Overview
This webinar provided strategies for solving challenging GAMSAT science questions, emphasizing the importance of recognizing underlying "puzzle" structures, interpreting matrices, and understanding exponential scales in graphs.
Exam Structure and Practice Approach
- GAMSAT science section: two minutes per question; humanities: 1.5 minutes per question.
- Practice tests and mock exams are available for free on gamsatprep.com.
- Track your progress by checking time regularly; skip and guess difficult questions since there is no penalty.
Puzzle-Based Question Types
- Science questions are often designed as puzzles, not reliant on prior in-depth topic knowledge.
- Sufficient information is usually given within the question to derive the solution.
Adjacency Matrices in Organic Chemistry
- Adjacency matrices represent which carbon atoms in a molecule are directly connected (touching).
- The diagonal of the matrix contains zeros, as an atom is not adjacent to itself.
- The matrix is symmetrical above and below the diagonal.
- Row and column indices correspond to atom numbers; a '1' in the matrix means adjacency.
Distance Matrices in Organic Chemistry
- Distance matrices show how many bonds separate pairs of atoms.
- Zeros appear on the diagonal; the matrix remains symmetrical.
- Count the number of steps (bonds) between two atoms to determine their distance.
Interpreting Exponential Scales on Graphs
- Exponential (logarithmic) scales increase by powers of ten, not linearly.
- Small vertical drops at high values on an exponential scale represent much larger changes than equal drops at lower values.
- To find the difference between two values on a log scale, subtract the actual numbers, not their ratio.
- Most common mistakes include misinterpreting the difference by dividing values instead of subtracting.
Test Strategies
- Review captions, axes, and scales carefully before attempting graph questions.
- Practice with real past GAMSAT questions, especially those emphasizing exponential scales.
- Use two A4 sheets for rough work during the exam.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Adjacency Matrix — Square matrix indicating which atoms (usually carbons) in a molecule are directly connected.
- Distance Matrix — Matrix showing how many bonds separate each atom pair in a molecule.
- Exponential (Logarithmic) Scale — Graph axis where intervals represent increasing powers of ten.
- CFU/mL — Colony-forming units per milliliter, a measure of viable bacterial cells.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Complete GS free sciences section mock exam on gamsatprep.com.
- Review work solutions for missed questions and reattempt them for better understanding.
- Try questions 73–75 in ACER’s online GAMSAT practice test to reinforce matrix concepts.
- Join forum discussions or tutorials for further clarification if needed.