How much do you know about the ACER LANTITE test? The standardised test for preservice teachers has been around since 2016, and these days getting passing marks on this exam is a requirement for graduation from an initial teacher education course. It’s high stakes and critical, and we know all too well what it’s like to be pre-service teachers nervously awaiting results that will impact not only your studies but your future career prospects!
As teachers ourselves, we wanted to take a bit of the stress off your shoulders with this look at the LANTITE test. What is it, how many times can you sit the test, how do you get your results (and when?), how do you prepare? Oh, and while we’re on the subject, what does LANTITE even stand for, anyway?
Read on for everything you need to know about this important test from the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), including some tips on how to study!
What Is the LANTITE Test?
Before we dive into the tips, let’s hit the basics: facilitated by ACER, the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (or LANTITE for short) was introduced in 2016 to assess the personal literacy and numeracy skills of every preservice teacher in Australia. According to ACER, the goal was to ‘ensure teachers are well equipped to meet the demands of teaching and assist higher education providers, teacher employers and the general public to have increased confidence in the skills of graduating teachers.’
Back in 2016, the plan was that all students who completed undergraduate or postgraduate programs in teacher education had to pass the test in order to be registered to teach in Australia. That quickly changed, however, and since 2017, every student enrolled in a teacher education course (either undergraduate or postgraduate) has been expected to sit and meet the test standard prior to their graduation. Some universities also require you to sit the test as part of their course entry requirements.
On top of that, some states and territories may require successful test results to complete your final practicum to register or to be employed as a teacher.
Long story short: The LANTITE test assesses whether candidates meet the minimum standard of personal literacy and numeracy expected of a prospective teacher — which ACER says is broadly equivalent to the top 30 percent of the adult population. You will need to take the test in order to graduate from university.
What Is on the LANTITE Test?
Considering it literally has literacy and numeracy in the name, it’s likely no surprise that the exam is split into two sections that cover, you guessed it, literacy and numeracy. Each component of the test has 65 questions, for a total of 130 that you’ll have to answer.
Numeracy Section
The numeracy component of the test includes questions on numeracy concepts and skills, as well as on interpreting and solving problems. Of the 65 questions pre-service teachers face on this section, 52 will have an online calculator available. Some of the topics covered in the numeracy test include:
- Number sense and numeration
- Algebraic thinking and patterns
- Data representation and interpretation
- Measurement and geometry
- Probability and statistics
You’ll get 120 total minutes for the numeracy section, but it will be split into two sections. For section one (the 52 questions with the calculator), the estimated time is 90 to 95 minutes. The estimated time for the second part (without a calculator) is 25 to 30 minutes.
Literacy Section
The literacy component includes questions on reading, writing, and language conventions such as grammar, punctuation, and spelling, and you’ll have 120 minutes to work through them all. Some of the topics covered include:
- Understanding and interpreting texts
- Writing coherent and well-structured responses
- Using correct spelling, punctuation and grammar
- Recognising and using figurative language
- Identifying and analysing literary techniques and devices
You’ll notice, no doubt, that these are the sorts of concepts you’ll be teaching your students down the line. The goal of requiring a test like LANTITE is to ensure every Australian student has a well trained and informed teacher in their classroom who is well-versed on the topics at hand.
How Much Does it Cost to Sit the LANTITE Test?
There is a cost involved in sitting the LANTITE test, and you will need to purchase an admission ticket directly from ACER. The tickets become available about one week prior to each test window. The 2023 costs are:
- Both test components (literacy test and numeracy test) is $196 (GST inclusive).
- Single test component (literacy test or numeracy test) is $98 (GST inclusive).
Taking the test again? The fees are payable each time you sit the tests.
How Do I Register for the LANTITE Test?
To register to sit your LANTITE tests, simply head to the ACER LANTITE registration page, where you’ll be prompted to create a candidate account. You can also read the terms and conditions regarding cancellations and Covid updates.
How Do I Access the LANTITE Practice Tests?
Taking a few practice LANTITE tests is a simple way to prep for sitting the test as you’ll get a feel for how the questions are asked and how well you score. You’ll be able to analyse where you might need to brush up on any of your skills too.
We should note here that ACER recommends you only use the official LANTITE practice tests it provides online, but some students choose to purchase practice materials from private sellers, or even use some literacy and numeracy tests already in use for secondary students themselves, like the NAPLAN test, to gain experience with conditions.
Where Do I Sit the Test?
There are several testing centres around the country, and if you’re unable to attend one of these, you may be eligible for remote proctoring of the LANTITE test. That will allow you to use your own computer to sit the exam, so long as you have an internet connection. You will have live supervision during the remote process.
When Do LANTITE Test Results Come Out?
The wait can be pretty excruciating, wondering if you’ve passed the LANTITE test, but thankfully it’s finite. Within two months, you’ll receive notification that your results are available on your candidate account. and you will be able to log into your account to access them. The release dates for this year’s LANTITE results are as follows:
- Test Window 1 — Results released during the week ending 31 March 2023
- Test Window 2 — Results released during the week ending 23 June 2023
- Test Window 3 — Results released during the week ending 22 September 2023
- Test Window 4 — Results released during the week ending 15 December 2023
ACER will also share your results with your higher education provider and any relevant teacher regulatory authorities.
When Should I Sit the LANTITE Test?
Each year there are four test windows you may sit the tests in. Because the test must be passed prior to your final prac, it’s advisable to sit the test as early in your teacher training course as possible because that way if you don’t pass you may re-sit without risking a delay of graduation.
How Many Times Can You Sit the LANTITE Test?
Speaking of … if you don’t pass, it’s not the end of the world! You’re allowed to retake the LANTITE test up to three times, according to Commonwealth policy. If there are special or extenuating circumstances, you may qualify for two extra attempts for a total of five times.
That said, not passing your LANTITE may impact your academic schedule, depending on what stage you’re at with your study when you sit the exam. If you’re a first- or second-year, you’ll have more opportunities as there are more testing windows within the length of your degree. If you’re a final year, you can’t undertake your final prac (sometimes called an internship), until you have passed both the literacy and numeracy tests. And as you can’t obtain your degree without passing your prac subjects, you’ll have to wait to graduate.
Tips to Get Ready for the LANTITE Test
We’ve dropped a lot of information on you, we know, but we hope you’re still with us! The teachers on the Teach Starter team have a few tips that have helped our team members with this test. Feel free to use the tips that work for you!
- Because there is a section of the numeracy component that cannot be done with a calculator, it’s important to take a little time to practise computing numbers without the help of a device. You may know it already, but it will help you feel more confident on the second part of numeracy exam.
- Practise on the LANTITE practice tests, or check out the Year 5, Year 7 and Year 9 NAPLAN tests to challenge yourself. Although the questions themselves are different, the NAPLAN question designs are similar and can give you good practice.
- Memorise the percentage formula — it will come in handy!
One final tip: When you sit down to take the test, if you encounter a question you’re not sure of, it’s OK to answer it but mark it down on the sheet of paper you’re allowed to have with you. If you have time at the end, you can go back and change your answer. It’s important to know that once you complete the first section of the numeracy component and move on to section two, you will not be able to go back to section one.
Looking for a few fun activities to practice your numeracy or literacy skills? Explore our collection of free teaching resources!
Banner image via Shutterstock
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