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GAMSAT Section 2: FAQs Answered


If you’re prepping for the GAMSAT and struggling with Section II, you’re not alone. Writing an essay under timed conditions is tough, especially when you have to generate ideas on the spot and make them sound cohesive. A lot of students get stuck on the same questions—how formal should my writing be? Do I need to memorise quotes? What’s the best structure?


So, I’m going to go through some of the most frequently asked questions about writing a GAMSAT essay and break them down with simple, practical advice that will actually help you get a better score on game day.



Should I Write How I Speak?


Not exactly. There’s a balance between making your writing sound natural and keeping it structured enough to score well. If you write exactly how you speak, your essay might come across as too casual. On the other hand, if you try too hard to sound "academic," your writing can feel forced or even pretentious. So it's a bit of a balance and navigating it can be a bit tricky. Bit by bit is my advice to ease your way into it.


A good approach is to aim for clarity and flow. You don’t need to use overly complex words or long, convoluted sentences. If you’ve come across well-written essays, take note of the phrasing and structure they use—there’s nothing wrong with borrowing effective writing styles.


It’s not about copying; it’s about learning what works.Think of your essay as a bridge between how you talk and how a well-structured argument should sound. It should feel natural but still polished.



Can I Use Personal Pronouns Like "I" and "My"?


Yes, but keep it balanced. Personal pronouns can work well, especially if you’re using a personal example, but you don’t want your essay to feel like a diary entry.


A good rule of thumb is to focus on ideas rather than just telling a story about yourself. For example, if you’re using an anecdote about your pet to support an argument, the takeaway should be a broader concept rather than just "I had a dog and this happened." Keep the personal elements as supporting tools rather than the main focus. But this is just like any other example you weave into your essay - they are all supports rather than pillars. The ideas build your argument, examples highlight and give relatability then then your writing pieces it all together.



Do I Need Strong, Unique Examples?


Not at all. There’s a misconception that your examples need to be incredibly unique or deeply personal to score well. The reality is, even the most "boring" examples can be effective if you use them well.


Instead of worrying about having groundbreaking experiences to write about, focus on developing a few flexible examples that you know inside out. These can be personal experiences, historical events, philosophical ideas, or even pop culture references. The key is to be able to adapt them to different themes. But I would just remember a few examples and then see how many themes they can relate to rather than remember a seperate example for each theme (too much work I reckon).


For instance, I knew I could write about my dog passing away, my parents’ divorce, and a few historical events. These might not seem like amazing examples, but I made them work by extracting meaningful insights and applying them to different themes.


Should I Memorise Quotes?


Not really. It’s far more valuable to understand broad ideas than to memorise word-for-word quotes. If you want to remember a few key lines that you think will help strengthen your arguments, that’s fine, but don’t stress about memorising large chunks of text.


What matters is how you engage with the ideas presented in the quotes you’re given in the exam. The GAMSAT markers don’t care if you can recall a quote from George Orwell;

they care about whether you can develop a strong, logical argument.


If you do want to use quotes, make sure they actually add value to your essay rather than just being there for the sake of it.



How Do I Come Up with Ideas Quickly?


This is where preparation makes a huge difference. One of the biggest challenges in Section II is being able to generate strong ideas in a short amount of time. The trick is to practice brainstorming in advance so that you’re never starting from zero.


A great exercise is to take a random set of quotes and force yourself to come up with arguments for and against them. Do this regularly, and over time, you’ll start to see patterns in themes, making it much easier to generate ideas on the spot.


On exam day, if you’re stuck, try asking yourself simple, foundational questions:

  • What is the main idea behind this quote?

  • Do I agree or disagree?

  • Are there any historical or modern examples that relate to this?

  • What are the opposing arguments?


By breaking it down like this, you can get the ball rolling and start structuring your essay efficiently. If that's not enough to get your ideas flowing, try imagining yourself arguing with your sibling and you desperately need to win that argument to get the front seat in the car or something like that. I love arguing and more importantly I like to win arguments. I think this mindset helps with essay writing



How Should I Use the Given Quotes?


Think of the quotes as free ideas—they’re there to help you, not restrict you. A strong approach is to use them as starting points for your body paragraphs.


You don’t have to agree with every quote. You can:

  • Completely agree and build on it.

  • Disagree and argue against it.

  • Partially agree but introduce nuance.


A simple technique is to leapfrog between quotes. For example, if Quote 1 supports one perspective and Quote 3 contradicts it, you can use those two quotes to structure your first two body paragraphs. Then, your third paragraph can introduce a broader perspective or a different interpretation.



Do My Paragraphs Need to Flow Perfectly?

They should connect logically, but you don’t have to force them into a rigid structure.


A simple way to think about it is:

  1. Paragraph 1: Introduce an idea and provide an example.

  2. Paragraph 2: Offer a counterpoint or add complexity.

  3. Paragraph 3: Broaden the discussion or provide an alternative view.

  4. Conclusion: Tie everything together and reinforce your argument.


Your essay should feel like a natural progression of ideas. The key is making sure your arguments build towards your main contention rather than feeling scattered or on the fence.



How Can I Make My Writing Clearer?

A lot of students overcomplicate their writing because they think it makes them sound smarter. In reality, clarity is what makes a strong essay.


A great tip is to vary your sentence lengths. You don’t need every sentence to be long and complex. Sometimes, a short, powerful sentence can make a huge impact.


For example: Morality is fundamental to success.

This is such a simple 5 word sentence that does not have to be your only arugment but can be something you can bounce off and expand on in future paragraphs. A short setnecne can make it hit harder. Also, always put yourself in the marker’s shoes. If your essay is confusing, full of unnecessary words, or hard to follow, they need to search for meaning. Sometimes all you want is a simple structure and flow, especially if you are marking your 50th essay at 10pm at night.


Imagine you’re watching a movie. You want to know who the hero is, what the conflict is, and how it all wraps up. Your essay should work the same way—clear direction, logical progression, and a strong conclusion.


At the end of the day, GAMSAT essays aren’t about showing off fancy words—they’re about demonstrating clear thinking. If you can develop solid ideas, structure them well, and communicate them clearly, you’re on the right track.


Go deeper in this GAMSAT community:


Want a free section 2 e-book in resources? (Join the community for free and download) https://www.jimsgamsat.com.au/wiki/c397774a-84bd-4576-ac01-a20ac87c716b



Watch me go through these examples instead:


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