GAMSAT Syllabus
The GAMSAT exam does not have an official ACER syllabus for each section . However, based on the typical subjects tested in GAMSAT Section 3, here's a list of topics that you may find useful for your preparation:
Physics
1. Mechanics
a. Kinematics
Scalars and vectors
Displacement, velocity, and acceleration
Graphical analysis of motion
Uniformly accelerated motion equations
c. Work, energy, and power
Work and the work-energy theorem
Kinetic energy and potential energy
Conservative and non-conservative forces
Power
b. Dynamics
Newton's laws of motion
Force, mass, and acceleration
Weight and gravitational force
Weight and gravitational force
Friction: static and kinetic
Tension and normal force
d. Momentum and collisions
Linear momentum and impulse
Conservation of momentum
Elastic and inelastic collisions
e. Circular motion and gravitation
Uniform circular motion
Centripetal acceleration and centripetal force
Gravitational force and Newton's law of gravitation
Gravitational potential energy and escape velocity
2. Waves and Optics
a. Wave properties
Transverse and longitudinal waves
Wavelength, frequency, amplitude, and wave speed
Superposition and interference
b. Sound
Properties of sound waves
Intensity, loudness, and the decibel scale
Doppler effect
c. Light and electromagnetic waves
Electromagnetic spectrum and properties of electromagnetic waves
Reflection, refraction, and dispersion
Diffraction and interference
d. Geometric optics
Reflection: plane and curved mirrors
Refraction: lenses and lens equations
Optical instruments: microscopes, telescopes, and cameras
3. Thermodynamics
a. Temperature and heat
Temperature scales: Celsius, Kelvin, and Fahrenheit
Thermal expansion: linear, volumetric, and area
Heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation
b. Heat and the first law of thermodynamics
Heat capacity, specific heat, and latent heat
Calorimetry and heat transfer
Work, heat, and internal energy
Adiabatic, isochoric, isobaric, and isothermal processes
c. The second law of thermodynamics
Heat engines, refrigerators, and heat pumps
Carnot cycle and efficiency
Entropy and the second law
4. Electricity and Magnetism
a. Electric charge and electric field
Fundamental charges and Coulomb's law
Electric field and electric potential
Capacitance and capacitors
b. Electric current and circuits
Current, voltage, and resistance
Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's rules
Series and parallel circuits
Power in electric circuits
c. Magnetism
Magnetic field and magnetic forces
Motion of charged particles in magnetic fields
Magnetic field due to a current-carrying wire
Electromagnetic induction and Faraday's law
d. Electromagnetic waves
Maxwell's equations
Generation and propagation of electromagnetic waves
Speed of light and the electromagnetic spectrum
5. Modern Physics
a. Special relativity
Time dilation, length contraction, and simultaneity
Mass-energy equivalence (E=mc²)
b. Quantum physics
Photoelectric effect
Wave-particle duality and the de Broglie wavelength
Heisenberg uncertainty principle
c. Atomic structure and spectra
Bohr model of the hydrogen atom
Energy levels and electron transitions
Emission and absorption spectra
d. Nuclear physics
Nuclear structure and isotopes
Radioactive decay: alpha, beta, and gamma
Half-life and decay constant
Nuclear reactions: fission and fusion
Binding energy and the mass defect
Chemistry
1. General Chemistry
a. Atomic structure
Protons, neutrons, and electrons
Atomic number and mass number
Isotopes and average atomic mass
Electronic configuration and orbitals
b. The periodic table
Organization of elements by atomic number
Periodic trends: atomic radius, ionization energy, electron affinity, and electronegativity
Groups and periods
Properties of metals, non-metals, and metalloids
c. Chemical bonding
Ionic bonding: electron transfer, lattice structures, and properties
Covalent bonding: electron sharing, Lewis structures, and properties
Metallic bonding: electron sea model, and properties
Hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces
Bond polarity and dipole moments
d. Chemical reactions
Balancing chemical equations
Types of reactions: synthesis, decomposition, single displacement, double displacement, and combustion
Stoichiometry: mole-to-mole and mass-to-mass calculations
e. Gases
Ideal gas law (PV = nRT)
Partial pressure and Dalton's law
Kinetic molecular theory of gases
Real gases and van der Waals equation
f. Solutions
Concentration units: molarity, molality, mass percent, and mole fraction
Solubility and factors affecting solubility
Colligative properties: boiling point elevation, freezing point depression, osmotic pressure
Photoelectric effect
g. Acids and bases
Definitions: Arrhenius, Brønsted-Lowry, and Lewis
pH, pOH, pKa, pKb, and relationship with concentrations of hydronium and hydroxide ions
Acid-base titrations: equivalence point, endpoint, and titration curves
2. Physical Chemistry
a. Thermodynamics
Enthalpy (ΔH): exothermic and endothermic reactions
Entropy (ΔS): spontaneity and the second law of thermodynamics
Gibbs free energy (ΔG): relationship with enthalpy and entropy (ΔG = ΔH - TΔS)
b. Chemical equilibrium
The equilibrium constant (K) and its relationship to reaction concentrations
Le Châtelier's principle: effect of changes in concentration, temperature, and pressure on equilibrium
The reaction quotient (Q): predicting the direction of a reaction
c. Chemical kinetics
Rate laws: order of reaction, rate constants, and rate equations
Determining reaction order from experimental data
Factors affecting reaction rates: concentration, temperature, catalysts
The Arrhenius equation: relationship between rate constants and temperature
d. Electrochemistry
Redox reactions: oxidation states, half-reactions, and balancing redox equations
Electrochemical cells: galvanic cells, electrolytic cells, and cell potentials (E°)
The Nernst equation: relationship between cell potential, concentration, and temperature
Electrolysis: Faraday's laws of electrolysis and applications
3. Organic Chemistry
a. Structural formulas
Functional groups: alcohols, amines, carboxylic acids, esters, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, etc.
Isomers: structural isomers, geometric isomers, and stereoisomers
Resonance
b. Nomenclature
IUPAC naming conventions for alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and functional groups
Naming cyclic, branched, and substituted hydrocarbons
Naming stereoisomers: cis/trans and E/Z for geometric isomers, R/S for chiral centers
c. Reaction mechanisms
Nucleophilic and electrophilic reactions
Addition, elimination, and substitution reactions
Radical reactions
d. Reactions of functional groups
Reactions of alcohols, amines, carboxylic acids, esters, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, etc.
Acidity and basicity of organic compounds
Reaction conditions and reagents
e. Stereochemistry
Chirality and enantiomers
Diastereomers
Optical activity and specific rotation
Enantiomeric excess (ee) and optical purity
f. Spectroscopy
Infrared (IR) spectroscopy: identifying functional groups
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy: proton (1H) and carbon (13C) NMR for determining molecular structure
Mass spectrometry (MS): molecular ion peak, fragmentation patterns, and determining molecular weight
g. Polymers
Addition (chain-growth) polymers: free radical polymerization, cationic polymerization, and anionic polymerization
Condensation (step-growth) polymers: polyesters, polyamides, and polyurethanes
Copolymers, cross-linked polymers, and biopolymers
Biology
1. Basic biochemistry
a. Elements and atoms
b. Biological molecules
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
c. Enzymes and catalysts
d. Metabolism
Anabolism and catabolism
Cellular respiration and ATP production
2. Cell biology
a. Cell theory
b. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
c. Cellular organelles and their functions
d. Cell membrane structure and transport
Passive transport: diffusion, osmosis, and facilitated diffusion
Active transport: pumps and vesicular transport
e. Cell cycle and cell division
Mitosis and meiosis
Cell cycle regulation and checkpoints
3. Genetics
a. Classification of microorganisms
Bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, and viruses
b. Structure, function, and reproduction of microorganisms
c. Symbiotic relationships and microbial ecology
d. Pathogenic microorganisms and the immune system
e. Biotechnology applications in microbiology
6. Anatomy and physiology
a. Organ systems and their functions
Nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, excretory, endocrine, muscular, skeletal, and integumentary systems
b. Homeostasis and feedback mechanisms
c. Hormones and hormone regulation
d. Muscle and nerve function
e. Sensory systems and perception
Vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch
7. Ecology
Abiotic and biotic factors in ecosystems
Energy flow and nutrient cycling in ecosystems
Population ecology and carrying capacity
Community ecology and species interactions
Biodiversity and conservation
This syllabus covers a wide range of topics that you may encounter in the exam. Keep in mind that GAMSAT questions often involve interdisciplinary concepts and problem-solving skills, so having a strong foundation in chemistry, as well as physics and biology, is essential for success in Section 3.
