What Motivates You To Sit The GAMSAT?

If you find yourself here reading this post, you are likely preparing for GAMSAT. You may be preparing to sit the GAMSAT for the first time, or you may be one of most candidates who are re-sitting the exam. In either case, it is important to consider and eliminate the internal obstructions which may impede your success. To do so, ask yourself the following questions:

What is it that you want?

If you haven’t asked yourself this question, you need to do this before progressing. What does the question even mean? The process of thinking about your real desires is paramount — it necessitates a recognition of whims versus ambitions. Whims will fall in the face of adversity while true desires will weather the storm. Wanting something means you are willing to forgo the alternatives. The cost of committing to an endeavour such as GAMSAT and a career in Medicine will evidently involve many sacrifices. Less evident is the imposed growth that such processes enforce, which represents a further challenge to accept and overcome. Awareness of your ambitions and why they are important to you will soften the blow of the sacrifices you will invariably be making both now while you study, and in your future work.

What would your life look like to get what you want?

After considering what it is you want, you may have landed on a career in Medicine which involves success in the GAMSAT (and if you didn’t, then pursue whatever else it is you want). Success requires a set of goals and an associated plan. Your plan at present will necessarily focus more on GAMSAT, and you will need to take responsibility in structuring your life so that you are maximising your potential. Taking responsibility for your studies prevents others from allocating your time (which will not assist you in your goals). But also keep in mind that planning your days, weeks, and months requires negotiating with yourself — you cannot be your own tyrant.

Finally, what would your life be like if you habitually did the difficult tasks?

Candidates that perform well in the GAMSAT (and in many other areas of life), make doing difficult tasks a habit. In GAMSAT, this means sitting practice exams under timed conditions, receiving honest feedback, and continually asking questions to improve. The result of these processes (whether failure or success) is always productive. Consider that your overall aim may be to score 70+ in GAMSAT and enter Medicine. The fastest way to this destination is via a routine committed to completing the tasks most avoid. It does not matter where you start, or the number of failures you encounter along the way — it is the process that is most important.