Review of the Guru Method for GAMSAT preparation

The GURU method is a study program available online at Gurumethod.com.au. The content available for free includes a free PDF and a ten-day email course, also available at gamsatpreparation.org. The paid content consists of practice questions for section I and III, and although the 2010 course has not been released, it should include a section on essay-writing for section II.

The free PDF focuses on one specific method of studying for the GAMSAT. Michael Tan argues that the GAMSAT was designed to get a new sort of medical school candidate: rather than attracting fresh out of high school swotters and nerds, the GAMSAT was designed to prefer a more rounded, older postgraduate student. The test is therefore less based on swotting and studying material and more about ranking understanding and comprehension between students with widely different backgrounds.

Michael Tan argues that this is why ACER includes so many complicated diagrams and long test passages in the questions. Even if you've studied and are an expert on the material, if you cannot quickly understand and excerpt information and separate what you need from the dross then you cannot complete the questions quickly enough to score well on the GAMSAT. Many GAMSAT candidates will complain about how rushed they felt! It's always a wonderful bit of schadenfreude to put down your pencil with five minutes on the clock, and having looked over your answers, and take a break while everyone else is still frantically flicking through their test books.

The time permitted for each question is very small - 80 seconds for Section I, 92 seconds for Section III, and 30 minutes to plan and write a complex essay for Section II. This may not seem like much, but it’s doable. I aim for 1 minute per question in sections I and III for a first run-through in which I pick up 80% of my answers – that’s a lot easier to keep track of than 92 seconds!. I leave the hardest questions for later, and this gives me additional time on those harder questions.

The Gamsat Guru method seems focused on running though all practice questions at GAMSAT speed to acclimatise you to answering the questions within the short timeframe. It does not have a focus on science study. Perhaps you could call it more of a course on how to take the GAMSAT than a course on science and humanities topics, like the Des O’Neill courses. I haven’t seen or heard any information on their essay test section which is due out for the 2010 GAMSAT season.

I also think that Gamsat Guru places too large an emphasis on moving through questions quickly. Without the correct knowledge behind you, you are just going to be getting the wrong answers faster. It’s also easier to answer the questions fast if you understand the material. I think that getting speed-answering of GAMSAT questions is best used as part of a study plan which also includes understanding the most common GAMSAT questions, material and concepts, towards the end of your studies and as you’re getting closer to the GAMSAT test date.

Additionally, Michael Tan recommends that you do not look at non-GAMSAT materials. While there are free GAMSAT materials available, the quality varies and there is not a large amount in terms of volume. I feel that materials such as textbook and MCAT questions can be really valuable in making sure you understand the material you will be tested on.

The Gamsat Guru is most likely to be useful to a well-rounded science student who feel that they know the material already, but could improve the speed of their test-taking – and that’s a pretty small area. I’d advise you to try a free or cheap ACER practice test, timed, before looking into this course further, and see if your speed is an issue for you.