Special Tertiary Admissions Test

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


The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) has been developed by the Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER) 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 TAFE.


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 not a test of your knowledge on specific academic subjects. It is recognised 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.  The purpose is to assess your ability to understand and analyse material given to you, and to think critically about issues.

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.  The purpose is to assess your ability to organise and express your thoughts in a logical and effective way.

Most people are required to sit both sections. Once you enrol and pay to sit STAT, you will receive confirmation of the time and location of your test as well as the Candidate Information Booklet which includes sample questions. Candidates can also access the Candidate Information booklet online prior to booking for the test. Click here to download the free booklet from the ACER website.

You can also purchase from TISC or ACER an additional red-covered sample question booklet.

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Costs:  
One section of the test (Written English or Multiple Choice)  $115.00
Both sections of the test on the same day  $145.00
Red sample question booklet $25.00
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What can it do for me?

Sitting the test may assist a candidate in their application for university or TAFE 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.

Applicants must still apply for course(s) of their choice through TISC or TAFE by the stipulated closing dates. This application is separate to your STAT booking.

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Who can do it?

If you are applying for entry in Semester 1, 2011, you can sit STAT if you are at least 20 years* of age before 1 March 2011. If you are applying for mid-year entry in 2010, you must be at least 20 years of age before 1 August 2010. You cannot sit STAT more than once in the same STAT year, i.e. you cannot sit twice between 1 May 2010 and 30 April 2011, even if you sat STAT in a different state.

*An age restriction does not apply for entry to TAFE.

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STAT Scores

Both STAT Multiple Choice and STAT Written English results are reported as scaled scores between 100 to 200. Scaled scores rather than percentages are used because there is no pass or fail mark in STAT. There are three scores for STAT Multiple Choice: one for the verbal component, one for the quantitative component and an overall mark. All are calculated independently. The STAT score scale reflects the differing abilities of the candidates and the different degrees of difficulty of the test items.

From 2010 ACER have changed the calculation methodology of STAT scores from that used previously. This means that STAT scores from May 2010 onwards will have a different meaning from previous years (1996-2009). The minimum STAT scores required by the universities for candidates with results prior to 2010 are different from those on the current STAT Booking form.

Results from 1996 to 2009

  • Curtin and Murdoch Universities require minimum scores of 145 in both Written English and Multiple Choice (higher of Quantitative and Verbal). Attainment of 145 Written English will satisfy Curtin and Murdoch’s English competency requirement.
  • ECU requires minimum scores of 145 Written English and 115 Multiple Choice (higher of Quantitative and Verbal)
    Attainment of 145 Written English satisfy ECU’s English competency requirement.
  • UWA require minimum scores of 155 Written English and 150 Multiple Choice (Verbal). Attainment of 145 Written English and 150 Multiple Choice (Verbal) will satisfy UWA’s English competency requirement.

Candidates with STAT results from 1996 to 2009 should refer to the STAT Rank Calculator on our website in order to obtain a current STAT ranking. UWA does not use STAT Rank.

Results from May 2010 onwards

  • Curtin and Murdoch Universities require minimum scores of 140 Written English and 135 Multiple Choice (higher of Quantitative and Verbal). Attainment of 140 Written English will satisfy Curtin and Murdoch’s English competency requirement.
  • ECU requires minimum scores of 140 Written English and 110 Multiple Choice (higher of Quantitative and Verbal)
    Attainment of 140 Written English satisfy ECU’s English competency requirement.
  • UWA require minimum scores of 160 Written English and 140 Multiple Choice (Verbal).
    Attainment of 140 in both Written English and Multiple Choice (Verbal) will satisfy UWA’s English competency requirement.

Candidates with STAT results from May 2010 onwards should refer to the following STAT Rank Tables on our website in order to obtain a current STAT ranking. UWA does not use STAT Rank.

STAT Rank Table for Murdoch & Curtin
STAT Rank Table for ECU

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Special Sittings of STAT

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 29 October 2010.

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. Click here for more information.

Religious or Work Reasons
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.

Interstate and Overseas
TISC does not organise interstate or overseas sittings. You can organise to sit the STAT in NSW/ACT, QLD, SA/NT or VIC through the relevant interstate admissions centre. Candidates in Tasmania should contact VTAC. Candidates in NT should contact SATAC.

If you are an Australian Citizen or permanent resident and you want to sit the STAT overseas, you should contact the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) at www.acer.edu.au/stat/overseas.html or on (03) 9277 5586 before 5 November 2010.

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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 2010 session dates.

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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 our downloads page
Mail bookings close a week before the test, ie. Friday 23 April for a test on Saturday 1 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.

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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/Christina 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 Road
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

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