The GAT is changing.
From 2023 we will be transitioning the VCE and VCAL to a new integrated senior secondary certificate. As part of the reform of the VCE and VCAL system, Victorian senior secondary students will this year have their literacy and numeracy skills measured against new standards in a reformed GAT.
The new standards will indicate whether students have demonstrated the literacy and numeracy skills typically expected of someone completing their secondary schooling – giving another indication of their readiness to move onto further education, training or employment
The 2022 GAT will be held on Wednesday 7 September. The slightly later test date provides the time required to ensure the revised GAT is valid and reliable, and for teachers and students to understand the changes – with the test expected to return to its traditional June date from 2023.
The reformed GAT follows a comprehensive review conducted by the VCAA. It will see Victoria join other jurisdictions who already incorporate literacy and numeracy standards as part of their senior secondary reporting. The GAT will provide specific information on each student's key skills for life beyond school.
Please check back on this page as new questions will be added over time.
The GAT is an essential part of the VCE assessment process. While it is important that students attempt the GAT, the test does not count directly towards their VCE. GAT results are used to check that VCE external assessments and school-based assessments have been accurately and fairly assessed. The GAT is used because its results are a good predictor of final assessments for VCE studies. If a student has done well in the GAT, they are likely to do well in their other assessments.
GAT results may play a part in determining the final score for a VCE external assessment, if a student has a derived examination score approved for that assessment.
From 2022, the GAT has an additional purpose of measuring student literacy and numeracy skills.
The Victorian Government is reforming career education and senior secondary pathways. From 2023 we will be transitioning the VCE and VCAL to a new integrated senior secondary certificate.
As part of the reform of the VCE and VCAL system, Victorian senior secondary students will this year have their literacy and numeracy skills measured against new standards in a reformed GAT.
The new standards will indicate whether students have demonstrated the literacy and numeracy skills typically expected of someone completing their secondary schooling – giving another indication of their readiness to move onto further education, training or employment.
Students enrolled in one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3–4 sequence will be expected to sit Sections A and B of the GAT. Students enrolled in Senior VCAL will be expected to sit Section A only. If students are enrolled in Senior VCAL as well as one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3–4 sequence, they will be expected to sit Sections A and B.
Senior VCAL students are expected to sit Section A of the GAT in 2022 as part of ongoing education reforms in Victoria.
Section A of the GAT will assess the literacy and numeracy skills of Senior VCAL students against new standards.
Senior VCAL students will receive a statement indicating whether they have met the literacy and numeracy standards. It will provide an additional opportunity for Senior VCAL students to demonstrate their skills and level of achievement.
Yes. In 2022 the GAT will be a pen-and-paper test, i.e. not online.
Information about authorised materials for the GAT will be provided during Term 1.
Approximately 85,000 students sit the GAT.
Approximately 5,500 Senior VCAL students will also sit Section A of the GAT in 2022.
The VCAA used a systematic multi-step approach to establish standards using educationally relevant expert panels and measurement professionals. The standard-setting process included academics, teachers, curriculum and subject matter experts.
Literacy and numeracy skills are developed and assessed over the course of students' education. There is a wide range of assessments conducted that measure student attainment and progress over their schooling (e.g. NAPLAN). The GAT will provide an additional measure of literacy and numeracy skills as students complete their senior school education.
Students will be given the opportunity to resit the test if they do not meet the standards.
All schools have in place programs that support students who may be at risk well in advance of sitting the GAT. In government schools, this includes the Middle Years Literacy and Numeracy Support initiative specifically designed to help students in need of additional support. In addition, each school gets an allocation of Equity Funding based on their cohort's needs, to be used to directly support any of these at-risk students.
School trials held in 2021 informed the final test design for 2022. This was an important component of quality assurance to ensure the GAT will meet its intended purpose.
Yes, if they are enrolled in one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3–4 sequence.
Students will be able to show their GAT statement of results to employers, which will indicate whether they have met the literacy and numeracy standards.
Yes. There is a broad range of special examination arrangements available for students. Schools will need to apply for these arrangements on behalf of students using the VCAA's Special Provision Online system.
Yes. Schools apply on behalf of the student using the VCAA's 'Application for authorised absence from the General Achievement Test (GAT)' form.
Timing
The GAT is scheduled for Wednesday 7 September. The timing of the sessions will be confirmed in Term 1.
The impact of COVID meant that the required GAT trials were interrupted, and the 2021 GAT was held in October, almost four months after the scheduled June date, affecting the analysis timeframes and finalisation of the test for 2022.
The GAT trials are critical. They ensure the GAT is valid, reliable, functions as expected, and delivers on establishing standards for literacy and numeracy.
Materials will be delivered at an appropriate time before the administration of the GAT.
Results
Yes. Students will receive a GAT statement showing whether they have met the literacy and numeracy standards.
Yes. Schools will receive information about student performance in the GAT.
While the GAT is important, it does not directly count towards a student's final VCE results. The primary determinant of a student's final study score is based on their achievement in the graded assessments of that study.
Every year there are instances where students are unable to complete the GAT and the VCAA has established processes to ensure fair results for such students. The absence of GAT results does not prevent a student from achieving strong study score results.
No. The literacy and numeracy components (Section A of the GAT) do not impact the award of the VCAL.
No. The literacy and numeracy standards are measured independently and are not included in the calculations of VCE results or awarding of the VCAL. Obtaining a senior secondary certificate is not contingent on a particular literacy and numeracy outcome in the GAT.
Support
Sample items are now available to enable teachers and students to become familiar with the question types included in the GAT.
The VCAA will conduct a series of webinars about the GAT from Term 2. Further information will be provided during Term 1.
A dedicated email address is available for specific enquires:
VCAA.GAT@education.vic.gov.au
Teachers and students can become familiar with
sample items and support materials.
As in all previous years, no special study will be required for the GAT.