The Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) is used by universities in Australia and Ireland as part of their admissions process for graduate-entry medical programs. A key section of the GAMSAT is the written communication task, which requires test takers to write an essay response for one of several possible essay prompts. Strong performance on the GAMSAT written essay requires demonstrating effective critical thinking skills as well as strong writing ability. This essay will analyze examples of high-scoring GAMSAT essays and identify key qualities that help earn high marks.
One hallmark of top GAMSAT essays is their ability to directly answer the prompt. Essays are assessed based on how thoroughly and thoughtfully they engage with the stated topic or question. Thus, the strongest responses immediately orient the reader by restating the prompt and clearly indicating how the essay will address it. For example, consider this prompt: “Discuss the factors that promote or inhibit cooperation between groups.” A high-scoring response might begin:
“Cooperation between groups can be influenced by a variety of social, economic and political factors. This essay will examine several key factors that either promote or inhibit cooperation, including shared goals and values, differing levels of power and resources, and intergroup contact. Each of these influences the likelihood of groups working together constructively or alternatively engaging in conflict.”
By directly answering who, what, when, where and how in the opening paragraph, this essay leaves no doubt about its treatment of the prompt. It engages the evaluator right away and sets a framework for how the response will be developed in subsequent paragraphs.
Another attribute of top-scoring GAMSAT essays is strong use of examples and evidence to support key points. Rather than relying on vague generalizations or simply restating the prompt, high-achieving responses ground their analysis in concrete examples, facts, data or research findings. For instance, in discussing factors that promote cooperation, an essay may cite:
“Research by social psychologist Muzafer Sherif found that when groups of boys at summer camp formed shared goals of improving their living facilities, cooperation increased and intergroup conflict diminished. The formation of a superordinate or overarching goal that benefits all parties can help override individual group interests and promote cooperation, as was demonstrated in this study.”
Incorporating specific examples like this lends credibility and substantiation to the response. It shows the writer has thoroughly explored literature related to the prompt and can draw from credible evidence rather than speculation alone. Multiple well-selected examples integrated throughout help turn an abstract discussion into a concrete argument backed by research.
Analytical skills are also crucial for receiving high marks. Beyond simply identifying and describing relevant factors, GAMSAT essays are expected to analyze, compare and draw reasoned conclusions. Top responses achieve this through skills like logical organization, comparing and contrasting factors, and integrating an overarching thesis or conclusion. For instance:
“As the literature suggests, while shared goals and intergroup contact tend to promote cooperation between factions, differing levels of power and access to resources often inhibit it. Groups with asymmetric power dynamics may find it difficult to perceive their interests as aligned. As Sherif’s research implies, establishing superordinate goals that cut across these cleavages could help override some reluctance rooted in power imbalances. Overall, whether cooperation occurs depends on a complex interplay between the factors explored herein, with promoting factors like shared purpose and understanding having the ability to overcome inhibiting elements under the right conditions.”
This analytical conclusion draws the essay together elegantly, integrating multiple factors while emphasizing the key determinants of cooperation according to research. Such sophisticated critical thinking demonstrates exactly the type of advanced analysis skills valued within medical education.
Strong writing mechanics represent another key ingredient of top-scoring GAMSAT responses. While ideas and content carry the most weight, essays must also demonstrate mastery of grammar, style, flow and overall written communication abilities expected at the graduate level. Top-performing writers employ varied vocabulary appropriate to the academic register, structure each paragraph logically, and establish cohesive flow between ideas with transitional phrases. Writing should be virtually error-free with excellent control of punctuation, spelling, sentence structure and more. Polishing writing mechanics elevates an essay’s professionalism and readability for evaluators.
GAMSAT written responses providing explicit and thorough treatment of the prompt, supported by well-integrated examples and evidence, and demonstrating analytical skills through logical organization and conclusion, tend to achieve the highest ratings. Top essays leverage examples and research findings to substantiate their key points, compare and contrast relevant factors, and draw evidenced conclusions indicative of graduate-level critical thinking abilities expected within medicine. Excellent writing mechanics complete the picture of an essay ready to impress evaluators. With these qualities in mind, GAMSAT writers can feel prepared to craft responses worthy of high scores.
Andrew Stroud