See where you’d land on the GAMSAT today. Create a free account to estimate your Section III band, then sharpen up with a new practice unit every day, each with worked explanations.
One shared stimulus with four linked questions, just like the exam. Check each answer to see the explanation.
Can you get all four?
0 of 4 answered
Section III / Physics
Lifting with pulleys
A rope running over pulleys pulls equally hard all along its length. A load is held up by every section of rope that runs up from it, or from the moving pulley it hangs on. If the rope and pulleys are light and turn freely, the pull needed at the free end of the rope is the load’s weight divided by the number of sections supporting it.
Raising the load by 1 m shortens every supporting section by 1 m, so the free end must be pulled that many metres. Figure 1 shows three pulley systems, A, B and C, each holding up a 600 N load.
Figure 1. Three ways to hold up a 600 N load
More Section 3 practice questions
Chemistry, biology and physics, all solvable without a calculator. Choose your answer, then open the explanation.
Section III / Organic chemistry
A carbon atom bonded to four different groups is a stereocentre. A molecule with n stereocentres has at most 2ⁿ stereoisomers, but a molecule with an internal mirror plane is identical to its own mirror image and is called a meso compound.
How many stereoisomers does 2,3-dibromobutane (CH₃CHBrCHBrCH₃) have?
A 2
B 3
C 4
D 8
Show the answer and explanation
B. C2 and C3 are both stereocentres, so the maximum is 2² = 4. The (2R,3R) and (2S,3S) forms are a pair of enantiomers. But the two halves of the molecule are identical, so (2R,3S) has a mirror plane through the C2–C3 bond and is the same molecule as (2S,3R). That meso form counts once, giving 3.
Section III / Genetics
Cystic fibrosis is inherited as an autosomal recessive condition. Two parents who are both unaffected carriers have a son who does not have cystic fibrosis.
What is the probability that the son is a carrier?
A 1/4
B 1/2
C 2/3
D 3/4
Show the answer and explanation
C. A cross between two carriers (Ff × Ff) gives FF, Ff and ff in the ratio 1 : 2 : 1. The son is unaffected, so ff is ruled out. Of the three remaining equally likely outcomes, two are carriers: 2/3. Answer B is the trap, since it ignores what we already know about the son.
Section III / Physics
The resistance of a wire is R = ρL ÷ A, where ρ is the resistivity of the metal, L is the length of the wire and A is its cross-sectional area.
Wire Y is made of the same metal as wire X but is twice as long and has twice the diameter. What is the resistance of Y compared with X?
A One quarter
B One half
C The same
D Twice
Show the answer and explanation
B. Doubling the length doubles R. Doubling the diameter doubles the radius, and area depends on radius squared, so A is four times larger and R falls to a quarter. Together: 2 × ¼ = ½. Answer A forgets the extra length; C treats the area as if it only doubled with the diameter.
Section III / Acids and bases
A solution of hydrochloric acid has a pH of 2. A 10 mL sample is diluted with water to a final volume of 1 L. What is the pH of the diluted solution?
A 2
B 3
C 4
D 7
Show the answer and explanation
C. HCl is a strong acid, so [H⁺] = 10⁻² M. Going from 10 mL to 1000 mL is a 100-fold dilution, so [H⁺] falls to 10⁻⁴ M and pH = 4. Each tenfold dilution raises the pH by one unit, as long as the acid is still well above the concentration of H⁺ from water itself.
Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences rewards close reading of arguments as much as of prose and poetry.
Section I / Argument
Cities that have closed their centres to cars report fewer accidents and cleaner air. Critics warned that the closures would empty the shops, yet in most of these cities foot traffic rose within two years. The lesson is plain: any city that closes its centre to cars will see its shops do better.
The writer’s conclusion depends most on the assumption that
A cars are the main cause of air pollution in city centres.
B the cities that closed their centres are typical of cities in general.
C shoppers prefer walking to driving.
D fewer accidents lead directly to more foot traffic.
Show the answer and explanation
B. The evidence comes from some cities, and “in most” of them; the conclusion is about “any city”. That leap only works if the cities studied are representative. A and D connect claims the argument never relies on, and C may be true but isn’t needed: foot traffic could rise for other reasons. See more on the Section 1 guide.
Section 2 practice prompt
An original Task A set. Give yourself 30 minutes to plan and write a response to the theme, then read how Section 2 essays are marked.
Task A / Theme: Certainty
The most dangerous people are the ones who are sure they are right.
Doubt is a luxury that those in charge can rarely afford.
Science moves forward not by proving ideas but by failing to disprove them.
We ask our leaders to be certain, then blame them for being wrong.
Official GAMSAT practice tests
ACER, which writes and runs the GAMSAT, publishes official preparation materials on its website, including sample questions and full-length practice tests. Most are paid. They’re the closest thing to the real exam, so they’re best saved for the final weeks, when you want a realistic read on timing and stamina.
Before then, you’ll get more from a steady supply of exam-style units with explanations, so you can find and fix weak spots. That’s what Get Into Med’s free daily Section III unit is for.
How to get the most from practice questions
Start untimed. Accuracy first; speed follows once you know how to approach each question type.
Commit before you check. Choose an answer and, if you can, write a line on why. That makes it obvious whether a right answer came from sound reasoning or luck.
Review every miss. Was it content, a misread question, arithmetic or time? Each has a different fix.
Spread practice out. One unit a day for a month does more than thirty in a weekend.
Mix the sections. Section III is double-weighted, but Sections I and II still make up half the overall score.
Common questions
Where can I find free GAMSAT practice questions?
This page has free questions for all three sections with worked answers. Get Into Med’s free plan adds a new Section III unit every day, with explanations, plus the first 4 Learn syllabuses. ACER, which runs the GAMSAT, also publishes official preparation material on its website.
Is there a free GAMSAT practice test?
Get Into Med has a free 15-minute Section III band check that gives you an estimated score range, and a free daily practice unit. Full-length official practice tests are published by ACER; most of them are paid.
Are these real GAMSAT questions?
No. Every question here is original material written by Get Into Med in the style of the exam. Get Into Med is not affiliated with or endorsed by ACER, and practice results aren’t official GAMSAT scores.
How should I use practice questions?
Untimed at first, so you can see where your reasoning breaks down. Review every question you miss, including the ones you guessed right. Add timing once you’re accurate, and save full-length official tests for the last few weeks before the exam.
