###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Physical Punishment, the prompt/s are - The parental slap has saved countless children from seriously jeopardizing their safety or their social acceptability and here is the essay: Anxious, distress, helpless it seems that no matter how hard, how many times you have tried in vain to explain the issue to the child, they never can get it. There are things that they shouldn’t do. They should know that they shouldn’t cross the road when the traffic light is still red in color, as this act may result for them being hit by cars; they shouldn’t put everything reachable by them into their mouth, as this may lead chocked…etc. Those examples are just the tips of the iceberg, there are tremendous more acts that would also result to a dreadful consequence. It is important to make sure the children know it before they have to suffer it. Given the consequences of doing those acts is too big for them to be bear with.

Surely not all physical punishments are acceptable. There are serval criteria which parent should bear in mind when using it as a tool to educate their children. The first one is, it is used for the sake of the children. The reason why many people deeply against the usage of physical punishment is because it can be misuse easily to become a brutal and violence act. Consider that when you perform the physical punishment to a child, the child has no ability to against it. The other criteria for this type of physical punishment is that it should not create any irreversible mental or physical damages to the child. Since the main purpose of exercising the physical punishment to not the hurt the child but to let the child to understand her or she has just did done and to make sure that the child won’t perform those acts again.

Physical punishment is more useful than reasoning in order to saved countless children from seriously jeopardizing their safety or their social acceptability. This is because children’s reasoning ability are not yet fully developed, so that’s why they may not understand the logic behind why they couldn’t perform those acts or the detrimental consequence that may result due to the act. According to the operant conditioning, human learn by consequence. It is the consequence itself that determent the frequency to those acts. If such act gives you a pleasant feeling, then it will increase the likelihood for one to perform the act again. Whereas on the other hand, if the act gives you an aversive feeling, it will decrease the chance for one to perform the act. By exercising physical punishment can prevent the children to perform the act again, as the child would have associate doing that act will resulted to an aversive feeling for instance being slap by his or her parent. Even the child is too young to understand the reason why he or she will be punished, somehow it is more important for them to know what act can be done or can not be done, in order to protect them.. ###Response: 40-44


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Gossip, the prompt/s are - Whoever gossips to you, will gossip of you and here is the essay: What is the best way to fit into the group? In before, I always think that gossip is the answer. Most of the time when we gossip about someone, there is usually there is by no mean wanting to insult, humiliate to that person. The reason is just because it is fun to say it, by having the same secret as your friends help to strengthen the bond plus, it helps to improve your self-esteem by stepping down others.

I always like to hang out with friends that will tell me a lot of gossip of different things, no matter whether it is the person who I am familiar with or the person who is a completely stranger. Knowing those gossip not only broaden my horizon it also makes me feel that I am really being trusted as if not, how will they want to tell those things to me. In order to prove that I also trust about them, I will also share my gossip with them. Since I never intend to say something to hurt others, I only say things that I think it is funny, just want to joke around.

But whoever gossips to you will gossip of you.

I never imagined that one day I was being talk behind the back, and the people who gossip of you is not your worst enemy but your friends. Words that I used to think that has no harm now turns back to me, hitting me like an arrow. It is true that you will only realize how hurtful those words can be when you become the victim. I was deeply hurt by those gossip, nonetheless, I never hate those who gossip about me. Consider, I have did those things also, so I have no reason to blame them for doing the things that I have done also.

Even until now I still think gossiping with each other is the quickest way to blend in with others, however, I try not to do it. Consider that, I know gossip hurts, even the person who start the gossip has no intention of it, nonetheless, it all depends on the receiver. Even for the same thing, for instance a glass of water half full, some people may think it is half full, some may see it as half empty, as a result, how the deliver think or it and how the receiver interpret can be completely different. I think I am quite a self-fish person, because the reason why I stop to gossip about others, is because I don’t want to be being talk behind the back again, to be gossiped.. ###Response: 40-44


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Elephant Conservation, the prompt/s are - Hunting is not a sport. In a sport, both sides should know they’re in the game ~ Paul Rodriguez and here is the essay: African elephants are in grave danger. Paul Rodriguez's quotation accurately identifies the inequity that exists between animal and man in the hunting game. However, while the arguments of anti- hunting proponents have some merit, Rodriguez fails to recognise the very real potential of hunting for saving African wildlife like the elephant from extinction. Understandably, it is a counterintuitive approach but it is one worth exploring. This can be exemplified by two main points. First, trophy hunting could have the triple effect of improving conservation efforts by ensuring land does not succumb to development by commercial farming, reducing curb illegal poaching and directing much needed funds into conservation initiatives. Second, trophy hunting could provide rural communities with a form of income and a purpose to ensure the protection of wildlife in their area. That said, there are evidently practical and political realities that could inhibit the achievement of these objectives.

Many of the nations that are home to Africa's rapidly dwindling elephant population are both heavily indebted, rife with state corruption and rely on agriculture for imports and food security. Successful Trophy hunting programmes could mean funding is directed towards conservation initiatives and large sections of wild land are not pillaged for commercial farming which has a huge ecological footprint. The implementation of such a programme is rare but has been witnessed in Namibia, where elephant numbers have been on the rise. The programme grants communities the power to manage wildlife on communal land and to work with private companies to develop their own tourism markets. This empowers the community to safeguard their local wildlife instead of engaging in illegal poaching where they benefit monetarily only in the very short-term and by eating the meat to sustain themselves. Further, hunting relies on animals being abundant. Therefore, it has the potential to improve employment and income in rural communities as one hunting expedition can fund anti-poaching security forces for up to almost a year.

Rural communities in most African countries receive little or no funding. Trophy hunting could provide the much needed revenue to improve community life, development and education. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the internationally recognised organisation that sets the conservation status of species, ratifies this idea: ''Well-managed trophy hunting can provide both revenue and incentives for people to conserve and restore wildlife population and protect animals from poaching.'' In Namibia the income to communal conservancies has risen from $165,000 to almost $2,000,000 in the last six years. Households participating increased their incomes by 15 to 25 percent. While there is a small trickle-down, the programme has strengthened anti-poaching attitudes, as many know that illegal poaching undermines their financial security. As well as this, rural councils who have been underfunded can now improve community infrastructure and food security. Thus, the benefits of a carefully regulated and thought-out trophy hunting programme should not be too hastily excluded.

Despite Namibia's success, valid concerns remain about the plausibility of the successful implementation of these programmes on a wider scale. The corruption of the governments is most pressing. In Zimbabwe, the takeover of land by political elites has coincided with surges in organised illegal poaching syndicates. Additionally, trophy hunting efforts in Mozambique have seen the funds earned from hunting not returned to the community at all. Further, there are worries that under- the-counter deals will be made on hunting expeditions where, for an extra small fee that stays off the books, hunters could kill two or more elephants.. ###Response: 45-49


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Youth, the prompt/s are UNKNOWN and here is the essay: Perhaps, being young isn’t all that it’s cut out to be? The third claim by an anonymous author alludes to the obsession society has with being and appearing youthful. His claim that it is the tragedy of modern society is correct, and this can be explained through two points. First, young people are subject to extreme amounts of pressure to succeed and appear a certain way. Second, the attention and senses of the younger generation are perpetually saturated, leaving them overwhelmed and attention scarce.

The younger generations of today are fixated on being accomplished, amassing wealth and looking akin to the Instagram model. This is due largely to the accessibility of social media; these platforms have enabled their users to showcase their lives and achievements in such a way that is extremely public, all for the purpose of getting likes. For example, a study conducted by Standford Univeristy found that 73% of Instagram and twitter users under twenty-five, both male and female, felt that they needed to make surgical adjustments to their bodies for them to ‘feel confident’. The study’s results also found that over half of the participants were completing college courses in fields that they did not actually enjoy, but they believed the job prospects would make them wealthy. This study reflects the current values of our youth today. Further, it is a dark indicator of the issues that have evolved since the dawn of social media, such as low self-esteem and body dysmorphia. It is important to understand that these issues can also translate into very serious health and mental illnesses further down the line if they are not kept in check.

Despite technology advancements streamlining activities, young people are claiming that they busier than ever before. It appears that they are being saturated; their attention spans resonating between the iPads, iPhones, laptops, social media, work and academia. The research is telling us that the consequences of this are devastating: depression, anxiety and suicides are at the highest levels they have ever been across most western and Asian nations. This is likely to pace of our current society and the immense pressures young people take on and feel. They are more ways to measure ourselves against others than ever. They are perpetually bombarded with advertisements inviting them to improve upon their lives and appearance in some way. It is also known that these results are now becoming apparent in developing nations, where almost every individual has access to the internet.

It is apparent that being young today might not be as great as society would have you believe. Young people are subject to extreme amounts of criticism from themselves and others, both in person and online. The pressure to collect personal wealth is perhaps is being felt like never before. Moreover, their attention is being pulled in a multitude of directions, encouraging episodes of depression and anxiety that many nations have not seen before. Does youth still sound as appealing as it did before?. ###Response: 45-49


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Gender and Identity, the prompt/s are - Love has no gender  and here is the essay: In this growing 21st century, equality or non-discrimination based on gender has been a one of the major problems, where men and women do not enjoy equal privileges. The nation can only progress when every individual gets equal opportunities and rights. People should look for your equalities rather than physical appearance and their sexual preferences. People need to understand we all are from humans and from the same planet. We all should learn how to treat people with love, doesn’t matter if it’s for men or women.

In general, there is still a lot of discrimination exists between humans based on their gender, sexual preferences, or colour. It is quite a prevalent in the entire world. Same-sex couples can be looked down upon as un-natural. Furthermore, some of countries legalized same-sex marriage including UK, United States of America, and Australia. Although we-re still waiting on many countries around the world to catch up. Furthermore, one of the most famous same- sex married couples, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have been together and married for more than 10 years now. In a way we can say that people will only accept you when you get famous, which is very sad.

I believe anyone can love anyone they choose, and I find it infuriating to be against love just because of gender. Government should introduce more same-sex marriage seminars to educate people about love and what it is all about. If we don’t act now it might be too late as new generation is pretty much against it without even knowing the reason.. ###Response: 45-49


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is The Passage of Time, the prompt/s are - Never put off till tomorrow what may be done the day after tomorrow as well and here is the essay: In this modern era, time is very precious and priceless for everyone. Time management is an important part of individuals routine. If you are bad with time management you will struggle to keep up to date with your tasks. In my opinion, time is most important than anything is else, for instance, money can be earned again but time cannot. So we should never spend our time without purpose and meaning at any stage of our life.

Furthermore, One of the above quotes stood out for me is “you may delay, but time will not”, this can explained different ways. One of the way is for instance, If you are planning to do a new research, you should start as soon as possible without wasting any time. As if you put it off time will not wait on you and someone else might think of the same research and roll it out before you do.

The time you spend on something less important is time wasted. For example, if you spend all your time on time watching TV or playing video games rather than studying in important times of your life. Time that you have wasted on such things will never come back again and most of us realize that early 20s.

In conclusion, do not do anything without particular aim. How much time you spend on studying and playing will determine your future. We all should have a balance routine to keep our mind fresh.. ###Response: 45-49


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Responsibilities, the prompt/s are - You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today and here is the essay: Shall we run away from responsibility?

There is no doubt that human beings are the complex creature that evolution has produced. We possess advanced intelligence compared with other species and have complex needs and desires that are required to be fulfilled. Among all these needs, everyone has his or her own responsibilities in life. Since the day we were born, we are bound to have our own responsibility in this world, we will not be able to escape from our responsibilities until the day we die. Is there any good of having responsibilities?

To begin with, no matter what life stage you are right now, you will have your own responsibilities. For students, their chief task will be finishing their studies, looking for their careers, and fulfil their social roles. And for retired persons, their responsibilities would be to look after their health and lifestyles which they neglected during their career. Even though for each individual, some of their responsibilities can be quite challenging sometimes, however, being able to meet your obligations and task can make you better person, and help you grow and life through hardships and challenges.

With this rapid changing world and busy daily lifestyles, life can be challenging, expectations will grow and so does our responsibilities. Every job has its roles and responsibilities, and sometimes more expectations will add to your role. For examples, providing this current Covid-19 pandemic, health care systems around the world have been put under the strain and stress, resulting more demand of responsibilities from the health care professionals. This is especially hit the hardest for those health care providers in the underdeveloped nations, due to the very limited resources like masks and personal protective equipments and ventilators, and more patients loads. Pressure on to the health care providers is enormous,

We all want to do our best to meet our expectations, and do our jobs well. However this can be challenging, if we can fulfil the task, we will have satisfaction from our jobs and get respect and praised from other people. The distasteful emotions and feeling will be ensure if we fail to do our roles and not meeting our responsibilities. For instance, the divorce rate are increasing nowadays especially in the west, when the couple break up, they tend to point fingers on each other and say that the other half is not doing his or her duty. In any successful relationship, deal breaker is based on how the responsibilities are being taken.

In light of above discussion, it is undeniable that we all have our responsibilities since the day we came to this world. With the rapid development our world, we are bound to have more task and duties whether in our career or in our social life. There is no way we can escape from all these responsibilities, even if we possessed the speed of life. We just have to do our best to meet the expectation, and in the meantime, we must not forget to live a life.. ###Response: 50-54


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Identity, the prompt/s are - We don’t need to worry about being different from or the same as others, we need to worry about being ourselves. and here is the essay: Have you ever asked yourself about your own life and the way you choose to live? Do you pave your own way and choose the path you want to walk? Unfortunately, most of us have not ever considered ourselves about our way of lives. We just want to fit in with the people around us, and we want what other people have. Since young we were judged and compared by people that we should do this and that, and we were discouraged to be different. Hence this laid a foundation in our inner core of our consciousness that by being the same with others is the must. And we are rarely being encouraged to strike for our own, be whoever we want to be and do whatever we desire in life.

This the sad reality that we all live in the bubble of life of others and so called “common society”. We don’t actually know what we want, and we always do what other people want of us. If we cannot meet expectation and live up to the standard like other people, that result in low self- esteem and lack of confidence in ourselves. No wonder many young people are getting depressed when they cannot adhere to this fast pace and competitive society. This is a very sad phenomenon especially for many Asian families. Speaking from personal experience I had encountered a very tragic story from my teenage life. My friend, David committed suicide in high school, due to the excessive pressure from family and relatives’ high hope and expectation on him. He was a very intelligent kid and always got A in his school reports, even though his passion was to be an artist, but his parents had already decided that he could only become a surgeon, that’s all. It was such a horrific tragic that a young boy who lost his life due to expectation of others.

On the other hand, if we all the same, the world never see the improvement that we have today. All the advancement in technology, science, medicine and engineering are due to the people who dared to think differently and innovate in their jobs. For example, for thousands of years, we, human used to think that the earth was the centre of the universe and the sun went around the earth, however merely about 500 years ago, those individual like Copernicus challenged this belief and suggested that sun is the centre of the universe and earth is orbiting the sun. This idea was harshly rejected by the society and the church, and he was condemned to death. His theory was proved to be true by Galileo, and even Galileo was challenged for proving this theory. This shows that our society are not willing to accept the difference and if you want to fit in you must not think differently

In addition, do not measure yourself with other people’s stick yards, as each stage of life and background is different. Just be yourself, do whatever you want in life, and don’t ever compare with others. In any stage in your life, no matter whatever age you are, you can become and do what you desire. You can even go back to school even if you are in sixty years of age, and there is no age limit in learning. For instance, a grandfather, Marugae from Kenya at the age of 74 years old had finally fulfilled his dream of finishing primary school. When the government promised free primary education for all the citizen, he registered and went back to school to learn to read and write, as he didn’t have opportunity to study when he was young. Even thought he was being challenged by society and community that school is not for old man, but he managed to tackle the obstacles and pursuit what he always wanted.

In summary, there is never too late to do whatever you want. We should not ever try to change ourselves in order to fit in the society, and should never be afraid to be different. As long as you just be yourself, it doesn’t matter that you are the same or different from others. Choose you path that your heart desire, in the end it is your life you live for. So why worry?. ###Response: 50-54


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Censorship, the prompt/s are - Censorship is to art as lynching is to justice ~ Henry Louis Gates and here is the essay: Censorship of the female body is widespread even in the 21st century. Censorship involves the suppression of information or photos in mainstream or social media, which may ‘offend’ or go against current societal values. By censoring the female body, we continue to perpetuate stigma around female issues such as menstruation and breast feeding. It is only through the removal of censorship, that we can help normalise female issues, and foster societal progression.

Even in the 21st century censorship of the female body is commonplace on social and traditional forms of media. Instagram, one of the most widely used social media platforms in the world, censors content by removing posts that feature female nipples. Male nipples, however, do not breach community guidelines, and are not removed, thus promoting inequality of the genders. Although Instagram aims to provide a ‘safe’ space for all viewers, by controlling and mitigating the spread of pornography, they ultimately remove all photos including nipples, thereby also hiding normal acts such as breastfeeding. Instagram has further to be shown to remove images showing period blood, reiterating their censorship of female issues. Considering that young women and men, are the largest audience of Instagram, this limited exposure of the female body and its function to the audience continues to uphold these issues as ‘taboo’. Censorship of the female body, therefore, hinders the acceptance to and normalisation of the female body, thereby slowing societal progression.

The censorship of the female body and its functions perpetuates the stigma surrounding issues such as menstruation and breastfeeding. In many third world

countries, period poverty is a pertinent issue, whereby menstruation is still largely stigmatised, resulting in high unattendance rates at school. This stigma is likely due to the limited exposure and information around menstruation, which is further perpetuated by the media censoring such issues. Similarly, many women feel ashamed breast feeding in public, with many women only doing it at home, despite it being a natural phenomenon. Both examples illustrate that stigma still exists in the 21st century around normal female body functions, and how censorship of these issues on media platforms, stifles awareness and can hinder progression of attitudes towards the female body.

In order to allow progression of attitudes, it is therefore necessary to increase exposure of female issues to the public, by removing censorship. Libra, in their most recent TV campaign, showed red period blood instead of the traditionally used blue dye in TV commercials. This campaign aimed to address the censorship of period blood on TV, conveying that it was a normal part of life. Although this ad was highly controversial, it succeeded in starting a much-needed conversation around why period blood is taboo. By promoting discourse and awareness around such issues this helps to normalise and progress attitudes towards taboo issues, allowing societal progression.

Censorship of female issues still exist today, which have facilitated in perpetuating stigma around these issues. However, through greater exposure on social and mainstream media, by removing this censorship, we can create discourse around and awareness of currently ‘taboo’ female issues. This helps to normalise the female body, and remove the stigma around female issues.. ###Response: 50-54


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is The Body and the Self, the prompt/s are - The woman's body is the terrain on which patriarchy is erected ~ Adrienne Rich and here is the essay: Traditionally the patriarchy has leveraged itself by controlling women’s bodies. The patriarchy does not only include the men in society, but also the societal structures built by men - government, law, medicine. The underlying patriarchy that exists in all these systems have been able to control women and their bodies to assert power. Despite this, women are resisting the patriarchal control by using their bodies. Both the free-the-nipple campaign and the natural birth movement have exemplified this, with their bodies empowering women and helping them resist the patriarchy.

The exposure of women’s bodies has been dictated by men throughout time. Whether women have been sexualised for the purpose of the male gaze or concealed due to conservatism in society and male disinhibition in the face of female of exposure, all has been controlled by men. This was recently seen by the rapper TI who disclosed that he annually checks his daughter’s hymen to test her virginity. Whilst not a common practice among the western World, it highlights the traditional belief that men are able to own and control the female body and limiting their sexuality. Similarly, the censorship of female nipples on social media platforms such as Instagram reiterates the idea that women’s bodies should be covered up and aren’t suitable for exposure to the community. This censorship makes women’s bodies seem shameful and taboo, reiterating the power that the patriarchy has over the exposure of women’s bodies. By controlling the female body, this has allowed the patriarchy and its values to exist.

Despite the patriarchal control over women’s bodies, an increasing number of women are using their body to empower themselves and resist the patriarchy. The free the

nipple campaign and march in NYC in 2019, where women walked the streets topless, shows how women are using their bodies to draw attention to the censorship and inequality existent in social media and in society. Through exposing their bodies, and subverting the status quo, they bolstered their cause and promoted widespread awareness. Similarly, the natural birth movement acts through a similar medium, whereby an increasing number of females have opted for a natural birth outside of the patriarchal structures of the hospital. Women of this movement opt for a more women- centred birth without interventions in order to take control of their own bodies during birth and empower themselves through resisting existing patriarchal structures. In the wake of the patriarchal resistance, women have been able to regain power and autonomy over their body by normalising and desexualising the female body.

The long-held control of the patriarchy over women’s bodies have helped sustained the existence of the patriarchy. However, the free the nipple campaign and the natural birth movement have highlighted the increasing subversion of the patriarchy, by using their own bodies. The use of the body has allowed many women to feel empowered, ultimately helping them free the constraints of the patriarchy.. ###Response: 50-54


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Education, the prompt/s are - It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it ~ Aristotle and here is the essay: Jean Piaget once said: " The goal of education is not to increase the amount of knowledge but to create the possibilities for a child to invent and discover, to create men who are capable of doing new things. " I believe that education is the foundation of growth and prosperity for any country. Employing a successful education system will produce generations capable of critical thinking, problem solving and having a vision for success and development.

In the past when I was student, the education system was relying mainly on huge amount of information without giving much attention to how you can put such knowledge in practice. It was easy to know every word in the book and write as much information as I can in the exam even if I don’t fully understand the concepts, this way I can achieve high grades which was good at that stage. The exams were not anywhere near assessing my understanding of the concepts or my ability to apply such concepts in real life. When I started my career, I realised how much that education system has disadvantaged me. I can find myself stuck with a problem at work that I cannot handle because I really do not understand how to apply what I have learned to solve that problem. I decided to work on myself to learn how to critically think, how to improve my problem-solving skills and how to apply knowledge in real life situations. It is hard and demanding process that requires will, time and dedication. It is not easy to fix the consequences of an unsuccessful education system.

If a successful education system is in place, you will see better outcomes in the students. Looking at my daughter’s education now, the school teaches her how to think of different ways to achieve results. For example, she can use five different methods for addition and understands each method. The five methods are knowledge but the difference with her education system is that she learns how and when to apply it. Once she came home so excited that part of her homework was to write about the five longest rivers in the world and compare between them. I thought that was a hard task for a kid her age to research and get information and compare between different things but she surprised me with the outcome. It was well-designed table with a lot of information that I had never heard about before. She was able to perform well in that task because the education system teaches her the basics of research skills and how to utilise that in researching any topic. Through my daughter’s progress, I can see the huge difference that a successful education system can have on students.

Although some people might say that the old education systems that relied mainly on knowledge developed so many great scientists, philosophers and litterateurs. I disagree with that opinion because most of those scientists, philosophers and litterateurs succeeded because they worked hard outside the educational system to improve their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Albert Einstein who developed the theory of relativity and a Nobel prize winner was expelled from school because his teachers thought he was not a smart and developing very slowly. The education system was not able to discover his legacy because it was not focusing on the areas that might interest Einstein.

A good education system is the one that focus on developing new generations capable of making a difference in their lives and in their countries through critical thinking, research and problem-solving skills. Education is one of the most important pillars of a great nation.. ###Response: 50-54


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Dreams, the prompt/s are - Trust in dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity ~ Khalil Gibran and here is the essay: Dreams are the creator of our goals. We choose most of our goals in order to make our dreams come true. As Jesse Owens once explained that dreams need a lot of dedication and effort to come into reality. I agree that we need to be devoted to our dreams and do whatever it takes to achieve our goals and in turn, our dreams.

Dedication is key for achieving our dreams. If we want to reach our dreams, we need to be enthusiastic about it and sacrifice time to reach our dreams. Many children dream of being famous soccer players, but only a few get their dream into reality. Only those who spend a long time in training and who are full of enthusiasm can be successful and professional soccer players. Those who succeed in reaching their goals have a different mindset than others; they believe in their dreams and are willing to do anything in their capacity to become the persons they are dreaming of. They enjoy every minute spent towards reaching their dreams. Dedication is an essential factor for living our dreams.

Effort is another tool that we need if we are to get closer to our dreams. We can be dedicated to our dreams but we are not taking any steps to reach it. Effort is a major step towards our dreams. The effort can be in the form of planning, thoughts and creativity to achieve our dream. For example, if I want to build my dream house, I will need to put a plan to achieve the required budget for the building process and put this plan into action. I will need to think about every single detail in the design to fulfil my dream. I will need to think out of the box and be creative to overcome any obstacles I might face through the process. The process will not be easy; I will face many challenges but visualising my dream will give me the push I need to overcome any obstacles. I can then enjoy my house, the physical version of my dream. Effort is a major part of our action to reach our dreams.

We all value our dreams but we need to work towards achieving our dreams. To enjoy living our dreams, we need dedication and effort. Without effort and dedication, dreams will forever remain dreams.. ###Response: 50-54


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Crisis, the prompt/s are UNKNOWN and here is the essay: Our global population has seen an exponential growth of 6 billion people over the last 200 years. In this period , our world has become more interconnected, with educational, economic, social and political systems becoming more standardised. However, inequity perpetuated by these systems are realised, in one form, through observing the ever increasing population of homeless individuals and understanding the harsh reality of their lives. The crisis that is homelessness, degrades the quality of countless individual's lives globally, exposing the ingrained structural violence within our modern world.

The reasons for individuals becoming homeless are of varied, however these individuals' similar experiences of dehumanisation and regular struggle for basic survival reflect an ongoing humanitarian crisis. Individuals who are homeless, are significantly more likely to be exposed to physical health compromising conditions such as infectious diseases, nutritional complications and bone fractures alongside developing mental illnesses such as depression, insomnia and are at greater risk of sexual harassment. These stem from homeless individuals having a lack of shelter, lack of access to food and water and social support from other individuals. These are basic needs for any human, to have a roof over their heads and feel safe, to be able to eat nutritious, filling meals and to have regular, healthy interactions with other humans. When such basic survival needs are not met for all in a society, it only suggests of an insufficiency within the systems that govern such a society. As we can see, the quality of living for homeless individuals is far from acceptable, and far from humane, clearly calling for the crisis of homelessness to be adequately recognised and addressed.

The expansive population of homeless individuals and their experiences leading to homelessness, exposes the harm resultant from the inequality perpetuated by socio- political and economic systems, defining structural violence. The leading causes for individuals to become homeless are unemployment, poverty, lack of affordable housing, lack of access to adequate medical care and drug/alcohol abuse. More often than not, individuals who become homeless are affected by more than one of the aforementioned causes. Unfortunately, individuals' race, class and gender still have a tangible impact upon the level of care and attention they receive from these social systems. For instance, in hospitals in the United States, statistically it has been shown that African-Americans and Latinos are significantly less likely to receive immediate attention for necessary treatments, which eventually have carry on effects for their health and lifespan. Likewise, a lack of educational opportunities for children from low socioeconomic backgrounds further contribute to their likelihood of experiencing the aforementioned causes, which potentially lead to homelessness in later life. If all individuals in a society received the same social advantages that presently only a certain half do, then the resulting structural violence from present inequality would be significantly reduced, ensuring less individuals to lead a life homeless. Hence, it is recognised how structural violence embedded in social systems plays a large role in creating inequality in many aspects of people's lives, leading to many becoming homeless.

Overall, the socio-political and economic systems that govern societies of the world play a large role in shaping individual's lives - the opportunities, support and experiences they have. The experience of homeless is one that is immensely dehumanising and one of a low quality life, which should not have to be experienced by any human. Through recognising the systems that enable structural violence to put individuals into such situations, we can make steps towards a more just, egalitarian world.. ###Response: 50-54


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Money and Corruption, the prompt/s are UNKNOWN and here is the essay: For many, money can be a blessing within our lives and equally if not more of a burden too; a burden upon our ethical state of mind. When considered in large scale sums, money not only has an individual impact, but also has the power to drastically change socio-political environments, stipulating change in society. Such influence and power, when placed in the hands of those whose morality and ethics may be challenged and inconsistent, can result in scenarios of corruption having carry-on effects upon the institutions that help foster peace and unity within our society. Thus, it is arguable that money plays a conflicting role in society, where corruption by those in power is a realistic outcome, and has a hand in driving identity politics.

Humans by nature are genetically geared towards survival. A reflection of such primitive instinct is human selfish need, in pursuit of one’s own wellbeing. When humans are even subtly conceptually exposed to money, whether it be in conversation or reading text involving money, Harvard psychology research (2013) suggests that humans shift to a cost-benefit analysis mindset, centred on individual benefit. It is hence understood, naturally humans view money as an almost direct factor in achieving their individual wellbeing. Thus, it not surprising that money is quick fire starter for conflict between humans, where both individual’s pursuit of wellbeing is at stake. Time and time again, history and literature has shown us of the powerful and corruptive nature of money over an individual. Many in order to achieve their well-being, sacrifice their sense of morality and ethics, and in many cases at the cost of others’ harmony and peace too. As such, money which we think of typically as assisting us in creating a more comfortable life for ourselves and others, can also be the very reason for discord between humans, deteriorating our human connections with one another. Thus, money is a conflicting force, which proves challenging to access and utilise to everyone’s benefit.

Such is the allure of money and the potential it carries for individual satisfaction, it can be abused by those with institutional power to fund and market their ideologies onto broader populations. White identity politics as promoted by the Trump administration is one such powerful message, that is inadvertently facilitated though corruptly acquired finances. White identity politics incorporates messages and ideas targeting select citizen audiences, whilst undermining others, effectively furthering division within society instead of fostering inclusivity, tolerating and appreciating diversity. It is counter human nature to promote such notions that do not promote and facilitate social harmony. As such, human greed for money and power, achieved through corrupt and unethical means, only has a debilitating effect upon all.

Ultimately, money is a challenging aspect of our lives that all individuals must approach, but abuse of money for corrupt intent not only deconstructs an individual’s set of morals and ethics, but also has the potential for drastic impact upon lives across broader society.. ###Response: 50-54


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Privacy, the prompt/s are - There is something worse than being ignored – not being ignored and here is the essay: Consumer privacy in Australia and the right to be ignored

Being known by corporations represents an unreasonable intrusion into our private lives and makes us vulnerable to powerful marketing and the impacts of data breaches. Australians have the benefit of strong privacy laws and regulatory oversight that could prevent corporations from dealing with our personal information in ways that we have not agreed to. We have, in one sense, the right to be ignored. Instead, many Australians hand over personal information freely, or exchange for small benefits. This may be because we are naïve about the ways that corporations collect personal information from us, or the way that this information can be used against us. Regardless, Australians can and should understand how this information is collected and used, and the inherent risks.

Australian companies collect personal information (information about an individual from which their identity is reasonably apparent) from customers and potential customers every day. Supermarket rewards schemes collect information about our preferred brands, average weekly spends, whether we have children, live alone, buy pet food. Free fertility tracking apps collect information about how often we have sex, how long it takes us to fall pregnant and whether we miscarry. Almost every interaction with a company involves some collection of personal information. To stay within the law, companies must collect personal information with consent. So, a corporation needs (1) for you to opt in to their collection or (2) agree contractually for your information to be used and disclosed. Since many consumers do not opt in, corporations often use online competitions, the promise of a discount or customer loyalty programs to gain consent for the collection and use of this information. The terms and conditions of these competitions provides the consent and bind the entrant.

For Australian consumers, the consequences of the collection and use of this information can be significant. Seemingly innocuous information like an email address can be combined with data from powerful technologies such as cookies and APIs. These technologies (which often do not require consent to be used in Australia, unlike other jurisdictions) track our web activity. (If you’ve ever looked at a pair of shoes and had them follow you on targeted advertising for weeks, that’s the technology doing its job.) The combination of personal information and information from cookies and APIs allows corporations to know us, to build a profile about our likes and dislikes, our relationship status, friends and whether we have children or pets. The information we disclose is then combined with data about our browsing history to leverage powerful and effective marketing tools that drive consumer spending by constantly reinforcing our desires for products, perfectly targeted to our age and life stage. In a recent US example, data from a free fertility tracking app was provided to Facebook to target ads for products and services depending on the timing of a women’s menstrual cycles.

The large amounts of personal information collected by Australian companies also poses security risks to Australians when it is sold to third parties. Consent to disclose this information is usually given as the term of a contract. As a result, information we are handing to corporations free of charge becomes an asset to them that can be bought and sold for profit. Where these third-party purchasers are overseas they are mostly outside of the reach of Australian privacy law. Consumer’s ability to take action against overseas companies for data breaches is almost non-existent. This leaves Australian consumers vulnerable to data breaches with no legal recourse.

It is clear that something needs to change. We know that overwhelmingly, Australians are concerned about their privacy. This is clear from the many millions of Australians have not downloaded the potentially life-saving COVIDSAFE app due to fears of government surveillance. However, there is a serious disconnect between our desire for privacy and our willingness to agree to legal collection and disclosure of our personal information. To overcome the disconnect, and ensure that Australians’ privacy is protected, we must increase education about the way personal information is collected and used by Australian companies. Australians that corporations do not offer us seemingly endless chances to win, join their exclusive club or receive discounts simply because they are nice and because we deserve it, they do it to collect our personal information. Overwhelmingly we must take personal responsibility for our online decisions and understand that, if something is being offered for free, being known probably the price that we will pay.. ###Response: 55-59


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Censorship, the prompt/s are - The first condition of progress is the removal of censorship ~ George Bernard Shaw and here is the essay: Censorship underpins society, removing it means chaos.

Far from being the prerequisite to progress, removal of censorship would fundamentally destroy society as we know it. Censorship involves submitting, to some greater authority. Taking power away from individuals and putting it in the hands of others. Of course, some forms of censorship, like silencing minorities, impedes societal progress. However, the notion that removal of all forms of censorship is necessary for progress if fundamentally flawed.

Underpinning much of the progress of the human race in modern times has been the ability to organise, to function not as individuals with unlimited freedom, but to exist as groups, tribes, families, schools, nations and alliances. These structures, which have allowed for sharing of knowledge and resources for some greater good are not possible without some form of censorship. After all, families, nations, alliances cannot function if each member is allowed to submit to their own free will. They all involve some concept of giving up freedoms and power in exchange for the protection of the group.

When we as humans, submit to organised groups, we are submitting to censorship and often this is the judgment of our actions against the morals and values of society. Whether this is simply agreed rules of the family, “no TV on weekdays but you can play computer games after you have done your homework”, to laws that dictate harsh punishments when a person is killed. Morality is often a key element of the rules or laws that are made. This is evident in the different crimes established for parliament for murder and manslaughter. In both cases a person has died, but the killer’s intention is judged to be relevant to the punishment they should receive. Our institutions have prejudged on type of killing (murder) as something that is so wrong that the killer can be immediately denied their right to be part society for their lifetime.

Institutions like governments and courts provide the necessary preconditions for progress. They take fundamental judgments, like what is right and wrong out of the hands of individuals, and punish those who do not abide by their laws and rulings. Without this higher authority, it would not be possible for the human race to progress as it has. It would not be possible for large groups of people to focus on things that allow for progress, like education and scientific advancements. It would not be possible to

eradicate disease by vaccinating a majority of individuals, contain pandemics by imposing strict physical distancing. Rather than being the first step to progress, removing censorship would undo much of the progress made by the human race. We should not seek to remove censorship, rather to ensure it applied by institutions that use their power to ensure progress.. ###Response: 55-59


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Human Rights, the prompt/s are UNKNOWN and here is the essay: Globally human rights are being exploited. Over the past few decades the global community has witnessed a shift in how society is upholding the rights of all humans. This shift toward violation of human rights has created a loop whole for governments and organisations. Allowing them to exploit the very nature of the Human Rights Act. Surprisingly some organisations being aid providing organisations. In this essay the three main areas significantly impacted by the shift in perception of Human Rights will be explored. With power comes anonymity, and how the violation on human rights was once praised but is now more than ever being abused.

Fortunately for the governments and various organisations in the world, with power comes anonymity. The direct repercussions of violating human rights does not seem to effect or impact them. Are they being enabled by being allowed to continue this way? When G. W. Bush declared the “war on terror” in 2011 he set out to enforce change and defeat people that had violated the human rights act, this was September 11. This act enabled Bush to infiltrate Iraq and enforce American Law within this foreign country. CIA and US Army personnel committed a series of human rights violations against detainees in the Abu Ghraib Prison, including physical and sexual abuse and murder. Becoming public through release of photographs from the prison. The Bush administration covered this up, stating they were isolated incidents and not indicative of the US policy. Regardless this continued, then 10 years later, a number of US soldiers and CIA personnel went to jail and the Bush administration apologised. Such abhorrent acts continue today in countries across the world.

Closer to home the treatment of immigrates into Australia has been questioned by humanitarian organisations. Australia has very strict policies around the rights of its nationals and immigrates into the country, however that has not always been reflected in the way detainees have been treated.

Recent stories of detainees, previously held on Christmas Island, describing physical and mental abuse from guards one detainee being starved for a week, for no apparent reason. Why does there need to be a reason in the first place?

These are not dissimilar situations in nature. While being worlds apart in geography as well as severity of the acts themselves, they still fundamentally violate the rights of other humans. Regardless of the human rights act and government and organisational policy, there remains the individuals that are a power to themselves and will act as they wish, unfortunately some wish to inflict pain and suffering unto others.. ###Response: 55-59


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Conformity, the prompt/s are - Anybody who is any good is different from anybody else ~ Felix Frankfurter and here is the essay: Growing up in the land of the free, I have never really understood the imposition of conformity until travel and media watch on Eastern countries during recent years has highlighted many opinions, not all bad of the conformity that these populations face.

Growing up in a country that is known as ‘The land of the free’, societal conformity is self-imposed. As Australians we take pride in our freedoms, freedoms of speech etc. It is well known that this is not the case in cultures globally. Focusing specifically on Eastern cultures, they are dominated with conformist government and leaders. Interestingly, the conformity in these cultures while as an outsider looking in, may see ridged and stuffy, with subjects facing constant societal pressures, there are positive perspectives. This essay will explore impacts of Eastern conformist cultures, highlighting the ultimate effects on the human spirit.

Imagine if you were a child, growing up in a conformist society, understanding that conforming is the norm, how does this effect you long term? This is the story for millions of children that grew up in the early 1900’s in Japan. Born into pressures of society that social conditioning and dictating behaviour was the fate of the society. This was seen post-war era in Japan when a distinction between a person’s true feelings and desires, known as ‘honne’ were allowed only to be shown at home and ‘tatemae’ the behaviour and opinions ones displayed in public were distinctly different. More recent times have seen rates of suicides in Japan higher than other countries in the world. The high rates have been found to be due to pressures on young people to maintain certain positions within communities and failing this the shame felt can only be eliminated through suicide. Japan is not the only culture that faces a conformist society and will not be the last, however it is important to mention that in certain times there are benefits to this type of government.

There is no doubt that conforming leads to a loss of originality however, to confirm might be an easier option. This is encapsulated by Charles Dudley Warner saying, “We are half ruined by conformity, but we should be wholly ruined without it”. Are we seeing less wars and less violence in the Eastern cultures, such as Japan and China, due to the conformist approach to government?

During recent times of the Coronavirus Pandemic across the globe, within 12 hours the whole of a city in China was shutdown. Surprising all nations across the globe, China built a hospital in 10 days, to support the healthcare system amidst collapse. These government responses were only possible due to conformity of the society at large. A society that unlike the Australian society has limited freedom of speech and free will.

There is no right or wrong answer to what is best for individual cultures and countries when it comes to types of government, however as an Australian citizen I consider myself lucky. As individuals we face pressures, societal challenges etc. though we also have a choice, how lucky Australians are to have a non-conformist lifestyle. Reflecting in this essay specifically on Eastern cultures, the bad and good points of conformity and how cultures live with it.. ###Response: 55-59


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Censorship, the prompt/s are UNKNOWN and here is the essay: Censorship affects our life in many different ways. The issue of weather censorship is important is quite controversial and is frequently debated. On one hand, some people believe that existence of censorship allows for protection and security especially for young children as there is inappropriate content everywhere, including items that slip through parental filters and kid-friendly apps, that could lead to harmful encounters in the future. On the other hand, the notion violates the first amendment of freedom of speech. This concept of censorship is believed to clash the idea of democracy with dictatorship. On this consideration however, I still believe that the existence of censorship is a necessary for a nation to progress.

Firstly, Mae West once quipped, “right now I think censorship is necessary; the things they're doing and saying in films right now just shouldn't be allowed. There's no dignity anymore”. In essence, he is right in highlighting that censorship on the media and internet is a critical issue to be looked on. This is because censoring extreme violent material is beneficial, particularly among children. With the access to all sorts of inappropriate content made easier these days, younger generations can easily fall prey to this sort of content. Thus, censorship would allow them to use the web or watch TV without parents worrying about their minds being corrupted. Furthermore, this notion also limits harmful advertisements. For example, product or service advertisements that are harmful to a person’s health should be censored or limited. This will help prevent epidemics, such as alcohol addiction and obesity, which are increasingly becoming a concern for the population. Hence, censorship allows safety and security to be there for an individual.

Secondly, some may argue that censorship clashes idea of democracy with dictatorship by violating the freedom of speech. They believe that media censorship can infringe on this basic right of the people. What would be the point of your right to speak when there is nobody listening to what you are talking about? Even though this is true to an extent, the advantage of censorship reducing hate speech still outweighs the former. This is because the idea that all speech is equal is false. There are inappropriate words people use to show their power or to shut down the minority. For instance, negative perceptions like this was exemplified when Prince Harry made use of common noun “Paki” to refer to a fellow officer cadet of Pakistani background. It took over a century for minorities and women to gain a semblance of equal rights because of the presence of hate speech. Censorship gives us the opportunity to stop this hate before it can get started again. We already live within the confines of education, family, entertainment and more. This limiting process creates more opportunities for equality.

Continuously, preventing plagiarism and IP theft gives us the foundation of an economy. If your work doesn’t receive some level of protection, then it can be stolen by someone who can put it together cheaper than you. Small businesses get to stay competitive because of the acceptable elements of censorship that we maintain in society.. ###Response: 55-59


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Dreams, the prompt/s are - Trust in dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity ~ Kahlil Gibran and here is the essay: “We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort,” was once quoted by Jesse Owens. Essentially, Owens suggests that hard work is the key to turning any dream into reality. This can be considered true and is seen throughout every stage of life. Firstly, we see this in infants, who must work hard at achieving key milestones in development. Secondly, in adolescents, who are often driven to a certain dream in life which requires dedication and determination to achieve. Finally, in adulthood, self-discipline and determination are important as success in our careers is not given but earned through hard work.

Firstly, hard work is already at play in infants, allowing them to turn their dreams of reaching milestones into reality. Achieving life’s milestones is a vital part of development -learning how to hold a cup or take your first steps is not as simple as trying once and succeeding. Some may say that achieving these goals can be attributed to brain maturation through development, however it is likely primarily a result of commitment and determination to these tasks. Consequently, tasks that were only dreams to these children have the ability to become reality through hard work and determination.

Secondly, as teens we are often driven to a certain goal which requires dedication and effort. Dreams such as achieving a certain test score or making a sporting team are things that we must work at to reach - these are not merely things that are handed to us without any effort. It is through dedication and hard work that we can achieve these dreams. As a result, we see that in order to turn these dreams into a reality, we must remain dedicated and disciplined.

Finally, success in our career is often characterized by promotions, which are not something that is easily given but rather something that is earned through dedication and hard work. Many individuals dream of moving up the so-called “food chain” of a company’s hierarchy, however this is something that is earned through hard work and determination. Improving your skills and displaying dedication to the company are vital factors in turning those dreams into a reality. Therefore, hard work is required throughout our careers in order to reach a certain level and turn our dreams of success into reality.

As a result, Owens was correct in suggesting that many of life’s dreams require hard work and dedication in order to turn them into reality. This is seen in infants, who work hard at reaching certain milestones and progressing in life. Additionally, discipline and determination and vital factors in helping adolescents reach certain dreams and goals in life – whether academic or extracurricular. Finally, turning dreams within our careers into reality relies heavily on hard work and effort, which play a key role in success.. ###Response: 55-59


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Democracy, the prompt/s are UNKNOWN and here is the essay: Throughout history, forms of government have evolved as relations between the state and the individual have solidified into a co-dependence. Its rich history, evolving from monarchies and aristocracies makes it an often admired human creation. Yet although democracy ensures an equal number of contributions from individuals and is therefore seemingly fair, its effectiveness in theory does not match its practicality. This essay argues that democracy is the best form of government, but that it has been more effective in theory than practice. More needs to be done to maximise democracy’s potential in creating a fair society.

Thomas Hobbes proposed that an individual authority would be the best form of government, but he neglected that a sovereign might not have the interests of all at heart. For example, King Louis XIV overreacheed in foreign affairs, fought too many expensive wars and led France into demise. As time went on, a representative democracy evolved, and eventually Abraham Lincolm proclaims democracy is a government “of the people, by the people, for the people”. The people of a state form the glue that holds the state together, and so their interests must be represented and prioritised. Freedom of speech is encouraged, and each political decision was made collaboratively. On another note, modern society has benefited from the democratic process, as people can vote online for politicians to represent their values. The average person does not have to invest time voting on every single bill – they elect members of parliament they trust.

Although appealing in theory, it is quite evident that democracy falls short on many levels. First of all, the average person does not have enough time to have a profound role in the government. The world is changing quickly, and it is hard to keep up. More importantly, not everyone gets an equal say! In the United States, gerrymandering has been a devastating problem that has led to long-term discrimination against African American minorities. In many states that would have had a democratic majority, state lines were redrawn so that a Republican majority would result. In many ways, this is an example of a corrupt “representative democracy”. Furthermore, one’s political views is often muddled by misinformation. Fake news and social media often misrepresent candidates and parties, leading to unfair ignorance. In politics, ignorance, not stupidity, is a handicap facilitated by poor environments manipulated by those with higher power. Politicians say one thing then do another. For example, Trump promised more blue collar jobs for Americans, but never followed through with this.

How then can we make Democracy more effective in practice? Something that is missing is equal representation. For a long time, women and minorities were not allowed to vote.
Uproar from this discrimination led to a reform. Today, less than 10% of politicians in Australian Parliament are Indigenous. A significant majority of members of Parliament are old white men, who have no chance of empathising and representing the interests of the culturally diverse populations of young Australians. Why do we have the same two parties in power? Why is there not recognition for grassroots demographics? The truth is, the media often misrepresents people in power. For example, Scott Morrison was (eventually) praised for his reactions to the bushfires and coronavirus epidemic, but his ideas of enlisting the military for the bushfires, and compensating small businesses and workers were all of Anthony Albanese’s work (Labor). This is in part due to politically driven news companies.
For example, Rupert Murdoch is a media mogul who controls a significant amount of the media landscape. There ought to be stricter laws around truth, and more education about how truth can be warped to skew political beliefs. Ultimately, Citizens must create uproar about such misrepresentation in order for democracy to be effective.

The importance of democracy is broader than just having politicians represent citizens. In recent times, there has been unequal, discriminatory voting that has shaken democracy’s core principles. Politicians who not only misrepresent their voters’ values, but also disrespect the process of democracy must be reprimanded. Equal representation and stricter laws around media and therefore truth will re-establish democracy as a productive form of government.. ###Response: 55-59


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Culture and Identity, the prompt/s are UNKNOWN and here is the essay: “My son ordered the beef, not the chicken!”, my mother yelled at this poor waitress. She had probably just finished University, working because she had to pay rent, and now facing the wrath of my Tiger Mum. From observing a lot of these incidents, I learned empathy from a young age. I observed how others would react to my mother losing her cool, and understood how to react henceforth. One’s self is determined by a balance of nature and nurture. This essay defines nature in the context of family, and nurture as an environment external to family. Non-familial experiences in life challenge and redefine one’s familial values, ultimately resulting in a unique mixture of both.

My parents have worked 70 hour weeks for the past 30 years of my life. I barely see them enough to call them my parents. When I had more time in early High School, I would finish my homework and set dinner up for them after a hard day’s work. I knew how to show them the gratitude and respect they deserved for their immense perseverance. This sort of appreciation for work has been instilled by their poise. Never complaining, they would go on about their lives. As if the stresses of my year 7 Maths test could amount to theirs. My admiration for persevering through hard times has stemmed from these experiences. I stop at nothing if I want something, just like my parents. Unlike both of them though, I am an ambivert. My father is a shy, quiet man, whereas my mother is full of energy and loves social situations. I have found that throughout my adult life, I like a quiet night in as much as going out to celebrate – they both have their place and time. Furthermore, some traits have been taken from a single parent. For example, my father is a rational man who thinks things deeply, whereas my mother is easily driven by emotions and sometimes acts erratically. Although I find myself being stubborn and losing a grip on emotions sometimes, I definitely strive to be as rational and calm as possible like my father. From reflecting on these experiences, I understand I take bits of “nature” from both parents.

As an Asian minority going to a primarily Anglo-white high school, I started to notiice a lot of different things. Every Saturday sport, I would be dropped off to play and my father would sit in the car and wait. He would never come out and watch – it was more of a duty than anything else. Meanwhile, the sideline would be packed with parents watching their children. I was jealous of my friends of their seemingly more wholesome families. Such a minor display of love got to me, even to a point of fantasy. Watching That 70s Show, the scene where Red takes in Steven and showed him love touched me. Reflecting on these experiences, I knew that I would act differently if I were to ever have kids. I would rather focus on a work-life balance conducive to closer family relationships.

Pondering these experiences, I often realise that there is a harmonious balance between nature and nurture. Indeed, digesting all of these close family experiences and non-familial interactions has left me questioning my identity a myriad times. Yet I am enormously thankful for all experiences, as I have figured where I stand. From my parents’ traits, I am a determined, perseverant and rational person. But I’m also non-materialistic. A very traditional Chinese version of love is to monetarily provide for their young. For me at least, there was little sentiment about caring for one’s feelings and mental health. Going through hardships without my familiy’s support or recognition often left me feeling distraught. As such, today I am proudly the Vice-President of the Mental Health society at Sydney University. I have used that energy in a positive way to raise awareness and strive to understand how mental health issues can be alleviated and potentially resolved. In this way, my “Westernised” version of love and care, as a result of my multicultural upbringing, has resulted in a self mixed with nature and nurture.

Values from one’s parents are immediately instilled in one’s core nature from a young age. They reappear throughout life as they are challenged by new values one is exposed to through interactions with multiple cultures and people. By reflecting on these experiences, both familial and non-familial, one’s identity is made unique and special. For me, my identity has allowed me to distinguish values I admire and values I strive to change for the better.. ###Response: 55-59


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Politics and Sport, the prompt/s are - You are not being paid to voice your opinion and here is the essay: "You are not being paid to voice your opinion". In a climate where people are more aware of politics, news and world issues in society, this is a sentiment that has recently echoed throughout the sporting world. It begs an interesting question. Should athletes in sports refrain from voicing their opinions or beliefs on issues outside of their profession? The answer should be a resounding 'no'. Censorship in the sporting landscape is both damaging for the sport itself and for its players.

Historically sport has always been politically charged. It is rife with actions generating discourse, protest and notable figures expressing their opinions. This is important for the sport as it adds depth. What makes sport engaging and draws attention is everything besides the actually playing of the sport. All the background noise helps advance the sport further by creating discussion and maintaining interest. Consider Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the American national anthem as an act of protest agaisnt the murder of black people by police. The worldwide interest and intrigue in such a strong political gesture is only beneficial for the sport. Further to this, it serves to highlight the systemic issues within the sport itself. In this specific case, the disparity in ideology within the NFL with the majority owners being white calling for censorship of Kaepernick, whilst the majority of black players kneeling in solidarity. Censorship of sport does nothing to advance the sport.

Additionally we can build upon this notion by considering a similar effect for the players themselves. Elite athletes of sport have dedicated their lives for their passion. They represent the top echelon of skill for their sport. Most importantly, elites athletes are role models and heroes for followers of their sport. But it is not simply their prowess in their sport that garners such a following. People are drawn to their personalities. People look up to people they can identify with. Personality can only be communicated through expression. Any paradigm that reduces an athlete to a hyper skilled robot devoid of personality is a disservice for the sacrifice and dedication they have made towards the sport. Players should be able to express themselves in any manner they wish considering what they have given to the sport. Imagine a world where Cathy Freeman's iconic gold medal run was absent her Aboriginal flag. Would we or Aboriginal Australia cherish that memory the same way?

What ignites our passion for sport and keeps our interest is the reverence we have for the elite and the ongoing dialogue within the sport. To censor any aspect of this, presents a concerning direction that some sports make take. It is in the best interests of sports to avoid this and perhaps consider that, whilst we pay for athletes for their ability, that ability comes not without a mind that enabled it.. ###Response: 55-59


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Raising a child, the prompt/s are UNKNOWN and here is the essay: “It takes a village to raise a child” is a phrase that embodied parenting of the past. Historically parents were allowed some leniency if they weren’t constantly supervising or monitoring their child. Responsibility of a child’s upbringing fell upon everyone in the community, rather than only the mother and father. Recently, modern times have perpetuated the notion that parents should shape their child into the particular kind of adult they desire them to be. It is believed that parents are inherently responsible for the success of their child, the type of adult they become and their worth as an individual. Unfortunately, vicariously living through your child or pigeonholing them, is not conducive to producing a healthy well-rounded adult. All-around development should be the focus of modern parenting rather than success.

Valuing a human’s hunger for creativity, exploration and autonomy has never been viewed as a negative. A child should be no different. Limiting their exposure to varied experiences and different environments unless it aids in their success, restricts their growth. Creating an environment that encourages autonomy, creativity and play time allows your child to flourish. Even for adult employees, Pixar studios, provides playhouses for all their staff for this very reason. Despite being a business that needs to meet deadlines and is required to produce results, Pixar recognizes that employee development is imperative to success. The unyielding fixation on dictating to children the significance of success stunts their ability to grow.

To further explore the weight of success in the upbringing of a child, the focus can be shifted to education. It is not uncommon for parents to push for academic excellence in a child’s schooling. Whilst seen as beneficial to the child, the tunnel vision of producing good grades comes at a cost. Recent studies into the phenomenon of hyper vigilant ‘Tiger mums’ indicate children experienced significantly worse self-image and self-worth views. They also felt less fulfillment and satisfaction and held a conflicted view of their parents. The harsh reality is that academic success outweighs the value of mental health for these parents and ultimately harms the upbringing of these kids.

In contrast, certain avenues require and demand that success is produced at an early age. Most Olympians have practiced their craft after being introduced it from a very early age. In an arena that demands the pinnacle of human athleticism, these Olympians often have thousands of hours of experience. Potentially, the parents of these Olympians, undoubtedly steered their child into this path. It could even be proposed they shaped them into what they are. However, this would completely undermine the immense amount of intrinsic passion and dedication required to reach that level. A more fair statement would be that their parents provided an enriching environment to enable them to reach that level.

Whilst we can value the importance of success in a child’s upbringing, it should not be the focus. Providing a positive environment for children allows them to recognize their own measures of success and for them to grow.. ###Response: 55-59


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Education, the prompt/s are - The belief that all genuine education comes about through experience does not mean that all experiences are genuinely or equally educative ~ John Dewey and here is the essay: Education is Our Hope.

What do you think education is? How do you think you can educate people? Throughout history, education has been main focus in the society as it can be conducive to societal progress by nurturing numerous people. Education can come about through various channels such as schooling, pass-on stories and experiences. In this essay, I will explore how experience can educate people and benfit them.

As a social being, people always go through many different experiences in their daily lives. Even when they stay home and do nothing but sleeping, they would realise that taking a rest is helpful to their health. This means that everyday, people grow from their experiences as they get to know new things or learn some leassons from their failure. Some experiences,however, could be negative, resulting in a sense of failure or even causing some bad influences to people’s confidence. Imagine you received that you were again unsuccessful to get into a university after five atempts. Your self-esteem would fall drastically and you could lose any interests in trying. This accumulated failure, though, let you know your weak or strong points and how to deal with your stress and adversities.

Even this kind of negative experiences give you opporunities to grow. This education through personal experiences could bring about societal progress. For instance, Steve Jobs experiences landline phone’s inconvenience when he came up with the inovative idea of mobile phone. Through several failure and some lessons from them, he was able to establish now world renowned mobile company, Apple. Another example to produce social growth through experiences is Nelson Mandela. He established equality between the black and the white in South Africa when he learned that everyone was equal regardless of their skin colour. These instances clearly shows that learning from experinces can be helpful in community progression.

It is truism that education is our hope. It becomes truism because it is too obvious. It is also certain that education through our own experiences can be beneficail as they can provide us to grow and contribute to our society as well.. ###Response: 55-59


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Clothing, the prompt/s are - Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society ~ Mark Twain and here is the essay: Who Wants to Respect Others?

Let us browse through my closet and yours. Do you have favourite dressess, pants or t-shirts? Are they expensive or just comfortable to wear? We buy clothes very often, sometimes very expensive and beautiful but uncomfortable and sometimes very reasonably priced, still beautiful and comfortable. In this essay, I will explore how clothing can affect our lives.

We have been taught to wear proper attires. When you go to school, you have to wear school uniforms and beautiful dresses when you are heading to clubs. Wearing proper dresses means you respect people in the same place. On the contrary, we have never been taught to wear expensive ones. That is because wearing designers’ attire does not guarantee you have manners to repect other people. Respecting other people sprouts from respect toward ourselves.
When I was little, I always envied my friends who could afford very expensive clothes. This envy affected my self-esteem as well and blamed my parents who were not rich enough to buy the same clothes. When I complained about not buying good dresses, they suggested me

to give me petty allowances whenever I helped them and save up to buy the dresses. After several months of helping and being impatient, I could not forget the moment I bought the dress. I felt like I was one of the beautiful princess and there was nothing that I could not do. But it did not take long until I felt same as average and normal and started to get jealousy toward other expensive clothes. Then I realised that it was not the expensive dress that I wantnted to have but the confidence my friend had and also it was not the poverty but my vanity which lowered my self-confidence.

Even billionares or famous tennis players go to Kmart or Target to buy cheap clothes. We need to remember what is important is not what we wear but how we respect others by wearing proper attires.. ###Response: 55-59


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Crime, the prompt/s are UNKNOWN and here is the essay: "The victims of crime have a right to see criminals made to pay for their crimes.”
The issue of criminals and how they should be punished after committing a serious crime is one of much controversy. Victims of crime, such as families who have lost loved ones due to senseless acts of violence have the right to demand justice on behalf of those who they have been robbed.

However, there should be a reasonable limit of how we punish individuals. Punishments such as capital punishment as far too severe, and devoid of reformative success. Individuals who break the law must be held accountable and justice should be sought for such victims, however they should be constructive, evidenced-based methods that provide education, reform and give the best chance at reintegration back into society.

In order for a victim of crime to ever accept and heal from the violations that have been inflicted upon them, justice must be sought. Justice can come about in a variety of ways, but the most common avenue is being punished a court of law. When crimes such as murder, rape, theft are committed, the victim loses peace of mind and gains fear, worry and anxiety. Incarcerating such criminals protects society from individuals committing immoral acts and seeing the perpetrator punished may ease the pain that the victim may have suffered.

Some countries around the world, particularly the US, deem certain crimes to be worthy of capital punishment. However, taking the life of another individual is wrong and contradictory of the fairness and peace that the justice system aims to restore. “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”, a famous quote which encompasses the reality of seeking revenge, doesn’t necessarily provide a suitable outcome. It has been said that two wrongs do not make a right, and sentencing another human being to death does not better educate society.

Punishment by death eliminates the chances to rehabilitate the individual and allow them to lead a life that is righteous and good. Evidence-based methods show that it is possible to change the mindset of criminals by approaching them with education and warmth, leading to a better society. Taking the opportunity to change their ways may not always work, but it is worth a try. Humans are a product of their environments and the difference between choosing to commit good or evil acts are the way we have navigated life.

Overall, the only way to live harmoniously among our society is to promote good acts and hold those accountable when they commit bad acts. However, human beings are imperfect and make mistakes in life and instead of prematurely ending their lives, we must make them pay in a way that benefits society and encourages them to live a life with meaning and purpose, this is truly the best way to pay society back.. ###Response: 60-64


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Human Nature, the prompt/s are - It does not take much to reveal the primitive and animal side of human nature. and here is the essay: The issue of whether values of kindness and generosity are instilled in all human beings is one of much debate. When individuals display acts of love and kindness, it restores faith in humanity and shows that some individuals act with pure intentions. However, I have no hesitation in admitting that we cannot truly rely on each and everybody’s acts of kindness. This can be dangerous as some individuals are inclined to take advantage of those who are vulnerable and weak, such as children or the elderly. As a society, we must resist tarring all individuals with the same brush but must also be wary of those who may have misguided intentions.

Displaying acts of selflessness and generosity within society can restore faith in the hearts of individuals who uphold them. Exemplified by the communities who sought to provide food, comfort and warmth during the Grenfell Tower disaster, these individuals chose to dedicate their time and money into protecting the victims of the tragedy. These acts of purity rippled throughout the community very quickly and united masses people in the darkest of times.

However, unfortunately there are individuals in the world who use kindness and generosity and tools of which to prey onto the most vulnerable of society. With growing use of social media, the exposure has caused its consumers of its platforms to become increasingly younger in age.

Applications such as Snapchat have been used by predators to groom underage children. These individuals use generosity to lure victims into their arms, taking advantage of their naivety. This is important to be aware of as “Don’t judge a book by its cover” a quote which describes things not being as they first seem- comes into play.

As a collective, we must treat every individual with equal love and kindness, but take great care to stay vigilant about the individuals who seek to cause harm with their ulterior motives. The answer is not to treat the misguided with abuse or violence, but to seek to educate them about their intentions and reform their abusive behaviours. It is very rare that berating those who have criminal intentions acts to change their ways.

In order for there to be great social progression, there must be education. Individuals, particularly the vulnerable must be educated about the dangerous situations that they might come across.

Additionally, those who have committed to a predatory lifestyle must be brought to justice and educated in order to counteract the negative life experiences that have shaped them into such individuals. Given love and kindness, human beings can excel and shape the world into things beyond any stretch of imagination.. ###Response: 60-64


###Instruction: You are an essay marker for the GAMSAT Section II. Please mark the following essay fairly and consistently. ###Input: The theme is Nationalism, the prompt/s are UNKNOWN and here is the essay: The world is a diverse place. There are people of different complexion, different height, different culture, you name a difference, there is a nation to represent that difference in the world. Yet in all these complexities of humankind, one prominent feature has always stood above all else, it is tribalism. In modern day it is translated to nationalism. I believe nationalism/tribalism has nothing good to offer the world. It brings destruction of mankind, bigotry ect. The world can certainly do well without the tribalistic devil’s clutch.

Most prominently, tribalism causes mass destruction of people. Tribalism is a cancer in the hearts of people. Who are mislead to believe they are somehow superior than everyone else. As a result these people see others as spares and treat them horribly. This was the case in NAZI Germany. Their belief in superiority of German people above all else lead them to kill Jews people mercilessly without any remorse. Not only killing but torture, imprisonment, even inhumane experiment on people was all done in the name of superiority. Their tribalism - their nationalism had turned a nation of people into irrational creatures. The result – a whole world burned in the destruction which followed, the world war 2. Therefore, tribalism can cause destruction of nations and people all across the world.

However, some people may argue that nationalism can give people pride, which helps the nation in progression. I completely disagree. The Christ church attack was done in the name of nationalism. This terrorist attack had taken the life of 53 innocent people and shook New Zealand to its core. The Australian national who carried out the terror attack had live streamed the video as if a video game and had claimed that he didn’t feel any remorse killing foreigners. “death to immigrants” was being screamed out through his actions. His nationalism (tribalism of white-nationalist views) had made him complacent with taking the lives of many human beings. Yet he didn’t stop at the atrocious act, he felt as if it was his duty to live broadcast of such behaviour to let the immigrants of the west know that no one is safe. To express that the bigotry can reach anyone anywhere, which it did. The racist attacks and mosque attacks had increased hundred-fold since the terror attack. So, nationalism had given this man pride, yes. It also gave him the idea of killing innocent people instead of promoting Australian slogan of “equality and acceptance to all”. Thus, tribalism doesn’t progress a nation but it regresses its values.

Similarly, it can be said that without nationalism, world becomes more accepting of others. In the wake of the gruelling terror attack at Christ church, the whole nation of New Zealand came to a halt. The muslim call to prayer (adhan) was broadcasted across New Zealand in TV and radios. Moreover, people flocked at the attack site to show their solidarity with the muslim people. The government paid for the funeral for all those passed away and helped them received citizenship of New Zealand. What we see here are the fruits of a nation coming together when there is a absence of tribalism.

People who were affected were finally able to call New Zealand home (most effected in attack were refuges). Moreover, people wanted to learn about the Islamic religion and were open hearted to welcome the minorities with open arms. So, with the absence of nationalism people are able to act humanly. More acceptance of diversity and equality had been shown through their actions.

Therefore, In the absence of tribalism a nation can flourish and enrich its culture by accepting people of another ethnicity.

In summary, tribalism exists in the world. Wherever it is given a chance to take root in the hearts of people it causes death and destruction. It, as seem from above discussion, has nothing good to offer. On the other hand, when there is no tribalism, the people of different ethnicity can come together as a community. More than that, people become accepting and learn to care for each other. Hench, without a doubt, Tribalism is a cancer which should be eradicated from earth. Paul said it best when he said, tribalism is the most powerful force on earth. Yes, its powerful and yes certainly, you thought right, its also the most destructive force.. ###Response: 60-64