What 'Clever' GATE Students Do Differently in Reading Comprehension (And How Your Child Can Match Them)

When it comes to the WA Academic Selective Entrance Test (ASET), many parents assume top-percentile Reading Comprehension scores come purely from natural talent. But after analysing performance data from our Term 3 student assessments, the truth is clear: high scores aren't about luck—they come from specific, trainable habits.

Below is a look at what transformed our students' performance this past term, and how adopting these three 'clever student' habits can give your Year 5 child a distinct edge before test day.

Before finishing Term 3, our aspiring GATE students sat a targeted assessment to measure their reading comprehension progress. The group's results showed a noticeable jump in marks.

This improvement came down to three core focus areas:

1. Active 'Vocabulary Building'

In class, we go far beyond basic definitions. Students analyse challenging vocabulary, explore contextual usage, and map out synonyms and antonyms. Vocabulary depth is crucial because so many ASET comprehension questions test subtle word knowledge—if a student misses the exact nuance of a word in a passage, they are far more likely to select a distractor answer.

2. Adopting the Habits of Top Performers

High-scoring students consistently demonstrate three key reading habits:

• Reading Beyond the Standard List: They don't restrict themselves to popular fiction series like Harry Potter or Andy Griffiths. They actively explore diverse genres—from news articles and human anatomy to science dictionaries and historical non-fiction.
• Discussing What They Read: They regularly discuss passages with parents, tutors, and peers. Hearing different perspectives helps them connect complex texts to real-world contexts and sharpens their critical reasoning.
• Curiosity & Questioning: When they encounter an unfamiliar concept, they ask questions immediately. In a recent lesson on collective nouns, a student asked, "Do hunters eat leopards?"—sparking a rich classroom discussion and an independent research effort.

3. Maintaining a Dedicated Reading Journal

Keeping a reading journal forces students to engage with a text actively rather than passively skimming. Jotting down key plot points, unfamiliar vocabulary, or central arguments allows students to reflect, research, and consolidate their understanding long after they finish reading.

As Term 4 gets underway, maintaining momentum is essential. We will continue reinforcing active vocabulary expansion, high-order reading strategies, and structured reading journals to ensure our students stay on track.

Is Your Child Ready for the WA ASET Paper Exam?

Developing reading habits is half the battle—the other half is applying them under strict, timed paper exam conditions.

Don't rely on online quizzes or automated score sheets to evaluate your child's readiness. Join us at Intuition Educational Support in Osborne Park for our Strict-Conditions Paper ASET Mock Exam.

What makes our mock exam different?

• Expert ACER Insight: Led by Principal Educator Trish Baran (Master’s-qualified G&T Specialist & former official ACER Selective Schools Writing Marker).
• Human-Marked Writing Critique: Line-by-line feedback on tone, vocabulary, and structure—not automated template scores.
• 1-on-1 Parent Diagnostic Call: We walk you through your child's exact error patterns in Reading Comprehension, Abstract, and Quantitative Reasoning.
• 100% Fee Credit: Every dollar of your mock test fee is credited toward an upcoming GATE revision module or holiday workshop.

🎟️ Strictly capped cohort size to ensure personal tutor attention.

👉  Email to Reserve Your Child's Desk or call us on (08) 6161 2210 to speak directly with Trish.