Ep 85 - All About the GAT (Updated for 2024)
You can also find Course and Career Chat on Spotify, Amazon Music and Audible.
What we’re talking about:
0:00 Updates for 2024
This episode is an update of Episode 60 that I recorded last year all about the GAT. Nothing has changed except that I mentioned VCAL last year but you can ignore that now (I also mention VCE and VCE Vocational Major, so everyone’s covered).
2:05 What does the GAT look like
Understanding the format of the GAT can help you feel more comfortable as you walk into the test on the day. I explain what the 2 sections are so you know what to expect in terms of the content and the way it’s all set out. I also mention who needs to to what section depending on your individual circumstances and whether you’re doing VCE or VCE Vocational Major.
5:20 What is the GAT used for?
The GAT will only ever be used to give you a positive benefit. It can be used to check that the SACs at your school for a particular subject as a whole have been moved high enough to more accurately reflect how difficult they were compared to the SACs at other schools. From a personal point of you, it can be used to check if your exam for a particular subject should be marked again if your GAT result suggests that your exam result should have been higher. It can also be used to help calculate a derived score in the rare case when you may not have been able to sit a SAC or external exam. Your results will only ever be increased because of your GAT results.
11:45 Should you study for the GAT?
Hopefully by understanding the format of the GAT, you can see that there’s not a specific curriculum that you need to learn to prepare for the GAT. You might feel better and more prepared if you have seen what the questions might look like and what the cover page will look like. See the links below if you’re interested in doing that.
Links mentioned:
Work with me: https://www.roadmapeducation.com/services
Blog post: What is the GAT?: https://www.roadmapeducation.com/roadmapblog/gat
GAT cover pages: https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/assessment/vce-assessment/general-achievement-test/Pages/index.aspx
GAT overview: https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/assessment/vce-assessment/general-achievement-test/Pages/GATOverview.aspx