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Testing overseas students A new test assesses the preparedness of overseas candidates for academic studies in Australia. In recent years, Australia has developed an excellent reputation as a destination for international students, particularly those from Asia, who find the quality of education, its relatively low cost (compared to Britain and the US), and safe studying environment very appealing. In 2001, about 140 000 international students were enrolled in Australian universities making education one of Australia’s boom exports and the second largest services export earner after tourism. In 2001, international students comprised about 18 per cent of Australia’s university population and spent almost $1 billion on university tuition alone. With the influx of thousands of students from a large number of nations, Australian universities have faced difficulties in interpreting the varied credentials and evidence presented in support of student applications. An innovative test launched by ACER in September 2001 is assisting universities to tackle this issue. The International Student Admissions Test (ISAT) is providing universities with a reliable and efficient way of testing students’ potential to succeed in Australian tertiary courses. It complements the existing English-language competency tests. “While Australian universities have procedures for assessing English language proficiency, until now there has been no commonly accepted method of assessing the preparedness of overseas candidates for academic studies in Australia. ISAT addresses this concern by assessing cross-curricular academic abilities,” the Executive Director of ACER, Professor Geoff Masters, said. ISAT requires students to answer 100 multiple-choice questions in three hours. The questions measure critical reasoning (using material from the humanities/social sciences) and quantitative reasoning (using material from science/mathematics) abilities which are considered important for coping with the intellectual demands of most tertiary courses. The emphasis is on thinking skills rather than curriculum-specific knowledge and English language proficiency. IDP Education Australia uses experienced test administrators and a wide network of offices in 65 countries to manage ISAT overseas. Students within Australia are able to apply to sit the test through most tertiary admissions centres. ISAT candidates receive a copy of their results, which also are made available to Australian universities. “ISAT provides universities with an indication of an applicant’s cognitive abilities which should be useful in validating their credentials, assisting with decisions about borderline applicants and guiding placement into particular programs or courses,” Professor Masters said. “ACER has been encouraged by the response from universities in the successful national trials of ISAT. Universities have shown an interest in using the test for entrance into courses in 2002.” Ms Susan Nankervis, ACER’s ISAT Project Director, said the trial population was quite varied and drew on international students in Australia and a number who sat the test in their home country. “There was a good gender mix, an excellent range of English language proficiencies and an interesting diversity of nationalities represented in the trial test population, all of which gave ACER the information required to evaluate the validity of ISAT for international student admissions,” Ms Nankervis said. The first test was conducted in November 2001. There will be at least four sittings of ISAT annually. For further information contact Ms Susan Nankervis on (03) 9277 5566 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). « Back to eNews
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A new test assesses the preparedness of overseas candidates for academic studies in Australia.

In recent years, Australia has developed an excellent reputation as a destination for international students, particularly those from Asia, who find the quality of education, its relatively low cost (compared to Britain and the US), and safe studying environment very appealing.

In 2001, about 140 000 international students were enrolled in Australian universities making education one of Australia’s boom exports and the second largest services export earner after tourism. In 2001, international students comprised about 18 per cent of
Australia’s university population and spent almost $1 billion on university tuition alone.

With the influx of thousands of students from a large number of nations, Australian universities have faced difficulties in interpreting the varied credentials and evidence presented in support of student applications. An innovative test launched by ACER
in September 2001 is assisting universities to tackle this issue.

The International Student Admissions Test (ISAT) is providing universities with a reliable and efficient way of testing students’ potential to succeed in Australian tertiary courses. It complements the existing English-language competency tests.

“While Australian universities have procedures for assessing English language proficiency, until now there has been no commonly accepted method of assessing the preparedness of overseas candidates for academic studies in Australia. ISAT addresses this concern by assessing cross-curricular academic abilities,” the Executive Director of ACER, Professor Geoff Masters, said.

ISAT requires students to answer 100 multiple-choice questions in three hours. The questions measure critical reasoning (using material from the humanities/social sciences) and quantitative reasoning (using material from science/mathematics) abilities which are considered important for coping with the intellectual demands of most tertiary courses. The emphasis is on thinking skills rather than curriculum-specific knowledge and English language proficiency.

IDP Education Australia uses experienced test administrators and a wide network of offices in 65 countries to manage ISAT overseas. Students within Australia are able to apply to sit the test through most tertiary admissions centres. ISAT candidates receive a copy of their results, which also are made available to Australian universities.

“ISAT provides universities with an indication of an applicant’s cognitive abilities which should be useful in validating their credentials, assisting with decisions about borderline
applicants and guiding placement into particular programs or courses,” Professor Masters said.

“ACER has been encouraged by the response from universities in the successful national trials of ISAT. Universities have shown an interest in using the test for entrance into courses in 2002.”

Ms Susan Nankervis, ACER’s ISAT Project Director, said the trial population was quite varied and drew on international students in Australia and a number who sat the test in their home country. “There was a good gender mix, an excellent range of English language proficiencies and an interesting diversity of nationalities represented in the trial test population, all of which gave ACER the information required to evaluate the validity of ISAT for international student admissions,” Ms Nankervis said.

The first test was conducted in November 2001. There will be at least four sittings of ISAT annually. For further information contact Ms Susan Nankervis on (03) 9277 5566 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Testing overseas students