GAMSAT PREP COURSES JUNE - SEPTEMBER 2024 LIVE IN PERSON, CENTRAL LONDON OR LIVE ONLINE GRADMED SINCE 2002
2 About Us The comment opposite resonates with thousands we have heard over the past 23 years, starting from our very first programme in the autumn of 2002 (the test sitting for GAMSAT UK was initially a cold and blustery day in January). The introduction of GAMSAT to Ireland saw the start of our courses in Dublin in 2006. Since then we have helped over seven thousand students prepare for this unique examination and have seen the majority gain places on graduate courses in the UK, Ireland and Australia. We have since followed our alumni through the ebb and flow, as well as, the pain and pleasure of medical school. We have seen a diverse and inspirational group of students including, actors, architects, army officers, bankers, IT professionals, lawyers, musicians, photographers, producers, teachers and healthcare professionals all pursue a common goal to change their lives. And they have, not only their own but those of their patients in their chosen fields as GPs, surgeons or consultants. As one of our alumni emailed: ‘ …. amazingly I managed to get a score of 64 ….I could not have done it without you ….. hopefully this is another example for prospective students that it can be done with a humanities background, full time job and as a single mum.’ We are the longest established course provider for GAMSAT in the world - our course director and tutors have an unparalleled understanding of GAMSAT gained from over twenty two years of experience and analysis of the examination. Quite simply, we are educators – we know how to teach utilizing PBL concepts, we know how to develop core understanding and key scientific principles and skills, and most importantly, we know how to build confidence and self-belief for GAMSAT SUCCESS. “For my first time sitting the GAMSAT I have received an overall score of ,,, “drum roll please” …… 75!!! I received an absolutely wonderful score of 79 for Section III, which is all down to your wonderful teaching and dedication. I can’t thank you enough for everything – your help, support and guidance got us all through a very difficult and unforeseen period.” GRADMED SINCE 2002
020 7584 5818 [email protected] www.gamsat.co.uk 3 Our Patron Professor Richard Knight Emeritus Professor of Clinical Neurology Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Edinburgh University Director of the UK National CJD Surveillance Unit. We are delighted that Professor Knight has been our Patron since 2004 and an active member of our team. He comments; “As a graduate entrant to medical school, I fully understand that mature students facing the challenge of changing career paths for a future in medicine undoubtedly benefit from a good support system. GRADMED are, in the UK and Ireland, the pioneers in this field, and it has been my privilege to act as their patron for the past twenty years”. The study and practice of medicine is demanding, continually educative and will change your life fundamentally. As Professor Richard Knight, noted in his lecture last August, “You may change medicine, medicine will certainly change you.” This is echoed by one of our alumni, a former actress, when she emailed us the following: ‘Today was my first day in theatre, and nothing could have prepared me for it. In the hush of the theatre I was part of the surgery team that removed a lump from a woman’s breast and I found myself peering into a perfect stranger’s body. Hours later I’m still buzzing.’ Our Course Director and Tutors Our teaching is the bedrock of our courses, and our tutors, many of whom have been with us since the very early days, are unrivalled in their understanding of GAMSAT and their ability to teach to the requirements and nuances of the test. They have extensive direct experience, and have absorbed and implemented the fundamental core of reasoning and problem solving within a scientific context – crucial PBL skills of analysis, application and deduction – that require so much more than simply skilled subject teaching. Course Director Paul Hunt MA Oxon Paul Hunt was the course founder in 2002, and has been instrumental since that time in ensuring our core philosophy and holistic teaching approach has been rooted in everything we do. Paul developed the first syllabus guideline for GAMSAT and has been pivotal in ensuring that our teaching and all books and course resources have evolved in line with the test each year. He has assembled a core team of dedicated tutors who entwine successfully principles of scientific content with a PBL teaching approach.
4 Our Skills Based Approach GAMSAT is an exam which uses your core understanding of the sciences to test a range of underlying latent intellectual ‘traits’, important to the modern PBL curriculum used at medical schools. As well as teaching the core theory we focus very specifically on each of these ‘traits’ using our extensive question banks developed over 22 years. These include but are not limited to Graphical analysis and application ACER make extensive use of unusual graphical forms to examine your ability to extend your basic knowledge of reading and interpreting graphical information to highly unusual settings. These can extend from graphical analysis of animal gaits to the complex motion of juggling clubs amongst many others. Recent graphs have also related to the study of lizards on treadmills as well as the physiology of kangaroo rats and vampire bats. We examine a vast array of graphical forms and their application. Data and experimental analysis and interpretation Many GAMSAT questions involve the analysis and understanding of complex experimental data in a real-world context. We examine the nature of data from experimental studies as well as its application and limitations. The contexts are varied including data from physiological and related healthcare studies that ACER may make use of, such as the study of periodic limb movements or sleep apnoea amongst others. The use of number and algebra in a scientific context The ability to work with number and understand the application of algebraic equations is one of the key foundations of GAMSAT. We examine the many key mathematical skills and tricks that GAMSAT requires as well as looking at many of the unusual algebraic forms the examination makes use of. Many of these equations and ideas are drawn from well beyond university level, albeit in a simplified form. Quick use of number, estimating and calculation Quick calculation and the ability to estimate and make quick deductions mathematically is another key trait the GAMSAT examines. We look at the many varied and often complex settings in which you will be asked to make use of number. Many of these ideas can also relate to your ability to interpret data effectively as well as the application of number to graphical data. Although the level of mathematics required for GAMSAT is not beyond A-level the question types may often require a more subtle understanding of what mathematical data is telling you. Understanding and seeing patterns in science Another key trait assessed on the examination is the ability to see and recognise pattern. This is perhaps most clearly seen in Organic chemistry, where many of the problem sets rely on your ability to recognise and apply visual stimuli in often highly complex settings. Many recent organic problems are predicated not on a pure scientific understanding, but rather on the ability to apply spatial and visual ideas in this context. Following and formulating sets of rules in science One of the key skills ACER discuss in their information is your ability to extend your current knowledge to new and unfamiliar settings. Questions of this nature depend not just on your core scientific knowledge, but your ability to formulate this in new and unexpected settings. Questions may rely on basic ideas such as oxidation number or valency, but the problem set will present this in new and challenging contexts and ask you demonstrate the ability to formulate new ideas from this. We cover a vast range of such scenarios to develop this skill in a highly GAMSAT focused way. Finding relationships in science Often data itself tells us little in itself, it is the patterns and relations we see in such data that informs our thinking. GAMSAT will often present highly unusual data sources drawn from the wider scientific world and assess your ability to find the relevant relationships within it. This can vary from scientific data presented in research studies to the complex results of clinical studies. The ability to find such relationships and to understand their meaning is seen by ACER as a key trait in your thinking to be successful at medical school. Formulating new theory One of the most complex traits GAMSAT is assessing is your ability to use different ideas and to combine these into new theoretical constructs, and then to apply these to the problems presented. This is a higher order skill and requires real understanding to see what is really being tested. We work with many past examples of developing such new ideas in a varied array of settings in all of the sciences. Following pathways and flow diagrams Many biochemical and clinical pathways can be presented in the form of such diagrams, and so understanding how to read and interpret such pathways forms another key skill ACER are assessing. We look at a wide range of previously used pathways from both Biology and Biochemistry to more abstract presentations in the sciences.
020 7584 5818 [email protected] www.gamsat.co.uk 5 Core Course Components Online Learning Centre The Online Learning Centre (OLC) draws on our extensive experience of the test over the past twenty two years, and provides an important supplement to your work in classes, helping to reinforce all of the skills and knowledge you will cover. All this is collated within our intelligent dashboard, allowing you to analyse your performance over time, as well as comparatively within the entire student body studying with us. Just a few of the resources included are: • Our unique diagnostic test providing real time feedback on your strengths and weaknesses • Our intelligent learning system with unique customizable dashboard • Online study guides across all sections • High quality animated videos for all sections of the exam • Over 8000 GAMSAT questions all with fully worked answers • The ability to analyze your performance over time and against other students • Data Analysis which can be shared with both your academic and student mentors • Full mock exams or you can build your own using our unique GAMSAT builder • Over a thousand real essays written by past GAMSAT students with full critique. The aim is to make sure that you have continuous access to the full armoury of resources GradMed has developed over the past twenty two years, presented within the most advanced online learning tool available for the GAMSAT. Materials and Resources Our books and all teaching resources encapsulate the content and approach necessary for successful preparation for GAMSAT. Everything we do seeks to blend and draw together contextual understanding entwined with reasoning skill, and its direct application to GAMSAT. But it is imperative to point out that we don’t expect students to learn on their own, we teach all the key elements within the courses, and the materials are all supplementary to classroom activity. • Our books are specifically written for Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Maths for Science and Reasoning in Humanities and Essay Writing. • Our MCQ subject specific question bank targets individual as well as cross disciplinary scientific skills and content, as well as simulated questions • Our Mock papers all reflect the current standard of the test, and come with full explanatory and worked answers, and for each mock we provide a detailed GAMSAT score, along with your cohort ranking • Our online Videos are insightful and draw together key points to build a science foundation that encapsulate the essential elements of scientific content • The Online Learning Centre incorporates all the above and more and is designed to provide the most complete online support available for the exam. • The Gradmed Online community provides a focal point to explore ideas and generate discussion, as well as a portal for additional resources. Pre-Course Understanding the demands of GAMSAT at an early stage is key to success, and this means we start your preparation early to ensure maximum benefit. This involves extensive contact and guidance in advance of classes commencing. Before you commence your journey with us you will • have a full initial consultation with the Course Director to plan and tailor your summer study to your individual needs. • receive initial pre-course guidance and suggested reading and areas of study. • take a full diagnostic test which is analysed to determine your areas of weakness and to pinpoint and guide your individual study plan • Pre-course sessions to help build foundation and understanding.
6 020 7584 5818 [email protected] www.gamsat.co.uk Full Preparation Course - Live in Person or Live Online Our flagship Full Preparation course has been the industry leading course for 23 years and some 7000 students have prepared on their GAMSAT journey with us. We teach you the core subject content required, and at the same time develop the critical skills required for the examination. Although GAMSAT is not a knowledge test ACER are clear that a core understanding of the principles of the sciences is a prerequisite to success in the examination. As they state, ‘The level of subject knowledge required for the Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences section of the test generally corresponds to the first year of university studies in biology and chemistry, and A-level/Leaving Certificate/ Year 12 in physics.’ The GAMSAT is a unique examination in terms of approach and reasoning. The reason so may students struggle, is they often fail to see what the examination is really testing and simply approach it as another knowledge based test, with information to be learnt by rote and then utilised. The nature of the GAMSAT is far more subtle than this across all of its sections and understanding the reasoning behind the questions and more importantly, why they are actually being asked is key. On our full preparation course, we focus on teaching the core knowledge and principles required across all of the sciences, including all of the skills content listed below on our Intensive skills programme. We have built our syllabus and topic areas based on direct experience of the examination over the past 23 years. The emphasis is understanding core concepts and at the same time applying this to past questions and understanding the skills and intellectual traits they are examining. Often the topic areas used on GAMSAT are obscure and almost impossible to rationalise by studying alone and we aim to show you not just the style but the type of source material the examination makes use of. You will also enhance your verbal reasoning and reflective writing skills for sections 1 and 2 as you begin to understand the different forms of literature the exam makes use of.DESIGN Full Prep Course The course runs on Weekends from Saturday 8 June until Sunday 8 September 2024 It is composed of the following live teaching components and content: • 25 Core Science content sessions (75 hours total) • 15 Intensive Science Skills based sessions (45 hours total) • 6 Science Strategy Sessions deconstructing the GAMSAT (18 hours total) • 4 Mathematics for Science Sessions (12 hours total) • 14 Weekly Tutorials every Wednesday evening (42 hours total) • 15 Full Mock exams in the exact ACER format with full live reviews • 8000+ Past GAMSAT Questions developed from the real exam • Books written and produced solely for GAMSAT in Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Maths for Science, Reasoning in Humanities and Essay Writing • Over 30 additional GAMSAT Papers on our Online Platform • Personal guidance from our academic and student mentors • All teaching sessions are recorded and uploaded to your personal video account • If taking the separate Maths for Science module, • 4 Mathematics for Science Sessions (12 hours total) If taking the separate Written Communication module, • 8 Section 1 + 2 Sessions (24 hours total) • 15 marked essays with detailed feedback by our head of Written Communication • Over 1000 Sample essays with detailed critics
Intensive Skills Course - Live in Person or Live Online Our intensive courses are designed to equip you with the core skills and competencies that the GAMSAT is examining. Over 23 years we have built an unrivalled understanding of not just what topic areas the examination makes use of, but of the underlying reasoning for using such material. This allows us to focus on what really matters for the GAMSAT, translating conceptual knowledge to the skills the exam is testing and the reasoning approach it takes. Using questions and the analysis of problems is key to doing well, and our focus is always on what you will be required to do in the examination. Our approach is to develop and enhance all the core skills the GAMSAT is testing via this problem based approach. We utilise our multiple resources developed over two decades to show you what you are likely to encounter, as well as how to deal with the inevitable unxpected. Using our extensive question banks, we look at all of the key topic areas and the underlying skills that the GAMSAT requires. These include but are not limited to: • Graphical analysis and application • Data and experimental analysis and interpretation • The use of number and algebra in a scientific context • Quick use of number, estimating and calculation • Understanding and seeing patterns in science • Following and formulating sets of rules in science • Finding relationships in science • Formulating new theory • Following pathways and flow diagrams 7 The emphasis is again understanding core concepts and at the same time applying this to past questions and understanding the skills and intellectual traits that are being examined. Intensive Skills Course The course runs on Weekends from Saturday 27 July until Sunday 8 September 2024 It is composed of the following live teaching components and content: • 15 Intensive Science Skills based sessions (45 hours total) • 4 Science Strategy Sessions deconstructing the GAMSAT (12 hours total) • 7 Weekly Tutorials every Wednesday evening (21 hours total) • 8 Full Mock exams in the exact ACER format with full live reviews • 8000+ Past GAMSAT Questions developed from the real exam • Books written and produced solely for GAMSAT in Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Maths for Science, Reasoning in Humanities and Essay Writing • Over 30 additional GAMSAT Papers on our Online Platform • Personal guidance from our academic and student mentors • All teaching sessions are recorded and uploaded to your personal video account If taking the separate Maths for Science module, • 4 Mathematics for Science Sessions (12 hours total) If taking the separate Written Communication module, • 8 Section 1 + 2 Sessions (24 hours total) • 15 marked essays with detailed feedback by our head of Written Communication • Over 1000 Sample essays with detailed critics
MAY JUNE JU 8 020 7584 5818 info@gradm Course T Attend weekend classes – for the full prep June th Full Prep Course Intensive Skills Course Initial Consultation with Academic Mentor Background Reading Diagn with R Online Access Wor A B C Initial Consultation with Academic Mentor Work with 8000+ GA A B C Online Access Study Guides Provided Online Week Academic Mento Stu Background Reading Diagnostic Exam with Report Pre course online weekly introductory sessions Introdution to Student Mentor Currently at Graduate Medical School
ULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER 9 med.co.uk www.gamsat.co.uk Timeline hrough to August – for the intensive July to August nostic Exam Report 8 Full Mock Exams Final Simulated Mock Study Guides Provided Strategy 2 & 3 Triage, Graphs & Previous Exams rk with 8000+ GAMSAT Simulated Questions A B C 8 Marked Essays with Full Commentry Online Weekly Tutorials Academic Mentoring AMSAT Simulated Questions A B C Strategy 1 Deconstructing GAMSAT 15 Marked Essays with Full Commentry kly Tutorials oring udent Mentoring 15 Full Mock Exams Strategy 2 & 3 Triage, Graphs & Previous Exams Final Simulated Mock TALK: Our Patron Professor Richard Knight TALK: GradMed Alumni TALK: Our Patron Professor Richard Knight TALK: GradMed Alumni
10 Science Strategy and MCQ Testing What many students fail to realise is that the way you sit the GAMSAT is often as important as your preparation beforehand. Knowing how to approach multiple choice examinations and to understand the complexities of what the GAMSAT is actually testing is key to how you should approach the exam when the day arrives. We focus on strategy throughout our teaching, but we spend two full days, specifically addressing the best strategy and approach to sitting the examination. This is then personalised and reinforced with your mentors, giving you the knowledge and experience of others who have recently succeeded in the exam. Our focus is across the whole spectrum of problem solving and reasoning but a few of the things we will cover include: • The nature and logic of multiple choice testing • What is the GAMSAT really testing? • How to triage the examination to fit with your own strengths • Speed reading and recognising meaning • Time management and dealing with pressure • The art of narrowing down the answers • How to recognise patterns within questions • Dealing with unusual and ‘off the wall’ graphs and data The GAMSAT is a unique examination in terms of approach and reasoning. The reason so many students struggle, is they often fail to see what the examination is really testing and simply approach it as another knowledge based test, with information to be learnt by rote and then utilised. The nature of the GAMSAT is far more subtle than this across all of its sections, and understanding the reasoning behind questions and most importantly, why they are actually being asked is key. Mock Exams An integral part of our courses is the bespoke online mock platform which simulates the real platform used by ACER for the test itself. The mocks directly replicate the skills and content utilised by ACER in the real exam. Our students will sit 15 full mocks on the full prep course, and 8 on the intensive skills course, gaining a unique experience in both the exam pressures as well as the intricacies of sitting the GAMSAT. Detailed analytics also provide individual GAMSAT scores relative to the group cohort. • Full Prep Course – 15 full mock exams for sections I and III together with 15 marked essays • Intensive Skilled Course – 8 full mock exams for sections I and III together with 8 marked essays. All mock exams, as indeed all the 8000+ questions on the OLC, are accompanied by full explanations and worked answers. Finally, there is an opportunity to sit a final invigilated mock exam at the end of the course, which is supplemented with a day of review led by the course director. “I am convinced that without the courses I would have been flailing in the dark! The course content was spot on and meeting all the other guys gave me the confidence that I was not making a big mistake by taking this leap of faith late in life. Big thanks for helping my dream become a reality.”
020 7584 5818 [email protected] www.gamsat.co.uk 11 Course Guidelines and Syllabus Critical Reasoning and Writing Essays for GAMSAT There is an inner logic to the GAMSAT examination in these sections, which consists of testing two fundamental types of intelligence, intellectual and emotional (objective and subjective). This is most easily seen in the “Written Communication” paper (section II of the test), which is divided into two sections. Section A requires the candidate to write an analytical essay dealing with ideas, which tests intellectual intelligence. Section B requires the candidate to write a personalised essay dealing with inter-personal issues which tests emotional intelligence. This matches the skills required by an effective medical practitioner, who has to analyse symptoms (intellectual intelligence) and simultaneously manage the people who present those symptoms (emotional intelligence). These first two sections of the test require the exercise of similar, overlapping skills, so it makes sense to study them in combination as well as separately. Essay writing is a matter of making intellectual structures out of words, and verbal reasoning is a matter of deconstructing intellectual structures made of words. In the one you put things together, and in the other you take things apart. If you can do one you can do the other, provided you understand how language and meaning go together, and provided you practice the requisite skills. The course seeks to emphasise the skills of critical thinking and logic, but also sensitivity to the emotional nuances of words and information. These are of course essential to a medical career, and almost all medical departments now use tests which seek to assess how, regardless of academic background, a person might approach a patient, or process information of different kinds. These are just some of the areas the course explores relating to critical thinking, linguistic reasoning and writing: • The “4 Cs” of essay writing – Be Concise, Be Consistent, Be Clear, Be Compelling • Different approaches to planning and writing analytical or discursive essays. • The art of “Expressive” essay writing, for story telling and self-reflection. • Understanding the purpose of stimulus quotations and your options for responding to them individually or collectively. • Interpreting essay titles, and “questioning the question”. • The particular requirements of reasoning in the Social Sciences and Humanities, and its difference from conventional verbal reasoning. • “Reading between the lines”, the importance of logical inference and deduction. • Approaches and considerations for successful time management. • Approaches for improving knowledge of the humanities and social sciences. • Tonal reading, sympathy and emotional awareness as comprehension skills. • The subject of medicine from the perspective of both practitioner and patient as a common theme. Sciences on GAMSAT As the application of theory to the GAMSAT is unique, so the approach taken to learn that theory needs to reflect this unique nature of its application. Although the level of content covered extends to undergraduate level Chemistry and Biology, what is important is to gain a broad understanding of the principles and skills which underly the theory. We take a very pragmatic approach to looking at what are often quite complex ideas from a purely GAMSAT perspective. This means making sure that the basic fundamentals of each of the sciences are in place, but most importantly looking at the way these skills are actually tested on the exam itself. This is where our twenty two years of experience allow us to present material in the light of the actual questions you are likely to see. As well as core knowledge the GAMSAT is unashamedly testing certain core intellectual traits. Things such as core numeracy, following rules and an ability to spot and recognise patterns are a common thread across all of the sciences. So quite often problems which look like complex physics actually boil down to spotting the basic mathematical skills the problems are testing. Complex organic nomenclature often becomes about the application of codes and patterns, and complex looking organic or biochemical reaction sequences are actually testing the ability to spot patterns and puzzle your way through the combination or breakup of organic reactants. Understanding this skills based approach to the sciences means that what often seems like a vast and unmanageable amount of information, can be targeted clearly to fundamental core principles, and the very specific applications that the GAMSAT actually uses.
12 Chemistry Core Syllabus • Basics of nuclear structure and hybridisation • Bonding and structure, H-bonding in organic systems and electronegativity • Oxidation number and usage in Inorganic and organic chemistry • Equilibria, Le Chatelier’s principle and its applications • Solubility and Ksp calculations • Solubility curves and phase diagrams • Depression of freezing point and general colligative properties • Acid Base equilibria, application to proteins and other biological systems, buffering, pKa usage and Indicators • Buffering in the bloodstream • Rates – the rate equation and determination of rate law • Relation of rate law to mechanism • Arrhenius equation, activation energy, relationship to biological mechanism • Enzyme kinetics and development and use of Michaelis Menten equation • Raoult’s law • Entropy as a concept and Gibbs Free Energy • Use of ∆G=∆H-T∆S to predict reaction • Chemical potential and application to biological systems • Gibbs Free Energy profiles • Osmotic pressure, Osmolarity and finding protein RMM • Redox equilibria introduction • Use of electrode potentials in predicting reaction, Nearnst equation, Electrode potentials in biological systems • Principles of organic chemistry – Naming, Structure and Hybridisation • Isomerism in organic chemistry - Optical, Geometric, Conformational and Structural • Reactions of common groups and their properties • Chirality and its implications • Organic reaction mechanisms • Carbocation rearrangements • Substitution and Elimination reactions SN1, SN2 and E1, E2 • Resonance structures – Hemiacetals, Hemiketals and acid salts • Transamination • Peptide hydrolysis • The 4n+2 rule and aromatic systems • E / Z notation • Effect of substituent groups on the benzene ring • Fischer projections, Newman projections and other 3D considerations • Conformational isomerism • Cahn-Ingold-Prelog convention and the application to stereoisomerism • Assignment of true configuration to optical isomers R and S • Diels-Alder and related reactions • Sigmatropic rearrangements • Aldol formation and the Aldol condensation • The terpene structure as a base of larger organic molecules • Weiner Index • Bicyclic Nomenclature • Infrared Spectroscopy and NMR • Beer-Lambert Law • Ternary Diagrams • Fatty Acids and the Iodine rule • Sugars and Haworth projections A range of other degree level organic areas will be introduced and application to past questions will enforce concepts as they are covered. GENERAL CHEMISTRY Designed specifically for GAMSAT this guide will prepare you in the required theory and methods relating to General and Physical Chemistry. Developed from extensive experience and analysis of the examination, we provide you with the required knowledge, skills and techniques that GAMSAT demands in its application. Reinforced through constant testing and application to sample GAMSAT® problems to give you the best possible preparation. GRADMED expert GAMSAT preparation since 2002. GAMSAT Study Guide GENERAL CHEMISTRY GAMSAT® Study Guide GradMed GRADMED SINCE 2002 Copyright @ 2018 GradMed Limited. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise except as noted below, without the permission of GradMed Limited. GAMSAT Study Guide - GENERAL CHEMISTRY
020 7584 5818 [email protected] www.gamsat.co.uk 13 Biology Core Syllabus • Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure • Microscopes, and other techniques in cytology • The cell membrane; lipids and phospholipids • Movement of substances across cell membranes: diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis, active transport • Protein structure and function • Enzyme action and factors affecting the rate of reaction; enzyme inhibitors • Metabolic pathways as sites of enzyme action and of feedback control • The key features of mitosis – maintenance of genetic uniformity in growth and repair of cells • Meiosis – haploid and diploid numbers in the lifecycle; creating genetic variation • Carbohydrates as energy molecules • Cellular metabolism – including aerobic and anaerobic respiration; Krebs’ cycle and glycolysis, the electron transfer system • Respiratory system: lungs, and the mechanism of breathing; control of breathing rate • Oxygen and carbon dioxide transport in the blood; the oxygen dissociation curve and the Bohr shift • Circulatory system: the cardiac cycle, and its control; pressure and other changes in the circulation • Blood – especially the immune response and other defences against disease • Digestive system: physical and chemical digestion, followed by absorption; the control of digestive secretions • Homeostasis and negative feedback: illustrated by e.g. thermoregulation • Kidney function in excretion and osmoregulation, including the countercurrent multiplier • Endocrine system: thyroxine and the hormones of the pancreas as examples of negative feedback control • Nervous system – nerve impulse and synapse; nerve pathways; the autonomic nervous system • Receptors, and the generator potential; eye and ear as sense organs • The neuromuscular junction, and the mechanism of muscle contraction – the sliding filament mechanism • Structure and function of nucleic acids • Molecular genetics, and the mechanism of protein synthesis; genetic engineering • Mendelian genetics, and exceptions to Mendelian laws: prediction of genetic ratios/ probabilities, and analysis of family pedigrees • Population genetics – the Hardy-Weinberg equation • Taxonomy – an outline of the main taxonomic groups, and the relationship between evolution and a natural classification system • Bacteria and viruses – overview of treatments for infectious diseases • Population growth, and its analysis These topics will be covered in a problemsolving context, to develop an approach for dealing effectively with new situations. The more mathematical aspects of Biology, such as analysing and interpreting graphs, are an essential part of GAMSAT and they will be covered throughout the course. BIOLOGY Covering all of the core areas of Biology required for the GAMSAT, this guide will provide the detailed knowledge required for section III, but as importantly, prepare you in the skills required for success. Biology is a vast subject. Although you will not be required to have all of the pertinent information memorised for GAMSAT, you will be expected to understand the workings of biological systems. This guide will take you through these, and reinforce your knowledge and understanding, by constant application in an examination setting as material is covered. The guide is unashamedly thorough with detailed coverage of relevant material. This is done in a clear and approachable tone, allowing you to recall as much of the contained information as possible. Authored and Edited by James Foster. GRADMED expert GAMSAT preparation since 2002. GAMSAT Study Guide GAMSAT Study Guide - BIOLOGY BIOLOGY GAMSAT® Study Guide GradMed GRADMED SINCE 2002 Copyright @ 2018 GradMed Limited. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise except as noted below, without the permission of GradMed Limited.
14 Physics Core Syllabus • Basics - S.I. system of units, scalars and vectors. • Rectilinear Motion - velocity and acceleration, graphs of motion, equations of motion. • Forces - resultant forces, weight and mass, resolving forces, centres of gravity, upthrust and flotation, moments, Newton’s laws. • Dynamics - projectiles, momentum, circular motion. • Energy - forms of energy, energy transfers, conservation of energy, KE and PE and associated formulae, power. • Gases - The gas laws, ideal gas, absolute temperature scale, meaning of temperature. • Thermal energy - transfer (conduction, convection and radiation), heat capacity, latent heat, thermodynamics. • Electric circuits - current and potential difference, combinations of resistances, resistivity, EMF, internal resistance, capacitors and capacitor equations. • Electric fields - Coulomb’s law, comparison with gravitational fields. • Magnetic fields - electromagnetism (uses and formula), mass spectrometry. • Waves - mechanical waves, wave phenomena, superposition of waves, interference patterns, standing waves. • Optics - refractive index, lenses and lens formulae, focal lengths, real and virtual images, the eye (application of the above topic to the eye and defects of vision). • Simple Harmonic Motion - formulation, resonance, damped oscillations. • Sound - intensity, logarithm dB scale. • Radioactivity - nuclear decay (alpha, beta, gamma), exponential decay, half-life • Nuclear reactions - mass-energy equivalence, fission and fusion. • Medical physics - x-rays, ultrasound, optics in medicine, radio-isotopes, Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Where possible, topics are covered so that the following aspects are stressed: • Analysis and interpretation of graphs. • Mathematical patterns (direct and inverse proportionality, exponential changes, log scales etc). • Quick approaches to solutions. • Conversions of simple (eg: µA to mA) and more complex units (eg: g cm-3 to kg m-3). It is important to note that these cross-curricular techniques will also serve to reinforce your work in the other sciences. PHYSICS Written for what many students consider the most challenging section of the GAMSAT, this guide will prepare you in all of the theory, and skills required for the Physics component of section III. Dealing with both the mathematical and conceptual topic areas regularly tested, this guide will train you in both your quantitative and qualitative understanding of Physics for the examination. Through detailed experience and analysis of the GAMSAT we show you how to approach any question sets, whatever your level of mathematical knowledge. This is constantly reinforced by application to sample GAMSAT problems to develop understanding. GRADMED expert GAMSAT preparation since 2002. GAMSAT Study Guide GRADMED SINCE 2002 Copyright @ 2018 GradMed Limited. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise except as noted below, without the permission of GradMed Limited. GAMSAT Study Guide - PHYSICS PHYSICS GAMSAT® Study Guide GradMed
020 7584 5818 [email protected] www.gamsat.co.uk 15 Full Preparation Course (includes Skills Course) Weekends £2335 8 June to 8 September Includes: Full printed study guides 75 hours live core science teaching 45 hours live skills teaching 18 hours live strategy weekends 15 Full Mocks with live reviews 8000+ GAMSAT questions 42 hours of weekly tutorials High quality animated videos for all topics Student and academic mentoring 30+ Additional GAMSAT Papers All lessons recorded to your own video account and more. Written Communication and Verbal Reasoning Weekends £715 8 June to 8 September Includes: Full printed study guide 24 hours live teaching for S1 and S2 15 marked essays with detailed feedback by our head of Section 1 and 2 20 Mock S1 and S2 papers Over 1000+ sample essays with detailed analysis High quality animated videos for all topics Personal guidance and mentoring from our head of S1 and S2 All lessons recorded to your own video account and more. Intensive Skills Course Weekends £1195 27 July to 8 September Includes: Full printed study guides 45 hours live skills teaching 12 hours live strategy weekends 8 Full Mocks with live reviews 8000+ GAMSAT questions 21 hours of weekly tutorials High quality animated videos for all topics Student and academic mentoring 30+ Additional GAMSAT Papers All lessons recorded to your own video account and more. Maths for Science Evenings £240 June Includes: Full printed study guide and workbook 12 hours expert live teaching Worksheets for all key Mathematical areas Ongoing support from our Head of sciences. All fees are inclusive of VAT at 20% VAT Reg – 832732632 A non-refundable deposit of £295 Fees The Next Step If you would like to join one of our courses please contact us. We are always here to give encouragement and advice, so please do get in touch if you need any more guidance or information. 020 7584 5818 [email protected] www.gamsat.co.uk gamsatuk @gradmedlimited Enrol on a course using the QR code:
GRADMED SINCE 2002 020 7584 5818 [email protected] www.gamsat.co.uk Our Students Our students in the past two decades have been a pleasure and inspiration to guide and teach as they start their amazing journeys. They never cease to amaze us with their commitment, their motivation, and their relentless tenacity in pursuit of their goal to study medicine. Some will juggle family life alongside, and the majority will be working full time, often in demanding environments. Added to this, ongoing voluntary work will be a part of their schedules, and yet every weekend at Imperial they arrive enthusiastic and ready to delve into GAMSAT. Our experience over the last twenty two years has shown that the diverse backgrounds of our students in terms of education, age, and career have only enhanced the learning experience, not only for them but also for their peers. GAMSAT is an extremely demanding examination and can be all consuming. The intensive preparation it requires mirrors many of the qualities required at medical school and beyond. Our courses are the first stage in this journey. Gradmed from the beginning …. I got my results the other week and managed to do really well – 82 overall including 86 in science! I just wanted to say thank you for the help you gave and for your excellent lessons. Anureet Johal, score 82 - 2009 Having not done any science for 25 years. I could not have passed the GAMSAT science paper without the GradMed courses I went on. I found out about and started studying for the GAMSAT with only two months to prepare. I could not have organized my revision to pass the test without the focused approach of your courses and the way they were tailored to passing this unique test. I was delighted with the course and would recommend it to anyone. Sarah Gledhill, score 70 - 2007 The course was definitely worth doing and I would recommend it to anyone taking GAMSAT. Elanor Turner, score 76 - 2006 I would honestly say I don’t think I would be here without Marea and GRADMED. The teaching is very specific, by the time you have finished classes I would say GRADMED have somehow managed to teach you how to think differently Somehow they really “teach” you the topics you will need that you don’t find in books, how to approach the GAMSAT questions and are always on hand to help after classes. Deepali Misra-Sharp, score 79 – 2004 I was blown away by how good the course with GRADMED was. The course is well thought out and excellently taught, don’t expect to relax too much on the course …I had no science background and scored 67. What can I say – I genuinely believe the quality of the course led ultimately to getting the result I needed. Paddy Mitton, score 67 - 2003
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