In Western Australia, children who hope to go to Perth Modern School or another Gifted and Talented program sit one test in Year 6: the Academic Selective Entrance Test, or ASET. Applications for the 2028 intake are open now. Here’s how it works, from the dates and the four paper tests to how offers are made, and what the Department says about preparing.
What is Perth Modern School?
The WA Department of Education says: “Perth Modern School is Western Australia’s only fully selective school. All students attending the school have been selected through the Gifted and Talented program application process.” For the 2028 intake it has 225 Year 7 places.
Perth Modern is one part of a bigger set of programs. Many families searching for “GATE” in WA are looking for these: the official name is the Gifted and Talented Secondary Selective Entrance programs, often shortened to the GAT program, and the letters GATE appear in the application website’s address.
Gifted and Talented programs in WA
- Three kinds of program: academic, arts and languages.
- How many? “There are 24 programs across Western Australia, including one fully academically selective school and an arts college. There is also an online academic program for regional students.”
- Merit only. “GAT program entry is based purely on performance in the assessment tasks and there is no placement advantage to students who live in a school’s local catchment.”
- Timing. “The selection process starts when students are in Year 5, testing in Year 6, with placement starting from Year 7.” Limited places may also come up for Years 9, 10 and 11.
- Cost. The Department’s guidelines say “Programs are fully Government funded”.
Key dates for the 2028 intake
These dates are for children in Year 5 now, who will sit the ASET in Year 6 and start Year 7 in 2028:
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | Tuesday 13 October 2026 |
| Applications close | 6 pm Friday 5 February 2027 |
| Requests for adjusted testing conditions or ASET exemptions | By 6 pm Friday 5 February 2027 |
| ASET for Year 6 students (Perth metro, Bunbury and Albany) | Saturday 6 March 2027 |
| Round 1 offers | Late June 2027 |
| Round 2 offers | Late July 2027 |
Last checked 17 October 2026. Confirm every date on the Department’s Gifted and Talented pages before you apply, and diary the closing date: applications are made online through the Department’s website.
What’s in the ASET test?
The Department says “the ASET is made up of 4 components: reading comprehension, communicating ideas in writing, quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning.” Its handbook gives the timing:
| Component | Time and format |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 35 minutes, 35 multiple-choice questions |
| Communicating Ideas in Writing | 25 minutes, a written test |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 35 minutes, 35 multiple-choice questions |
| Abstract Reasoning | 20 minutes, 35 multiple-choice questions |
The ASET is a paper test. Children shade their multiple-choice answers in pencil in an answer booklet, and the writing is marked by hand. One reassuring detail from the handbook: “We do not deduct points for incorrect answers”, so it’s always worth having a go at every question.
The Department describes the test as one that “identifies a student’s potential, rather than their acquired knowledge.”
How offers are made
Each component score “will be standardised and added together to form a Total Standard Score (TSS)”, and academic placement is “based solely on their TSS”. Offers then go out in rounds: for the 2028 intake, in late June and late July 2027.
The Department publishes the cut-off scores from past rounds. For example, the Year 7 cut-off for Perth Modern for 2027 entry was 247.09 in Round 2. Cut-offs can change from year to year, so treat them as history rather than a target.
Families who live interstate can arrange for their child to sit the test at an ACER office, which costs $250 per student, paid to ACER.
How to prepare for the ASET
The Department is clear: “We do not endorse or recommend any form of private professional coaching or tutoring services and have no affiliation with any such service.” Its handbook suggests a light touch instead: “It may be useful to do a small amount of preparation for the test so that you know what to expect on the day and can feel comfortable and ready,” and “don’t feel pressured to over-prepare as this can have the opposite effect.”
- Read the handbook together. Knowing there are four short tests, and how long each one is, makes the day feel familiar.
- Practise the format, not the content. A few sample questions are enough. The Department “will not consider your child’s scores on practice tests” when making offers.
- Keep reading and writing for fun. Two of the four components are reading and writing.
- Protect the weekend before. Normal activities, friends and sleep matter more than extra study.
Is a Gifted and Talented program right for my child?
Not every child who sits the ASET receives an offer, and a local high school is a perfectly good path. A GAT program suits a child who wants it, enjoys a fast pace and is happy to travel. Before you apply, talk with your child about what they want from high school, think about the trip each day and what matters to them outside class, and agree together that either outcome is fine. Our guide to selective schools in each state has more questions to talk through.
Questions parents ask
What is the ASET test in WA?
The Academic Selective Entrance Test, sat in Year 6 for entry to Perth Modern School and other Gifted and Talented academic programs from Year 7. It has four paper tests: reading comprehension, writing, quantitative reasoning and abstract reasoning.
When is the ASET for 2028 entry?
Saturday 6 March 2027 for Year 6 students in Perth, Bunbury and Albany. Applications opened on 13 October 2026 and close at 6 pm on Friday 5 February 2027.
Is Perth Modern a fully selective school?
Yes. The Department says it is “Western Australia’s only fully selective school”. All of its students are selected through the Gifted and Talented application process, and it has 225 Year 7 places for the 2028 intake.
How is the ASET scored?
Each component score is standardised and added together to make a Total Standard Score. Academic placement is based solely on that score, with no advantage for living near the school.
Does my child need coaching for the ASET?
The Department doesn’t endorse or recommend coaching or tutoring. It suggests a small amount of preparation so your child knows what to expect, and says not to over-prepare.
What does GATE mean in WA?
It’s the common name for WA’s Gifted and Talented Secondary Selective Entrance programs. The official short name is the GAT program, and GATE appears in the application website’s address.
Sources
- Gifted and Talented, Department of Education Western Australia
- Testing, Department of Education Western Australia
- Gifted and Talented applicant guidelines for entry in 2028, Department of Education Western Australia
- ASET Handbook, Department of Education Western Australia
