Perth Modern School Entry Guide: ASET Scores, Places and Preparation

Perth Modern School in Subiaco is the only fully academically selective school in Western Australia. Every student there gets in through the Academic Selective Entrance Test (ASET). It offers up to 225 Year 7 places a year, and for Year 7 in 2027 the lowest score that received a Round 2 offer was a TSS of 247.09, the highest of any WA school.

How do you get into Perth Modern?

There is one pathway: apply through the Gifted and Talented (GATE) process and sit the ASET.

1. Apply through the Department's Gifted and Talented portal by 6 pm Friday 5 February 2027 (for Year 7 in 2028).
2. List Perth Modern among your academic preferences.
3. Sit the ASET in Year 6, on Saturday 6 March 2027 in Perth metro.
4. Receive results in early June, then offers in late June (Round 1) and late July (Round 2).

Perth Modern does not run its own test or interview for academic entry. Offers are made on ASET score alone.

What score do you need?

The Year 7 reserve list minimum was 247.0. Placements for Years 9 to 11 had closed, so there was no reserve list for those years.

Cut-offs move each year with the number and strength of applicants, so treat these as a guide. Some sites still quote 244.34, which is an older figure. The numbers above come from the Department's current cut-off page.

For comparison, the next highest Year 7 cut-offs were Willetton SHS (240.86) and Shenton College (237.75). See every school in WA GATE Schools and ASET Cut-Off Scores.

What is the ASET like?

Four tests in one sitting of about 2 hours and 50 minutes:

All four tests are added into one Total Standard Score, so a weak section pulls the total down. At Perth Modern's level, a student needs to be strong in all four, not just two.

Full detail: ASET Test WA: Complete Guide.

Can you join Perth Modern after Year 7?

Yes, but places are very limited. There are small intakes for Years 9, 10 and 11, through the same ASET process. Year 9 entry needed a much higher score than Year 7 (271.59 against 247.09). Year 10 and 11 cut-offs were slightly lower than Year 7, but very few places come up at those levels.

How to prepare for Perth Modern

Because the cut-off sits near the top of the scale, preparation should focus on removing weak spots rather than polishing strengths.

• Start with a baseline of all four tests to find the weakest section.
• Target Abstract Reasoning early. It is the fastest-paced test and the most unfamiliar.
• Practise writing to 25 minutes. Ideas and organisation count most. Spelling and grammar count for little if the work is readable.
• Finish with full timed mocks in the real order, with the 10-minute break.

From Jon: Motivation helps a lot, and so does natural ability. Years ago, when a new selective school opened in Queensland, the first cohorts got in on ability alone with little preparation, because no one was preparing for it yet. That has completely changed. Many students now arrive with years of tutoring behind them, so even very capable children need preparation to compete.

Frequently asked questions

Is Perth Modern a private school? No. It is a WA government school, so there are no private school tuition fees. Standard public school charges apply.

Does Perth Modern have its own entrance exam? No. The ASET is the only test. Applications and testing are run by the Department's Gifted and Talented unit.

How many students apply for Perth Modern? The Department does not publish applicant numbers per school. It offers up to 225 Year 7 places.

Does living near Perth Modern help? No. GATE placement is based purely on ASET performance.

What if my child just misses the cut-off? If their TSS meets the reserve minimum, they stay on the reserve list until 1 December. Their next preference may still make an offer in Round 1 or Round 2.

Sources

• Selective schools, WA Department of Education
• Academic and languages program cut-off scores
• Applicant guidelines for entry in 2028 (PDF)
• Perth Modern School: Entry

Facts checked against official sources on 31 October 2026.