PAT Maths - FAQs

Progressive Achievement Tests in Mathematics (PAT Maths)

What year levels does PATMaths Third Edition cover?

PATMaths Third Edition covers Year 2 to Year 10. Note that there is now no difference in year level norms between States and Territories.

I Can Do Maths (ICDM), an assessment of mathematical ability in the first 3 years of school, has (also) been scaled to the PATMaths scale. This allows for progressive testing of numeracy from the First Year of school to Year 10 using the ICDM and PATMaths Third Edition.

What are the main features of the 2010 updated PATMaths Third Edition

A common achievement scale that
- measures student achievement in mathematics,
- monitors students’ performance over time and
- assists in planning effective and targeted work programs
Item Descriptors with links to the 2010 Australian Curriculum available on the CD-ROM
Curriculum links for every item for every State or Territory
A CD-ROM containing copy masters of administration instructions, score keys and individual and group proforma reports
Student reports giving descriptive and diagnostic information to describe performance in each of the strands

For more information see pages 18 to 29 of the PATMaths Teacher Manual

Can I see PATMaths before I buy it?

Schools can obtain a PATMaths specimen set on 30 days approval on a school order form through Customer Service or order online. A specimen set contains the manual, an example of each of the test booklets and answer sheets.

What is the cost of using PATMaths?

See the ACER online shop or the PATMaths order form for details of all component prices. Remember that the test booklets are reusable so the ongoing costs will only be to replenish answer sheets.

How do I choose the right test booklet for my students?

Each test booklet is appropriate for a range of year levels, as shown below. When choosing a suitable test, both the curriculum content of the test and the ability level of the group taking the test should be considered.

Test A contains 20 questions – Years 1 or 2 or 3
Test 1 contains 35 questions – Years 3 or 4
Test 2 contains 36 questions – Years 3 or 4 or 5
Test 3 contains 37 questions – Years 4 or 5 or 6
Test 4 contains 38 questions – Years 5 or 6 or 7
Test 5 contains 39 questions – Years 6 or 7 or 8
Test 6 contains 40 questions – Years 7 or 8 or 9
Test 7 contains 41 questions – Years 8 or 9 or 10

For more information see page 9 of the PATMaths Teacher Manual.

How long does a test take to administer?

Test A requires 20 minutes of testing time, and Tests 1 to 7 require 40 minutes of testing time; plus time for administration.

For more information see pages 10 and 11 of the PATMaths Teacher Manual

Are students permitted to use calculators?

Using a calculator is optional for any of the tests, except in the ‘no calculators’ section of Tests 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. It is recommended that the normal classroom practice concerning calculators be continued in the tests.

For more information see page 5 of the manual

What should I do to prepare for PATMaths testing?

Assemble the test materials
Read administration instructions so you are familiar with the testing procedure
Read through the test content to ensure the level you have selected is appropriate for your students
Organise the logistics of testing: advising students, time of day, minimize disruptions, ensuring all teachers follow administration instructions carefully

For more information see page 10 and 11 of the PATMaths Teacher Manual

What materials do I need to conduct PATMaths testing?

A copy of the administration instructions for the teacher which is included in the Manual and on the CD-ROM.
The relevant test booklet and an OMR or Non-OMR answer sheet per student
A pencil, eraser, spare piece of blank paper per student
A clock or watch for timekeeping

Note that the test booklets are reusable, whereas an answer sheet will be required each time the test is given.

For more information see pages 10 – 15 of the PATMaths Teacher Manual

What is the difference between OMR answer sheets and Non-OMR answer sheets?

OMR stands for Optical Mark Recognition. If using ACER Test Scoring Service , OMR answer sheets must be used. Non-OMR answer sheets are simpler for students to use and can be hand scored by teachers. Non-OMRs should not be sent to ACER Test Scoring Service as they cannot be scanned.

What is the procedure for marking PATMaths?

If hand scoring, Score Keys are available in the manual and on the CD-ROM. Schools can also use the ACER Test Scoring Service. This service saves schools time by scoring students’ completed answer sheets and providing a range of reports.

For more information on scoring see Section 5 in the PATMaths Teacher Manual.

What time of the year should I use PATMaths?

Time of testing is a school decision, and purpose of the testing should guide when testing takes place. As norms for PATMaths were collected in November, end of year testing is recommended. Results can then inform end of year reports, and can be passed on to the next year’s teacher as a starting point for instruction. If beginning of year testing is preferred, it is recommended that the previous year’s test and norms be used. For example, if year 4’s are to be tested at the beginning of the year, then test booklet 1 should be used, and results compared to year 3 norms.

Should PATMaths be administered more than once per year?

It is critical to schedule time for staff to analyse their results to get the most from the testing.

Results can be used at both group and individual level.

PATMaths scale scores can be used to measure improvement over time.
Percentile ranks and stanines will provide a picture of how students’ results compare with results of students in the norm reference sample in the same year level across Australia.
Analysis of students’ performance across curriculum content strands will provide information to inform teaching practice.

Where can I go for assistance in using PATMaths effectively?

Consultants can provide advice by email and telephone. Consultants can also provide professional development at staff meetings, network meetings etc. See home page for links to consultant details.

Progressive Achievement Tests in Mathematics (PAT Maths)

FAQs