24 May 2007
Monash University will trial the use of the Victorian General Achievement Test (GAT) as an extra indicator when deciding on entry for some Victorian undergraduate Year 12 students.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins said that after 18 months of work and consultation with schools in April this year the University would from next year use the GAT as an extra indicator of academic aptitude for a small number of applicants.
The change applies only to 'middle band' students whose results fall below the Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Ranking (ENTER) cut-off scores for courses but were still being considered for selection.
Professor Larkins said t he GAT would complement, not replace, the ENTER in limited circumstances.
"The ENTER is the best single predictor of academic performance in tertiary study and will continue to be the main factor in determining entrance," Professor Larkins said.
"A middle band student's GAT score will now be an extra consideration to determine academic potential.
"The changes may only make a difference in a small number of cases each year, but this is an additional measure of academic capability that will further enhance the range of relevant factors used for selecting the most talented middle band applicant."
While the details are still being determined, Monash University will use GAT results in selection for 2008 courses to award a modest middle-band bonus (up to a maximum of five aggregate points) to applicants whose GAT percentile ranking is higher than the previous year's clearly-in ENTER threshold for the course in question.
It is expected the calculation would apply to all faculties and courses.
The GAT is conducted each June by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) for all students undertaking Year 12 studies.
Monash University and VTAC will publish a report on the initial outcomes following the 2008 selection process.
Further selection reports will be published annually and following an evaluation after three years of implementation, a report of the evaluation will be published in 2010.
The VCAA will monitor students' GAT outcomes for any impact the trial may have on participation, scores and their use of the GAT scores as part of the VCE assessment program.
For additional information, please contact Tim Mitchell on 0437 457780 or 9905 2085.
| 
