School Guide
WA GATE School Cut-off Scores — All Perth Schools
A complete reference guide to estimated TSS cut-off scores for every major WA GATE selective school — plus what the scores mean and how to prepare.
249.33
Perth Modern (official 2027)
209.5
Minimum TSS threshold
13+
Metro GATE schools
Official source: The WA Department of Education now publishes cut-off scores at education.wa.edu.au/academic-and-languages-program-cut-off-scores. Figures marked with official 2027 Round 1 data are sourced from that page. Schools not in the official list (Applecross, Churchlands, JCC) show community estimates — marked with "~".
What Your TSS Means
The Total Standard Score (TSS) determines which GATE schools are within reach. It is calculated by adding the standardised (z-score) results across all four sections. The community-observed maximum TSS is approximately 301.
249.33+
~2–3% of applicants
Perth Modern territory
Official 2027 Perth Modern Year 7 cut-off: 249.33 (DoE)
232–249
~5–10% of applicants
Highly competitive GATE
Willetton (241.58), Shenton (239.15), Bob Hawke (237.16), Harrisdale (232.48) — all official 2027 figures
215–231
~10–20% of applicants
Competitive GATE schools
Melville (229.40), Carine (228.95), Duncraig (223.92), Fremantle College (214.69)
209.5–214
~20–25% of applicants
Minimum threshold
Eligible — regional and online programs available at 209.5
Below 209.5
~75% of applicants
No GATE offer
Below eligibility threshold for any academic program
2027 Entry Cut-off Scores by School
Sorted by TSS requirement, highest first. Official 2027 Round 1 figures from the WA DoE; schools marked "~" show community estimates where official data is not available.
Perth Modern School
Most CompetitiveAcademic, Music, Language
Official 2027 Round 1 cut-off: 249.33 (DoE) — Academic, Music and Language streams
Willetton Senior High School
Highly CompetitiveAcademic (GATE)
Official 2027 Round 1 cut-off: 241.58 — strong STEM culture, southern suburbs
Shenton College
Highly CompetitiveAcademic (GATE)
Official 2027 Round 1 cut-off: 239.15 — Gifted & Enrichment Program (GEP)
Bob Hawke College
Highly CompetitiveAcademic (GATE)
Official 2027 Round 1 cut-off: 237.16 — inner-north Perth, modern campus
Harrisdale Senior High School
Highly CompetitiveAcademic (GATE)
Official 2027 Round 1 cut-off: 232.48 — southern suburbs option
Rossmoyne Senior High School
Highly CompetitiveLanguages program
* Languages interview cut-off only (2027). Rossmoyne is not listed in the Academic program cut-off table — confirm offer type with DoE
Applecross Senior High School
Highly CompetitiveAcademic (GATE)
Community estimate — not in official 2027 DoE Academic cut-off table; check DoE for current status
Melville Senior High School
CompetitiveAcademic (GATE)
Official 2027 Round 1 cut-off: 229.40 — consistent program south of river
Carine Senior High School
CompetitiveAcademic (GATE)
Official 2027 Round 1 cut-off: 228.95 — northern suburbs, fast-rising program
Churchlands Senior High School
CompetitiveAcademic, Music (GATE)
Community estimate — strong music and academic programs; not in official 2027 cut-off table
John Curtin College of Arts
CompetitiveAcademic, Visual Arts, Dance
Community estimate — specialist arts streams alongside academic; check DoE for cut-off status
Duncraig Senior High School
CompetitiveAcademic (GATE)
Official 2027 Round 1 cut-off: 223.92 — northern suburbs
Fremantle College
Entry ThresholdAcademic (GATE)
Official 2027 Round 1 cut-off: 214.69 — accessible entry-level program
Source: Official DoE cut-offs for Perth Modern, Willetton, Shenton, Bob Hawke, Harrisdale, Melville, Carine, Duncraig, Fremantle College (education.wa.edu.au, 2027 intake). Community estimates for Rossmoyne Academic, Applecross, Churchlands, and JCC.
TSS cut-off trends — 2022 to 2027
Cut-offs are not static — they shift with each cohort. The 2027 row now shows official DoE figures for the first time. A clear rising trend is visible across all schools as the applicant pool grows while the number of GATE places stays fixed.
| Year | Perth Modern | Shenton | Willetton | Bob Hawke | Carine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 entry | ~234 | ~229 | ~230 | n/a* | ~218 |
| 2023 entry | ~237 | ~231 | ~232 | ~228 | ~220 |
| 2024 entry | ~240 | ~233 | ~234 | ~230 | ~221 |
| 2025 entry | ~242 | ~236 | ~236 | ~232 | ~222 |
| 2026 entry | 244.34 | ~238 | ~238 | ~234 | ~223 |
| 2027 (official)DoE | 249.33 | 239.15 | 241.58 | 237.16 | 228.95 |
* Bob Hawke College opened in 2020; 2022 entry data limited. 2022–2026 figures are community estimates. 2027 figures are official DoE Round 1 cut-offs (education.wa.edu.au). See our full Perth Modern TSS history page.
How the TSS is Calculated
Your TSS is not a simple percentage — it is a standardised composite score designed to be fair across different test years and difficulty levels.
You sit the ASET
Four sections: Abstract Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Written Expression.
Raw scores are standardised
Each section's raw score is converted to a z-score using the national reference group, removing difficulty variation between years.
Section scores are summed
The four standardised scores add up to your TSS. Each section contributes equally in theory, but QR typically has the widest spread.
Writing is assessed separately
Marked on a 24-point rubric (Ideas 6, Structure 6, Vocabulary 6, Conventions 6), then standardised and added to your TSS.
Key insight: Because the TSS uses z-scores, a student who is merely above average across all four sections can outscore a student who excels in two but struggles in one. Consistency across all four sections is more important than being exceptional in just one.
If You're Borderline
Being near a cut-off is stressful. Here's what actually matters in the final weeks.
QR first
Quantitative Reasoning responds fastest to deliberate practice — targeted QR work in the final 8 weeks can add 5–12 TSS points for most students.
Read every day
Wide reading is the highest-leverage RC habit. Students who read 30 min/day for 3+ months consistently score in the top RC quartile.
Speed over accuracy in AR
In Abstract Reasoning, completing all questions matters more than perfection. Time-limited mock practice builds the speed and pattern recognition needed.
Get writing feedback
Writing accounts for roughly 25% of the TSS. A 3-point rubric improvement (e.g. Ideas: 3→4, Structure: 3→4) can add 8–10 TSS points — but it needs real feedback, not just repetition.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What TSS score do you need for Perth Modern School?
- Perth Modern School is the most selective GATE school in WA. The official 2027 entry Round 1 cut-off published by the WA Department of Education is 249.33 for Year 7. This is the minimum TSS that received an offer in Round 1. The score varies each year based on cohort performance — the 2028 planning target should be around 250+ to allow a comfortable buffer.
- What is the minimum TSS score for any WA GATE school?
- The minimum TSS to receive any GATE offer is 209.5. Students who score below this threshold are not eligible for GATE programs. Several regional and online programs have a 209.5 cut-off, meaning all eligible applicants above the threshold received a place. For competitive metro schools, cut-offs range from 214.69 (Fremantle College) to 249.33 (Perth Modern).
- Are WA GATE school cut-off scores published officially?
- Yes — as of 2026, the Western Australia Department of Education publishes official cut-off scores at education.wa.edu.au/academic-and-languages-program-cut-off-scores. The 2027 intake Round 1 cut-offs are now available for all Academic and Languages program schools. This is a significant change from previous years when only community estimates were available.
- Can I choose which GATE school I go to?
- You can nominate preferred GATE schools on your application, but placement depends on your TSS rank and the number of available places at each school. Students are typically offered a place at their highest-ranked school where their TSS meets or exceeds the cut-off. Nominating 3 schools in ranked order is strongly recommended.
- Is the WA GATE test the same for all schools?
- Yes. All WA GATE schools use the same ASET (Academic Selective Entrance Test) for selection. There is no separate test per school. Students sit one exam and indicate their preferred schools on their application.
Track your TSS
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