Tertiary Institutions Service Centre

Special Tertiary Admissions Test

What is STAT?
Costs?
What can it do for me?
Who can do it?
When is it held?
How to Enrol?
Preparation Courses


The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) is designed to assess competencies commonly considered important for success in tertiary study. Anyone who is 20 years* of age before 1 March in the year in which they wish to commence studies is eligible. The STAT provides an avenue of entry to a tertiary institution for those who do not have the formal entry requirements. It is available all over Western Australia. *An age restriction does not apply for entry to TAFEWA.


What is STAT? STAT is the Special Tertiary Admissions Test. It is a national test for mature age people designed to assess aptitude for learning in a tertiary environment. It is recognized in all Australian states. There are two sections: STAT Multiple Choice: An aptitude test that assesses both verbal and quantitative skills. It is a 2 hour test with 70 multiple choice questions, half of which are Humanities and Social Sciences based, and the other half are Mathematics and Science based. Written English: A one hour test in which the candidate is asked to write short essays on two different topics: Part A is a public affairs issue that invites argument, while Part B asks for a more personal point of view. Each section gives a choice of four topics. Most people need to sit both. If you enrol and pay to sit STAT, you will receive a candidate information booklet containing examples of the types of questions used in these tests. You will also receive a blue-covered sample question booklet if you apply to sit STAT Multiple Choice. You may also purchase from TISC an additional red-covered question booklet.


Costs:
One section of the test (Written English or Multiple Choice)	$110.00
Both sections of the test on the same day	$140.00
Red sample question booklet	$20.00
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What can it do for me? Sitting the test may assist a candidate in their application for university or TAFEWA admission. However, it is solely the candidate's responsibility to find out whether STAT can be used for admission to the course in which they are interested. The best way to determine this is to contact the admissions office at the University involved or the Information Officer at the TAFE college concerned. top

Who can do it? If you are applying for entry in Semester 1, 2008, you can sit STAT if you are at least 20 years* of age before 1 March 2009. If you are applying for mid-year entry in 2008, you must be at least 20 years of age before 1 August 2008. You cannot sit STAT more than once in the same STAT year, i.e. you cannot sit twice between 1 May 2008 and 30 April 2009, even if you sat STAT in a different state. An age restriction does not apply for entry to TAFEWA. Candidates with Special Needs Any request for special test arrangements must be made in writing to TISC providing evidence to support the request. TISC must receive these documents no later* than Friday 7 November 2008. Special test arrangements can be made for candidates with disabilities. These arrangements can include braille or enlarged paper, scribe, extra time, use of special equipment, etc. Metropolitan candidates who for religious or work reasons cannot sit STAT on Saturdays, two dates are set for these candidates in May and in November. It is also possible to sit STAT overseas if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident. The overseas testing online registrations and application forms are available from the Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER) or by contacting the STAT Project Officer on (03) 9277 5586. The completed application form should be returned to ACER before 30 October 2008. Applicants must still apply for the course(s) of their choice through TISC. top

When is it held? Metropolitan sessions are held at Canning College from May to November each year. Two sessions are held in the country regions: in May and November. The May country session will be held if there are at least three booking forms received from that particular area. If there are insufficient numbers then the test will be made available to candidates in the second half of the year. Click here for 2008 session dates. top

How to Enrol? Enrolments can be made from April onwards by completing a STAT booking form and submitting the form to TISC. To obtain a STAT booking form: Telephone TISC (08) 9318 8000. Office Hours 9.00am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday, or Download STAT Booking Form from downloads page Mail bookings close a week before the test, ie. Friday 25 April for test on Saturday 3 May. Counter bookings close at 12:00 noon on Thursday before the test, unless the session is already full. Do not submit an application form if you are unable to sit the next available test. If you are enrolled in a STAT preparation course, please check the date your course finishes before sending your STAT booking form to TISC. top

Preparation Courses STAT candidates should be able to sit the tests by simply familiarising themselves with the booklets containing sample questions that they receive at the time they book for STAT. However, people who have not recently been involved in formal study or did not complete their education, frequently ask if there is additional support and preparation to enable them to approach STAT with confidence. A number of institutions offer STAT preparation courses throughout the year or just at peak times of demand for the STAT. The following list does not claim to cover all such courses, but just the ones that TISC is currently aware of. Disclaimer The inclusion of this information is a response to frequent inquiries by candidates and does not imply in any way whatsoever support by TISC for these courses or their value as a means of preparation for the STAT. Metropolitan Area Canning College Marquis Street Bentley WA 6102 Telephone: (08) 9458 9644 Murdoch University (Murdoch, Rockingham and Peel Campuses) Telephone:(08) 9360 2142 slearn@murdoch.edu.au Tuart College Banksia Street Tuart Hill WA 6060 Telephone:(08) 9242 6222 tuart@tuartcollege.wa.edu.au Country Localities Albany Contact: William Griffiths/Kristina Penn Social Sciences Great Southern TAFE Anson Road ALBANY WA 6330 Telephone: (08) 9892 7571 or 9892 8754 Bunbury Student Central Edith Cowan University - South West Campus (Bunbury) Robertson Drive BUNBURY WA 6230 Telephone: (08) 9780 7856 Esperance Curtin University of Technology Pink Lake Street ESPERANCE WA 6450 Telephone: (08) 9071 9570 Geraldton Student Services Geraldton Universities Centre 33 Onslow Street GERALDTON WA 6531 Telephone: (08) 9920 4400 info@guc.edu.au Kalgoorlie Centre for Regional Education Curtin University of Technology Locked Bag 22 KALGOORLIE WA 6433 Telephone: 1300 730 897 top