ACT Scaling Test
Encyclopedia
The ACT Scaling Test is a test of aptitude in studies for Year 12 students in the Australian Capital Territory
(ACT) set by the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS) and created by the Australian Council for Educational Research
(ACER). It is used to rank students and colleges for the calculation of an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank
(ATAR) as of June 2009.
The AST consists of a Multiple Choice Test (2hr 30min, 80 questions), a Short Answer Test (1hr 30min), and an Argumentative Essay (2hr 30min, 600 words). The AST is designed to test the aptitude of a student and not their knowledge unlike the Higher School Certificate
. Questions are taken from a range of subjects including maths, science
, social studies
and humanities
but do not require knowledge in those fields.
The first sitting of the AST occurs on the first Tuesday and Wednesday of September. There is a second sitting of the AST during October for those who missed the first sitting due to illness or misadventure.
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
(ACT) set by the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies (BSSS) and created by the Australian Council for Educational Research
Australian Council for Educational Research
The Australian Council for Educational Research , established in 1930, is an independent educational research organisation based in Camberwell, Victoria and with offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Dubai and India...
(ACER). It is used to rank students and colleges for the calculation of an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank
Australian Tertiary Admission Rank
The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank is the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate-entry university programs in Australia, it was gradually introduced during 2009 and 2010 to replace the Universities Admission Index, Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank and Tertiary Entrance...
(ATAR) as of June 2009.
The AST consists of a Multiple Choice Test (2hr 30min, 80 questions), a Short Answer Test (1hr 30min), and an Argumentative Essay (2hr 30min, 600 words). The AST is designed to test the aptitude of a student and not their knowledge unlike the Higher School Certificate
Higher School Certificate
The Higher School Certificate, or HSC, is the credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete senior high school level studies in New South Wales, Australia. It was first introduced in 1967, with the last major revision coming into effect in 2001. It is currently...
. Questions are taken from a range of subjects including maths, science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, social studies
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
and humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
but do not require knowledge in those fields.
The first sitting of the AST occurs on the first Tuesday and Wednesday of September. There is a second sitting of the AST during October for those who missed the first sitting due to illness or misadventure.
See also
- Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission TestUndergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission TestThe Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test is a test administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research in Australia and New Zealand to assist in the selection of students into certain health science courses including most medical and Dentistry courses, as well...
(also created by ACER) - Special Tertiary Admissions TestSpecial Tertiary Admissions TestThe Special Tertiary Admissions Test is a scholastic aptitude test, used for entry into undergraduate programs at Australian universities for people without a recent Australian Tertiary Admission Rank ....
(also created by ACER) - GAMSATGAMSATThe Graduate Australian Medical School Admissions Test is a test used to select candidates applying to study medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary science at Australian, British, and Irish universities for admission to their Graduate Entry Programmes The Graduate Australian Medical School...
(also created by ACER)