Amongst the usual tests and exams that Singapore students take in school, there is a lesser-known test called the General Ability Test. Not all students will sit a General Ability Test during their school years, but you may encounter it in some situations, most commonly in the GEP selection test and for admission into some schools.
If it’s the first time you are hearing about the General Ability Test, you are probably wondering what the test entails. If your child has to sit for a General Ability Test, you may wonder how they should prepare for it. Below, we answer some of those questions to satisfy your curiosity!
1. What is the General Ability Test?
The General Ability Test (GAT) assesses the candidate’s reasoning, observation, and problem solving skills. It is meant to be a measure of a student’s capacity to learn.
The standardised test is designed to be free of language and cultural bias, and does not require students to have special content knowledge. Every test question should contain all the information needed for a candidate to answer the question.
2. What is the General Ability Test for?
Generally, there are two scenarios in which a student would encounter the GAT. The first is in the GEP selection test, which include a GAT component in addition to the English and Math sections.
The second case is for admission to a school, which could be through DSA, as a transfer student, or transferring into the IP track for Sec 3.
3. Is the General Ability Test an IQ test?
Some test questions may seem similar to those found in standardised IQ tests. However, the GAT is not exactly the same as an IQ test. GAT aims to measure a student’s ability to learn rather than pure intelligence. The General Ability Test used in Singapore is locally developed and not interchangeable with globally standardised IQ tests.
4. How can students prepare for the GAT?
Technically, test-takers do not need to prepare for the General Ability Test as it does not require studying of any subject content. However, some students may benefit from familiarising themselves with the type of questions that appear in GAT. Parents may also encourage their child to engage in reasoning and problem solving activities such as crossword puzzles, Scrabble, sudoku, building models, Rubik’s cube, and so on.
At Future Academy, we do provide preparatory programmes for GEP selection test and DSA auditions and interviews. If you are worried about your child sitting the GAT, we welcome you to enquire about the support and preparation we can provide to help your child show off their potential during the GAT.
Conclusion
Is your child sitting for a General Ability Test soon? We hope these FAQs has cleared up some confusion about the test and point you in the right direction of how to prep your child for it. For more advice and support regarding the GAT, DSA, or GEP tests, contact us at Future Academy to speak to our education experts! Alternatively, find out more about how to support your child in GEP or explore our DSA and Math Olympiad training courses.