ACER Press Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) and Related Tests

PATMaths Third Edition
Tests of Reading Comprehension – TORCH
PATReading
ACER General Ability Test
PAT Science

 

Pat Maths Third EditionPATMaths Third Edition (2005)

Description: A revised and updated edition of ACER Press’ test of achievement in mathematics. It provides objective, well-researched norm reference data to teachers about the level of achievement attained by students in the skills and understandings of mathematics.

Features:

  • A common achievement scale for all eight tests, allowing the opportunity to track progression and growth over time or year levels.
  • I Can Do Maths is also scaled to the PATMaths scale, allowing for Prep and Year 1 children to be compared on the same scale.
  • Descriptions of typical achievement based on test results.
  • Provides overview of the student’s specific areas of strength and weakness in different content strands.
  • Items linked to state curriculum strands and progression points.

Range: Years 2 to 10 in Australia

Reports:

(a) Scale scores are provided on all tests on a common PATMaths scale.
(b) Student report that has percentiles for each year level, scale scores, items categorised into strands
(c) Report with descriptions of achievement levels

Forms: 8 forms, with the following number of items:

PATMaths Forms

Strand

No. of Items

Total No. of Items

Test A

Number
Space
Measurement
Chance and Data

11
3
3
3

20

Test 1

Number
Space
Measurement
Chance and Data
Number (no calculator)

15
5
5
5
5

35

Test 2

Number
Space
Measurement
Chance and Data
Number (no calculator)

13
6
6
5
6

36

Test 3

Number
Space
Measurement
Chance and Data
Number (no calculator)

14
6
6
5
6

37

Test 4

Number
Space
Measurement
Chance and Data
Number (no calculator)

15
7
7
5
7

41

Test 5

Number
Space
Measurement
Chance and Data
Number (no calculator)

12
7
7
6
7

39

Test 6

Number
Space
Measurement
Chance and Data
Patterns and Algebra

10
8
8
6
8

40

Test 7

Number
Space
Measurement
Chance and Data
Patterns and Algebra

10
8
8
7
8

41

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Tests of Reading ComprehensionTests of Reading Comprehension (TORCH Revised, 2003 and TORCH Plus, 2006)

Description: A revised edition of ACER Press’ test of achievement in reading comprehension. It provides objective, well-researched norm reference data to teachers about the level of reading achievement attained by students. TORCH Plus is an extension of the TORCH reading tests, providing more difficult reading tests to cater to those in Years 9 and above.

Features:

  • A common achievement scale for reading comprehension, allowing the opportunity to track progression and growth over time or year levels.
  • Provides information which may be used in setting goals and planning effective learning programs.
  • Locating areas of strength and weakness in students’ reading comprehension.

Range: Years 3 to 10 in Australia

Reports: (a) Student report that has percentiles for each year level, scale scores,  items categorised into strands.
(b) Descriptions of achievement levels along the TORCH scale.

Forms: TORCH has 12 cloze passages, with the following number of items to be filled in:

TORCH Forms

Total No. of Items

Grasshoppers

19

Lizards Love Eggs

20

At the Zoo

20

Feeding Puff

22

Donna Dingo

20

The Cats

20

The Swamp Creature

24

Matches

19

She’s Crying *

22

The Accident *

23

The Red Ace of Spades *

23

The Purple Children *

18

* repeated in TORCH and TORCH Plus

TORCH Plus has 8 passages, each with the following number of items to be filled in. TORCH Plus items have also been categorised based on the Reader Behaviour Framework, providing more diagnostic information about a reader’s specific strengths and weaknesses.

TORCH Forms

Reader Behaviour

Item subtype

No. of Items

Total No. of Items

She’s Crying *

Locate

DS: verbatim
DS: rephrased, reworded

0
7

22

Locate, Interpret & Infer

DS: across text
DS: embedded
INF: simple, explicit references

7
7
1

 

The Accident *

Locate, Interpret & Infer

DS: across text
DS: embedded
INF: simple, explicit references

9
5
9

23

The Red Ace of Spades *

Locate

DS: verbatim
DS: rephrased, reworded

1
4

22

Locate, Interpret & Infer

DS: across text
DS: embedded
INF: simple, explicit references

6
8
1

 

Interpret, infer & use

INF: complex, multiple references, cultural values, writer’s intention

2

 

The Purple Children *

Locate

DS: rephrased, reworded

3

18

Locate, interpret & infer

DS: across text
DS: embedded
INF: simple, explicit references

2
6
3

 

Interpret, infer & use

INF: complex, multiple references, cultural values, writer’s intention

4

 

The Rages of Mrs Torrens

Locate

DS: rephrased, reworded

10

25

Locate, interpret & infer

DS: across text
DS: embedded
INF: simple, explicit references

4
5
4

 

Interpret, infer & use

INF: complex, multiple references, cultural values, writer’s intention

2

 

Kiss and Make Up

Locate

DS: rephrased, reworded

8

24

Locate, interpret & infer

DS: across text
DS: embedded
INF: simple, explicit references

6
3
4

 

Interpret, infer & use

INF: complex, multiple references, cultural values, writer’s intention

3

 

Dissection in the Classroom

Locate

DS: rephrased, reworded

3

26

Locate, interpret & infer

DS: across text
DS: embedded
INF: simple, explicit references

9
8
3

 

Interpret, infer & use

INF: complex, multiple references, cultural values, writer’s intention

3

 

An Unusual Professor

Locate

DS: rephrased, reworded

8

26

Locate, Interpret & infer

DS: across text
DS: embedded
INF: simple, explicit references

5
6
2

 

Interpret, infer & use

INF: complex, multiple references, cultural values, writer’s intention

5

 

Note: DS – Directly Stated
INF - Inference

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PAT ReadingPATReading Fourth Edition (due in 2008)

 

Description: A revised and updated edition of ACER Press’ test of achievement in reading comprehension, vocabulary and spelling. It provides objective, well-researched norm reference data to teachers about the level of reading achievement attained by students.

Features:

  • A common achievement scale for reading comprehension, another for vocabulary and another for spelling, allowing the opportunity to track progression and growth over year levels for each area.
  • Reading comprehension passages contain a variety of text types and formats to better reflect the wide range of reading material currently available.
  • Provides overview of the student’s specific areas of strength and weakness in different question types.
  • A range of individual and group reporting options for hand-scored and machine-scored tests.

Range: Years Prep to 10 in Australia

Reports:

(a) Student report that has percentiles for each year level, scale scores, items categorised into strands.

Forms: 11 Reading Comprehension test booklets, two of which are screeners, of varying levels of difficulty, with each test pitched at one year level. There are also 5 Vocabulary test booklets and 8 graded spelling lists.

PATReading Comprehension Forms

Total No. of Items

Prep

23

Form 1

18

Form 2

20

Form 3

32

Form 4

32

Form 5

34

Form 6

34

Form 7

36

Form 8

36

Form 9

38

Form 10

38

 

PATReading Vocabulary Forms

Total No. of Items

Screener (Yr 1 & 2)

15

Form 1 (Years 3 & 4)

25

Form 2 (Years 5 & 6)

25

Form 3 (Years 7 & 8)

25

Form 4 (Years 9 & 10)

25

ACER General Ability Test (due late 2008)

Description: A test of general intellectual ability that is associated with the ability to learn new things quickly, engage in critical thinking, solve problems and make reasonable decisions based on available information. It provides objective, well-researched norm reference data to teachers about the general aptitude or academic potential of their students. Comparison of General Ability scores and achievement scores also provide an indication of whether students are achieving to their potential.

Features:

  • A common scale for all nine tests, allowing the opportunity to track changes over time.
  • A range of individual and group reporting options for hand-scored and machine-scored tests.

Range: Years 2 to 10 in Australia

Reports: (a) Student report that has percentiles for each year level and scale scores.

Forms: There are 9 test booklets of varying levels of difficulty, 1 for each year level. Each test contains verbal, numerical and abstract items which contribute to an overall aptitude score.

AGAT Forms

Total No. of Items

Form 2 (Screener for Years 1 & 2)

30

Form 3

45

Form 4

45

Form 5

45

Form 6

45

Form 7

45

Form 8

45

Form 9

60

Form 10

60

PATScience (Due early 2010)

Description: A series of tests to assess the level of achievement in scientific understanding.

Features:

  • A common scale for all eight tests, allowing the opportunity to track changes over time.
  • A range of individual and group reporting options for hand-scored and machine-scored tests.
  • Based on level of understanding and knowledge of content areas, references will be made to available materials.

Range: Years 3 to 10 in Australia

Reports: (a) Student report that has percentiles for each year level and scale scores.

Forms: There are 8 test booklets of varying levels of difficulty, 1 for each year level. Each test contains 75% Multiple Choice and 25% Short Answer Questions.

PATScience Forms

Estimated No. of Items

Form 3

25

Form 4

25

Form 5

28

Form 6

28

Form 7

30

Form 8

30

Form 9

34

Form 10

34

 

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