Perth Modern School Entry Guide 2026: Complete ASET Test Preparation

Perth Modern School in Subiaco is Western Australia's best-known academically selective public secondary school. Entry is determined solely by the Academic Selective Entrance Test (ASET), administered by the WA Department of Education's Gifted and Talented unit. For 2024 entry, the Department published a minimum entrance score of 247.2 Total Standardised Score (TSS) for Perth Modern — a guide only, not a guarantee. For the full ASET pathway, start with our ASET/GATE exam preparation hub.

This guide covers the entry process, ASET format, published scores, application dates, and how Braintree Coaching Australia recommends preparing your child.

In this guide:

• The ASET test structure — four components, timing, and what each section demands
• Critical application deadlines — the 2027 entry window closes 6 pm Friday, 6 February 2026
• Published minimum entrance scores — what the Department actually publishes about cutoffs
• Year 7 vs Years 9–11 entry — when spaces are available and how selection differs
• Preparation strategies — component-by-component approaches aligned to the Handbook
• Regional student options — City Beach Residential College for families outside Perth
• Common parent questions answered — citizenship, appeals, preferences, and fit

What is Perth Modern School?

Established in 1911, Perth Modern School — affectionately known as "Mod" — is a co-educational public secondary school in Subiaco that selects its entire student body through the ASET. It is often described as WA's only fully academically selective public school; that description does not appear in the departmental sources we checked, so if it matters to your decision, confirm it with the school directly rather than taking it from a coaching site, including ours.

What makes Perth Modern different

Unlike partially selective programs where gifted students are placed alongside general-entry students, Perth Modern's entire student body enters through academic selection. This creates a learning culture where:

• Curriculum is pitched at an accelerated level — teachers can move faster and deeper
• Peer learning is enhanced — students are surrounded by equally capable classmates
• Resources are focused — the school invests in extension programs, competitions, and enrichment

Perth Modern offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme alongside the Western Australian Certificate of Education. For how Perth Modern compares with other WA Gifted and Talented schools, see our WA Gifted and Talented program guide.

Who can apply for Perth Modern entry?

Entry to Perth Modern School is exclusively through the Academic Selective Entrance Test (ASET), with all aspects of the application and testing process managed by the Department of Education's Gifted and Talented (GAT) unit — not by the school itself.

Eligibility for Year 7 entry

To be eligible for Year 7 entry, your child must:

• Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident with local school enrolment entitlement in Western Australia (specific visa categories may also qualify — check the Applicant Guidelines)
• Be in Year 6 during the year of testing
• Complete the online application before the deadline

For entry into Years 9, 10, or 11, limited places become available based on attrition. These places are filled through the same ASET testing process, though competition can be more intense due to fewer available spots.

The role of the GAT unit

The Department of Education's Gifted and Talented unit is solely responsible for:

• Receiving applications
• Organising student testing at specified testing centres
• Marking and scoring the ASET
• Making placement offers to successful candidates

Perth Modern School itself does not handle applications or make admissions decisions. All enquiries about the application process should be directed to the GAT unit at gtsu@education.wa.edu.au or on (08) 9264 4307.

What is on the ASET for Perth Modern?

The Academic Selective Entrance Test is a paper-based examination. The Department publishes the four component timings but not a total sitting duration: 35 + 25 + 35 + 20 minutes of testing, which is 115 minutes, plus a 10-minute break between Communicating Ideas in Writing and Quantitative Reasoning. Allow extra time on the day for check-in and instructions, which the Department does not publish as a fixed total.

Each component produces a standardised score, and the Total Standardised Score (TSS) is the sum of those four scores. The Department states that scores are not percentages or percentiles, and it publishes no maximum TSS.

Why paper-based matters

Unlike the NSW Selective School test (which is now fully computer-based), the ASET remains a traditional paper examination. This has important implications for preparation:

• Your child should practise answering questions on paper, not screens
• Time management with a physical answer sheet differs from clicking options
• Handwriting speed and legibility matter for the Writing component

For detailed strategies on each component, see our free ASET practice teaching guide.

When do Perth Modern applications close?

Applications for 2027 entry (students currently in Year 5, sitting the test in Year 6) follow this timeline:

Key dates for 2027 entry

All applications must be completed online through the Department of Education's Gifted and Talented portal. Paper applications are not accepted.

For the full timetable and a month-by-month checklist, refer to our WA ASET key dates checklist.

What score does Perth Modern School need?

The Department does not publish a required score for any school. What it publishes are minimum entrance scores for previous years, defined as the lowest Total Standardised Score that received an offer once all offers were completed.

Published minimum entrance scores

The Department attaches three cautions to those figures: they are a guide only, they may change every year, and they are usually lower than Round 1 or Round 2 offer scores because they reflect the last offer made after the whole process has run. Separately, a minimum TSS of 209.5 is required to be considered for an academic program, and the Department states that 209.5 or higher does not guarantee an offer.

Understanding TSS

The Total Standardised Score is not a simple percentage. Raw scores from each component are standardised to account for variations in test difficulty between years. All four components contribute equally to the final TSS. Because the Department publishes minimum entrance scores for Year 7 entry only, there are no equivalent published figures for Years 9, 10 and 11.

For a wider scoring explanation, see our GATE/ASET exam guide for WA students.

How should your child prepare for Perth Modern entry?

Success in the ASET requires targeted preparation across all four components. Because the test assesses reasoning ability rather than curriculum knowledge, rote memorisation is ineffective — instead, focus on building transferable thinking skills.

Component-by-component approach

Reading Comprehension (35 questions, 35 minutes)

• Practise identifying main ideas, author's purpose, and implicit meanings
• Build vocabulary through wide reading of challenging texts
• Work on inference questions — what the passage suggests rather than states directly
• Time yourself: aim for under 60 seconds per question

Quantitative Reasoning (35 questions, 35 minutes)

• Focus on problem-solving strategies rather than formula memorisation
• Practise with word problems that require multi-step reasoning
• Build mental maths speed for routine calculations
• Learn to identify patterns in number sequences

Abstract Reasoning (35 questions, 20 minutes)

• This is the fastest-paced section — roughly 34 seconds per question by arithmetic on the Department's published figures
• Practise the two published question types: Next in Sequence and Complete the Pattern
• General spatial puzzles can build pattern skills, but they are not named ASET formats by the Department
• Develop strategies for quickly eliminating wrong answers

Communicating Ideas in Writing (1 task, 25 minutes)

• Practise planning, writing, and editing within strict time limits
• Focus on clear structure: introduction, developed paragraphs, conclusion
• Build vocabulary for precise expression
• Practise both persuasive and narrative writing styles

For ASET preparation resources and practice tests, visit our ASET/GATE exam preparation page.

Recommended preparation timeline

What do we see WA families get wrong?

Four patterns come up again and again when our tutors mark ASET mock papers for Perth Modern candidates, and none of them are curriculum gaps.

Abstract Reasoning time pressure. This is the component children most often run out of time on, because 35 questions in 20 minutes is a pace almost nothing in Year 5 or Year 6 schoolwork prepares them for. Children who score well on untimed figure sequences can still lose a third of the section to the clock.

The Writing rubric goes under-practised. Families drill Reading and Quantitative Reasoning because those feel like schoolwork, and the 25-minute Writing task gets the least practice of the four. It carries the same weight as the other three.

Calculator habit in Quantitative Reasoning. Children who have practised with a calculator at home slow down noticeably when the working has to be done by hand, which is what the ASET Handbook describes: rough working goes in the question booklet or on the blank back page of the answer booklet.

Full-length mocks get left until the final month. By then there is no time left to act on what the first mock reveals. A timed full-length paper is a diagnostic, so it is worth sitting one early enough that the results can change the plan.

These observations come from our tutor marking records across ASET and GATE preparation (aset-mistake-bank). They are patterns we see, not published research, and your child may not show any of them.

Can regional students attend Perth Modern?

Students from regional Western Australia who gain entry to Perth Modern School can board at City Beach Residential College, located in the suburb of City Beach.

City Beach Residential College

• Provides accommodation for regional students attending Perth metropolitan schools
• Offers a supportive study environment with supervised homework time
• Located within reasonable commuting distance of Perth Modern

If your family is based outside the Perth metropolitan area, consider the boarding option early in your planning. Places at City Beach Residential College are limited and may have separate application requirements.

For more information, contact Perth Modern's enrolment team or visit the City Beach Residential College website.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do students get into Perth Modern School?

Entry to Perth Modern School is determined solely by the Academic Selective Entrance Test (ASET), administered by the WA Department of Education's Gifted and Talented unit. For academic entry there is no interview, portfolio or school nomination pathway — placement is based on ASET results. Unsuccessful applicants may remain on the Department's reserve list for later offer rounds.

What is the cutoff score for Perth Modern School?

The Department publishes previous-year minimum entrance scores, not a fixed target. For 2024 entry the lowest Total Standardised Score that received a Perth Modern offer was 247.2; for 2025 entry it was 244.34. The Department describes these as a guide only, says they may change every year, and notes they are usually lower than Round 1 or Round 2 offer scores. A minimum TSS of 209.5 is required to be considered for an academic program, and 209.5 or higher does not guarantee an offer.

What does the ASET test for Perth Modern include?

The ASET has four equally weighted components: Reading Comprehension (35 questions, 35 minutes), Communicating Ideas in Writing (one task, 25 minutes), Quantitative Reasoning (35 questions, 35 minutes) and Abstract Reasoning (35 questions, 20 minutes), with a 10-minute break between Writing and Quantitative Reasoning. It measures reasoning ability rather than curriculum knowledge.

When is the Perth Modern application deadline?

For 2027 entry, applications opened Tuesday 14 October 2025 and close at 6 pm on Friday, 6 February 2026. Deadlines are strict and managed by the Department of Education Gifted and Talented unit. Confirm current dates on the official WA Department of Education website before applying.

Can regional students attend Perth Modern School?

Yes. Regional students who gain entry can access boarding through City Beach Residential College, allowing students from outside the Perth metropolitan area to attend Perth Modern. Boarding places are subject to availability and separate application.

What happens if my child doesn't get in for Year 7?

Limited places become available for Years 9, 10, and 11 as students leave the school. These places are filled through the same ASET testing process. Perth Modern School does not accept new students for Year 12 under any circumstances.

Are there appeals if we're unsuccessful?

The Department publishes separate review pathways, not a general score appeal. You can lodge an illness or misadventure review within seven days of the test, or request a results check within seven days of receiving the ASET Performance Report to verify the scores are correct — a results check can reduce a score if a marking error is found. These processes do not renegotiate the published minimum entrance score for applicants who scored below it.

Is Perth Modern worth it for my child?

For academically gifted students who thrive in high-achievement environments, Perth Modern offers a selective learning culture in Subiaco. It is not the right fit for every child — consider your child's learning style, social needs, and whether the commute or boarding arrangement is sustainable for six years.

Essential Resources

ASET Preparation Resources for Perth Modern

The ASET/GATE exam preparation hub is the starting point for families targeting Perth Modern. From there, build skills with our ASET test preparation strategies, official ASET Practice ASET downloads, and the ASET exam FAQ. For test-day logistics, see the ASET test day guidelines.

Start with the Department's free Practice ASET downloads before moving to structured preparation. For course-based preparation, the ASET/GATE Ultimate Pack covers all four ASET components with graded exercises and full mock sittings.

Other state selective pathways

• Victoria SEHS preparation hub — Victorian selective entry for Melbourne High, Mac.Robertson, Nossal and Suzanne Cory