GAMSAT: “Chicken scratches” and the GAMSAT Essay
It is not an uncommon fact: most Doctors write prescriptions that resemble either “chicken scratchings” or the Egyptian hieroglyphics. If you are intending on sitting for the GAMSAT then you must be aware of the much dreaded GAMSAT essay. The GAMSAT essay has to be written not typed. And if you are not one of those blessed with a decent penmanship, boy it’s time to do something about it. Writing the GAMSAT essay has to be time efficient as 30 minutes is all you have. It also has to be legible so that at least the examiner can read your essay. Let us approach the problem one step at a time:
- Be more conscious while writing stuff. Slow down and observe yourself while writing. We all know how very different a doctor’s prescription is from a lovelorn letter. The difference lies in the speed. While a lover spends considerable attention on getting the script right, the doctor has more urgent matters to attend to. Spend some time in scanning your weak points and then decide to work on them. Notice which letters you find difficult to write. If your ‘a’ looks like an ‘o’, be more conscious while writing it.
Write big or write small but do what suits you best. Some may like writing in the modified print style while some may prefer the cursive. You don’t need to have a flourishing calligraphic style just a legible one. Do what gives you a neater end result. Sometimes writing smaller letters may make your handwriting more legible. But it is often seen that speedy writing results in slightly bigger letters. There is no page limit so do not worry about it. Try leaving a line between two written lines so that it looks more spaced out and neat.- Your handwriting is an expression of your mental state at that time. Being jittery during GAMSAT will definitely show on your handwriting. Nervousness results in a cramped hand. Most people write in a jerky, jagged manner as they put too much pressure on the pen and paper while writing. Planning your essay and jotting down the main points beforehand, will help.
- For a slick free flowing style, use a good pen. Avoid the ballpoint pen like the plague if you are trying to improve your handwriting. Using a quality fountain pen or a gel roller has cured the ulcer for most people. It will slow you down a bit at first but keep at it.
Some people love to scribble. It is an absolute giveaway sign that you are nervous. In case you make a mistake and want to wipe it off, cross a line over it just once. Do not scribble over it so hard that it looks like a factory chimney spout. If you can’t resist the temptation then the last resort would be the dry correction tape. Many students have found it a most useful little tool during the GAMSAT.
These tips may not make your GAMSAT essay look like an elegant artwork but will definitely make it more readable. And remember that like all good things, a good handwriting, too, takes time to mature.