Physics for GAMSAT

[mikee65]

Anyone with experience,

After fundamentals, is it advised to progress to Physics 2: life and env, or Physics 2: Physical sciences and technology?

Thanks

[Edmund]

I did Physics 2 Life Sciences and found it useful. I think Physics Science and tech has more maths and suited for engineering students

[mikee65]

Did life science cover all the material pert to physics in S3? (IMO physical sciences seems more likely)

[Edmund]

Did life science cover all the material pert to physics in S3? (IMO physical sciences seems more likely)

If you did Physics Fun or Physics 1 AND Physics Life Sciences, you've probably covered most of what you need to know. I don't remember much but these subjects really helped. Even if you haven't covered some topics, you can just get the info off the stimulus anyways

[simpak]

I'm not taking it because Fundamentals has honestly been a waste of my time, the lecture quality has put me off physics at UoM forever.
I have the textbook, friends taking it that I can scab the notes off, and time to learn the material myself without paying 400 dollars for it.
Plus I'm not allowed to take any more first year subjects now

[mikee65]

The gamsat prep courses, do the physics closely resemble the quality of material in the real test, as an indicator of the extent of knowledge required?

[anti]

I wouldn't stress too much about GAMSAT physics, it's a very small part.

This year there were some questions about kinematics and optics...  I think that was about it, perhaps 5 questions out of 110?   Plus for kinematics we were given all the necessary formulas anyway.

[mikee65]

I wouldn't stress too much about GAMSAT physics, it's a very small part.

This year there were some questions about kinematics and optics...  I think that was about it, perhaps 5 questions out of 110?   Plus for kinematics we were given all the necessary formulas anyway.

Really only 5.. Were formulas provided for chemistry too?

[anti]

I wouldn't stress too much about GAMSAT physics, it's a very small part.

This year there were some questions about kinematics and optics...  I think that was about it, perhaps 5 questions out of 110?   Plus for kinematics we were given all the necessary formulas anyway.

Really only 5.. Were formulas provided for chemistry too?

Formulas for things you're expected to know (ie. first year uni level) are not provided.  However, most of the questions will test things you know in new contexts, so you'll be given some text that explains the concept.  The test isn't like a uni or high school exam, you probably won't have seen most of the specific content before.  It's testing how well you can apply the info they give you.

[mikee65]

I see, such questions would obviously involve greater interpretation that a uni paper, much harder would you say, relative to first year chem?

[anti]

I see, such questions would obviously involve greater interpretation that a uni paper, much harder would you say, relative to first year chem?

It depends on the type of learner you are I guess.  I didn't do too much study and just revised basic concepts and got 77 for that section, whereas I think I put a lot more effort into learning stuff for chem at uni.  But some people aren't good at applying new concepts quickly and might need more practice, it depends on the person.

[mikee65]

I see, such questions would obviously involve greater interpretation that a uni paper, much harder would you say, relative to first year chem?

It depends on the type of learner you are I guess.  I didn't do too much study and just revised basic concepts and got 77 for that section, whereas I think I put a lot more effort into learning stuff for chem at uni.  But some people aren't good at applying new concepts quickly and might need more practice, it depends on the person.

I see,
 77%iles not bad at all

[Russ]

77 is actually the 1st percentile.

There is no question on the GAMSAT (from memory) that would be out of place on a uni paper. They're not super hard questions or questions that require a lot of tricky thinking. The great challenge is:
a) by the time you get to section 3 you've already spent ~5 hours at the testing centre
b) they cover a wide range of topics that you haven't been able to specifically study

Questions on the GAMSAT exam I sat, and on the practice papers I did, turned up on my second and third year exams in fairly similar format.

[mikee65]

Thanks for the insight Russ, sorry anti I thought you were speaking it terms of %iles, its hard to generalise now aha,

Russ did you take the exam in 2nd/3rd year?