gamsat vs mcat

[childofthe80s]

can someone tell me what the gamsat is like? is it comparable to the mcat? harder, easier? i'm trying to decide what to do so any insight would be greatly appreciated.

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[pitman]

can someone tell me what the gamsat is like? is it comparable to the mcat? harder, easier? i'm trying to decide what to do so any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Not inherently harder or easier, but different.

GAMSAT is much more of an aptitude test, while MCAT is more an achievement test. Non-science students can take the GAMSAT with far less science prep, and can do just as well since much of the exam is about reading comprehension and reasoning skills.

In the end, it's your percentile that matters (i.e., how you do against others who take it). So in that respect, if you were to assume the pools taking either test are equally capable, then the GAMSAT is harder -- you need better than 80-85%ile to get in to the better Aussie schools.

 

[theunraveler]

how does UMAT differ from gamsat?

i got 82% ile for critical reasoning and a mere 40% ile for quantitative reasoning 🙁

 

[Med01]

Not inherently harder or easier, but different.

GAMSAT is much more of an aptitude test, while MCAT is more an achievement test. Non-science students can take the GAMSAT with far less science prep, and can do just as well since much of the exam is about reading comprehension and reasoning skills.

In the end, it's your percentile that matters (i.e., how you do against others who take it). So in that respect, if you were to assume the pools taking either test are equally capable, then the GAMSAT is harder -- you need better than 80-85%ile to get in to the better Aussie schools.

I'm trying to prepare for GAMSAT, as I think I'll also apply to Australian med schools (I'm an Aust. citizen, but left when I was 9, have been in US for college, where's it's difficult for non-US people to get in to med schools).

Do you have recommendations for study preparation material for GAMSAT (like Kaplan for the MCAT in the US). Are there books available you'd recommend (like available on-line)?

Do you know anything about this company and if the materials are worthwhile?
http://www.comptext.com.au/venueselsewhere.htm

Thanks

 

[pitman]

Apparently there aren't prep books for (Australian) GAMSAT -- I asked around and also at the School bookstore -- but the prep courses are used by some for both the exam and for interviews (more use them for interviews). Des O'Neil's (your link) is considered quite good all around according to the local students I asked, and in particular for the interviews.

-pitman