VCE GAT: What the General Achievement Test Is and Who Sits It (VCAA)

Quick answer: The General Achievement Test (GAT) is a VCAA test sat in June by students enrolled in a VCE Unit 3-4 sequence. It has two sections: Section A tests literacy and numeracy against the Victorian standards, and Section B tests general knowledge and skills. VCAA uses the results to check that school and exam assessments were marked fairly, and you do not study for it.

This guide describes the 2026 GAT, from VCAA's 2026 student brochure and the VCE Administrative Handbook 2026. The 2026 test was sat on Tuesday 16 June, so it is finished for the current Year 12 cohort. VCAA has set the 2027 GAT for Thursday 17 June 2027. The 2026 session times are in the table below. For how the GAT sits alongside SACs and exams, see how the VCE works.

What is the VCE GAT?

VCAA describes it as a test of general knowledge and skills in mathematics, science, technology, humanities, the arts and social sciences. It also measures your literacy and numeracy against the Victorian standards, which means it reports whether you met the standards, with or without excellence.

It is not part of any VCE study. It has no study design, no SAC and no subject teacher, and VCAA says plainly: "There is no need to study for the GAT."

Who has to sit the GAT?

It depends on what you are enrolled in.

The handbook adds that you sit both sections even if you already met the literacy and numeracy standards in a previous year, and even if you do not plan to have any scored assessment.

What is in the GAT?

Both sections are sat on the same day, in separate sessions.

There is a two-hour break between the sessions (11:15 am to 1:15 pm in 2026). You can bring a scientific calculator for both sections and a printed English or bilingual dictionary. Electronic dictionaries and thesauruses are not allowed.

VCAA's tips: attempt every section, move on when told to even if you have not finished, and do the tasks in the order they appear. You do not lose marks for wrong answers, so never leave a multiple-choice question blank. VCAA publishes past GAT papers on its website if you want to see the format first.

What are the literacy and numeracy standards?

The standards are the Victorian Literacy and Numeracy Standards, and the GAT is how VCE students are measured against them. Your result is reported as met, met with excellence, or not met, separately for reading, writing and numeracy.

The handbook says that if you do not meet a standard, you get another chance to sit the test the following year. In 2026 that meant a resit in 2027.

How does VCAA use GAT results?

VCAA's documents describe four uses.

1. Checking assessments. VCAA says GAT results are used to check that VCE external assessments and school-based assessments have been accurately and fairly assessed.
2. Statistical moderation of SACs. VCAA applies statistical moderation to school-based scores. In some studies the GAT is also used, but only where it gives a better match with school-based assessments across the state. VCAA says exam scores always have the major influence. It does not name which studies use the GAT. For how moderation works, see the study score guide and the SACs guide.
3. The anomalous grade check on exams. If your exam result is very different from what your school's indicative grade, your GAT component scores or another exam in the study would predict, the chief assessor's panel reconsiders your paper. Scores can go up or stay the same through this check, but they cannot go down.
4. Derived Examination Scores. If you are ill or affected by personal circumstances at exam time, VCAA can calculate a Derived Examination Score from your moderated school assessments, your GAT component scores, other exam scores and your school's indicative grades. The two graded school-based assessments contribute most.

What if I miss the GAT or need adjustments?

Your school, through the VCE coordinator, can apply for Special Examination Arrangements if you have an illness, injury or disability. If reasonable arrangements cannot be made, or you miss the test because of unexpected injury, illness, personal trauma or another serious event, your school can apply for an exemption.

Needing arrangements on its own is not grounds for exemption unless what you need goes beyond what is normally offered for the GAT. Being interstate or overseas at the time, or not completing any graded assessment, is not valid grounds either. Independent professional evidence is required. You cannot apply for a Derived Examination Score for the GAT itself.

When do I get GAT results?

In December, in your overall results package. The GAT Statement of Results says whether you met each standard, and if you completed both sections it also gives component scores for writing, numeracy and reading. For the other documents in that package, see VCE results.

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