GAMSAT Study guide

Tips for Success in the Graduate Australian

Medical School Admission Test

GAMSAT Study Guide 1

GAMSAT Study Guide
This guide is written to enable you to prepare
for the GAMSAT (graduate Australian medical
school test). This is a basic list of topics which
are required to attempt the GAMSAT, and are
typical of the areas covered at VCE level and
in a science degree. It should be noted that
this list is by no means comprehensive – there
are always extended topics which appear on
the GAMSAT which will be beyond the scope
of this list. Conversely, it is not practical to
comprehensively study the areas of physics,
chemistry and biology in a short space of
time. Therefore, the areas presented here are
basic required knowledge for the GAMSAT.
The list of topics presented here cover the
some of the knowledge required for Section III
of the GAMSAT – Reasoning in the biological
and physical sciences. It is intended that you
will use this as a starting point for your own
self-directed study. Therefore, exact facts and
equations etc are not presented, as this
would be a copyright infringement, and not
useful to you – you only need to study the
things you don’t know. It is intended that you
use this guide along with an appropriate
textbook, or with other resources such as the
internet.
You do not need to pay for extensive
preparation courses if you are able to study
the appropriate areas and practice similar
questions which appear in the GAMSAT. Use
the questions which are available at the end
of textbook chapters. Practice doing these
questions under time limits, as this will be
similar to the GAMSAT. I have also included
some free tips at the end of this guide. Good
Luck!
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LIST OF TOPICS
Physical chemistry comprises a
relatively small proportion of GAMSAT
questions, however, knowledge of
basic chemistry is essential for
mastering chemistry in general, and is
also required for understanding of
Organic chemistry, which is an
important component of the GAMSAT.
You’re effectively hitting two birds with
one stone here, so make sure you take
the time to study this area adequetly.
STOICHIOMETRY
Stoichiometry is basic chemistry which
allows you to calculate amounts of
substances and concentrations. This is
year 11 level chemistry, and is
therefore required knowledge before
more advanced topics are introduced.
The best way to gain an understanding
of this area is by getting out a
calculator and doing as many
calculations from chemistry textbooks
as possible.
ATOMIC MASSES
All atomic masses are relative to 12C, and are
indicated by the periodic table. A general
knowledge of the periodic table is required. What
are the changes across rows and columns of the
periodic table?
THE MOLE
Avagadro’s number = 6.022 X 1023
(The number of atoms in 12g of 12C)
GAMSAT Study Guide 2
MOLAR MASS
Calculate using atomic mass of atom (eg H=1,
C=12 etc)
DETERMINING PERCENTAGE COMPOSITION OF
COMPOUNDS
You need to be able to determine the %
composition of a given compound.
DETERMINING THE FORMULA OF A COMPOUND
You need to be able to determine the formula of
a given compound.
CHEMICAL EQUATIONS
You should have a general idea of some basic
chemical equations, especially those which
involve water.
BALANCING CHEMICAL EQUATIONS
Know how to balance chemical equations (eg,
products and reactants).
BONDING
Bonding is an important concept and
required knowledge for all chemical
reactions. This area is also introduced
in year 11 chemistry and is a
continuously occurring topic.
BASIC MOLECULAR STRUCUTRE
The atom, its structure, arrangement of electrons
around the nucleus. You should be able to
describe the structure of the nucleus.
ELECTRON CONFIGURATIONS
Know the different shells and orbitals of atoms.
There is ALWAYS a question on the test regarding
shells and subshells. Find a way to remember this
arrangement. (This is something you should have
put to memory for the test)
HYBRIDISATION
What is sp3, sp2 and sp bonding? How does the
molecule change? What is hybrid bonding?
IONIC BONDING
Know the difference between ionic, hydrogen
and covalent bonding, how they differ and some
examples of each type of bonding
LATTICE ENTHALAPIES
HYDROGEN BONDING
Know the difference between ionic, hydrogen
and covalent bonding, how they differ and some
examples of each type of bonding
COVALENT BONDS
Know the difference between ionic, hydrogen
and covalent bonding, how they differ and some
examples of each type of bonding
OCTET RULE
Know what the octet rule is and be able to apply
it to any chemical bond.
DOUBLE AND TRIPLE BONDS
You should be able to identify Lewis structures
for single, double and triple bonds in molecules.
Know how these bonds alter bonding strength,
melting points and boiling points of structures.
ADDITION EQUATIONS
Know what an addition equation is.
ELECTRONEGATIVITY
Have a basic understanding of electronegativity,
and the pattern of electronegativity that exists on
the periodic table.
BOND POLARITY
Know how molecules differ in ‘polarity’ and what
the consequences are for chemical bonding.
Know how to indicate polarity when drawing
Lewis structures.
GAMSAT Study Guide 3
LEWIS STRUCTURES
You should have a basic understanding of Lewis
structures, how to draw them and what they are
unable to tell you about the properties of a
molecule.
RESONANCE
Know about resonance, what resonance
structures are, and what resonance stability is.
Know how to draw resonance structures.
This always comes up on the test.
THE VSEPR MODEL
Although not essential, have a basic
understanding of the structure of an atom and
the different ways they can be drawn/described.
WATER
Know the properties of water, its ability to act as
an acid or a base, its molecular structure, bonding
ability etc.
GASES
Know about gas properties, their position on the
periodic table and the gas equations (see below)
BOYLE’S LAW
What is Boyle’s Law?
CHARLES’ LAW
What is Charles’ Law?
STP
What are STP conditions?
IDEAL GAS LAW
What is the ideal gas law and how is it used?
GAS STOICHIOMETRY
Know the basics of gas stoichiometry
DALTON’S LAW OF PARTIAL PRESSURES
What is Dalton’s Law of Partial Pressures?
KINETIC THEORY OF GASES
What is the Kinetic Theory of Gases?
EFFUSION AND DIFFUSION OF GASES
Know the basics of gas particle movement
MAXWELL’S DISTIBUTION
What is Maxwell’s distribution concerning gases?
PHASES
Know the phases (eg solids, liquids, gases). Eg,
Helium only substance with multiple phases (>1
liquid form).Within a phase, energy required to
change the temperature determined by;
m.s.T
where m=mass (g), s=specific heat, and
T=tempertature change.
Between phases, (liquid to solid or solid to liquid)
determined by;
m.L
where m=mass (g), L=latent heat (J/g)
Electophile has an electon poor site and can
accept electrons (eg C). Nucleophile has a
neutron poor site and can accept neutrons (eg
O,N,C)
BONDS AND INTERACTION FORCES
Ion-ion interactions are the strongest –
substances bonded by ion-ion forces have high
MP and BPs
VAPOUR PRESSURE
The vapour pressure of a liquid is the pressure
exerted by a liquid at a particular temperature
when the vapour and the liquid are in dynamic
equilibrium.
Normal boiling point of a liquid is the
temperature where its vapour pressure equals 1
atm.
GAMSAT Study Guide 4
PHASE DIAGRAMS
Know what phase diagrams look like. The triple
point – the point in which a substance coexists as
a solid, liquid and gas.
PHASE CHANGES OF WATER
Know the phase changes of water and a little
about them.
PHASE CHANGES OF CO2
Know the phase changes of carbon dioxide and a
little about them.
DISTILLATION
What is distillation, how is it used and what are
its applications in industry?
SURFACE TENSION
Know about surface tension, how it works, some
examples (eg, meniscus, capillary action) and
what are the underlying forces that give this
ability?
SOLUBILITY PRODUCT, Ksp
What does the solubility product describe and
how do you calculate it?
EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE/PRESSURE ON
SOLUBILITY: SOLIDS
How do temperature/pressure changes alter
solubility in regard to solids? What are some
examples?
EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE/PRESSURE ON
SOLUBILITY: GASES
How do temperature/pressure changes alter
solubility in regard to gases? What are some
examples?
RAOULLT’S LAW
Know what Raoult’s Law is and how to use it.
OSMOSIS AND OSMOTIC PRESSURE
What is osmosis and osmotic pressure? Why are
these important in the human body and what are
some examples (eg – the kidney).

COLLOIDS
SOLUTION CHEMISTY What is a colloid?

COLLIGATIVE PROPERTIES OF SOLVENTS

IONS IN SOLUTION
What are some examples?
RATE LAW
Why is the rate law used to describe reaction
MOLARITY
rates? How do you calculate it?
What is molarity, why is it important? How do
you calculate molarity?
FIRST ORDER REACTIONS
Know about 1st order reactions and what makes
MOLE FRACTION
them ‘1st order’.

CONCENTRATION
SECOND ORDER REACTIONS
Know how to calculate concentrations of
Know about 2nd order reactions and what makes
substances.
them ‘2nd order’.

SOLUBILITY
How do you calculate solubility?

GAMSAT Study Guide 5

ARRHENIUS BEHAVIOUR ACIDS & BASES
What is Arrenius Behaviour?

BRONSTEAD-LOWRY DEFINITION
CATALYSTS AND RATES OF REACTIONS
What is this definition?
Know what a catalyst is, how they work, what
their uses are and some biological examples
(especially important in the human body). ACID STRENGTH
How is acid strength described? What are pKa
values? You should be able to calculate acid/base
CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM strength.

CONJUGATES OF ACIDS AND BASES

LE CHATLIER’S PRINCIPLE
What is a conjugate acid and conjugate base?
What is Le Chatlier’s principle?

PH
THERMODYNAMICS
What does pH describe?
Be able to describe how temperature affects
equilibrium.
CALCULATING PH
You should be able to calculate pH for a given
acid and a given base.
ENTHALAPY
pKW
THE NATURE OF ENERGY
Energy cannot be formed or lost. Know BUFFER SOLUTIONS
exothermic vs. endothermic reactions. What is a Buffer solution?

THERMODYNAMICS OF IDEAL GASES How is blood a buffer solution?

You should know a fair bit about the
thermodynamics of gases, plus examples.

CALORIMETRY OXIDATION AND REDUCTION

What is calorimetry and how is this useful?
WRITING REDOX REACTIONS
HESS’S LAW
You should be able to write REDOX reactions, and
What is Hess’s Law concerning the behaviour of
assign oxidation numbers to the participants of a
gas molecules?
REDOX reaction.

What is an oxidising species and what is a

ENTROPY reducing species?

GIBB’S FREE ENERGY REDOX INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES

What is Gibb’s free energy? How is REDOX applied in industry? (eg, batteries)

There is ALWAYS a question on this in the test.

GAMSAT Study Guide 6

ELECTROCHEMISTRY
You should be able to draw a galvanic cell, they
often come up in the test and you should be able
to recognise the common cells (eg Daniel cells)
GALVANIC CELLS
What typifies a galvanic cell?
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS – ELECTROLYSIS
What is electrolysis?
WAVE EQUATION OF THE HYDROGEN ATOM
What does the solution to the wave equation
give?
HYDROGEN ORBITALS
ELCTRON SPIN
What are the rules for electron spin (you might
have already covered this earlier when reading
about the atom. If not, review it now)

STANDARD REDUCTION POTENTIALS PAULI PRINCIPLE

BATTERIES

CORROSION
What is the chemical process which underlies
corrosion? Why wouldn’t this work in an
atmosphere free environment?

COMMERCIAL ELECTROLYTIC PROCESSES

Know some examples

QUANTUM MECHANICS & ATOMIC

THEORY
This is a big field of chemistry/physics, however
you should know some of the basics (these two
will overlap a little between chemistry and
physics)

ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATIONS
What is EM radiation, and the EM spectrum?

MATTER

ATOMIC SPECTRUM OF HYDROGEN

THE BOHR MODEL

What is the Bohr model?

PARTICLE IN A BOX
How is a particle in a box described?

GAMSAT Study Guide 7

ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LIST OF TOPICS CHIRALITY
What is a chiral molecule?
Organic chemistry is an area of
advanced chemistry which NOTE: This always comes up on the test.
continuously appears in the GAMSAT.
Knowledge of this area is essential. ALKYL HALIDES
What are the properties of the alkyl halides?

ORGANIC COMPOUNDS SN2 REACTION

What is the sN2 reaction?
IUPAC NAMING SYSTEM FOR ALKANES, ALKENES,
ALKYNES PLUS SUBSTITUENTS SN1 REACTION
How do you name organic compounds? How are What is the SN1 reaction?
substituents named?
E2 REACTION
ALKANES What is an E2 reaction?
What are the basic properties of alkanes?
E1 REACTION
ALKENES What is an E1 reaction?
What are the basic properties of alkenes?
How do these reactions differ?
ALKYNES
What are the basic properties of alkynes?
MEASUREMENT OF ORGANIC
FUNCTIONAL GROUPS COMPOUNDS
What are some of the basic functional groups
You should know a little about this area and the
which can attach to carbon? (eg carbonyl, amide
measurement of organic compounds, as there
groups)
have been the odd question on the GAMSAT in
past years.
CYCLOALKANES
What are the cycloalkanes? What are their
MASS SPECTROMETRY
properties? How are they named? What are their
different conformations and how do these
conformations affect stability?
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
SPECTROSCOPY
REACTIONS
There are millions of organic reactions, and it is
UV SPECTROSCOPY
impossible to learn them all. However, try to get
a bit of an idea of the major organic reactions (a
textbook will guide you through these).

OPTICAL ACTIVITY
What does it mean for an atom to be ‘optically
active’?

GAMSAT Study Guide 8

ORGANIC COMPOUNDS: BIOLOGICAL BIOLOGY LIST OF TOPICS
BASIS Biology is a very broad area; however a
basic understanding is required for the
You should know a little about this area, as there GAMSAT. Included in this area is
have been the odd question on the GAMSAT in
human biology, which again is a very
past years. (you will cover these in the Biology
section, so if your short for time skip it). broad area. Don’t get bogged down in
trying to study too much anatomy and
CARBOHYDRATES physiology – although it is helpful to
have done an anatomy or physiology
AMINO ACIDS
course, you will be given the required
PEPTIDES knowledge within the GAMSAT
question. You are better off having a
PROTEINS
basic broad understanding of biology
LIPIDS for the GAMSAT.

NUCLEIC ACIDS

THE CELL

BASIC CELL STRUCTURE (ANIMAL CELLS)

What is the basic structure of an animal cell,
including the cell wall?

BASIC CELL STRUCTURE (PLANT CELLS)

What is the basic structure of a plant cell, and
how does it differ from animal cells?

ORGANELLES
Know the main organelles of an animal cell, and
their functions within a cell. What are the rough
sizes of these organelles?

THE NUCLEUS
What is the difference between a eukaryotic cell
and a prokaryotic cell? What is the main function
of the nucleus? How is DNA stored? What is the
size of the nucleus?

THE FLUID MEMBRANE MODEL

How is the cell wall structured? You should be
able to describe/draw in detail.

GAMSAT Study Guide 9

MITOSIS/MEIOSIS ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LIST OF
Very important to know the DNA replication TOPICS
techniques, RNA, DNA Physiology and anatomy are important
CELL RESPIRATION components for the GAMSAT, however
Glycolysis, kreb’s cycle, citric acid cycle, electron it takes a 3 year degree to gain a good
transfer. understanding of these topics. You will
usually be given all the information you
PLANT CELLS: PHOTOSYNTHESIS
The importance of chlorophyll, the need within the question, however, if
photosynthesis equation. you are already somewhat familiar in
these areas you will save some time.

GENETICS
ANATOMY
MENDELL

What where Mendell’s classical experiments? BONE AND THE SKELETAL SYSTEM
Know about the basic structure of bone, and the
basic outlay of the human skeletal system. Know
HETEROZYGOUS VS. HOMOZYGOUS a little about joints, the various types of joints
What are the differences? and their locations. What are the differences
between these joints?
ALLELES
What is an allele? MUSCLE
Know about the basic structure of muscle.
CHROMOSOMES
Know the number of human chromosomes. What VISCERA
are some conditions where this breaks down? Know about the structure of the heart, the brain,
(eg. Trisomy) and the kidney, as questions about these often
come up in the GAMSAT.
GENES
Map units and loci of genes. Know a bit about
gene expression
PHYSIOLOGY
PATTERNS OF INHERITANCE
THE CELL
Know the components of pedigrees. Autosomal
This has already been covered, however you
vs. sex-linked inheritance, dominant vs. recessive
should review it.
inheritance. Which type skips generations?

You MUST be able to interpret pedigree MUSCLE AND EXERCISE

diagrams. What are the different types of muscle
contraction? How do muscles use energy? Know
the different types of muscle contractions

GAMSAT Study Guide 10

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Know a bit about the spine, nerves and the brain.
What is the difference between the autonomic
and somatic nervous system? Know a little about
pain and visceral pain. What is the pain reflex?
THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
What are the difference components of the CV
system? How do the heart and lungs interact?
NOTE: There is always a question on
human/mammalian circulation in one form or
another. Make sure you understand the
movement of blood in the human heart, so you
can apply this to other hearts.
ENDOCRINOLOGY
Know a little bit about endocrinology , including
the structure and function of some of the
important hormones (eg, testosterone,
estogens).
DIGESTION
This area is quite complex, so a basic VCE
textbook level is all you should really look at.
Know the different components of the digestive
system and their actions. Know where
carbohydrates, fats and lipids and proteins are
broken down and absorbed and how these
processes are controlled.
THE KIDNEY
What is the structure of the kidney? How does
this structure contribute to fluid homeostasis and
filtration? What are the tubular components of
the kidney?
PHYSICS LIST OF TOPICS
Physics makes up a small part of the
GAMSAT, however, it should not be
overlooked. Make sure you are at least
at year 11 level – however, there will
always be questions which extend
beyond this level in the GAMSAT.
MOVEMENT
Acceleration/Force/Motion, momentum and
energy. The pendulum & circular motion. What is
potential energy? What is Kinetic energy?
The motion equations;
F=ma etc
Newton’s laws (You must know these, they come
up year after year)
VECTORS
What is a vector and what does it describe?
LIGHT
What are the properties of Light? What is the
electromagnetic spectrum?
OPTICS
The Lense equation, how light is ‘bent’. Positive
vs. negative lenses. Snell equation. How do
Prisms work?
Refraction, reflection through different surfaces
What is total internal reflection?
SOUND
Know a little about sound and sound waves. How
sound waves are ‘added’.
SOLIDS/LIQUIDS/GASES
You should know the differences here. These
would have also been covered in the chemistry
section, so if you’re pressed for time, just cover
them once. It is obviously better to review them
again!
WAVES
What is a ‘wavelength’? How are waves
transmitted?
GAMSAT Study Guide 11
Some general study tips...
- Practice questions to time – you will have very little time in the real test and need the practice
- Practice questions under test conditions with no distractions, your study will a lot more effective
- Try and do as many practice questions as you can before the test
- Only study what you DONT know – it is pointless re-reading chapters of textbooks you already
know.
- Make a study timetable and prioritise your study.
- Start with the topic you are LEAST comfortable with and work backwards
- In the 3 – 4 weeks leading up to the test, do a mock test where you sit down all day and do tests
to time. Try and do this on a Saturday (this is the day of the test)
- Break hard topics down into smaller topics
- Once you feel sick of one subject go onto another Science topic
- Force yourself to do little bits of study at a time, and try and increase your study time
- Reward yourself for the study you do (At the end of a chapter you get to watch TV o for 30 mins
etc)
- Go back and review the questions you have done – make sure you got the ones right for the right
reason, ask yourself why you got questions wrong
- In what areas are you getting your questions wrong? This will show gaps in your knowledge and
allow you to FOCUS your study. Force yourself to go back and study these areas as a priority.
- Access a number of different types of textbook – they all present the same information in
different formats (A lot like the GAMSAT does!)

Some general tips for Exam day...

- Get plenty of sleep before the big day. Make sure you're making time for exericse, good eating
and a good sleep pattern that doesn't rely on caffeine!
- Make sure you arrive to the test venue on time, with plenty of time to spare (at least 1 hr prior to
start time) so you can find parking and the toilets
- Go to the test venue a week before so you know where you’re going
- Take a healthy low GI lunch
- Try to find a spot to be by yourself at lunch - don't be tempted to meet up with friends. You need
to concentrate on your lunch and switching your brain off for a little while!
- Don't do any study on the day of the test, you’ll just stress yourself out or confuse yourself.
- Make sure you know how long you’ve got in each section and how many questions there are.
- Answer every question. You don’t get any marks for blank answers, nor do you get marks off for
wrong answers.
- Make ‘timeposts’ before you start – if you have 1 hour for a particular section to do 100
questions, make sure you’re up to question 50 at 30 minutes, otherwise you’re running too slow.
Try and break the test down to 15 minute timeposts.
- If you don’t know the answer make a guess and move on – you haven’t got time to ponder
- There is often more information presented that what you need to answer the question

GAMSAT Study Guide 12

- Practice synthesising information from written text, diagrams etc
- Celebrate once you’re done! Congratulations on finishing the hardest test around!

GAMSAT Study Guide 13