Practice Test GeeksStudy Forums

How long did you actually study before sitting GAMSAT for the first time?

by Nicole F. 104 views3 replies
N
Nicole F.OP
May 27, 2026

Hey everyone, I've been lurking here for a few months while trying to figure out my prep timeline. I'm a science grad (bio major) and I'm planning to sit the March sitting — which gives me about 5 months from now. I've done one GAMSAT practice test so far and scored around 52 overall, which I know is below most med school cutoffs. Section III dragged me down hard.

I've been reading through a study guide and it feels like the prep is way more open-ended than other standardized tests I've done. Like, there's no single syllabus you can just tick through. My biggest worry is Section I — I wasn't an arts/humanities student and the extended reading comprehension stuff really throws me. How do people even approach improving that section?

Any exam tips from people who've been through it at least once would be genuinely appreciated. Especially curious how many hours per week you were putting in and whether a 5-month timeline is realistic to move from a 52 to something competitive (58+).

A
Amanda H.
May 28, 2026
Five months is honestly pretty solid if you're consistent. I went from a 54 to a 63 in two sittings — first time I only had about 10 weeks and completely underestimated Section I. For that section, read broadly. Opinion pieces, literary essays, anything with an argument. Don't just answer the questions, try to understand WHY the answer is what it is. That shift in mindset helped me more than any study guide.
A
Alex G.
May 28, 2026
Section I took me forever to click. What finally worked: read The Guardian long-form and The Monthly, then after each piece just summarize the author's argument in one sentence. Sounds simple but it trains you to find the thread fast under pressure. Good luck with March!
R
Ravi S.
May 28, 2026
I'd push back slightly on the idea of targeting a specific score increase. I know that sounds weird but when I focused too hard on 'I need 58' I got into a bad headspace. Just work through as many GAMSAT practice test papers as you can find, time yourself properly, and review every single wrong answer in detail. The score tends to follow the understanding, not the other way around. Also 52 with a bio background suggests your S3 foundation is there — it might come up faster than you think.

Join the Discussion

Sign in or register to reply with your account, or reply as a guest below.

Related Discussions

← Back to Forum