ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => Victorian Education Discussion => GAT (General Achievement Test) => Topic started by: misskaraleah on April 08, 2008, 04:00:05 pm

Title: The GAT
Post by: misskaraleah on April 08, 2008, 04:00:05 pm
Is there any possible way to prepare yourself for the GAT other than just doing the practice GATS??

Also, an examiner told me that regardless if i got A+'s on my SAC's all year, if i didnt recieve a high GAT result, the SAC results would be downgraded. Is this true?

 :-\
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: ed_saifa on April 08, 2008, 04:05:01 pm
I heard that as well. But I thought that sac marks will be scaled down to match the marks achieved on the exam of that subject.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: random.photon on April 08, 2008, 04:07:24 pm
The Gat is just General Knowledge based. So i don't really think one would have to go to the extent of even doing past Gat questions, however if you feel you have to then its probably the best indication of how it will look like. And yeh i am pretty confused as well of how it actually affects sacs, exams etc.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: misskaraleah on April 08, 2008, 04:10:48 pm
??
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: ed_saifa on April 08, 2008, 04:13:16 pm
I'm sure the Gat only affects the derived scores.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: misskaraleah on April 08, 2008, 04:22:24 pm
Yeah well i hope they dont change my scores too much. I dont want my hard work to have gone to waste if i bum out on the GAT.

Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: Nick on April 08, 2008, 04:28:36 pm
There are definitely some bizarre myths that surround the GAT and its purpose.
Firstly, the GAT does NOT directly impact on your SAC scores. VCAA vaguely claim that the GAT is used for statistical moderation in some subjects but generally speaking, it isn't used unless GAT scores are deemed more reliable than examination scores.

The GAT is also used to determine which students' VCE exams will be marked a second time (this is only applicable to subjects in which exams are only marked once- accounting, maths and sciences). VCAA states that, "a student’s GAT score is used to calculate their predicted examination score. If a student’s examination score is significantly different from this predicted score, their paper will be marked again" (VCAA website)

The GAT is also used for the calculation of a derived exam score.

Essentially the GAT is something that you shouldn't really lose any sleep over, as it can only impact on you positively. It's simply used as a predictive tool which has the capacity to improve the validity of your VCE results. 

You can read more on how the GAT is used at the following link:
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vce/exams/gat/relates.html
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: Mao on April 08, 2008, 05:08:54 pm
GAT cannot negatively impact your scores. nothing will be moderated down because of bad marks on your GAT.
It can only serve to help you for your ENTER

however, it is recommended to do well, since it removes some risk if you were unable to attend an exam, and also that some unis are now taking its scores into consideration in the selection process.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: Eriny on April 08, 2008, 05:44:40 pm
I think the GAT is worth taking seriously. Stay for the whole 3 hours and do your best. I wouldn't bother studying for it though, maybe just look at past papers to get an idea of what you'll be doing.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: iamdan08 on April 08, 2008, 06:39:44 pm
I tried and got mediocre scores. In the written task i think i got a sore of like 35. My friend, who can bearly string a sentence together mananaged to get a 40. I dont think it is an accurate representation of your ability.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: chikopapi on April 08, 2008, 06:54:18 pm
lol practise GATS?!!? hahaha. I loled.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: jsimmo on April 08, 2008, 06:55:45 pm
lol practise GATS?!!? hahaha. I loled.

I dont think it is funny? It's good to go over past GAT's and get an idea of how they are structured and what type of questions are asked.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: misskaraleah on April 08, 2008, 07:10:29 pm
Thanks for the advice everyone. Now im a bit clear about it all :)
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: ed_saifa on April 08, 2008, 07:13:59 pm
A lot of the Gat questions are literature type questions >.<
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: costargh on April 08, 2008, 07:24:10 pm
I got 43 for Written and am confident I will get a score less than that for English because I don't think half the state tries in it.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: ed_saifa on April 08, 2008, 07:25:41 pm
I got 43 for Written and am confident I will get a score less than that for English because I don't think half the state tries in it.
Damn! You got 43? O__O..I got 19 or something.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: AppleXY on April 08, 2008, 07:48:30 pm
LOL 43.

I got 38 or something. :P
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: costargh on April 08, 2008, 07:50:12 pm
Yeh but I don't read too much into it. I'm very sure that with so many year 12's sitting midyears they could hardly give a F**K about writing like 2-3 essays or whatever it was.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: Matt The Rat on April 08, 2008, 08:04:01 pm
Yeah, I ended up with a 45 for the written so I wouldn't put too much basis on the GAT either.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: daniel99 on April 08, 2008, 09:23:45 pm
So is the standardised score that you get the predicted study score that you will get for english...e.g. if your standardised score for written communitcation is 42, does that mean that they think you'll get 42?
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: Nick on April 08, 2008, 09:31:04 pm
If you achieve a score of 42 for written communication, they will compare the mark you obtained on the GAT with your english exam mark. If there is a considerable variance in the two scores (that is, your english exam mark is substantially lower than your GAT mark for written communication), they may decide to mark your english exam again in an attempt to investigate the inconsistency. Given that the english exam is already marked by two examiners though, I don't know how common this process would be. I think the written communication score is used mainly for calculating a derived exam score.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: elaine on April 17, 2008, 10:42:11 pm
So how much of the derived score comes from your GAT?
I know someone who didn't do the exam for Japanese, and got a derived score- she ended up  with a 48!
My friend probably would've got at least 45+ if she didn't do the exam- she basically got 100% for every SAC, but ended up with a 39 because of the exam
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: jess3254 on April 17, 2008, 11:21:02 pm
I'm confused, how does the GAT help if you are unable to attend an exam?
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: AppleThief on April 18, 2008, 04:46:12 pm
I'm confused, how does the GAT help if you are unable to attend an exam?
It is used to calculate a derived study score based on SACs and the GAT, I believe. For example, if you're comatose during the exam, a derived score will have to be used. But generally, I think people have to do the exams unless there are exceptional circumstances (e.g. comatose)
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: enwiabe on April 18, 2008, 11:28:58 pm
The GAT is fucking terrible re: Written Communication.

I got 32 as my standardised SS... compared with 44 in English. I'll give you a better example, a friend of mine got 24 as his written comms GAT SS and 46 in the real thing. It's a god damn joke.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: Rietie on April 18, 2008, 11:44:27 pm
The GAT is fucking terrible re: Written Communication.

I got 32 as my standardised SS... compared with 44 in English. I'll give you a better example, a friend of mine got 24 as his written comms GAT SS and 46 in the real thing. It's a god damn joke.

Hmmm.... I'm writing a viki article on the GAT.... Do you think I should include that? :)
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: /0 on April 19, 2008, 02:36:02 am
So say if you just flunked the GAT and didn't even try... would they investigate you if you got good exam marks at the end of the year?
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: Mao on April 19, 2008, 09:50:49 am
So say if you just flunked the GAT and didn't even try... would they investigate you if you got good exam marks at the end of the year?
no, GAT can only help your exam score (and help to calculate your derived score if you were unable to attend the exam), it cannot have any negative impact on your study-scores

however, some unis (monash and a few others) will be taking in account your GAT results if you do not meet the clearly-in ENTER, so it's worth doing well in.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: aidansteele on April 19, 2008, 11:53:35 am
The GAT serves as an accurate model of general academic ability, especially if you put no specific effort into any of your subjects. :P In Year 12, all my GAT marks dropped by 4-6 points and reflected my study scores +/- 2 points. It was nice to be able to quantify my downward spiral - at this rate, I won't even be able to string a sentence together by the end of my degree. :)
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: Eriny on April 19, 2008, 11:55:25 am
I got 47 for written communication on the GAT, I wish I got that for Lit. I also got 43 for Maths, which was much much better than my Methods score.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: enwiabe on April 19, 2008, 12:13:04 pm
The GAT is fucking terrible re: Written Communication.

I got 32 as my standardised SS... compared with 44 in English. I'll give you a better example, a friend of mine got 24 as his written comms GAT SS and 46 in the real thing. It's a god damn joke.

Hmmm.... I'm writing a viki article on the GAT.... Do you think I should include that? :)

No, keep all personal opinions (mine or yours) out of it.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: cara.mel on April 19, 2008, 02:11:03 pm
I got 50 for humanities in the GAT ^_^

If I actually did those subjects, they'd be incredibly hard and anything above 40 would require a lot of work. A hell of a lot more than say 49+ in science subjects

Scaling is unfair *now off topic but meh*
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: clinton_09 on April 19, 2008, 04:00:17 pm
i remember the GAT last year i think i did it in 2 hours or not even coz everyone got up and started to leave, and i thort that was a good idea to so i guessed heaps of the multiple choice and left. But this year i will take up the very generous 3 hours and try my hardest.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: millstone on April 19, 2008, 04:14:25 pm
my friend got 49 in english but got 21 in the written communication thing in the gat last year lol
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: clinton_09 on April 19, 2008, 04:17:36 pm
my friend got 49 in english but got 21 in the written communication thing in the gat last year lol

well that goes to show how accurate it is
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: costargh on April 19, 2008, 04:40:12 pm
My friend got 0 for the GAT in Written Communication and 50 in English...
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: Mao on April 19, 2008, 04:42:49 pm
My friend got 0 for the GAT in Written Communication and 50 in English...
Is that even possible? =\
he/she probably just walked out of the GAT without writing anything, haha
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: millstone on April 19, 2008, 04:45:09 pm
i seriously think the gat is a huge joke

this year will be the third time i've done it, day before my birthday
last year it was on the day of my birthday that kind of sucked especially because my school doesn't let us get out early if we finish early
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: costargh on April 19, 2008, 05:30:18 pm
My friend got 0 for the GAT in Written Communication and 50 in English...
Is that even possible? =\
he/she probably just walked out of the GAT without writing anything, haha

Lol na was just kiddin =P
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: ice_blockie on April 19, 2008, 05:54:01 pm
LOL...I got 49 in Written Communication. When I opened my results I was like...that's pretty cool!



...Then I realised it didn't really mean anything and wouldn't contribute to my ENTER...hahaha...damn it... if only it was
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: Nick on April 19, 2008, 06:19:05 pm
I'd also like to express my dismay in regards to the GAT. LOL

I got a 33 for Written Communication and I got 48 for English. What a load of rubbish. It certainly raises questions about the legitimacy of the Written Communication section. I then ended up with a score of 42 for the "Mathematics, Science and Technology" section. Like what the hell? I pretty much rushed that entire section because I didn't care about it.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: Mao on April 19, 2008, 07:37:40 pm
I got 49 for humanities/arts xD

Now i need to work out the probability of me fluking all those answers, LOL
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: misskaraleah on April 24, 2008, 03:18:43 pm
LOL...I got 49 in Written Communication. When I opened my results I was like...that's pretty cool!



...Then I realised it didn't really mean anything and wouldn't contribute to my ENTER...hahaha...damn it... if only it was
I did exactly the same thing! i got a good mark in the english one, but the maths... not so good :(
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: AppleXY on April 24, 2008, 03:38:20 pm
I don't think ill do the gat well this year because itll  be my bday. looool
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: lleeea on June 12, 2018, 04:38:22 pm
Hey all,

Tomorrows the GAT. Is anyone prepared? I know I'm not. I literally havent studied at all. Will I fail? I dont know if I should be taking the Gat seriously. Like i know it kinda contributes to your atar and stuff. And Im not doing any maths subject this year and i dont remember any math. does that mean i will fail the math section in the GAT? lol Im so confused. IS IT OKAY IF YOU DONT DO WELL ON THE GAT?
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: Joseph41 on June 12, 2018, 04:44:41 pm
Hey all,

Tomorrows the GAT. Is anyone prepared? I know I'm not. I literally havent studied at all. Will I fail? I dont know if I should be taking the Gat seriously. Like i know it kinda contributes to your atar and stuff. And Im not doing any maths subject this year and i dont remember any math. does that mean i will fail the math section in the GAT? lol Im so confused. IS IT OKAY IF YOU DONT DO WELL ON THE GAT?

Hey lleeea!

You can check out our main GAT discussion here. :) It has some great information about the GAT, and also gives you a place to chat about it (like this!) both before and after. I'm going to lock this thread after I make this post just to avoid confusion of having multiple GAT discussions go on at once. :)

To answer your questions, I think it's really difficult to feel "prepared" for the GAT, because it's actually quite difficult to study for. If possible, I wouldn't let this stress you out too much, because I think very many people will be in the same position. Your performance on the GAT is unlikely to heavily impact your ATAR, but that's explained more in the thread I've just linked. :)

Feel free to message me if you can't find you way to that other thread! ;D Best of luck for tomorrow!
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: lleeea on June 10, 2019, 05:12:12 pm
Omg i havent studied whatsoever for the gat. and plus, i dont even know how to study for it. and what if ur not doing any math subject, how can u still pass the math component of the gat, i did horribly last year in the math component had to guess like half of the answers.
Title: Re: The GAT
Post by: Sine on June 10, 2019, 05:35:41 pm
Omg i havent studied whatsoever for the gat. and plus, i dont even know how to study for it. and what if ur not doing any math subject, how can u still pass the math component of the gat, i did horribly last year in the math component had to guess like half of the answers.
You aren't meant to study for GAT (and most people don't) - the representation on AN probably doesn't reflect this though. However, it would be good to actually try during the exam and just do your best.

Also, there is no "pass" mark for any section of the GAT - they are scored the same way as study scores from 0 to 50. WIth a mean of 30 and a stanadrd deviation of 7.

None of the GAT scores will mean anything if you sit all your exams and there aren't any disruptions to the exams.