What is the ASET test format, and how does the morning run?

Each test looks at a different kind of thinking. The handbook says the four measure problem-solving, reasoning, creative thinking in writing, comprehension, interpretation and applying known concepts to new situations^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Reading Comprehension

Your child reads a set of texts and answers questions about them. Texts may include fiction, non-fiction, poetry and drama, with diagrams, tables, charts or maps^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Everything needed to answer is printed on the paper, so no special subject knowledge is needed^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Communicating Ideas in Writing

Your child writes a response to an image, a piece of text, or both^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, in any style or text type. The test measures how well a child can come up with interesting ideas from a prompt and turn them into a piece of writing^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Spelling, grammar and punctuation have little impact, as long as the work is readable^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Read the full guide to the ASET writing test.

Quantitative Reasoning

This test checks how well a child uses mathematical and scientific reasoning to solve problems^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. The content is very different to what is taught in school^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}, so school maths alone is not the point.

Read the Quantitative Reasoning guide.

Abstract Reasoning

Questions use shapes and patterns, not words or numbers. There are 2^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} question types: what comes next in a sequence, and what fits the gap in a pattern. Children need to work even more quickly than the other tests^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

Read the Abstract Reasoning guide.

The rules come from the Department's handbook, and children who don't follow them risk having their test cancelled^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Most keep answers in the right place.

Year 6 children in Perth metro, Bunbury and Albany sit the ASET on 6 March 2027^{2WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. It is a paper and pencil test at an assigned testing centre, with no online option^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Arrival times and what to bring are in a Test Day Information Sheet for Parents, posted on the Department's website once applications close^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Applications close 5 February 2027^{2WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

• ✓

  Pencils for the multiple-choice tests ^{1WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  A pen or pencil for the writing, whichever your child prefers ^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  A silent watch that isn't a smart device, if your child likes one ^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  Something to eat in the break after the writing test ^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  The Department's test-day sheet, read together the night before ^{1WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}

If your child is sick on the day, email the Department within 48^{4WA 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^{4WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} days.

The Department publishes a free practice ASET in 4^{4WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} parts, with the same answer booklet your child will use on the day^{4WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Its handbook adds example questions and tips for each test.

Practice results do not show how a child will score^{4WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, and the Department ignores them when it makes offers.

See every part of the practice ASET.