The STAT test is also known as the Special Tertiary Admissions Test, which allows universities to assess whether you are capable of attending and succeeding at university.
The test is suitable for people such as the following:
- Mature-age applicants who don’t have a recent or standard Year 12 qualification
- Applicants who completed their previous studies outside Australia
- Applicants who did not gain a satisfactory ATAR (for certain courses and universities)
The STAT test is your typical aptitude test that evaluates verbal and quantitative reasoning. Specific curriculum knowledge is not required to be able to pass. In other words, you cannot study “content” for the test, just concepts.
There are two different STAT tests that you will be required to complete:
- STAT Multiple Choice test
- STAT Written English test
DO ALL UNIVERSITIES ACCEPT STAT RESULTS?
Requirements vary from state to state within Australia. Individual institutions set their own admission requirements. You will need to refer to the university of choice.
AM I ELIGIBLE TO SIT THE STAT TEST?
Candidates should check with the institution to which they are applying to assess whether you are eligible as a stat student. As a general rule, an applicant must be 18 years or over by a certain date in the year of admissions to use STAT results in their application but there may be extenuating circumstances.
WHICH TEST(S) DO I SIT?
Refer to the current university course guide to see what the admission requirements are for that particular university. They are the only people that can advise if they will accept STAT results and which test(s) are required (eg Multiple Choice only or Multiple Choice and Written English).
HOW MANY TIMES CAN I SIT STAT?
Candidates may only sit the STAT test once per test cycle. This runs from 15 April to 14 April of the following year.
WHAT IS THE WRITTEN PART OF THE EXAM?
The STAT Written English requires written responses to two themes. Four comments (prompts) will be given for the students to respond to.
The test will offer the following directions to candidates:
DIRECTIONS
- There are two parts to this test, and four comments are offered for each part. You are required to produce two pieces of writing − one in response to a comment from Part A, and one in response to a comment from Part B.
- Part A is a more formal public affairs issue that invites argument. Part B is a less formal topic that invites more personal reflection.
- One hour is allocated for this test, with an additional five minutes reading time.
- Your responses to the essay comments are written directly on the test paper. You should write your essays neatly and legibly in pen.
- Circle the comment you are responding to. Do not try to address all of the other comments
- Give each piece of writing a title that will help orient a reader to the approach you are taking.
The following themes and comments indicate the kind of stimulus material that will be offered in this test
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
PART A
- Technology has a destablising effect on humans and should be used with caution.
- Technology presents humanity with the greatest opportunity ever known to man.
- Too much of technological advancement is focused on greed rather than on good.
- If we can provide all of humanity with the tools and technology, we will be able to solve the world’s biggest problems.
PART B
- Family is the most important part of our lives because it gives us our grounding and stability in life.
- Individuals should be able to decide whether they spend time with their family or take their personal space.
- It is important to make our own space in the world rather than fall into the same patterns as our family.
- Having boundaries in our life is the most important thing we can do for our mental health.
