Section 1 Gamsat Notes
● Pay attention to context of text. Frame it before reading…you can do this by reading
the intro description in italics. Read it through this lens
● Build your understanding like a pyramid
○ The earlier parts of the text create a foundational understanding for later on in
the passage
○ As such, take your time to understand the earlier parts of the passage
BECAUSE you won’t be able to fully understand the latter parts if you skip
over the earlier sections.
○ Also, by taking your time in reading the earlier parts, you will read the latter
sections quicker.
● To remember the text better
○ Visualise the text, don’t just read it
■ If the text says “the large tree was swaying under the power of the
wind, with its red, yellow and brown leaves scattering across the hill”,
imagine this in your head. Set your aim as visualising the text rather
than reading the text.
■ This not only improves recollection and understanding but maintains
focus better
○ Actively try to understand the text
■ Visualisation will help with this
■ Questioning the text will also help
● Questioning can be done by asking yourself as you go along:
○ Do I agree with this? Where there is a contention or
line of thinking
○ How would I feel? How do the characters feel? To
empathise in fiction pieces
○ What is the message of the poet? What is the tone of
the poem? What are the key emotions? How do the
characters/animals feel? For poetry
■ Don’t be afraid to re-read over text
● If you find yourself losing focus, take a quick few seconds and
stare away. Focus on your breath and refocus your attention
back
● Paraphrase/Restate to allow for your own understanding
● Pay attention to context of text. Frame it before reading…you can do this by reading
the intro description in italics. Read it through this lens
● Build your understanding like a pyramid
○ The earlier parts of the text create a foundational understanding for later on in
the passage
○ As such, take your time to understand the earlier parts of the passage
BECAUSE you won’t be able to fully understand the latter parts if you skip
over the earlier sections.
○ Also, by taking your time in reading the earlier parts, you will read the latter
sections quicker.
● To remember the text better
○ Visualise the text, don’t just read it
■ If the text says “the large tree was swaying under the power of the
wind, with its red, yellow and brown leaves scattering across the hill”,
imagine this in your head. Set your aim as visualising the text rather
than reading the text.
■ This not only improves recollection and understanding but maintains
focus better
○ Actively try to understand the text
■ Visualisation will help with this
■ Questioning the text will also help
● Questioning can be done by asking yourself as you go along:
○ Do I agree with this? Where there is a contention or
line of thinking
○ How would I feel? How do the characters feel? To
empathise in fiction pieces
○ What is the message of the poet? What is the tone of
the poem? What are the key emotions? How do the
characters/animals feel? For poetry
■ Don’t be afraid to re-read over text
● If you find yourself losing focus, take a quick few seconds and
stare away. Focus on your breath and refocus your attention
back
● Paraphrase/Restate to allow for your own understanding
