How GAT Relates to Student Coursework and Examinations

Coursework and the GAT
School-assessed Tasks and the GAT
Examinations and the GAT
Derived Examination Scores and the GAT
Further Information

Coursework and the GAT

The VCAA applies statistical moderation procedures to schools’ coursework assessments to ensure that they are comparable across the State and are fair to all students.

The statistical moderation process compares the level and spread of each school’s assessments of its students in each study with the level and spread of the same students’ scores in the external examinations, and adjusts the school scores if necessary.

In some studies, statistical moderation uses students’ GAT scores as well as their examination scores. This is done where it gives a better match with schools’ coursework assessments throughout the State. The examination scores will always have the major influence in the statistical moderation calculations.

There are two key principles in whether and how the GAT is used.

The GAT components are only used if they make the moderation process more reliable in the sense that the external scores are a better predictor using the GAT scores than without them. The statistic R-square is used to measure the increase in reliability.
When used, the GAT components must not exert too much influence on study scores. A variety of tests are performed to determine the influence of the GAT, of which one test is that no more than 5% of study scores should vary by more than 2. To achieve this, the influence of the GAT is kept to the minimum optimal level.

The decision on whether to use the GAT is made separately for each coursework assessment.

More information about statistical moderation can be found in statistical moderation of VCE coursework.

School-assessed Tasks and the GAT

The GAT is used to check each school’s assessments for School-assessed Tasks in Art, Design and Technology, Food and Technology, Media, Studio Arts, Systems Engineering, and Visual Communication and Design.

If a school’s assessments for a particular School-assessed Task are significantly higher or lower than expected from the students’ GAT scores, the VCAA will review the assessment of those School-assessed Tasks by sending reviewers to the school to assess the work.

Examinations and the GAT

The examination marking process is rigorous, carefully and expertly conducted, and designed to be fair to all students. For most studies, your examination papers are marked twice, by two different markers. Each marking is done separately and each marker does not know the marks given by the other marker. If there is insufficient agreement between their marks, the paper is assessed by a third marker.

For Mathematics, Accounting, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, examination papers are marked by a single marker. This is because in these examinations experience shows there is little or no difference in the marks given by pairs of markers marking the same paper.

In these examinations, the GAT is used to identify which students will have their papers marked a second time. A student’s GAT score is used to calculate their predicted examination score. If a student’s examination score is significantly different from this predicted score, their paper will be marked again.

The GAT is also used as part of a final check on examination scores. If a student’s final examination score is significantly different from the score predicted by the GAT, school indicative grades, other examination scores or School-assessed Tasks for the study their examination will be assessed again by the Chief Assessor’s panel. See the Anomalous Examination Grades page for more information.

A student’s score may go up or stay the same, but it will not go down as a result of this final check.

Derived Examination Scores and the GAT

A student whose performance on an examination is affected by the onset of illness, accident or personal trauma may apply for a Derived Examination Score.

All Derived Examination Score applications are assessed by a trained, external panel. If a Derived Examination Score application is approved, a student’s GAT scores will be used in the Derived Examination Score calculations.

Additional information on the Derived Examination Score can be found within Special Provision.

		> Home > VCE > Exams and Assessment > Print version
		How GAT Relates to Student Coursework and Examinations Coursework and the GAT School-assessed Tasks and the GAT Examinations and the GAT Derived Examination Scores and the GAT Further Information Back to Top Coursework and the GAT The VCAA applies statistical moderation procedures to schools’ coursework assessments to ensure that they are comparable across the State and are fair to all students. The statistical moderation process compares the level and spread of each school’s assessments of its students in each study with the level and spread of the same students’ scores in the external examinations, and adjusts the school scores if necessary. In some studies, statistical moderation uses students’ GAT scores as well as their examination scores. This is done where it gives a better match with schools’ coursework assessments throughout the State. The examination scores will always have the major influence in the statistical moderation calculations. There are two key principles in whether and how the GAT is used. The GAT components are only used if they make the moderation process more reliable in the sense that the external scores are a better predictor using the GAT scores than without them. The statistic R-square is used to measure the increase in reliability. When used, the GAT components must not exert too much influence on study scores. A variety of tests are performed to determine the influence of the GAT, of which one test is that no more than 5% of study scores should vary by more than 2. To achieve this, the influence of the GAT is kept to the minimum optimal level. The decision on whether to use the GAT is made separately for each coursework assessment. More information about statistical moderation can be found in statistical moderation of VCE coursework. Back to Top School-assessed Tasks and the GAT The GAT is used to check each school’s assessments for School-assessed Tasks in Art, Design and Technology, Food and Technology, Media, Studio Arts, Systems Engineering, and Visual Communication and Design. If a school’s assessments for a particular School-assessed Task are significantly higher or lower than expected from the students’ GAT scores, the VCAA will review the assessment of those School-assessed Tasks by sending reviewers to the school to assess the work. Back to Top Examinations and the GAT The examination marking process is rigorous, carefully and expertly conducted, and designed to be fair to all students. For most studies, your examination papers are marked twice, by two different markers. Each marking is done separately and each marker does not know the marks given by the other marker. If there is insufficient agreement between their marks, the paper is assessed by a third marker. For Mathematics, Accounting, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, examination papers are marked by a single marker. This is because in these examinations experience shows there is little or no difference in the marks given by pairs of markers marking the same paper. In these examinations, the GAT is used to identify which students will have their papers marked a second time. A student’s GAT score is used to calculate their predicted examination score. If a student’s examination score is significantly different from this predicted score, their paper will be marked again. The GAT is also used as part of a final check on examination scores. If a student’s final examination score is significantly different from the score predicted by the GAT, school indicative grades, other examination scores or School-assessed Tasks for the study their examination will be assessed again by the Chief Assessor’s panel. See the Anomalous Examination Grades page for more information. A student’s score may go up or stay the same, but it will not go down as a result of this final check. Back to Top Derived Examination Scores and the GAT A student whose performance on an examination is affected by the onset of illness, accident or personal trauma may apply for a Derived Examination Score. All Derived Examination Score applications are assessed by a trained, external panel. If a Derived Examination Score application is approved, a student’s GAT scores will be used in the Derived Examination Score calculations. Additional information on the Derived Examination Score can be found within Special Provision. Back to Top Further Information GAT Archive - Question and Answer booklets What is the GAT and how is it used? Step-by-Step instructions for completing GAT GAT Results Acronyms and Glossary page
		Back to Top Privacy Statement \| Copyright \| Disclaimer Last Updated: December 13, 2007 Copyright © Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, State Government of Victoria, 2008.

How GAT Relates to Student Coursework and Examinations

Coursework and the GAT

School-assessed Tasks and the GAT

Examinations and the GAT

Derived Examination Scores and the GAT

Further Information