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Assessment Details

PAT (Progressive Achievement Test) – Mathematics: Revised 2006 and 2009; supplementary tests added 2015
Assessment Area Mathematics- Multi-strand
Year level 3-10
NZ origin? Yes
Standardised? Yes , in 2005, with standardised administration. Supplementary tests standardised in 2015.
Administration to individual or group? Either , although commonly used with groups of students.
What does it assess? Includes questions from all strands of the curriculum. Within each test, questions are organised according to five categories; • number knowledge; • number strategies; • algebra; • geometry and measurement; and • statistics.
Purpose To help classroom teachers determine the achievement levels of their students in the knowledge, skills, and understandings of mathematics. Test results will also help teachers to make informed decisions about the kinds of teaching materials, methods, and programmes most suitable for their students.
Validity To ensure validity, items were thoroughly reviewed. In addition, studies were carried out to ensure the items could be calibrated on a single scale and the scale linked appropriately with other mathematics achievement scales.
Reliability There is evidence of test/retest reliability.
What measures does it give? Test scores convert to scale scores.They can be compared against national norms and converted into stanines. Progress of individuals and groups can be tracked longitudinally.
How long does it take to administer? Test time 45 minutes, set up and practice 10 minutes.
How much training is needed? Minimal training, thorough read of the instructions in the manual.
Scoring and data analysis Simple to score, all multi choice. Black line masters allow teachers to produce student reports that map performance on different parts of the test. There is an online marking and analysis service. The service is available by subscription and provides a range of reports at the student, class, question and cohort level. To use the service, schools enter answer sheet information through an online portal. Alternatively, the service provides a machine marking. See www.NZCERMarking.org.nz for more information and costing.
Does it provide 'what next' strategies? Yes . Descriptions of the mathematical skills that are typically present at different locations on the scales are provided, allowing formative as well as summative reporting. 'What next' strategies are also provided through the analysis service via item diagnostics and links to the assessment resource banks.
Is it available in te reo Maori? No
Cost? Sample costs September 2017, including GST: Manual $26.99 Test booklet (each) $5.20 Answer sheets (pkg 10) $2.35 Starter kits from $43.00. Online marking: If you have an annual subscription to NZCER Marking: $25.00 for each subject area registration $2 per student, per online session
Author, date of publication and publisher Darr, Neill and Stephanou, 2006 Published by NZCER
Availability

Available from NZCER.

Further Information

The content of the tests is divided into six content categories. Number knowledge, number strategies, geometry and measurement, and statistics are included at all levels, while algebra is included as a separate category in Tests 5–7.

 There are 9 tests with reusable booklets and separate answer sheets.

  •  Each test can be used at two or more year levels.
  •  Results from each test can be converted to locations on a common scale. This scale allows progress to be tracked from test to test.
  •  Blackline masters are provided in the teachers manual that allow teachers to easily produce individual student reports that map performance on the different parts of the tests.
  •  The tests can be used at any time between February and November each year.

 Features of the PAT mathematics:

  • Test scores allow for formative as well as summative reporting.
  • Scale scores enable a student's level of achievement to be tracked from year to year.
  • Diagnostic reports are provided in the teacher manual.
  • The tests can be used at any time between February and November each year.
  • Tests can be used at two or more year levels.
  • The tests come as reusable booklets with separate answer sheets.

In 2015 NZCER added six more tests to the PAT: Mathematics range. New tests 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 7A and 8A offer schools more options about who, when and why they test. The supplementary tests allow teachers to use PAT: Mathematics at different times of the year or at different difficulty levels without having to repeat a previously administered test. These supplementary tests fit in between the existing PAT: Mathematics tests. They are each targeted at a particular difficulty range and complement an existing test. Read more about the PAT: Mathematics Supplementary Tests.

In 2017, NZCER introduced an online computer adaptive version of PAT: Mathematics. The computer selects the questions for each student based on the responses they have given to previous questions in the test. Students who struggle to answer the initial questions correctly are given easier questions until they begin to have some success. On the other hand, students who do answer the initial questions correctly are given progressively harder questions until they start to answer some of them incorrectly.