GATE 2027 Key Dates: Applications Open 13 October, Test on 6 March
Published 11 October 2026, from the WA Department of Education's official key dates for the 2028 intake.
The Department of Education has released the key dates for the 2028 intake of its Gifted and Talented Secondary Selective Entrance programs. If your child is in Year 5 in 2026, this is their round: you apply now, they sit the Academic Selective Entrance Test (ASET) in Year 6, and placement starts in Year 7 in 2028.
The three dates that matter most
- Applications open Tuesday 13 October 2026
- Applications close 6pm Friday 5 February 2027
- Year 6 students sit the ASET on Saturday 6 March 2027 (Perth metro, Bunbury and Albany)
Application dates
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Applications open | Tuesday 13 October 2026 |
| Parent information evenings | Wednesday 14 October to Monday 23 November 2026 |
| Applications close | 6pm Friday 5 February 2027 |
| Deadline for adjusted testing conditions and ASET exemption requests | 6pm Friday 5 February 2027 |
| Deadline for overseas and interstate applicants to choose a test location | Tuesday 9 February 2027 |
| Outcome of arts adjusted testing conditions requests emailed | Wednesday 10 February 2027 |
| Outcome of ASET adjusted testing conditions and exemption requests emailed | Monday 15 February 2027 |
| Deadline for adding new program preferences (Round 1) | Languages: Friday 21 May 2027. Academic: to be confirmed. Arts: before testing |
| Deadline for changing existing preferences (Round 1) | To be confirmed |
| Deadlines for adding or changing preferences (Round 2) | To be confirmed |
Testing dates
Every applicant sits the ASET. Arts applicants also complete an audition or workshop and may be interviewed, and languages applicants may be interviewed.
| What | When |
|---|---|
| ASET for Year 6 students (Perth metro, Bunbury and Albany) | Saturday 6 March 2027 |
| ASET for Year 8, 9 and 10 students (Perth metro, Bunbury and Albany) | Sunday 7 March 2027 |
| ASET in regional WA (excluding Bunbury and Albany) | Monday 8 to Tuesday 9 March 2027 |
| ASET in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide | March 2027, to be confirmed |
| ASET with adjusted testing conditions (Perth metro only) | Tuesday 16 to Tuesday 30 March 2027 |
| ASET testing details emailed | To be confirmed |
| Arts testing details emailed | Staggered through Term 1, 2027 |
| Arts workshops, auditions and call-backs | To be confirmed |
| Arts interviews | Throughout Term 2, 2027 |
| Languages interviews begin | Late May 2027 |
| Illness, incident or misadventure review requests | Within 7 days of the affected test |
Results and offers
| What | When |
|---|---|
| ASET Performance Reports emailed | Early June 2027 |
| Deadline for results check requests | To be confirmed |
| Round 1 offers emailed | Late June 2027 |
| Round 1 responses due | To be confirmed |
| Round 2 offers emailed | Late July 2027 |
| Round 2 responses due | To be confirmed |
| Unsuccessful notifications for all programs emailed | August 2027 |
| Reserve lists close for the 2028 intake | 1 December 2027 |
The Department sends all correspondence by email, so apply with an address you check often (and keep an eye on the junk folder). Cut-off scores for the 2028 intake are published when Round 1 offers go out and updated after Round 2. Several dates are still marked "to be confirmed", and the Department says the dates may change, so check the official page before each deadline.
What we suggest doing now
- Apply early. Applications run to 5 February, but there is nothing to gain by waiting, and late applications are only considered in exceptional circumstances. Our step-by-step guide to applying walks through the process.
- Book a parent information evening. The Department runs free sessions at schools across the state from 14 October. See all the dates and schools.
- Put 6 March 2027 in the calendar, and plan family commitments around that weekend.
- Plan the preparation. From mid-October there are about 20 weeks until the test. That is enough time for steady, structured practice across all four sections without cramming.
Preparing for 6 March 2027
AsetPrep runs weekend GATE classes in Perth and online, plus a practice platform with timed mock exams and writing feedback built around the WA ASET.
Source: WA Department of Education, Key dates and applicant guidelines (checked 11 October 2026). The Department's applicant guidelines for 2028 entry are being updated. Questions about applications go to the Gifted and Talented Selection Unit on 9264 4307 or [email protected]. AsetPrep is an independent preparation provider and is not affiliated with the Department of Education.
See also: When is the GATE exam 2027, GATE exam 2027 guide, Test-day checklist.