Testing

Testing

All students applying for Gifted and Talented Secondary Selective Entrance programs must sit the Academic Selective Entrance Test.

Testing requirements for applicants

Offers of places are based on the following requirements.

  • Academic applicants complete the Academic Selective Entrance Testing (ASET) only. 
  • Arts applicants complete the ASET, an audition or workshop, and may also be required to participate in an interview.
  • Language applicants complete the ASET and may also be required to participate in an interview.

The ASET is made up of 4 components:

  • reading comprehension
  • communicating ideas in writing
  • quantitative reasoning
  • abstract reasoning.

The following video is a guide for students taking the ASET.

Academic Selective Entrance Test (ASET) - A guide for students
 

The tests are designed to identify students who are most suited for our Gifted and Talented Secondary Selective Entrance programs. The test identifies a student’s potential, rather than their acquired knowledge. We do not endorse or recommend any form of private professional coaching or tutoring services.

ASET sample test

The ASET sample test is aimed at the Year 7 intake. It can also be a useful tool for students applying for Years 9, 10 and 11.​​​​ There are 4 parts to the sample test:

  1. ASET sample test – Reading comprehension
  2. ASET sample test – Communicating ideas in writing
  3. ASET sample test – Quantitative reasoning
  4. ASET sample test – Abstract reasoning.
Related resources

We recommend that parents read the following resources with their child before the test so they understand what to expect on the day: 

Note:

The results of sample tests do not show how an applicant will score in the ASET. We will not consider your child's scores on sample tests or any other practice tests when making offers of placement.

For the health and well-being of all participants, don't bring children who are unwell to testing. The following may be considered reasons to request an alternate testing date or time.

Illness or misadventure leading up to the test

If your child becomes ill or experiences a misadventure that will make them unable to sit the test on their scheduled date, call us before the test on 9264 4307. We will discuss with you the possibility of another testing date. 

We will consider illness and misadventure requests for another testing date on a case-by-case basis. We will ask you for supporting evidence.

Illness or misadventure on the morning of the test

If your child is sick or otherwise unavoidably unable to attend on the day of testing, email us at gtsu@education.wa.edu.au within 48 hours of the original testing date to request an alternative date where possible. We will ask you for supporting evidence, such as a medical certificate (or appropriate alternative) for the testing date. 

You may need to take your child to a different venue due to the short timeframe and limited venues.

Pre-booked holidays or state-level sporting commitments

We may consider a request to reschedule your child's test for:

  • holidays that were booked before lodging the application
  • state-level sporting commitments.

We will ask you to provide supporting evidence.

A reschedule for a state-level sporting commitment is limited to one change of date per child, regardless of any potential conflict with additional similar commitments.

All reschedules are at our discretion and will be limited due to the scale of the testing and the limited testing timeframe. 

You will need to plan in advance. Reschedules are not available for:

  • work conflicts
  • school camps, excursions and activities
  • non-state-level sporting events
  • participation in entertainment
  • personal preference
  • anything voluntary or avoidable.

For more information on reschedules, read the Applicant guidelines.

If there was something unexpected that happened during the test that could have prevented your child from performing to the best of their ability, you can request a review for sudden illness, incident or misadventure (including the misalignment of answers). 

If you want to request a review, you have 7 days from your child’s testing date to submit the Illness, incident or misadventure review request form.

Acceptable reasons to request a review

You can request a review if:

  • there was a suspected misalignment of answers in the test
  • there was a test centre problem, for example, a prolonged disruption
  • your child had an unforeseen illness or injury during the test
  • there were difficult family circumstances or bereavement in the immediate period leading up to the test, where the impact could not be reasonably managed with a reschedule.
Unacceptable reasons to request a review

Do not request a review if:

  • your child had a known disability, illness or impairment for which a reschedule or adjusted testing conditions could have been requested before the test
  • your child was unfamiliar with the placement process, the English language, Australian culture and/or the WA education system
  • the age or background of the student, lack of test preparation or failure of the child to complete one or more tests
  • there was anything voluntary and avoidable that stopped your child from sitting the test or doing their best in the test, such as participation in entertainment, sporting events, attendance at excursions, camps, or a holiday trip.
Misalignment reviews

Misalignments usually happen when a child skips a question and puts the rest of their answers out of order on their answer sheet.

Misalignment reviews involve a thorough examination of response patterns on a child’s answer sheet corresponding to the answer key and the lead supervisor’s report.

Other reviews

All other reviews will be conducted by an ASET review panel. The panel will consider the evidence provided and the lead supervisor’s report. If you lodge a request for review, you will be told the outcome before the release of ASET Performance Reports.

A review based on sudden illness, misadventure or suspected misalignment may or may not result in a change to your child's scores and impact a current or future offer of placement.

Contact our team

Contact our team

For more information about Gifted and Talented Secondary Selective Entrance programs, call 9264 4307 or email gtsu@education.wa.edu.au

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