Schedule of Standardised Assessments
Standardised tests are used at Our Lady of the Rosary School to collect data to inform teaching and learning. Where possible, data is available to teachers through the BI Tool on KWeb. ACER test data is available to teachers via the OARS website.
Tests listed in italics are optional. Teachers are expected to allow time for scheduled paper tests to be administered as near as practical to the beginning of the allocated term to allow time to process the data.
Tests listed in italics are optional. Teachers are expected to allow time for scheduled paper tests to be administered as near as practical to the beginning of the allocated term to allow time to process the data.
Term 1Prep
Year 1
Year 2
PAT Reading 1 Year 3
PAT Reading 2 AGAT 2 PM Benchmark Year 4
PAT Reading 4 AGAT 3 Year 5
PAT Reading 5 AGAT 4 Year 6
PAT Reading 6 AGAT 5 |
Term 2PM Benchmark PAT Maths 1 PM Benchmark Waddington 1 Spelling PAT Maths 3 NAPLAN PAT Maths 4 Torch - At the zoo PAT Maths 5 NAPLAN PAT Maths 6 |
Term 3ELF Screener (early in term) PM Benchmark for some children PAT Reading 2 AGAT 1 PAT Reading 3 PAT Spelling 3 PAT Reading 4 PAT Spelling 4 PAT Reading 5 PAT Spelling PAT Reading 6 PAT Spelling 6 |
Term 4 PAT Maths 1
PM Benchmark PAT Maths 2 PM Benchmark Waddington 2 Spelling Torch - The bear who hugged PAT Maths 4 Torch - Grasshoppers PAT Maths 5 Torch - Lizards love eggs PAT Maths 6 PAT Maths 7 |
School Based Assessment
Year 1 Entry Assessment The Year 1 Entry Assessment was developed by teachers at OLR to collect information about literacy and numeracy skills of students transitioning from Prep to Year 1. The assessment task is designed to be conducted with individual students and provides information about how a student is performing against Foundation level Achievement Standards for English and Mathematics. |
General Screeners
AGAT
The ACER General Ability Tests (AGAT) is a test of general intellectual ability suitable for students in years 2 to 10. AGAT is designed to assist teachers in their assessment of students’ learning potential and aptitude. As this test is done online, results are available to teachers as soon as the students have finished the tests. This test might help to identify students who are achieving below their potential (e.g. gifted underachievers) or who have learning difficulties.
Reading
PAT – Reading
The ACER Progressive Achievement Tests in Reading Fourth Edition (PAT Reading Fourth Edition) is a series of online reading comprehension tests. Students are presented with short passages and a number of related questions. As this test is done online, results are available to teachers as soon as the students have finished the tests. The “scale score” can be used to track student progress over time.
PM Benchmark
The PM Benchmark Reading Assessment Resources have been designed to explicitly assess students’ instructional and independent reading levels using unseen, meaningful texts. The PM Benchmark Reading Assessment Resources provide accurately levelled fiction and non-fiction texts ranging progressively from emergent levels to reading age 12 years.
The test must be given individually but can be recorded electronically. A running record of reading is kept. Information about reading accuracy and comprehension can be gained from this testing.
ELF Screener
The Early Literacy Foundations ELF Support Program is an early literacy intervention aimed at students in their first two years of formal schooling. Students who experience difficulties in the areas of listening, reading or spelling also tend to struggle with motor, sensory and perceptual skills (e.g. Dewy, Kaplan, Crawford & Wilson, 2002). This led to the development of an interdisciplinary intervention approach which focuses on two key areas:
Multi-Lit Screener
Students over the age of 7 years who are struggling with reading may be referred by the class teacher to be assessed for the Multi-Lit program. This Australian developed program covers the essential reading components of word attack skills, sight word recognition and reinforced reading in an interactive, highly explicit and structured way.
Multi-Lit is a one-to-one remedial reading program undertaken four times a week for short sessions by a trained tutor.
Waddington Reading
The reading tests have a combination of letter, word, rhyme, phonic, picture to word and picture to text recognition. The tests embody a scope and sequence of learning to read skills. The paper test can be administered to a whole class group but is designed as a diagnostic assessment. The result is available as a “reading age” but more useful information can be gathered when the results are examined more closely..
Torch
Tests of Reading Comprehension (TORCH) is a professionally developed reading assessment that has been thoroughly pilot tested in Australian schools. It assists teachers to interpret performance in reading comprehension skills. Students read a passage and then use a cloze answer sheet to retell the passage, filling in the gaps in their own words to demonstrate understanding. Results can be given as a “scale score” to track progress over time.
Spelling
PAT- Spelling
Designed to assess students’ understanding of the standard Australian English language conventions of grammar and punctuation, it comprises two components: Written spelling (Years 2 – 10) and Grammar and Punctuation (Years 3 – 10). PAT-SPG has been developed especially, but not exclusively, for use in Australian schools. It provides teachers with objective information about students’ spelling, punctuation and grammar skills so that realistic learning goals can be set and effectiveness of teaching strategies can be monitored.
Waddington Spelling
The spelling tests include a set of frequently used words and also words that embody a scope and sequence of learning to spell skills. The paper test can be administered to a whole class group but is designed as a diagnostic assessment. The result is available as a “spelling age” but more useful information can be gathered when the results are examined more closely.
South Australian Spelling
This test is a standardised test of spelling achievement for students up to 15 years of age. It can be used as a quick screening instrument to determine the spread of spelling ability in a class or year level and to identify students who may need additional help. The paper test can be administered to a whole class group. The result is available as a “spelling age”.
Mathematics
PAT Maths
The ACER Progressive Achievement Tests in Mathematics Third Edition (PATMaths Third Edition) is an Australian, nationally normed series of tests designed to provide objective, norm-referenced information to teachers about the level of achievement attained by their students in the skills and understandings of mathematics. It is suitable for use from Year 2. Students need to be able to read the questions so this can impact on the results of young students who have reading difficulties. As this test is done online, results are available to teachers as soon as the students have finished the tests. The “scale score” can be used to track student progress over time.
Oxford Maths Assess
The Oxford Maths Assess is a paper-based test that is available in book form or as PDF (stored in the Learning Support folder on the School Portal). It was purchased by the school for three specific purposes:
I Can Do Maths (ICDM)
This Early Years Mathematics test is designed to inform teachers and parents about a student’s numeracy development in the early years of schooling. Booklets can be purchased through ACER to be used with individual students.
Waddington Maths
This is a diagnostic mathematics test that can provide useful information about strengths and weaknesses of individuals or groups of students. There is a series of tests to cover all primary ages. The paper test needs to be marked manually and thorough analysis of the students’ work will yield more information than the raw score.
Further testing
If more detailed analysis of progress is required for individual students, the following tests (which need to be administered individually) are available through Learning Support: Neale Analysis of Reading Ability, York Assessment of Reading for Comprehension (YARC), Sutherland Phonological Awareness Test (SPAT-R) and Daberon School Readiness Screener.
AGAT
The ACER General Ability Tests (AGAT) is a test of general intellectual ability suitable for students in years 2 to 10. AGAT is designed to assist teachers in their assessment of students’ learning potential and aptitude. As this test is done online, results are available to teachers as soon as the students have finished the tests. This test might help to identify students who are achieving below their potential (e.g. gifted underachievers) or who have learning difficulties.
Reading
PAT – Reading
The ACER Progressive Achievement Tests in Reading Fourth Edition (PAT Reading Fourth Edition) is a series of online reading comprehension tests. Students are presented with short passages and a number of related questions. As this test is done online, results are available to teachers as soon as the students have finished the tests. The “scale score” can be used to track student progress over time.
PM Benchmark
The PM Benchmark Reading Assessment Resources have been designed to explicitly assess students’ instructional and independent reading levels using unseen, meaningful texts. The PM Benchmark Reading Assessment Resources provide accurately levelled fiction and non-fiction texts ranging progressively from emergent levels to reading age 12 years.
The test must be given individually but can be recorded electronically. A running record of reading is kept. Information about reading accuracy and comprehension can be gained from this testing.
ELF Screener
The Early Literacy Foundations ELF Support Program is an early literacy intervention aimed at students in their first two years of formal schooling. Students who experience difficulties in the areas of listening, reading or spelling also tend to struggle with motor, sensory and perceptual skills (e.g. Dewy, Kaplan, Crawford & Wilson, 2002). This led to the development of an interdisciplinary intervention approach which focuses on two key areas:
- Phonological awareness and its application in reading and spelling.
- Motor and sensory skills necessary for maintaining attention, sitting upright, and handwriting.
Multi-Lit Screener
Students over the age of 7 years who are struggling with reading may be referred by the class teacher to be assessed for the Multi-Lit program. This Australian developed program covers the essential reading components of word attack skills, sight word recognition and reinforced reading in an interactive, highly explicit and structured way.
Multi-Lit is a one-to-one remedial reading program undertaken four times a week for short sessions by a trained tutor.
Waddington Reading
The reading tests have a combination of letter, word, rhyme, phonic, picture to word and picture to text recognition. The tests embody a scope and sequence of learning to read skills. The paper test can be administered to a whole class group but is designed as a diagnostic assessment. The result is available as a “reading age” but more useful information can be gathered when the results are examined more closely..
Torch
Tests of Reading Comprehension (TORCH) is a professionally developed reading assessment that has been thoroughly pilot tested in Australian schools. It assists teachers to interpret performance in reading comprehension skills. Students read a passage and then use a cloze answer sheet to retell the passage, filling in the gaps in their own words to demonstrate understanding. Results can be given as a “scale score” to track progress over time.
Spelling
PAT- Spelling
Designed to assess students’ understanding of the standard Australian English language conventions of grammar and punctuation, it comprises two components: Written spelling (Years 2 – 10) and Grammar and Punctuation (Years 3 – 10). PAT-SPG has been developed especially, but not exclusively, for use in Australian schools. It provides teachers with objective information about students’ spelling, punctuation and grammar skills so that realistic learning goals can be set and effectiveness of teaching strategies can be monitored.
Waddington Spelling
The spelling tests include a set of frequently used words and also words that embody a scope and sequence of learning to spell skills. The paper test can be administered to a whole class group but is designed as a diagnostic assessment. The result is available as a “spelling age” but more useful information can be gathered when the results are examined more closely.
South Australian Spelling
This test is a standardised test of spelling achievement for students up to 15 years of age. It can be used as a quick screening instrument to determine the spread of spelling ability in a class or year level and to identify students who may need additional help. The paper test can be administered to a whole class group. The result is available as a “spelling age”.
Mathematics
PAT Maths
The ACER Progressive Achievement Tests in Mathematics Third Edition (PATMaths Third Edition) is an Australian, nationally normed series of tests designed to provide objective, norm-referenced information to teachers about the level of achievement attained by their students in the skills and understandings of mathematics. It is suitable for use from Year 2. Students need to be able to read the questions so this can impact on the results of young students who have reading difficulties. As this test is done online, results are available to teachers as soon as the students have finished the tests. The “scale score” can be used to track student progress over time.
Oxford Maths Assess
The Oxford Maths Assess is a paper-based test that is available in book form or as PDF (stored in the Learning Support folder on the School Portal). It was purchased by the school for three specific purposes:
- Class level testing – pre-tests and post-tests on specific Australian Curriculum Mathematics topics to determine learning progress and to calculate effect sizes (using Part 1 tests)
- Year level testing – Assessment of Learning (summative) – selected tests to facilitate “consistency of teacher judgment” discussion across classes in a year level (using Part 1 tests)
- LS and G&T – “on- or off-level” testing for diagnostic purposes (using Part 2 tests)
I Can Do Maths (ICDM)
This Early Years Mathematics test is designed to inform teachers and parents about a student’s numeracy development in the early years of schooling. Booklets can be purchased through ACER to be used with individual students.
Waddington Maths
This is a diagnostic mathematics test that can provide useful information about strengths and weaknesses of individuals or groups of students. There is a series of tests to cover all primary ages. The paper test needs to be marked manually and thorough analysis of the students’ work will yield more information than the raw score.
Further testing
If more detailed analysis of progress is required for individual students, the following tests (which need to be administered individually) are available through Learning Support: Neale Analysis of Reading Ability, York Assessment of Reading for Comprehension (YARC), Sutherland Phonological Awareness Test (SPAT-R) and Daberon School Readiness Screener.