The GAT and Trial Exams

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) will conduct the General Achievement Test (GAT) on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. The GAT is compulsory for any student undertaking the senior VCAL or at least one Unit 3-4 sequence (this includes some students completing a second year VETiS program). Even if a Year 12 student doesn't intend to sit the end of year exam, instead completing school-assessed VCE, they are required to complete the GAT. The GAT will be held at Damascus College in the Damascus Events Centre (DEC). Students are asked to arrive no later than 8:50am, meeting in the courtyard upon their arrival. They will be given entry into the exam hall at approximately 9:15am for Section A and 1:00pm for Section B.

Format for the GAT

This year the GAT has a new format and has Section A and Section B via the following format;

Section A: Literacy and Numeracy (2 hours + 15 minutes reading time) – 9:30am - 11:45am

Break: 11:45am – 1:15pm

Section B: General Knowledge and Skills (1.5 hours + 15 minutes reading time) – 1:15pm – 3:00pm

Section A: Must be completed by all students. This section demonstrates a student's literacy and numeracy skills – essential skills that show a student is ready to move on to further study, training or employment. It will give students confidence that their skills are at the right level to support them in whatever they choose to do after school.

Section B: Is for all students undertaking at least one Unit 3-4 sequence (this includes some students completing a second year VETiS program). This GAT component assesses mathematics, science, technology, the arts and humanities skills. It can be viewed as an insurance policy in that it is used to verify the reliability of a student's school-based work and end of year exams; it is also used for Derived Exam Scores. In these instances, a student may be unable to sit an exam but still require a score for the subject.

Your student will have received a GAT brochure on Monday, August 22, which explains in some detail the structure of the GAT and the way it may be used in terms of their assessment. The GAT brochure can also be viewed through this link. Further information about the GAT can also be found on the VCAA website through this link.

No special study is required for the GAT, and students are strongly encouraged to attempt the test to the best of their ability. However, it would help if students familiarised themselves with the paper's style and format. Samples from past years with solutions are available from the VCAA website. GAT Past Papers sample questions for the new format can be found here.

Students are required to stay in the exam hall for the duration of the GAT. Therefore, they should utilise the full time the test allows to complete the GAT to the best of their ability.

Rules to be mindful of:

Allowed

• A clear plastic label-free water bottle, no larger than 1.5 litres, is permitted in the exam room.
• A printed dictionary is allowed
• Students are asked to bring a pen, pencil and eraser. (Multiple choice completed in pencil, two written essays to be completed in pen)
• Scientific Calculator

Not Allowed

• No mobile phones and electronic devices that are capable of storing, receiving or transmitting information or electronic signals, such as recorded music and video players, organisers, dictionaries and computerised watches, during the GAT. (If one of these is confiscated, it may be retained for up to 3 months).
• Food is not allowed

Students are expected to wear full school uniform. During the break, students will be provided with appropriate spaces to eat and rest between Sections A and B. If a senior VCAL student is only required to complete Section A, they are permitted to leave the school and go to work placement. At the conclusion of the GAT, at 3:00pm, students are permitted to leave like a normal school day.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or email me.

Damascus College Trial Exams

The unit 3-4 trial exams are an essential part of Year 12 and are compulsory for all students completing Unit 3 and 4 subjects offered at Damascus College. The trial exams allow students to prepare for the assessments of their VCAA October/November examinations and provide students with the opportunity to look at the timing and knowledge for each subject's exam. Students become familiar with the VCAA exam process, allowing them to be better prepared for the end of year exams. The exams will be assessed, and feedback will be given to the students. Teachers may also use results to assist indicative grade calculations that are required to be submitted to VCAA. VCAA uses indicative grade scores to assist with calculating a derived exam score, should it be needed.

The trial exams will be held on Wednesday, September 21, and Thursday, September 22 in week one and Tuesday, September 27 to Thursday, September 29 in week two of the Term 3 holidays.

This format aims to simulate the end-of-year exams, allowing students to adequately prepare for each trial exam. The format will also give students some opportunity to rest and be fresh for the start of Term 4. Damascus College would encourage students to use the two weeks as revision and exam preparation time. While tempting, the College asks that family holidays should not be considered for this coming break.

Term 3 holidays tend to have exam revision sessions available through external providers. Damascus College would also encourage students to attend these as they form an integral component of the revision process leading up to their exams. If there is a specific revision lecture that students would like to attend, but it clashes with one of the trial exams, students need to see Matthew Hallowell to organise for the trial exam to be rescheduled. Damascus College's expectation is that every student completes all of their trial exams.

Please note that VCAA has released the VCE end of year exam timetable, which can be found at this link: 2022 Exam timetable

Please find Damascus College's trial exams timetable below.

DAMASCUS COLLEGE

YEAR 12 TRIAL EXAMINATION TIMETABLE

Wednesday September 21 – Thursday September 29

Trial Exams to be held in the DEC and Building 7

Version: 13/07/2022

Note: The session times for the exams below differ from the Oct/Nov Examinations

Be sure to bring the correct resources and materials

School uniform is not required for these trial exam sessions

If a clash occurs, see Matthew Hallowell indicating the (1) Examination (2) Day required and (3) Session

Students are asked to remain for the whole examination time in practice for the October/November Examinations