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Information for educators on Provincial Achievement Tests administered to Alberta students in grades 6 and 9.
2021-2022 Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) update
Schools piloting the draft Kindergarten to Grade 6 curriculum are not required to administer the Grade 6 PATs for the subject(s) they are piloting. It is mandatory for schools to administer all Grade 6 PATs for the subject(s) they are not piloting and it is mandatory for schools to administer all Grade 9 PAT subjects.
Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) are administered annually to all Alberta students in grades 6 and 9. These standardized tests reflect the essentials that all Alberta students are expected to achieve, regardless of school choice or location.
PATs help:
The tests occur in January, May and June for English and Français/French language arts, math, science and social studies.
Some grade 9 students write PATs in January of each year.
Grade 9 achievement tests based on the Knowledge and Employability programs of study in English language arts, math, science and social studies are also administered.
The General Information Bulletin (PDF, 1.1 MB) helps support school authorities, school administrators and classroom teachers in implementing the Provincial Achievement Testing Program in their authorities and schools.
Each school board in Alberta sets targets for school and board performance in provincial standardized tests.
Evaluating results in the context of these targets can help school boards identify which areas students need more help in to improve learning.
Provincial tests are a useful tool but only one way to see how well a school is performing.
Schools and boards may also choose to set targets for other measures of student achievement according to their local needs.
Targets can also be set for goals that fall outside of student achievement and reflect local priorities and parent and community involvement.
Schools are responsible for sharing preliminary PAT results with parents and guardians.
Every fall, schools receive the official Individual Student Profile (ISPs), which are kept on the students’ records in accordance with the Student Record Regulation.
Careful examination and interpretation of results help educators identify areas of relative strength and weakness in student achievement.
Teachers and administrators can use this information in planning and delivering relevant and effective instruction.
View the guidelines for interpreting achievement tests (PDF, 31 KB).
PATs are only one of many ways to evaluate student learning and are not meant to replace day-to-day teacher observations and classroom assessment. They are sources of information that must be interpreted, used and communicated within the context of regular and continuous assessment by classroom teachers.
PAT results are available for each school authority and individual schools.
Search the database to find 5-year reports for each writing period and participation rates for each school and authority or view the documents below:
The information provided is intended primarily to support school authorities, school administrators and classroom teachers in implementing the Provincial Achievement Testing Program in their authorities and schools.
These resources are developed to support classroom teachers in understanding provincial standards in the form of statistical analyses of selected responses, examples of student work, scoring guides and released materials.
Connect with Student Learning Assessments and Provincial Achievement Testing:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
For Achievement Test format, content, confirming standards, marking, results reporting contact:
Kelly Rota, Director, Student Learning Assessments and Provincial Achievement Testing
Phone: 780-427-6204
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]
For achievement test security, achievement test rules, scheduling, policy issues contact:
Pascal Couture, Director, Exam Administration Branch
Phone: 780-643-9157
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]
Address:
Student Learning Assessments and Provincial Achievement Testing
Alberta Education
6th Floor 44 Capital Boulevard
10044 108 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 5E6
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