Every exam, every year. One structured plan.
A comprehensive, structured curriculum that guides students through every major milestone in their academic journey.
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The state that closes early.
Western Australia's GATE window closes in Term 1 of Year 6 — the earliest deadline in the country, with a hard evening cut-off. The ASET test spans reading, writing, quantitative and abstract reasoning. Preparation here is a race against the calendar, and we surface every countdown.
The WA Academic Journey
Navigate key milestones from primary school through to the WACE with our integrated preparation program.
Primary School — Years 3 to 6
Year 3
NAPLAN
Foundation assessment and baseline establishment
FoundationYear 5
NAPLAN
Benchmarking — and the year GATE applications open: WA's window closes early, in Term 1 of Year 6
AdvancementApplications (2027 entry): Close 6:00pm 6 Feb 2026Year 6
ASET
The GATE selection test, sat early in Year 6 — Reading, Writing, Quantitative and Abstract Reasoning
Intensive PrepApplications (2027 entry): Close 6:00pm 6 Feb 2026High School — Years 7 to 12
Year 7
GATE entry + NAPLAN
GATE program entry and the first high-school benchmark
ExcellenceYear 9
NAPLAN
Final NAPLAN benchmark
ExcellenceYear 10–12
WACE
Senior secondary mastery
MasteryWA GATE Academic & the ASET
One test, 24 schools. WA's Academic Selective Entrance Test (ASET) is the single gateway to Perth Modern and every GATE Academic, Arts and Languages program. Note: it tests Abstract Reasoning, where NSW tests Thinking Skills.
Test format
| Reading | Comprehension |
|---|---|
| Writing | Written response |
| Quantitative Reasoning | Multiple choice |
| Abstract Reasoning | Pattern / matrix items (replaces NSW Thinking Skills) |
Key dates
Verified 5 July 2026. Dates shift annually and late applications are not accepted — always confirm with the WA Department of Education before you rely on them.
How SmartPrep prepares
- The NSW curriculum builds three of the four ASET components directly — Reading, Writing and Quantitative Reasoning.
- Our Abstract Reasoning practice covers the figural pattern-matrix items directly — the component that sets ASET apart — and is live now.
- Timed, paper-style practice mirrors the ~2h50 single-sitting format.
Customised WA GATE / ASET practice is live: AI-generated items styled to this test's real components, adapting to your child. Free during the 2026 beta.
Start free practiceFree during beta. Sign in to start a diagnostic and adaptive practice for WA GATE / ASET.
What a practice score means here
Your mock score band, read against the competitiveness tier of the schools you actually rank — the same matrix our mock runner reports. Never a pass/fail.
| Score band | Most competitive | Highly competitive | Competitive | Moderately competitive | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ≥80 | High probability | Very high probability | Very high probability | Very high probability | Very high probability |
| 75–79 | Medium probability | High probability | Very high probability | Very high probability | Very high probability |
| 70–74 | Low probability | Medium probability | High probability | Very high probability | Very high probability |
| 65–69 | Unlikely at this tier | Low probability | Medium probability | High probability | Very high probability |
| 60–64 | Unlikely at this tier | Unlikely at this tier | Low probability | Medium probability | High probability |
| <60 | Unlikely at this tier | Unlikely at this tier | Unlikely at this tier | Low probability | Medium probability |
- Most competitive: State's very hardest — 20:1+ demand, top HSC/ATAR outcomes. A place needs an elite rank.
- Highly competitive: Sought-after metro schools; strong demand and high historical cut-offs.
- Competitive: Solid demand; a strong-but-not-elite performance is typically in contention.
- Moderately competitive: More accessible historical ranges; realistic for consistent mid-band performers.
- Accessible: Lowest historical cut-offs (often regional/newer programs); widest access.
School tiers reflect COMPETITIVENESS (how high a rank a place typically requires), NOT school quality — every selective school offers an excellent education. Cut-offs are the score of the lowest-ranked student who accepted a place that year; they are not published in advance and can move 5–10 points year to year. Tiers are SmartPrepAI's competitiveness bands, informed by community-sourced historical data — not official figures. Re-verify annually. Verified 2026-07-05.
Based on SmartPrep's calibrated practice cohort and published information — an indication for preparation, not an official prediction. Selection is run by the department or school, not SmartPrep.
SmartPrepAI is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with, authorised by or endorsed by any government education department, ACER®, EduTest®, Cambridge Assessment, or any school named on this page. Test names and trademarks are used nominatively for identification only. Exam details are provided for general guidance — always confirm current requirements with the official provider.