ISAT - HOW I SCORED IN THE 98%TILE (General tips on how to do well)

Summary

Ryan, a pre-med student from Australia, shares insights and tips for succeeding in the ISA (International Student Admission Test) used by Australian medical and dentistry schools. He emphasizes the importance of time management, staying focused during the three-hour exam, and the value of extensive practice. He also advises against overpriced tutoring, recommends official ACER resources, and offers a compiled question bank for those seeking targeted ISA preparation.

Takeaways

• 📚 Ryan is a pre-med student from Australia who has completed the ISAF (International Student Admission Test) and scored in the 98th percentile.
• 📝 The ISAF is a three-hour aptitude test used by Australian medical and dentistry schools, except for James Cook University and the University of Adelaide, focusing on information extraction and logical deduction.
• 🕒 Time management is crucial during the ISAF, with an average of 1.8 minutes per question, emphasizing the importance of skipping difficult questions to return to later if time permits.
• 🧠 Developing a calm mindset is vital to prevent overthinking and to stay focused throughout the test, which can be challenging due to its length.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Building stamina to concentrate for the entire duration of the ISAF is essential, as losing focus can waste valuable time.
• 📈 Practice is key to improving aptitude test performance, with the suggestion of 100-200 hours of practice for familiarity and skill development.
• 💡 Tutoring services may not be as helpful as expected, with the speaker suggesting that practice questions are more valuable than the classes themselves.
• 🤔 Reviewing and understanding mistakes from practice questions is important to avoid repeating errors in similar future questions.
• 📚 The most valuable resource for practice is the official ISAF exam produced by ACER, which contains 45 questions simulating the real test.
• 🔍 The GAMSAT, particularly Section 1, can be a secondary resource for practice, despite being more challenging and testing existing knowledge in various subjects.
• 🔗 The UCAT is not very similar to the ISAF, and caution is advised to not waste time on irrelevant sections, although some parts may offer practice value.

Q & A

What is the ISAF and why is it important for international students applying to medical and dentistry schools in Australia?

The ISAF, or International Student Admission Test, is a three-hour multiple choice aptitude test used by all medical and dentistry schools across Australia, except for James Cook University and the University of Adelaide. It is important because it tests students' abilities in extracting information, making quick and logical deductions, and forming judgments, which are crucial for admission into these programs.

What are the two main question types in the ISAF?

The two main question types in the ISAF are quantitative reasoning and critical reasoning. Quantitative reasoning requires calculations and number manipulations, while critical reasoning involves making logical deductions from texts.

What score percentile is typically required to secure an offer in medical or dentistry courses in Australia?

To secure an offer, students generally need to score around or above the 80th percentile, which means beating 80 percent of their competitors.

Why is time management crucial during the ISAF?

Time management is crucial because on average, students have only about 1.8 minutes per question to read the question, understand the text, read the answer options, do calculations, make deductions, and pick the right answer. It's important to guess, skip, and return to difficult or unsure questions to ensure all questions can be attempted within the time limit.

What is the speaker's personal experience with managing time during the ISAF?

The speaker personally had around 15 questions flagged and about 10 minutes left at the end of the exam. They cleared their mind and re-attempted some of them, emphasizing the importance of not overthinking and moving on from questions that are initially difficult.

How can students prepare for the exhaustion and focus required during the three-hour ISAF?

Students should train their brain to concentrate for a long period of time, possibly even pushing to four hours. This can be achieved through practice, which helps in getting used to sitting down and doing questions for extended periods without losing focus.

What is the speaker's opinion on the effectiveness of tutoring for the ISAF?

The speaker believes that tutoring is not as helpful as it is often claimed. They found that the main value from tutoring companies was the practice questions, but they felt that the cost was not justified for what was provided.

What are the primary resources the speaker recommends for ISAF preparation?

The speaker recommends the official ISAF practice exam produced by ACER, which contains 45 questions, and the GAMSAT, particularly section one, which is relevant to the ISAF. They also mention a question bank they compiled with a friend, which mimics the ISAF the most.

How does the speaker differentiate the ISAF from the UCAT in terms of question types and preparation?

The speaker notes that the UCAT is not very similar to the ISAF, especially in the verbal reasoning section and the use of calculators. The ISAF combines quantitative and critical reasoning in a way that is different from the UCAT, making it important to focus on relevant practice questions.

What advice does the speaker give on how to handle mistakes during ISAF preparation?

The speaker advises going through mistake questions and understanding what was wrong the first time. They also recommend making notes to avoid making the same mistakes in the future.