STAT P assesses a range of competencies considered important for successful tertiary study, evaluating skills such as critical thinking, and understanding and analysis of given information It does not test your knowledge of curriculum or specific academic content.

Preparation checklist

On this page

Test format and presentation

Questions

There are seventy questions, each with multiple choice answers that are split into units which contain all the information required to answer each question.

What is a ‘unit’

A "unit" is a set of questions based on the same stimulus material (text, cartoon, graph, diagram, etc.). There may be up to five multiple-choice questions in a unit that relate to the same stimulus, and the stimulus material will be repeated for each question. Test questions in the unit come up on the screen one at a time.

STAT P questions may be quite difficult. They are designed to measure a wide range of intellectual ability.

Duration

The testing time runs for 2 hours and 10 minutes (130min).

Completing your test

  • Your answers must be marked directly onto your Answer Sheet, not in your Test Booklet
  • Do rough work in your Test Booklet. Extra paper is not allowed
  • Attempt as many questions as possible for the best chance of maximising your score. Record an answer for all questions
  • No marks are deducted for a wrong answer (there is no negative scoring)
  • Do not mark more than one answer to a question

Answer sheet

You will record your answers on a special STAT P Answer Sheet (see page 6 of the STAT P Applicant Information Booklet) This allows your answers to be scanned and scored by machine On the Answer Sheet you will find a list of question numbers (Questions 1 to 70) and next to each question the letters A B C D with a small circle around each letter.

Mark your answer by completely filling in the circle containing your answer with pencil If you choose option A as the answer to Question 14, record your answer as shown below.

Example of the answer selection options. A question number followed by 4 circles labeled A,B,C & D. Option A is shaded.

STAT-P Answer Sheet
Caption: Example answer sheet, click to view full sheet

Test strategies

  • Don’t spend too much time on any one question.
  • Read the background information for a unit before starting the questions.
  • Read through all the answer options, even if you think the first one is correct, before marking your choice.
  • See if there are any options you can discard immediately because they are obviously wrong.
  • If you think you know the answer to a question, mark it, even if you are not certain. Go on to the next question and come back later if you have time.

Preparation

Use the practice questions in the Applicant Information Booklet to practise your exam technique. Practise recording your answers on the Answer Sheet provided in the booklet. Try to attempt all questions before checking your answers.

Further preparation is to read widely and think critically about what you read.

 

STAT P questions may be quite difficult. They are designed to measure a wide range of intellectual ability.