General Achievement Test
The General Achievement Test (GAT) is a pen-and-paper test of general knowledge and skills taken by students in the course of completing their senior secondary studies.
The GAT plays an important role in the quality assurance of VCE assessments and also provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate they meet the Victorian Literacy and Numeracy Standards expected at a senior secondary level. GAT results are also used in the calculation of the Derived Examination Score (DES).
No special study is needed. Past study of subjects like English, Mathematics, Science and History prepares students for the GAT by building their general knowledge and skills in writing, numeracy and reasoning.
GAT structure
The GAT is structured into Section A and Section B, each of which are administered in separate sessions on the same day.
Section A is comprised of:
- a 2-part writing task
- 50 numeracy multiple-choice questions
- 50 reading multiple-choice questions.
Section B is comprised of:
- an extended writing task
- 25 mathematics, science and technology multiple-choice questions
- 25 arts and humanities multiple-choice questions.
Who sits the GAT
Both Sections A and B
- Students enrolled in one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3–4 sequence, including students not planning to undertake scored assessment even if they have met the standards in a previous year.
Section A only
- Students enrolled in one or more VCE VM Unit 3–4 sequence but who are not enrolled in any VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3–4 sequences.
If a student has already met the standards in a previous year and they are enrolled in VCE VM but not in any VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3–4 sequences, they will not be expected to sit Section A. However, they may do so if they wish.
Victorian Literacy and Numeracy Standards
Section A of the GAT assesses whether students have demonstrated the literacy and numeracy skills typically expected of someone completing their secondary schooling. This gives another indication of their readiness to move onto further education, training or employment.
The Victorian Literacy and Numeracy Standards are derived from Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF). Go to the Victorian Literacy and Numeracy Standards webpage [link] for more information.
Quality assurance and the GAT
School-based assessment
The VCAA applies statistical moderation procedures to school-based assessment scores to make sure they are comparable across the state and 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 assessment and adjusts the school scores if necessary.
In some studies, GAT scores will also be used for statistical moderation. This will be done only if they provide a better match with school-based assessments throughout the state. The external assessment scores will always have the major influence in the statistical moderation calculations.
External assessments
The GAT is used as part of a final check on external assessment scores except for the Music Composition and Music Inquiry externally assessed tasks. This final check is known as anomalous grading marking. If there is a statistically significant difference between the final score for an external assessment and the score predicted by the GAT and school indicative grades, the chief assessor will assess the external assessment again. Scores may go up or stay the same, however they will not go down because of this final check.
Derived Examination Score
The calculation for the Derived Examination Score (DES) uses all available scores for the student in the affected study, the indicative grade for any external assessments provided by the school and the GAT component scores. For each approved application for a specific external assessment, the VCAA will calculate a range of possible scores using the DES. This will be calculated statistically from the student’s other assessments, including:
- moderated school-based assessments
- GAT component scores
- other external assessment scores, if applicable
- indicative grades provided by the school.
The contribution made by the graded assessments, the indicative grade and the GAT component scores is determined by analysing the comparison data with the final score for the specific external assessments for all students who have not applied for a DES. For all external assessments, the 2 graded school-based assessment scores provide the greatest contribution to all the predictors.
If a student is eligible for a DES and the highest of the predictors is greater than the achieved external assessment score, the highest predictor is chosen as the final score for the student in the relevant external assessment.
Exemption from the GAT
It is important for students enrolled in one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3–4 sequence to sit Sections A and B of the GAT, and for students enrolled in one or more VCE VM Unit 3–4 sequence to sit Section A.
Special Examination Arrangements
A request for an exemption from the GAT on the grounds of requiring SEAs will not be approved unless the necessary arrangements exceed those normally offered for the GAT.
Students who experience the onset of an illness, the exacerbation of an existing condition or the occurrence of an injury or personal trauma in the period before or on the day of the GAT should discuss applying for Emergency Special Examination Arrangements with their VCE coordinator, who may assist them to sit the GAT.
Eligibility for exemption from the GAT
A student may be deemed eligible for an exemption from the GAT if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
- they have a condition, circumstance or impairment for which arrangements cannot reasonably be made. Special Examination Arrangements (SEAs) for the GAT can be provided for students with a vision impairment or students who are deaf or hard of hearing
- they are prevented from sitting the GAT by injury, illness, personal trauma or a serious intervening event
- they are employed and cannot be absent from work (evidence from their employer is required).
A personal trauma may include the death or serious illness of, or an accident involving, a family member.
A serious intervening event may include:
- an accident before or on the day of the GAT
- attendance at a funeral of a family member or other person of close relationship
- required attendance at a legal proceeding.
Applications submitted based on illness, injury, personal trauma or a serious intervening event require evidence from an appropriate professional.
An application for an exemption from the GAT cannot be submitted solely based on:
- a student requiring SEAs
- a student not completing any graded assessment
- interrupted studies status or compassionate late withdrawal
- a student being interstate or overseas at the time of the GAT.
Students not completing any graded assessments
Students not completing any graded assessments associated with VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3–4 sequences are expected to sit the GAT and will not be granted an exemption on these grounds.
Interrupted studies status and compassionate late withdrawal
It is important for a student who has been granted interrupted studies status to attempt the GAT in both academic years, particularly in the academic year they return to complete the study.
If a student has been withdrawn from all VCE or scored VCE VET units at Units 3 and 4 levels before the GAT, they do not need to apply for an exemption from the GAT. A student who has been withdrawn after the GAT is not eligible to apply for an exemption from the GAT.
Interstate and overseas arrangements
Students may be eligible to sit the GAT interstate or overseas if they:
- are on an exchange program overseas
- are on exchange in Victoria and are returning home immediately before or during the VCE external assessment period
- are representing Australia in an official capacity, for example at a sporting, academic, military or cultural event
- have a parent(s) or guardian(s) who has been asked to work interstate or overseas.
Schools must submit an Application to sit VCE external assessments interstate or overseas form to the VCAA.
Evidence of eligibility must be submitted with the application form.
Events such as family holidays, birthdays and weddings are not considered valid grounds for an application to sit VCE external assessments interstate or overseas.
How to apply for exemption from the GAT
If a student’s circumstances meet the eligibility requirements for an exemption from the GAT, their school may apply to the VCAA using the Application for authorised absence from the General Achievement Test (GAT) form.
Applications on the grounds of accident, illness or injury must be substantiated with evidence from an independent health professional, who will need to complete Section B of the application form.
Applications on the grounds of a personal trauma or serious intervening event must be substantiated with evidence from an appropriate independent professional. This independent professional will need to complete Section C of the application form.
GAT Statement of Results
A GAT Statement of Results is mailed to each student.
Student literacy and numeracy skills are assessed against standards in reading, writing and numeracy in Section A of the GAT.
The GAT Statement of Results indicates if the student has met the standards, not met the standards, or met the standards and demonstrated excellence.
Where a student has completed both Sections A and B, their results will also include a score for each GAT component:
- Writing (Section A) and written communication (Section B)
- Numeracy (Section A) and mathematics, science and technology (Section B)
- Reading (Section A) and humanities, the arts and social sciences (Section B).
The VCE or VPC Statement of Results indicates if a student obtained results in the GAT or had an authorised or unauthorised absence from one or both sections.
Students cannot apply for a DES for the GAT.
Further opportunities to meet literacy and numeracy standards
If a student does not meet one or more of the standards, this will be indicated on the GAT Statement of Results. There will be resit opportunities in 2025 for students who do not meet one or more of the standards in 2024 and have completed their secondary schooling.
The specific timing for resit opportunities will be provided in late 2024. Schools are expected to host test sessions for former students who opt to take a resit test.