GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admissions Test) is an intense and tough exam. It requires months of commitment and hard work to make it through.
That’s why it is difficult to stay motivated throughout and stay focused on your goal. You might often feel frustrated, especially if you can’t improve as well as your peers. So, here are some master strategies to boost your motivation and ensure you pass with flying colors!
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1. Create achievable goals
Before you start studying, set an achievable and specific goal. Don’t just think about the final goal, like scoring high. Instead, think about the moment and try to break it down into smaller and simpler goals for now. This will prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.
For instance, you can aim to revise at least four subjects for one hour daily. Try to practice essays weekly. Finally, settle on scoring around 60% on practice questions and aim to score a little higher every time.
Specific, realistic, and personalised goals help you understand your preparation levels and adapt your strategies accordingly. As you accomplish the small goals, you’ll be motivated to try harder.
2. Build a study plan
Next, you need a well-structured study plan. Otherwise, you might try to tackle too many things at once, get frustrated, and lose motivation.
So, start by allocating time for each GAMSAT section, including written communication, reasoning in biological and physical sciences, and reasoning in humanities and social sciences.
Make sure you plan the days based on how much attention you must give each subject. Consider which hours and days you’d rest, review the subject, and practice sample test papers for progress tracking.
However, if you still feel unprepared or that self-study is not helping, improve your performance by enrolling in a reliable course for GAMSAT preparation. The right course will offer different preparation materials according to varying student needs.
You’ll also get skilled tutors who will offer personalised guidance to improve your weak points. Moreover, you can access diverse and detailed study materials to deepen the foundation of your knowledge. You can also attend mock exams, which will minimise stress levels during the actual exam.
3. Study with others
When you study alone, you feel isolated and lonely. You’re bound to doubt your progress and feel demotivated.
So, consider finding a study group. When you see other motivated students, you’ll also want to try harder and enjoy the overall process.
Moreover, if you get stuck in a specific concept, you don’t have to wait to access teachers. The group can help you solve it faster. Group learning also helps discover new insights.
However, if you’re not interested in joining an entire group, you can also try finding a single study partner. You can study with them regularly or opt for weekly discussions.
4. Implement the right techniques
GAMSAT is no joke, and you need to use multiple strategies to get high scores. A simple memorization won’t help you with this. So, start by exploring practice questions. Test your knowledge practically to know how much you’re prepared.
Then, practice summary writing of complicated topics. Try to explain the concept as well verbally. Next, use visual aids to connect science concepts. It’ll help you understand and memorise them better.
5. Get enough breaks
Burnout rates are extremely high among Australian students. They are also pretty vulnerable to mental disorders. Statistics show that 38.8% of Australians aged 16-24 years faced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months.
The long study hours while overworking without adequate rest can be a significant issue. Lack of breaks can result in exhaustion and lower productivity. So, schedule breaks more often to avoid fatigue and stress and elevate motivation.
To minimise stress during the breaks, turn off your phone and practice meditation or deep breathing.
6. Stay physically active
GAMSAT aspirants often ignore any kind of physical activity during their preparation. However, physical activity can enhance mood, energy levels, and concentration. All of this can improve your motivation levels intensely.
So, fit in a 15 to 20-minute light exercise regime. This can be a walk, stretching, or skipping. Daily activity can also keep your mind fresh and sharp enough to grasp concepts quickly!
Conclusion
Boost your motivation in GAMSAT preparations even more by adapting your plans to evolving needs and celebrating even the smallest improvements. Be optimistic, show compassion to yourself, seek inspiration from role models, and you’ll increase your chances of entering med school by manifolds!