What is GAT? How I got a study score of 50 in the writing section?

How I got a study score of 50 in the writing section of the GAT

Hi, I'm Nicole and I scored a 50 study score in the writing and written communication section of the GAT in 2023, and 49 in 2022. I'm currently a first year medical student in Monash University.

What is the GAT?

The General Achievement Test, or the GAT, is undertaken by all students who are enrolled in a VCE 3/4 unit. It seeks to evaluate your overall knowledge and abilities in three subjects: English, mathematics, and humanities.

One of the questions that struck me when I first learnt about the GAT was how this would affect my final results. VCAA states: "While the GAT is important, it does not directly count towards a student's final VCE results. GAT results are used to check that VCE external assessments and school-based assessments have been accurately and fairly assessed." Regardless, I thought I'd give it my best.

Did I study for the GAT?

If what you mean by studying is spending countless hours completing the past GAT papers or writing essays, no. Definitely not. I think that it is pointless to "study" for the GAT in a way - because the content is random anyways.

How I prepared for the GAT

TIME MANAGEMENT

The best way to prepare for the GAT in my opinion is just to get very familiar with the structure of the GAT and plan your time wisely.

Managing time: 1 minute/question and adjust depending on strengths and weaknesses.

Reading time

During reading time, I went over the writing segments and looked over the prompts. I planned the essay in my head. Some of my classmates decided to do the MCQ, but I preferred just focusing on the essay and spend that time to think of ideas.

Order of GAT:

Personally, I did the MCQ before the essay. I thought that if I completed the MCQ section quickly and accurately that I would have time left over from the MCQ, which I would use in writing the essay.

Here are some tips for the multiple-choice section

• Circle correct answer on your own sheet. I finished all questions on the booklet before transferring them onto the answer sheet.

• Careful of qualifiers

• Eg. Most likely, fewest

• Be precise while reading graphs and diagrams

• Bring ruler

• Search up words you don’t know in dictionary

• Eliminate wrong choices and take an educated guess

• It is probably very straightforward, therefore if it is taking you a long time, you might be missing a quicker way to answer the questions.

GAT section A (2h writing time)

This contains:

o 1 writing task with 2 parts

• Part 1: short answer type (10 minutes)

• Part 2: more detailed response (20 minutes)

• Assessed on the effectiveness of writing for the audience and purpose appropriate to the task; ideas, structure, and cohesion. Mechanical aspects eg spelling, grammar and punctuation.

• Audience: inclusive language, appeals, etc

• Ideas: engagement about the topic

• Structure and cohesion: flow, intro, body paragraph, conclusion

o 100 MCQ questions: 50 numeracy MCQ and 50 reading MCQ

Tips for GAT section A writing task:

• Synthesise the information and present it in an organic way

• The way they give information to you is quite spread out, organise it before writing.

• You can break and categorise the information into chunks and order it following your own logic.

• Always choose creative writing if you can. The key is perspective. Always put yourself in the shoes of a person and adapt to fit its persona.

For example, for the 2022 GAT, this was the prompt (if you haven't looked through it, I'd recommend you have a quick look before reading my analysis)

This topic was already mundane enough. Instead of constructing a monotonous response, I thought of how to make it more interesting. In the end, I decided to adapt the format of a scooter manual from the manufacturer, and structured my essay as if it were a letter to new e-scooter owner found in the box of the product. Therefore, my introduction sounded something like:  

Dear Valued Customer,

Congratulations on your purchase of our latest e-scooter! We are thrilled to welcome you to our community of eco-friendly riders. Your new e-scooter is not just a means of transportation; it's a gateway to a more convenient, enjoyable, and sustainable way of getting around.

Before you take your first ride, it's important to familiarise yourself with the basics of safe riding. Whether you're a beginner or just need a refresher, this guide will help you ride with confidence and safety.

...

Again, I wanted to write a creative essay. I asked myself: "who would want the community to know about the rules for riding e-scooters?", "where can I find a poster about the rules?" I thought that you would probably find something like this in a police station, or in a poster written from the police, since there are legal issues involved. I even formatted my essay with a title: "E-Scooter Riding Guidelines: A Message from [your local] Police Department" and wrote the essay from that perspective, seamlessly integrating the information from the infographic and article in my response. Note that you don't have to write your essay in any particular order, and you can dissect the poster into smaller parts and slot information in where you think is logical.  For example, you could take "wear a helmet" from the article and pair it with the "94% of those injured by e-scooters are riders not wearing a helmet" to emphasise your point.

Source: https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/assessment/vce-assessment/general-achievement-test/pastGAT/Pages/index.aspx

GAT section B (1.5h writing time)

• This consists of:

25 multiple choice questions on maths, science and technology and 25 multiple choice questions on arts and humanities

Extended writing task

Tips for GAT section B writing task:

• For the list of topics, use one of them as the main backbone, and the other points to support, refute your arguments

• You don’t get more points if you manage to use more quotes, just pick one that you are most comfortable with as your main topic, and if the others relate, use them, but if they don’t, don’t try to link them together or feel pressurized to use them all.        

• You have to pick a side, and not stay neutral, even though you have to rebut. You should be 80% agreeing/disagreeing with the prompt, something like “you agree, but in some instances, you might not agree” etc

• Introduction:    

• Use a hook to hook the reader’s attention    

• Rhetorical question

• Incorporate a persona (pretend that you are a certain person at a certain place)

• Quote

• Imagine you are a…

• Flashback

• Describing a scene

• Create a symbol/motif

• Contention is preferred to be at the end of the introduction

• Good flow:

• Example paragraphs:

• P1: some change is good

• P2: some change is bad

• P3: whether or not change is good or not is for us to decide

• Summary:

• Summarising contention

• What the audience should be doing/next course of actions

• If you created a motif/symbol in the introduction, link it to the conclusion

Other tips:

o Read the news so that you can bring up any relevant examples to support your argument.

o Inspirational quotes come in handy because they can captivate the reader's attention and set a motivational tone. They also help to illustrate your points with succinct, impactful words from well-known figures, adding depth and resonance to your writing.

Summary:

Always remember, the examiners will look for points that are unique and original and will not make them bored after reading so many essays. In conclusion, remember that the GAT is an opportunity to showcase your skills and knowledge, but it does not directly count towards a your final VCE result. Approach it with a calm and positive mindset, knowing that your best effort is what truly counts. Take it easy, trust in your preparation, and use this experience to learn and grow. You've got this!

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