What is GATE in Western Australia?
GATE stands for Gifted and Talented Education — WA's selective entry program for academically high-achieving students. Entry is via the ASET (Academic Selective Entrance Test), administered annually each March. The ASET determines entry into Year 7 Gifted and Talented programs at 24 public schools across Western Australia, including Perth Modern School — WA's only fully selective secondary school.
The competition for GATE placements is intense and growing. Over 4,700 students now sit the ASET annually, and Perth Modern School offers approximately 220 Year 7 places, requiring a Total Standard Score of around 244 out of 400. The preparation matters enormously — the difference between a student who gets in and one who just misses out is almost always preparation, not innate ability.
Alchemy's GATE tutors have helped hundreds of Perth students gain entry into their first-choice GATE school. With the right targeted practice, students dramatically improve their ASET performance. We prepare students specifically for all five components of the ASET and focus on the timed practice and reasoning strategies that make the biggest difference on exam day.
What the ASET Tests
- Verbal Reasoning: Word relationships, analogies, vocabulary patterns and logical sequences in language-based problems
- Quantitative Reasoning: Number patterns, spatial reasoning, non-routine mathematical problem-solving — going beyond standard curriculum maths
- Reading Comprehension: Complex text analysis, inference, vocabulary in context and careful reading under time pressure
- Communicating Ideas in Writing: Persuasive or narrative writing under timed conditions — assessed for structure, vocabulary, voice and ASET marking criteria
- Abstract Reasoning: Pattern recognition, visual sequences and non-verbal logical thinking — the component many students find most unfamiliar
- Timed Practice Exams: Extensive practice under authentic exam conditions to build speed, accuracy and genuine confidence on test day
Perth Modern School — WA's Most Sought-After School
Perth Modern School in Subiaco is Western Australia's only fully academically selective government school. Students who gain entry consistently achieve outstanding WACE results and gain places at Australia's most competitive universities. The required TSS of around 244 means students need to perform in approximately the top 10 to 15 per cent of all ASET candidates.
Many families begin Perth Modern School preparation in Year 5, giving students a full year of practice with the reasoning components and writing skills assessed in the ASET. Our GATE tutors are themselves graduates of Perth Modern School and other selective programs.
GATE Programs at Other Perth Schools
Beyond Perth Modern, WA's 24 GATE schools include Shenton College, Rossmoyne Senior High School, Willetton Senior High School, Churchlands Senior High School, Carine Senior High School and many others. We prepare students for all of these programs with the same rigorous ASET preparation approach.
When to Start GATE Preparation in Perth
The ASET is sat by Year 6 students each March. We recommend beginning GATE preparation in Term 2 of Year 5 — giving students approximately 12 months of focused preparation. This is particularly important for the abstract reasoning and written expression components, which require consistent practice to develop fluency over time.
Pricing
$59/hr online or $89/hr in-home. No contracts, no prepayments. First lesson backed by our 100% Happiness Guarantee.