Provincial Achievement Tests

Last updated
Provincial Achievement Tests
TypeStandarized provincial test
Administrator Alberta Education
Duration6 hours
Score range0%-100%
Regions Alberta
Languages English, French
Annual number of test takersPAT: ~50,000 grade 6 and another ~50,000 grade 9 Alberta Curriculum students [1]

Provincial Achievement Tests are standardized tests administered to all Alberta students in grade 6 and 9. The test was also used by the Northwest Territories until 2023. [2] [3] The government of Alberta instituted the examinations through Alberta Education to attain greater accountability and ensure its students were well regarded when applying to tertiary institutions. [4] Tests may be administered in English or French, typically in May and June. Alberta, out of all Canadian provinces has the most standardized testing procedure of any province.

Contents

Standardized testing is controversial in general, and Alberta is not an exception. The Alberta Teacher's Association is formally against standardized testing. [5]

History

In 1983, the ministry instated an "Achievement Testing Program" for grades 3, 6, and 9. These were different than Provincial Achievement Tests because they assessed only one core subject (English language arts, social studies, mathematics, and science) a year. The grade 3 program was later cancelled. [6]

In 2017, Alberta Education doubled students' allowed writing time for all provincial standardized tests. This can go up to 4 hours for Grade 6 and 9 PAT's. [7] [8]

Purpose

The official Ministry of Education purpose of standardized testing is to:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Standardized test</span> Test administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner

A standardized test is a test that is administered and scored in a consistent, or "standard", manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in Canada</span>

Education in Canada is for the most part provided publicly, funded and overseen by federal, provincial, and local governments. Education is within provincial jurisdiction and the curriculum is overseen by the province. Education in Canada is generally divided into primary education, followed by secondary education and post-secondary. Education in both English and French is available in most places across Canada. Canada has a large number of universities, almost all of which are publicly funded. Established in 1663, Université Laval is the oldest post-secondary institution in Canada. The largest university is the University of Toronto with over 85,000 students. Four universities are regularly ranked among the top 100 world-wide, namely University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, McGill University, and McMaster University, with a total of 18 universities ranked in the top 500 worldwide.

Educational assessment or educational evaluation is the systematic process of documenting and using empirical data on the knowledge, skill, attitudes, aptitude and beliefs to refine programs and improve student learning. Assessment data can be obtained from directly examining student work to assess the achievement of learning outcomes or can be based on data from which one can make inferences about learning. Assessment is often used interchangeably with test, but not limited to tests. Assessment can focus on the individual learner, the learning community, a course, an academic program, the institution, or the educational system as a whole. The word "assessment" came into use in an educational context after the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test</span> Standardized test formerly used in public schools in Florida

The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or the FCAT/FCAT 2.0, was the standardized test used in the primary and secondary public schools of Florida. First administered statewide in 1998, it replaced the State Student Assessment Test (SSAT) and the High School Competency Test (HSCT). As of the 2014-2015 school year FCAT was replaced in the state of Florida. The Florida Department of Education later implemented the Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) for English Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics and a Writing or typing test. A Comprehensive science test is still used for grades 5 and 8.

University admission or college admission is the process through which students enter tertiary education at universities and colleges. Systems vary widely from country to country, and sometimes from institution to institution.

In New York State, Regents Examinations are statewide standardized examinations in core high school subjects. Students were required to pass these exams to earn a Regents Diploma. To graduate, students are required to have earned appropriate credits in a number of specific subjects by passing year-long or half-year courses, after which they must pass at least five examinations. For higher-achieving students, a Regents with Advanced designation and an Honors designation are also offered. There are also local diploma options.

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is a Crown agency of the Government of Ontario in Canada. It was legislated into creation in 1996 in response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission on Learning in February 1995.

Standardized testing in Alberta, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut may refer to:

The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP), known until February 2014 as the Measurement of Academic Performance and Progress (MAPP), measures the performance of students undergoing primary and secondary education in California. In October 2013, it replaced the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Scona Academic High School</span> 10-12 school in Edmonton, Alberta (est. 1976)

Old Strathcona Academic, often referred to as Old Scona or OSA, is a high school in the Old Strathcona district of Edmonton, Alberta. It is a small academic high school with a population of approximately 340 to 360 students. The school's stated purpose is to provide academically inclined students an opportunity to grow in an environment of intellectual stimulation, and is recognized as one of the top academic high schools in Canada. The school's motto is, "Ever to Excel".

The California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) was an examination created by the California Department of Education, that was previously mandated to administer in high schools statewide in order to graduate. The examination was suspended in 2015, when Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill undoing the decade old requirement. It was originally created by the California Department of Education to improve the academic performance of California high school students, and especially of high school graduates, in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. In addition to other graduation requirements, public school students needed to pass the exam before they could receive a high school diploma.

An exit examination is a test that students must pass to receive a diploma and graduate from school. Such examinations have been used in a variety of countries; this article focuses on their use within the United States. These are usually criterion-referenced tests which were implemented as part of a comprehensive standards-based education reform program which sets into place new standards intended to increase the learning of all students.

Education reform in the United States since the 1980s has been largely driven by the setting of academic standards for what students should know and be able to do. These standards can then be used to guide all other system components. The SBE reform movement calls for clear, measurable standards for all school students. Rather than norm-referenced rankings, a standards-based system measures each student against the concrete standard. Curriculum, assessments, and professional development are aligned to the standards.

Education in Alberta is provided mainly through funding from the provincial government. The earliest form of formal education in Alberta is usually preschool which is not mandatory and is then followed by the partially-mandatory kindergarten to Grade 12. This is managed by Alberta Education which has divided the province into 379 school authorities. Higher education in the province is managed by Alberta Advanced Education.

In South Africa, matriculation is the final year of high school and the qualification received on graduating from high school, and the minimum university entrance requirements. The first formal examination was conducted in South Africa under the University of the Cape of Good Hope in 1858. In general usage, the school-leaving exams, which are government-administered, are known as the "matric exams"; by extension, students in the final year of high school are known as "matriculants" or, more commonly, "matrics". Once the Matric year has been passed, students are said to have "matriculated".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exam</span> Educational assessment

An examination or test is an educational assessment intended to measure a test-taker's knowledge, skill, aptitude, physical fitness, or classification in many other topics. A test may be administered verbally, on paper, on a computer, or in a predetermined area that requires a test taker to demonstrate or perform a set of skills.

Tempo School is a K-12 private school in the Riverbend neighbourhood of Edmonton, Alberta. It is a small academic school, with 450-525 students and 45 faculty members. The school's curriculum focuses on the academic studies and intellectual development of its students through traditional teaching methods.

A high school diploma is a diploma awarded upon graduation of high school. A high school diploma is awarded after completion of courses of studies lasting four years, typically from grade 9 to grade 12. It is the school leaving qualification in the United States and Canada.

Alberta Diploma Exams are standardized tests taken by Alberta and Nunavut students in grade 12. The government instituted the examinations through Alberta Education to attain greater accountability and ensure its students were well regarded when applying to tertiary institutions. Tests may be administered in English or French. Alberta, out of all Canadian provinces has the most standardized testing procedure of any province.

References

  1. "Student population statistics". Alberta Government. Retrieved Feb 14, 2020.
  2. "JK-12 Curriculum Renewal". www.ece.gov.nt.ca. Education, Culture and Employment.
  3. "Northwest Territories, Nunavut to have input in Alberta's K-12 curriculum redesign". Edmonton Journal. 2016-09-27. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  4. "Speak Out: Alberta's Student Engagement Initiative 3rd Annual Speak Out Conference" (PDF). Alberta Government.
  5. "Diploma Examinations in Alberta: A Brief History". www.teachers.ab.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  6. McEwen, McEwen (1995). "Educational Accountability in Alberta" (PDF). Canadian Journal of Education.
  7. "Students allotted more time to write Alberta diploma exams". Edmonton Sun. 2017-09-02.
  8. "Diploma Exams Schedule: November 2017" (PDF).
  9. "About Grade 12 Diploma Exams". education.alberta.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  10. "About the PATs". education.alberta.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-29.