Sometimes tertiary course entry is based on more than your ENTER score. For example, you might need to present a folio for a visual arts course, or attend an interview for a journalism course, or sit an admission test for a course in health science.
Any extra requirements will be listed with the course entry in the VTAC Guide (new window).
What is an admission test?
Many courses require applicants to sit an admission test as part of the selection process. VTAC organises the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) (new window), which is used by several universities.
Other admission tests are administered by industry associations or educational organisations. For example, the Undergraduate Medicine & Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT) is developed by the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER).
Admission tests are also organised by individual faculties at universities. For example, RMIT University requires all applicants for its Public Relations course to sit the Public Relations Entrance Test (PRET), which is organised and assessed by RMIT Public Relations staff and students.
How I can prepare for it?
If there is an admission test for your course make sure that you sit it! It doesn’t matter how strong your application is – without passing the admission test you probably won’t be accepted into the course.
For some of the more popular admission tests, like the STAT and UMAT, there are information booklets and preparation materials available to help you study. You can find these online.
Contact the course administrator to find out more about how to prepare. Some admission tests will assess how much you know about the course you’re applying for and others will assess your general knowledge or personality traits.
It’s also a good idea to try some practice exams (if they’re available) so you can get used to the style of questions and the time you’ll have to answer them.
Where do I sit the test?
If the test is organised by the university you’ll probably sit the test on campus. Other tests will be held at public places used for university exams like function centres or the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds.
When do I get my results?
Most admission tests are held mid-year, or at least before the end of the school year, so you’ll probably find out how you went before your Year 12 results are announced.
