GAT: General Achievement Test

The GAT: General Achievement Test is a three hour examination to measure your skills and knowledge in written communication, maths and sciences as well as the arts field. The General Achievement Test (GAT) is administered to all students undertaking Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) studies at the end of secondary education. GAT results are accessible to Universities and Higher Education Institutions.

About the VCE

The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) is the certificate that the majority of students in Victoria receive on satisfactory completion of their secondary education.

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) uses GAT scores as a basis for:

• contributing to statistical moderation of School-assessed Coursework;
• reviewing school assessments in School-assessed Tasks;
• special provision and derived examination scores; and
• Checking the accuracy of exam marking.
  

GAT Funding

VCAA: The VCAA is an independent statutory body responsible to the Victorian Minister for Education, serving both government and non-government schools.

GAT Time Frame

GAT is developed annually and administered by VCAA, See here Time Table; go to official page https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/administration/Key-dates/Pages/VCE-exam-timetable.aspx

GAT: Purpose

GAT Results are used to check your internally marked assessment- whether they have been correctly marked or not. The GAT results validate externally assessed exams.

GAT: Format

The General Achievement Test is a test of general knowledge and skills in:

• Written communication
• Mathematics, Science and Technology
• Humanities, the Arts and Social Sciences.
  

GAT Usage

The VCAA (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority) uses students’ GAT scores as a basis for:

• contributing to statistical moderation of school-based assessment results
• checking the accuracy of examination marking
• calculating the Derived Examination Scores.
  

GAT: Flashback

Year 12 Western Australian students sat the GAT for a short period. This test was introduced into Western Australia as a trial to provide schools with feedback on the standard of assessment used for the new WACE courses. The GAT in Western Australia was however abandoned after the trial period and is no longer used.

The GAT in Victoria, as of 2008, has been taken into consideration for the middle band for courses by Monash University if a student misses out on the course because their ATAR score is just below the cut-off score.