WA's ASET test: what it is and when your child sits it

Applications open 13 October 2026^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} and close 5 February 2027^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, at 6 pm Perth time^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. Year 6 children in Perth metro, Bunbury and Albany sit the ASET on 6 March 2027^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

Applying

1. 14 October 2026–23 November 2026^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

   Parent information evenings

   Talks for parents on applying, testing and placement.

2. 13 October 2026^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

   Applications open

   Online only. ^{8WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

3. 5 February 2027^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

   Applications close, 6 pm Perth time^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

   Also the last day to ask for adjusted conditions, or an ASET exemption for arts-only applicants. ^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

4. 9 February 2027^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}

   Interstate families choose a test location

   For families living interstate or overseas.

5. 15 February 2027^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}

   Support request outcomes by email

   Answers to requests for adjusted conditions or an exemption.

Testing

1. 6 March 2027^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

   ASET for Year 6

   Perth metro, Bunbury and Albany.

2. 7 March 2027^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

   ASET for Years 8 to 10

   The same places, for later entry.

3. 8–9 March 2027^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

   Regional WA

   Centres outside Bunbury and Albany.

4. 16–30 March 2027^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

   Adjusted conditions, Perth metro

   For accepted support requests.

5. March 2027^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

   Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide

   Exact dates are still to be confirmed.

Results and offers

1. June 2027 Expected^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   Performance reports by email

2. June 2027 Expected^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   Round 1 offers by email

3. July 2027 Expected^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   Round 2 offers by email

4. August 2027 Expected^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   Emails to families with no offer

   Reserve lists stay open after this.

5. 1 December 2027^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

   Reserve lists close

   No more offers come from the lists after this date.

Find your child's ASET date

Find the row that fits your child. Every case applies by 5 February 2027^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

The ASET is 4^{13WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} tests, sat on paper, in pencil^{13WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. The handbook says it is not curriculum-based^{13WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, so your child doesn't need extra study.

The tests run in a set order: Reading Comprehension, then writing, then Quantitative Reasoning, then Abstract Reasoning^{13WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. There is a break of 10^{13WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} minutes after the writing test.

What rules apply on the test morning?

Academic places go on the Total Standard Score only^{14WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, offered from the highest score down until places are filled. A score of at least 209.5^{14WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} is needed to be considered, and reaching it doesn't promise an offer.

What does the performance report show?

Every child who sits the ASET gets a performance report by email^{14WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. It shows a standardised score for each of the 4 tests and a Total Standard Score^{14WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. The scores are not percentages or percentiles^{14WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, no ranking is given, and all 4 tests are worth the same^{14WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

Actual cut-off scores are known only when each round is released^{14WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. A results check is free and can't be cancelled once sent, and it may raise or lower a score^{14WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

How do offers and reserve lists work?

Your child gets at most one offer in each round, for the highest preference your child qualifies for^{4WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. There is no advantage for living in the school's catchment^{4WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

Reply to an offer by the deadline you are given, or the offer is withdrawn^{4WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Reserve lists for the 2028 intake close 1 December 2027^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

For a lower-preference offer, you can choose 'yes reserve': accept the lower offer and stay on the reserve list for higher preferences^{4WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}, if your child meets the criteria. A child who declines it is also kept on the reserve list for higher preferences^{4WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, but the declined place is gone.

Once you accept, you apply for enrolment at the school after an Authority to Commence Enrolment email^{4WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Both are sat in Year 6 and have four parts. The ASET is on paper with a published minimum score; the NSW test is on computer with none.

Families in NSW: read about the NSW Selective test.

What is a good ASET score?

There is no pass mark. A Total Standard Score of at least 209.5^{14WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} is needed to be considered for an academic program, and places then go from the highest score down.

Can my child sit the ASET in Sydney?

Yes, for families moving to WA for the intake year^{4WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Apply by 5 February 2027^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} and choose Sydney as the test place by 9 February 2027^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. The Sydney sitting is in March 2027^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, for A$250^{4WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} per student.

What if my child is sick on the test day?

Email the Department within 48^{3WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} hours to ask for another date. For illness or an incident during the test, ask for a review within 7^{3WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} days.

What is PEAC, and is it the same test?

No. PEAC is a part-time program for Year 5 and 6 students in public schools^{10WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. Its test is for Year 4 students in WA public schools^{10WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, with 50^{10WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} multiple-choice questions on verbal reasoning and mathematical reasoning^{10WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

Read about PEAC, the separate primary program.

Are Gifted and Talented programs free?

The programs are fully Government funded^{4WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

Who can I ask about our application?

The Department's Gifted and Talented team answers questions at gtsu@education.wa.edu.au or 9264 4307^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. We can't see or change any application.