement that there was 30 minutes to go, I saw the clock and saw he was wrong but panicked regardless and began writing a conclusion. He corrected himself after about 30 seconds, luckily I'd only written a sentence so I managed to continue my final paragraph before concluding. The second topic was regarding love, I chose a quote that captured the changing expression of love as the lovers age. Some people on the forums seemed unhappy with this topic, I wasn't particularly concerned since it was just as difficult than any other topic for myself.
With those sections done I headed out for the one hour break before Section III and got a few text well wishes and texted my friend who was also sitting the test that day. It took a while but figured out that we were actually at different venues, which meant that as intimidating as it was seeing the multitude of people sitting the exam at this venue there were still more at others. Graduate medical schools have roughly one place per 10 applicants, they really do get nothing less than the cream of the crop.
Going back into Section III I was relaxed and ready but I don't remember too much of what happened because that Section was just mind-blow intense. So much material to read and then think about that I ended up guessing about 20 questions out of 110. People keep insisting that a science background wouldn't have helped much in that section. My guess is these are people of science background and being non-science myself I can say quite fairly that a science background does at least help you understand the question quicker. In this section where time was a constraint on answering more questions it means that those who complete the earlier questions in half the time I did could complete the paper whereas I did/could not.
Based on my own perspective of my performance and in the face of the 1:10 place:applicant ratio I walked out of that exam already thinking about next year's exam and what I would do differently. The real post-exam blues came later when I've now begun to look for work and realised that I'll be in this situation for at least two years, two years trying to get in. Needless to say there are people who were accepted at later stages in life but somehow the big picture optimism wasn't and isn't enough.
Nevertheless I'm hoping to join a study group in Sydney and to better equipped and motivated for next year. The results come out at the end of May and I will still apply, I declare that my acceptance into medical school on whatever score I receive will be pure miracle. Let's see how the dice of fate falls...
