The difference between the GAMSAT and the interview (not so serious)

Sometimes people draw similarities between the GAMSAT and interview. After all, they are both high stakes hurdles where performance is measured in order to get into medical school. They both involve thinking very quickly to come up with the right answer (or a right answer in the interview or GAMSAT section 2 where there is more than one possible acceptable response).

However, there are a few serious differences. For instance, the GAMSAT is highly standardized while the interview is not so repeatable even under an MMI format of eight stations (although it is a great improvement over a panel interview where most of the variation of scores is due to the bias of interviewers to interviewees rather than actual ability). And of course, they test very different types of thinking, and there is little correlation between GAMSAT and MMI performance, although USyd found a positive correlation between the interview and GAMSAT sections one (humanities) or two (writing), and a slightly negative correlation between MMI and GAMSAT section three (science) performance.

As for another difference, despite both requiring quick thinking, there is another crucial difference in preparation. For the GAMSAT, I tried to come in as comfortable clothes as possible, so that I would not be hindered by my clothes while trying to write or think. I wore a polo shirt and tracksuit pants inside some windcheaters and sports jackets. I wore runners for footwear.

On the other hand, for the interview, in order to create a good impression, I wore a white shirt and a tie, trousers, leather shoes and a suit. Very different indeed. That said, I don't really hate wearing those interview type of clothes, although they are not the most comfortable things to wear. I don't wear them very often though. I actually don't think that GAMSAT scores would be affected that much by having more comfortable clothes though, although any suspected difference is useful. It would seem more likely that the GAMSAT performance would be better with more comfortable clothes than with less comfortable ones though, although I do not know of any such study demonstrating anything.

I wouldn't be surprised if a really big sample size was required to see any effect, and then it would also could not be a double-blind study either, as it's pretty obvious to yourself what clothes you are wearing. At best, the only thing that could happen was that the participants not know the actual objective of the study (that is, comparing comfortable with not so comfortable clothes, even if the clothes are supplied by the study designers for randomization etc purposes) and that they just took intelligence tests without knowing the actual study purpose. Anyway, I guess that's overthinking it a bit.

Good luck for GAMSAT! + generic exam strategy

Good luck to everyone reading this who will be doing the GAMSAT in 2 days! The moment of truth is very close now. And for anyone who wants them, here's some generic exam tips (which I'm sure almost everyone has heard before):

• Don't spend too much time on any question. If you can't figure out the answer quickly (with respect to the time you are allowed), mark in your best guess and make a note of it in your question book. Then move on. (Note: some people prefer to identify questions they are comfortable with during reading time and do them first. This may be a good strategy, but has the cost of requiring time to flick through pages to answer the questions you want to do first)
• If you don't know the correct answer, pick anything. But it's good to eliminate answers you are sure are wrong first to increase the probability of getting a question right.
• Sometimes, finding the right answer by elimination and a bit of sense in multiple choice may be quicker than systematically going through the usual process of reaching (or calculating) the right answer.
• Pay attention to when they're asking for the "incorrect" answer instead of the "correct" one.

I guess that's the main general points there. Good luck for Saturday!