ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => Victorian Education Discussion => GAT (General Achievement Test) => Topic started by: Joseph41 on August 06, 2020, 09:48:20 am

Title: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: Joseph41 on August 06, 2020, 09:48:20 am
So at this stage, the GAT is scheduled for Wednesday 7 October (see here for exam timetable).

How are you all feeling about it so far? Is the extra time good, or would you rather just get it done ASAP? Have you given it any thought at all?
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: whys on August 06, 2020, 10:16:13 am
The GAT is, and has always been, the least of my concerns. I understand its purpose but I can never bring myself to care about it. Honestly, I wish it wasn't so close to exams, but I don't mind too much. I've never met anyone who prepares for the GAT, and I'm not a fan of the extra time (would rather get it over and done with).
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: The Cat In The Hat on August 06, 2020, 05:05:40 pm
Our teacher wants us to prepare for it because it might affect our ATAR more than usual. Me, I don't care, altho' I will do something to prepare I guess. So right now, meh.
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: eloisegrace on August 06, 2020, 05:38:41 pm
I'm a little bit worried about the continuous changes in date due to its factor in moderation and scaling for VCE subjects. I am also wondering how it will be considering it is so close to exams and this is my first year undertaking a 3/4 subject :)
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: scientificllama on August 06, 2020, 05:50:24 pm
My school has put a lot of pressure on "perfecting" the GAT; which tbh is absurd.
I understand the need for it, but as eloisegrace said, it's terrifying that it's so close to exams.
Exams should at least be pushed another week :/
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: K888 on August 06, 2020, 06:00:15 pm
If nothing else, 2020 provides a lot of opportunities for a good GATchphrase
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: The Cat In The Hat on August 06, 2020, 07:03:58 pm
If nothing else, 2020 provides a lot of opportunities for a good GATchphrase
? What is that?  ???
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: K888 on August 06, 2020, 11:28:12 pm
? What is that?  ???
Back in the day it was a tradition on VCE DiscussionSpace to have someone come up with a theme/phrase everyone would try to work into one of their writing pieces on the GAT. In 2016 (when I was in year 12) it was Cat in the Hat (in the GAT). It's a bit of fun and I hope the tradition has continued since I graduated haha.
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: Joseph41 on August 07, 2020, 09:17:11 am
Back in the day it was a tradition on VCE DiscussionSpace

And long before this!
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: Sine on August 07, 2020, 09:24:01 am
For those saying the GAT is actually important this year - what is the reasoning for this? Has VCAA made a comment on this?
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: brothanathan on August 07, 2020, 09:26:41 am
For those saying the GAT is actually important this year - what is the reasoning for this? Has VCAA made a comment on this?

From what I'm hearing mostly, just hypothetical rumours and because of how SACs were affected by Covid.

 (Feel bad for those went through bushfires as well, respect to you)
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: Bri MT on August 07, 2020, 10:19:30 am
Back in the day it was a tradition on VCE DiscussionSpace to have someone come up with a theme/phrase everyone would try to work into one of their writing pieces on the GAT. In 2016 (when I was in year 12) it was Cat in the Hat (in the GAT). It's a bit of fun and I hope the tradition has continued since I graduated haha.

I thought 2016 (when I was in year 11) was Shannon Noll should've won Australian idol & 2017 (when I was in year 12) was Club Penguin's death
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: Sine on August 07, 2020, 10:29:21 am
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Achievement_Test

GATchphrases from 2009-2019^
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: sotirod11 on August 07, 2020, 10:41:01 am
Everyone actually found it hard to come up with the gatchphrase for 2019. I remember the two biggest options that everyone voted on was 'I love you 3000' (from Avengers) and 'Bye Sister' (from James Charles). One person suggested 'I Got the Horses in the GAT' about a week before the GAT started and everyone agreed on it unanimously.

I may or may not have made a few references to the gatchphrase in my essays...
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: ArtyDreams on August 07, 2020, 11:09:16 am
For those saying the GAT is actually important this year - what is the reasoning for this? Has VCAA made a comment on this?

I don't think any offical comment has been made yet. However, James Merlino has hinted that there will be some changes to VCE announced in the upcoming days - perhaps similar to what they did for the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires.
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: K888 on August 07, 2020, 11:21:41 am
I thought 2016 (when I was in year 11) was Shannon Noll should've won Australian idol & 2017 (when I was in year 12) was Club Penguin's death
Yep, just checked and cat in the hat was 2015 when I did my first 3/4 subject lol - my bad.
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: brothanathan on August 07, 2020, 11:40:21 am
I don't think any offical comment has been made yet. However, James Merlino has hinted that there will be some changes to VCE announced in the upcoming days - perhaps similar to what they did for the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires.

Reference to this
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: Sine on August 07, 2020, 11:47:28 am
I don't think any offical comment has been made yet. However, James Merlino has hinted that there will be some changes to VCE announced in the upcoming days - perhaps similar to what they did for the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires.
Reference to this
hmm I don't like the idea of VCAA putting too much emphasis on the GAT. imo it doesn't test the same things that vce intends to test. As suggested on the other GAT thread you can't really do any significant study or prep for it.

What do current students think about the GAT being more significant this year?
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: TigerMum on August 07, 2020, 11:57:36 am
What do current students think about the GAT being more significant this year?

Only doing one 3/4 subject this year, so take my opinion as you wish, I'm strongly against the GAT being more significant this year. As you said, it doesn't really assess what the VCE assesses. I also don't understand why someone's humanities and arts results should matter at all if you don't study any of these subjects in VCE, same thing with the maths component.
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: whys on August 07, 2020, 11:59:56 am
What do current students think about the GAT being more significant this year?
I hope this doesn't happen. I absolutely suck at the GAT according to the scores I got last year, and it will definitely ruin my study scores if they decide to use it. :'( I honestly don't like the GAT at all and I definitely agree with you that it doesn't really test what the VCE is supposed to test. I don't think it makes sense for them to make the GAT count towards our study scores in any way, shape or form unless someone is away for their exams (the standard contribution of the GAT to study scores). There should be other solutions during the COVID crisis in the unfortunate circumstance that exams cannot be run properly or there are issues with SAC moderation due to different schools running it differently, instead of using the GAT as any sort of substitute.
Title: Re: GAT 2020 - how is everybody feeling at the moment?
Post by: The Cat In The Hat on August 07, 2020, 12:10:02 pm
I hope this doesn't happen. I absolutely suck at the GAT according to the scores I got last year, and it will definitely ruin my study scores if they decide to use it. :'( I honestly don't like the GAT at all and I definitely agree with you that it doesn't really test what the VCE is supposed to test. I don't think it makes sense for them to make the GAT count towards our study scores in any way, shape or form unless someone is away for their exams (the standard contribution of the GAT to study scores). There should be other solutions during the COVID crisis in the unfortunate circumstance that exams cannot be run properly or there are issues with SAC moderation due to different schools running it differently, instead of using the GAT as any sort of substitute.
What kind of different solutions would they use? The GAT, at any rate, does have precedent. Personally I don't think exams will be able to be done normally, whatever they do end up doing. But I could be wrong.
Best solution, don't read if offended by religion :)
Jesus returns and we don't need to do the GAT or worry about any of this :D