Everything WA families need to know about the WA GATE Program, the Gifted and Talented Secondary Selective Entrance Program and the Perth Modern School Entry Test — plus expert, exam-accurate ASET Practice Test preparation from Selectivetrial.
The WA Gifted and Talented Program — commonly called the WA GATE Program — gives high-achieving students access to an enriched, challenging curriculum in participating public secondary schools across Western Australia. To win a place in the Gifted and Talented Secondary Selective Entrance Program, students must sit a single competitive entrance exam: the ASET (Academic Selective Entrance Test), developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).
Entry to Perth Modern School — WA's only fully selective academic school — and to academic gifted and talented schools wa-wide. The Perth Modern School Entry Test is, in practice, the ASET.
Year 6 students sit the wa gifted and talented test for entry into Year 7 the following year, as part of the gifted and talented application wa process.
The academic selective entrance test wa measures higher-order cognitive and reasoning skills — academic potential — rather than memorised curriculum knowledge.
The ASET comprises four equally weighted components — three multiple-choice and one written response — completed in a single session of approximately 2 hours 50 minutes. Strong ASET Practice Test preparation across all four areas is the single biggest driver of test-day confidence.
Understand and interpret excerpts from a wide range of literary genres. Each question offers four options (A–D).
Respond to an image or statement prompt — think creatively, generate original ideas and communicate them coherently.
Logical reasoning on a quantitative basis: interpret information, spot patterns and relationships, and solve problems.
Pattern problems that measure the capacity to recognise relationships, hypothesise and evaluate.
| Component | Questions | Time | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 35 | 35 min | Multiple choice |
| Communicating Ideas in Writing | 1 task | 25 min | Written response |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 35 | 35 min | Multiple choice |
| Abstract Reasoning | 35 | 20 min | Multiple choice |
A competitive test with high cut-offs leaves nothing to chance. The official WA Department of Education website provides essential gate program western australia details, and alongside those free official materials, Selectivetrial provides the best ASET Practice Test papers, practice questions and study plans built to the latest WA format.
Build genuine familiarity with question patterns, difficulty and pacing across the whole wa gifted and talented test.
Uncover strengths and weaknesses and target them well before test day with detailed performance reports.
Increase confidence, reduce anxiety and perform better on the day of the academic selective entrance test wa.
The Gifted and Talented Secondary Selective Entrance Program spans participating public secondary schools across the state — the WA GATE Program includes 24 participating schools across Academic, Arts and Languages streams. Perth Modern School is the most sought-after placement and the home of the perth modern school gifted program. The minimum threshold for academic consideration is a Total Standard Score (TSS) of 209.5; competitive schools require much higher.
| Academic GATE School | Year 7 places | Min TSS (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Perth Modern School · most competitive | 225 | 244.34 |
| Willetton SHS | 64 | 235.98 |
| Shenton College | 64 | 231.55 |
| Bob Hawke College | 32 | 230.80 |
| Harrisdale SHS | 32 | 226.57 |
| Melville SHS | 32 | 224.15 |
| Carine SHS | 32 | 221.98 |
| Duncraig SHS | 32 | 216.71 |
| Bunbury / Kelmscott / Comet Bay / Fremantle | 32 each | 209.50 |
| Online Program (regional only) | Unlimited | 209.50 |
Selective Arts (e.g. John Curtin College of the Arts) and Languages (Mount Lawley SHS, Rossmoyne SHS) streams also use the ASET. Entrance scores vary year to year — use these 2026 figures as a guide and confirm current numbers on the official WA Department of Education website.
An indicative cycle for Year 7 entry. Always verify the official dates for your intake on the WA Department of Education website, as the gifted and talented application wa deadlines shift each year.
Applications open & parent information evenings begin.
Applications close — no late applications are accepted.
ASET sat under standard conditions, with regional WA testing in the same month.
ASET Performance Reports emailed to families; Round 1 offers released.
Round 2 offers released; reserve lists remain active for later vacancies.
Reading Comprehension, Communicating Ideas in Writing, Quantitative Reasoning and Abstract Reasoning — all in the current WA ASET style format. Choose the pack that fits your family's preparation plan.
All practice questions follow the current WA ASET style test format. Every paid subscriber also receives a free Handy English Grammar Book. Not ready to buy? Start risk-free:
🎁 Start a Free ASET Trial — no card requiredWe've built a high-quality ASET question bank using previous test papers, the curriculum and government-published sample papers — so practice mirrors the real aset test wa in pattern, difficulty and timing. It's a complete, exam-accurate system for the gifted education wa journey.
Every submitted writing is assessed on:
A complete online practice platform for the gifted and talented program perth and state-wide — built for focused preparation, with live online tutoring and a free grammar book for every paid subscriber.
The Academic Selective Entrance Test (ASET) is the entrance exam for WA's selective academic and gifted and talented programs, usually taken in Year 6 for Year 7 entry. Conducted by ACER, it assesses academic potential rather than school grades across four components: Reading Comprehension, Writing, Quantitative Reasoning and Abstract Reasoning.
The ASET is the entrance test for academic selective programs, while the WA GATE Program (Gifted and Talented Education) is the broader program — which can also include specialist Arts or Languages streams. In short, you sit the ASET to enter the Gifted and Talented Secondary Selective Entrance Program.
Perth Modern School, WA's only fully academic selective school, uses the ASET for admissions — so the Perth Modern School Entry Test is the ASET. Selectivetrial offers dedicated Perth Modern School gifted program preparation through ASET mock tests and writing practice.
Based on 2026 data, Perth Modern School required a minimum Total Standard Score (TSS) of about 244.34 — the highest of all gifted and talented schools wa. Competitive programs such as Willetton SHS (235.98) and Shenton College (231.55) also sit well above the minimum threshold of 209.5. Scores change each year, so treat these as a guide.
Practise consistently with ASET online practice tests, review past question types and improve time management. Selectivetrial provides mock exams and structured preparation tools tailored to the academic selective entrance test wa, plus a free trial to begin.
We've built a high-quality question bank from previous papers, curriculum and government sample papers. Practising on our platform builds confidence about the question pattern, the standard of questions and the timing. Our subject-matter experts analyse every pattern and difficulty level, and trial exams reveal exactly how the real wa gifted and talented test feels in interface, method, difficulty and time management.
Yes. The gifted and talented application wa process is open state-wide. Regional testing centres operate outside Perth, regional students offered metropolitan places can access boarding facilities, and an unlimited-capacity Online Program is available to regional students who meet the minimum threshold.
Because the ASET tests reasoning rather than memorised content, intensive coaching isn't required and the free official materials are valuable. What consistent, well-paced practice adds is familiarity with question style, timing and the on-screen experience — building confidence and reducing test-day anxiety. Selectivetrial focuses on format-accurate familiarisation, not cramming.
Start free with a time-scored ASET Practice Test trial, then build exam-perfect confidence with structured Selectivetrial practice and tutor-marked writing for the WA Gifted and Talented Program.
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