Tests
ACER offers Schools, Students and Parents high quality research-based assessments. These assessments can be used to identify students' strengths and weaknesses in particular social and academic areas, with a view to improving educational outcomes.
The following types of test are offered for schools:
Academic Tests
Literacy and Numeracy
International Schools' Assessment (ISA)
An assessment designed especially for students in international schools. Based on the internationally endorsed reading and mathematical literacy frameworks of the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Available to year 3, 5, 7, 9 and 10 students in the areas of Reading, Mathematical Literacy, Writing for students whose language of instruction is English.
Progressive Achievement Tests in Mathematics Revised (PAT Maths)
The test is designed for use at years 3-8 and takes 45 minutes to administer. It identifies students' level of achievement in mathematics and assists in informing teachers of the skill development required by each of the students.
Progressive Achievement Tests in Reading: (PAT-R) - Comprehension and (PAT-R) - Vocabulary
Both tests are appropriate for years 3-9, the Comprehension taking approximately 40 minutes to sit and the Vocabulary 25 minutes. They measure student achievement in reading comprehension and word knowledge and monitor student progress over time.
Online Placement Instrument (OPI)
A series of online tests available to schools. The tests are in Mathematics and English from year 3 to year 10. This test is conducted ONLINE.
Cognitive Ability
The Higher Ability Award Test (HAAT)
Designed to identify very able students. The questions in the Higher Ability Award Test have been designed to assess innate ability rather than learned knowledge. Available to students from year 3 to year 10.
The ACER Abstract Reasoning Test assesses student ability to use non-verbal reasoning skills. Such reasoning is widely applicable across the curriculum, and beyond school, and is related to scholastic outcomes. Such items are particularly useful when assessments need to be done independent of language skills.
International
International Benchmark Tests (IBT) - India
International Benchmark Tests in English, Mathematics and Science are designed to assess the performance of students against local, national and international standards.
Scholarship Tests
Australian Co-operative Entry Program (ACEP)
A co-operative test that is mainly used by schools in South Australia and Western Australia. It is used for scholarship selection and entry into the first year of secondary school ONLY.
Co-operative Scholarship Testing Program (CSTP)
An academic ability test used by schools for the award of scholarships and entry into independent secondary schools around Australia.
Primary Scholarship Program (PSP)
Available for primary school students across ages 8 to 11. This test can be sat either as a main date test, concurrent with the CSTP test, or on a date determined by individual schools.
Scholarship Selection Test (SST)
A non-co-operative program that provides year level entry testing for independent secondary schools. ACER provides this test for schools that prefer to hold their scholarship test on a date of their choosing.
Social Tests
Attitudes & Values Questionnaire (AVQ)
Students' academic competence is frequently measured. However, many schools want to gauge whether students make progress on less tangible qualities such as social and emotional growth, conscience and compassion. This survey is conducted ONLINE.
School Life Questionnaire (SLQ)
The School Life Questionnaire is a survey that provides accurate, measurable, reportable data on students’ ratings of their school connectedness, engagement and motivation to learn.
Social-Emotional Wellbeing Survey (SEWBS)
The Social-Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) Survey is an anonymous strength-based survey for students aged 3-18 years, which provides an ecological view of students’ wellbeing