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How will La Trobe’s consideration of GAT scores work?

Applicants through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) will be able to authorise VTAC to obtain their GAT scores from the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Selection officers will consider the scores of applicants who’d narrowly miss out on an offer in the normal selection process. A sufficiently high GAT score will lead to a re-ranking upwards, and an offer they wouldn’t otherwise receive.

Different courses may consider different parts of the GAT. For example, some courses will only be interested in the Written Communication and Humanities and Social Sciences parts of the GAT, while others will give greater consideration to the Science/Maths part.

Why is La Trobe giving consideration to GAT scores?

Because we acknowledge that some students have stronger abilities than their ENTER suggests, and we can identify these students by good results in an aptitude test. As all VCE students and Victorian IB students sit the GAT, there's no need to ask applicants to sit another test.

I’m unhappy with my GAT score. Will I be disadvantaged by not supplying it?

Applicants with lower GAT scores won’t be ranked down for selection purposes. However, where two applicants are equal in every respect except that one supplied a good GAT score and the other didn’t supply a GAT score, the applicant with the GAT score will have an advantage.

I sat the GAT before 2008. Can you still consider my score for 2009 selection?

If you sat the GAT earlier but you’re applying on the basis of your Year 12 ENTER, you’ll receive the same consideration as current Year 12 applicants. If you have more than one GAT score, the University will consider the highest score (only).

I did better in the GAT in Year 11 than in Year 12. Which score will you consider?

The highest result. We know some students do better in Year 11 (when they’re under less pressure), and believe the highest result is the most reliable indicator of a student's aptitude.

Who’ll benefit from consideration of GAT scores?

Applicants for courses that select Year 12 applicants mainly on the basis of their ENTER. There may be fewer benefits for applicants where courses select on the basis of other requirements such as art folios or interviews.

I don't live in Victoria and haven't sat the GAT. Will I be disadvantaged?

No, just as Victorian students won’t be disadvantaged by not supplying a GAT score.