| Even with many test preparation tools the ones most worried about GAMSAT scores are the students who studied English as Second Language (ESL). Most of these students studied English as a secondary subject way after the native English students had begun their lessons in the language. For those who are not exceptionally good at English it may be helpful to begin GAMSAT preparations before most students even think of appearing for the test.
The first trick for ESL students is to enroll in an English literature, poetry or writing course as early as possible before taking the GAMSAT. This will ensure that the student gets a better understanding of the passages and quotes given in the paper. This also means that with extensive reading the ESL student will be able to analyse the passages and answer the question stems accurately. Practice will also help the student build a strong sense of vocabulary.
The rationale of doing such a course is also in the fact that Section I of GAMSAT requires you to have certain skills in the language. You cannot learn the skills overnight as an ESL student so you must spend time studying the language and understanding it. To begin with rent or borrow a novel and begin reading it, learning all the new words you read and keep an eye open to judge how the author has expressed his thoughts.
You may start with something relatively easy to understand, such as The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, or perhaps, 1984 by George Orwell. You are advised to read it at least two times. The first reading will give you an idea of the plot while the second reading will help you understand the book better, inclusive of all its stylistic and structural elements.
The second reading will also be about finding the deeper meaning in the plot, the characters and the symbolism used. Ask questions as you read the novel in order to get an in-depth understanding of it. You will also begin your primary lesson in understanding imagery that would be very important for you when you do GAMSAT sample passages later. If you get stuck in your understanding of parts of the book or entire chapters, it is a good idea to refer to Cliff’s notes about the book. These guides contain lessons on how to understand imagery, themes, subjects and characters and these lessons will go a long way in your GAMSAT preparation.
From reading you can directly move on to solving sample GAMSAT papers. Go through the paper within the time limit at the first attempt and then evaluate how much you missed and which answers you got right and wrong. Understand why you got the answers right or wrong and study accordingly. Take the test again in a few weeks to see if you are able to get a better result this time.
The GAMSAT at the end of the day is a test of your reasoning and expressing abilities. It tests no prior knowledge of the subjects and the development and expression of thought are primarily judged with the effectiveness of language a secondary testing tool. If you are able to think logically and express your ideas clearly, being an ESL student should not hamper your chances at the test. |
