Preparation

Test format and preparation

Questions

Multiple Choice (MC) test:

Multiple-choice questions, half critical reasoning, half quantitative reasoning

Written English (WE) test:

Two essays

Answering questions

You answer the question by clicking the radio button beside your chosen option, and navigate using "Next" or "Back" buttons at the bottom of the screen.

Duration

The Multiple choice test runs for 2 hours and the Written English test runs for 1 hour.

There is a timer in the top right-hand screen.

Test taking strategies

Tips for working through questions:

There is no right or wrong way to complete STAT. It is best for you to develop your own strategies that suit your way of working.
It is recommended that you work steadily through each question. It is not advisable to spend too much time on any one question.
If you think you know the answer to a question, mark it, even if you are not certain. Go on to the next question and come back later if you have time.

Points to note

All questions have the same value. It is recommended that you attempt as many questions as possible in order to maximise your score.
There is only one correct answer, with no marks deducted for incorrect answers.
STAT is not a test of subject specific knowledge.

Practice material

To provide test takers with an understanding of the type of questions that they may encounter in the STAT practice materials are available for purchase.

To purchase practice material:

For test takers applying to Australian universities go to this registration portal

Applicants to UCL go to this registration portal

Common questions

: To purchase preparation materials you will need to create an ACER account. You do not need to register for the test to purchase practice materials. Additionally, the purchase of practice materials does not mean you are registered for STAT. Any preparation materials you purchase will be accessible through your ACER account as soon as your payment is successfully received.

To enable automatic scoring, several hundred responses to the tasks were marked using a criterion-referenced analytical marking guide. Responses were hand marked (double marked and adjudicated where necessary) using a marking guide. The scores were Rasch analysed and a measurement scale was calibrated. Finally, the scores were loaded into the automatic marking system to create a computer model that replicates manual scoring and can ‘mimic’ the way markers assign scores to the tasks. When you purchase use of the automatic scoring service for STAT Practice Test 4: Written English you are able to:

Upload 2 essay tasks: one Task A and one Task B.
Receive a single Written English score range, for example (51–59), and percentile band. Please note that you will only be able to submit your responses once.
Submit your practice essay tasks anytime within 12 months from the date of purchase. Please note, it is not possible to provide detailed feedback and critiquing of your writing through Autoscoring

: STAT preparation courses are not recommended, authorised by, or in any way associated with, ACER. They are unregulated. You will need to assess for yourself whether any particular preparation course is able to supply objective and reliable evidence that participation is likely to improve your score to justify the often significant cost associated with them, and whether representations they make about themselves are accurate.

Preparing for Multiple Choice

To assist test takers in preparing for their STAT multiple choice, there is a free sample multiple choice question booklet available to download.

Time management strategies

The total test time is 120 minutes, reading time is included in your test timer. Aim to finish working a few minutes ahead of the allocated time so that you’ve got some time to review what you’ve done and perhaps have another think about an answer you weren’t sure about first time around.

Break your time into blocks to monitor your progress. It is very important to finish the test and have an answer for every question. Rushing to just get something down towards the end of the test time gives you a small chance of guessing an answer, but it is much better to have the time to coolly work out the correct answer properly.

Preparing for Written English

Good preparation for the Written English component is to attempt the following sample essay prompts.

Sample essay prompts:

Task A:  A civilised society is one that makes sure there is a place for everyone.
Task B:  Whatever the field of endeavour, it is drive and commitment that counts.

You should try to complete the essays in one hour under simulated ‘test conditions’. Once completed, it is often helpful to ask someone else to read the essays and to suggest improvements or alternative approaches to the prompts. (Note that it is not necessary to agree with the prompts). It can also be useful to put the essays aside for several days then re-read them to look for ways to make improvements.

Don’t be concerned about the expected length of the essays. Within reason, the quality of the writing is much more important than the length. Candidates only have 30 minutes to plan and write each essay, and the examiners do not have unrealistic expectations of what can be produced in that time.

The following questions will be considered by the examiners when they assess your essays:

What kinds of ideas has the test taker developed in response to the prompt?
To what extent and how well has the test taker explored the ideas and issues in the prompt?
Has the test taker developed a structured and organised piece of writing?
Has the test taker written clearly and fluently?
Is the language used by the test taker precise and appropriate for the topic?