The Special Tertiary Admissions Test, or STAT, is a pathway to tertiary study. It is suitable for people who do not have formal qualifications, or for those whose past results may not be competitive enough to get an offer.

The STAT is an aptitude test that assesses a range of competencies considered important for tertiary study.

STAT Multiple Choice is the version used by SATAC's partner institutions. It is a two-hour test evaluating skills associated with verbal and quantitative reasoning.

STAT Written English is not used for entry to courses offered through SATAC.

Sitting the STAT

You can sit the STAT as a pathway to enter most undergraduate courses, or TAFE SA higher education courses.

You might consider the STAT if:

  • You are not eligible to apply with any other qualification
  • Your previous grades would not be competitive enough to receive an offer to your preferred course

If you are eligible and competitive enough to apply with another qualification you do not need to sit the STAT.

If you are unsure whether to sit the STAT contact SATAC for advice before you book a test sitting.

To sit the STAT to support your application through SATAC, you have to book a STAT sitting via ACER.

If you have a question about sitting the STAT check the frequently asked questions to see if it has been answered.

Eligibility to use STAT in South Australia and the Northern Territory

Before you book a STAT sitting check first if:

There are rules about using a STAT result for entry to undergraduate courses. Eligibility is based on:

  • your age, and
  • whether you have studied at higher education level, and how much study you have done

Check the selection rules for undergraduate admission pathways to learn more.

You can also use results from the STAT to meet the course admission requirements for TAFE SA higher education courses. A list of TAFE SA higher education courses that consider STAT can be found at the bottom of this page.

Eligibility rules may be different for interstate institutions. If you are sitting the STAT to apply for a course at an interstate university check your eligibility with the institution or with the tertiary admissions centre in that state.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about STAT applications

Get answers