The STAT test is aimed at students who did not complete a formal education course to ATAR level, so it is not focussed on testing knowledge of specific subjects but is designed to assess competencies which demonstrate the student’s potential to succeed in tertiary studies. It is a test of aptitude rather than specific knowledge. Hence the assessment focuses on an ability to think critically, to understand and analyse information and to organise and express your thoughts in a logical way.
There are two sections to the STAT Test: A Multiple-Choice Test that assesses Verbal and Quantitative Skills and a Written English Test, for which you write two Essays. Students who have failed ATAR English and are offered the opportunity sit STAT are generally required to just sit the Essay Writing component of the test.
The essays you need to write in the STAT test require a different approach to the essays you have been writing in English ATAR, so it is important to understand what is required and to practice writing those types of essays.
This booklet will show you how to write the type of essay required and will provide examples of the kind of essays you will need to write for the STAT test. This guide is based on the Academic Task Force Essay Writing book, which is designed to help students improve their essay writing skills. The book provides a ’formula’ which can be particularly helpful for students with a scientific bias who need direction for English. Remember, it doesn’t matter how much you know about a subject, if you don’t know how to present it, how to communicate your knowledge to others, it is of little use. Therefor it is essential to learn and use good essay writing skills, not only to pass the STAT test, but also for your future University career.