Exam Guide
What Happens After the ASET? The Complete Results & Offers Timeline
The ASET exam is over — now what? Most families are surprised by how long the wait is. From the March exam to Round 1 offers in late June, there are 7 distinct stages in the WA GATE results process. This guide covers every step with the official dates, what each notification means, and what to do if your child is not offered a place.
Source: All dates are sourced from the WA Department of Education key dates page at education.wa.edu.au. Dates shift slightly each year — always confirm on the official DoE page.
The 7-Stage Timeline
From exam day in March to final notifications in August — everything that happens and when.
March — Exam Day
ASET held on a Saturday in early March (e.g. 7 March 2026 for 2027 entry)
Students sit all 4 sections: Reading Comprehension, Writing, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning
Test is sat at the student's local metropolitan or regional test centre
Special circumstances reschedules are limited — illness or misadventure must be reported promptly
March–May — The Wait
Papers are marked and standardised by the DoE — this takes approximately 10–12 weeks
Within 7 days post-test, you can request a review for misaligned answers or test centre issues
No interim results are released during this period
Use this time to finalise school preferences — research programs, open days, and transport options
Late May — Performance Reports
Individual ASET performance reports emailed to families (e.g. 29 May 2026 for the 2026 cohort)
Reports show your child's Total Standard Score (TSS) and section-level breakdown
TSS is calculated using the official Z-score method — raw scores standardised across all students
Reports do not include a ranked position or offer decision — only TSS and section scores
A TSS of 209.5 is the minimum threshold for any GATE offer; Perth Modern typically requires 251.5+
Late June — Round 1 Offers
Round 1 offers sent by email (e.g. 22 June 2026 for 2027 entry)
Offers are made based on TSS, school preferences listed on application, and program availability
Each student receives a maximum of one offer in Round 1
Response deadline is typically early July (noon) — you must accept or decline by this date
Accepting a Round 1 offer removes your child from further rounds at other schools
Early July — Round 1 Response
Response deadline typically falls around 1 July (noon)
Accept to secure your child's place — this is binding
Decline if you prefer to remain on reserve lists or have accepted a private school offer
Students who don't respond by the deadline may forfeit their offer
Late July — Round 2 Offers
Round 2 offers sent (e.g. 22 July 2026) — these come from vacancies left after Round 1 responses
Students who declined a Round 1 offer, or who were not offered in Round 1, are considered
Response deadline typically end of July (noon)
Round 2 offers can be for different programs or schools than Round 1
August — Final Notifications
Unsuccessful notifications sent to remaining applicants (e.g. 10 August 2026)
Some students are placed on reserve lists — vacancies can open until December
Reserve list close date is typically 1 December
Families not offered a GATE place enrol at their local public school or a private school
Understanding Your Child's TSS
The Total Standard Score (TSS) combines Z-scores from all four ASET sections. Section raw scores are standardised relative to all other WA students who sat that test, then summed into a single TSS. The community-observed maximum is approximately 301; the DoE does not officially publish a maximum.
The DoE sets a minimum threshold of 209.5 for any GATE offer. Above that, each school allocates places based on TSS ranking within applicants who listed that school. The effective cut-off at each school is determined by demand in that year — it is not a fixed number published by the DoE.
Perth Modern School
~251.5+
Academic stream — WA's only fully selective school
Shenton College
~231–241
Academic & Language streams
Rossmoyne SHS
~232–240
Academic stream
Willetton SHS
~232–243
Academic stream
Carine SHS
~221–229
Academic stream
DoE minimum
209.5
Any GATE offer threshold
Disclaimer: The DoE does not publish official school-level cut-offs. All TSS ranges are community estimates based on historical patterns and may vary year to year.
If Your Child Doesn't Receive an Offer
Not receiving a GATE offer in Year 6 is not the end of the road. There are several legitimate paths forward:
Reserve lists remain open until December
Families on reserve lists are contacted as vacancies open — this does happen, particularly in programs where offered students accept private school places instead.
Year 9, 10, and 11 secondary entry
Some GATE schools offer limited secondary entry places. Students reapply using the ASET. Contact individual schools (especially Rossmoyne SHS, which has a well-known Year 9 pathway) to confirm current availability.
Approved Specialist Programs
Over 100 Approved Specialist Programs at 55 schools offer enriched, specialist-focused learning in academic, arts, and sports areas — without requiring a GATE TSS. These are applied for directly through individual schools.
Continue structured practice
Students who narrowly missed the cut-off often benefit from continuing their practice in Year 7, building toward a Year 9 re-entry attempt with a materially stronger TSS.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When exactly are ASET results released?
- Individual ASET performance reports are emailed to families in late May — approximately 10–12 weeks after the March exam. The exact date is published on the DoE key dates page. For the 2027 intake (2026 exam cohort), reports were sent 29 May 2026.
- What does the ASET performance report show?
- The report shows your child's Total Standard Score (TSS) and section-level scores for each of the four ASET components: Reading Comprehension, Writing, Quantitative Reasoning, and Abstract Reasoning. It does not include a ranked position relative to other students or any indication of whether an offer will follow.
- Can I appeal the ASET result?
- Within 7 days of the test, you can request a review for specific administrative issues: misaligned answer bubbles, test centre problems, unforeseen illness during the test, or significant family circumstances. The review process does not re-mark subjective answers — it checks for administrative errors only. Contact the DoE GATE Support Unit on 9264 4307 or gtsu@education.wa.edu.au.
- What if my child is not offered a place in Round 1 or Round 2?
- Families receive an unsuccessful notification in August. Some students are placed on reserve lists — GATE places occasionally open when offered students decline or move interstate. Reserve lists close in December. Students not offered GATE places typically enrol at their local public secondary school or a private school.
- Can my child apply again if unsuccessful?
- Yes. Limited vacancies may be available for Year 9, 10, and 11 entry at some GATE schools. The same ASET is used for secondary entry. Check with individual schools for current Year 9+ entry availability, as it varies by school and year.
- What TSS is needed to get an offer?
- The minimum threshold for any GATE offer is 209.5. Above that, each school has its own effective cut-off based on demand and available places. Estimated ranges: Perth Modern 251.5+, Shenton College 231–241, Rossmoyne SHS 232–240, Willetton SHS 232–243, Carine SHS 221–229. These are community estimates — the DoE does not publish official cut-offs.
Start Practising
Preparing for the March exam?
WA Gate Prep provides weekly mock papers in all 4 ASET sections with live TSS tracking — so you can see exactly where your child stands before exam day.
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